Monday, 27 July 2015
Secrets of the Pomegranate by Barbara Lamplugh
Release Date: 23rd April 2015
Publisher: Silverwood Books
Publisher: Silverwood Books
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
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Passionate, free-spirited Deborah
has finally found peace and a fulfilling relationship in her adopted city of
Granada - but when she is seriously injured in the Madrid train bombings of
2004, it is her sister Alice who is forced to face the consequences of a
deception they have maintained for ten years. At Deborah's home in Granada,
Alice waits, ever more fearful. Will her sister live or die? And how long
should she stay when each day brings the risk of what she most dreads, a
confrontation with Deborah's Moroccan ex-lover, Hassan? At stake is all she
holds dear... '
Secrets of the Pomegranate
deals with topical themes such as inter-cultural relationships and the moral
dilemmas around truth and lies – whether personal or political. It explores,
with compassion, sensitivity and - despite the tragic events - humour, the
complicated ties between sisters, between mothers and sons and between lovers,
set against a background of cultural difference and prejudices rooted in
Granada's long history of Muslim-Christian struggles for power.
“Lamplugh
does a great job of unveiling a little at a time – but still maintaining
tension until the surprise of the final revelation.” Rebecca Foster, Bookbag
Secrets of the Pomegranate is one of those books that held my interest from the first page with what was literally an explosive start! Centred around the effects of the Madrid bombings, this harrowing tale of family secrets and the unconditional love of family makes for at times a harrowing and sad tale of two very different sisters whose love for one another rescues them both in very different but at the same time similar ways. The secret they share must be protected but at what cost?
This book is rich in interesting characters from different cultural backgrounds who add a wealth of colour and dimensions to this book. Barbara Lamplugh has painted such a vivid picture of Spain that the reader is instantly transported there. Hell, I even bought some pomegranates! Told from the perspectives of Alice and Mark, Deborah's son, I liked how each saw Deborah's situation and the emotions that each felt around what had happened to Deborah. We gain an insight into Deborah's life in Spain through diary entries and gain a greater understanding into just what sort of woman Deborah was and I loved her spirit, strength and courage. But there's also a vulnerable side to Deborah too and like Alice, the reader is given a glimpse into the 'other' Deborah. I just loved this beautifully written book and simply could not put it down. And, I'm not afraid to admit that the raw emotions in the book reduced me to a blubbering idiot. Highly recommended.
Buy Links
About the Author
Barbara Lamplugh has been writing
since the 1970s. Her love of adventure and travel took her first on an overland
journey to Kathmandu, which inspired her to write Kathmandu by
Truck (1976) and then on the Trans-Siberian railway, by boat to Japan
and around SE Asia, which led to her second book, Trans-Siberia
by Rail (1979). Becoming a mother put a stop to such long travels but
not to writing. She turned instead to fiction, inspired by the often
fascinating and unexpected stories of ordinary people she came across in her
work in the community. She also wrote occasional articles for magazines and
newspapers, including The Guardian
and Times Educational Supplement. In
1999, with her two children now independent, she moved to Granada in Spain,
where Secrets
of the Pomegranate is set. Her encounters and experiences of life in
Granada provide her with abundant inspiration. For several years she worked as
a features writer for Living Spain
magazine, contributing around a hundred articles on topics ranging from Olive
Oil to Machismo to Spanish names. Alongside her writing, she teaches English,
edits and translates. With two children and five grandchildren in the UK, she
makes regular visits there. Other passions include cycling, dancing, travel,
jazz and reading.
Author Links
Website www.barbaralamplugh.com
I love the cover..very enticing!