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Laurie S., Minneapolis, MN
Parallel Stories of Paloma and Santiago Collide
What an excellent work of historical fiction, my favorite genre! Yet again, a debut author uncovers a fascinating, yet terrifying story based in fact. In this case, it's the political terror created by Argentina's "Dirty War."
I've always wanted to learn more about the culture of Buenos Aires and the countryside of Argentina's regions of the Pampas and Patagonia, and this novel did not disappoint. From the rich soil of the countryside often controlled by Argentine elites to the political turmoil roiling within its capital, the parallel stories of father and daughter (Santiago and Paloma) intersect and collide
…more throughout the novel. Santiago's experiences during his university days in the 1970s and Paloma's investigations during the 1990s into the Desaparecidos (missing persons) race to unexpected conclusions under "a night of a thousand stars." (less)"On a Night of a Thousand Stars" is a stunning book with numerous twists and turns up to the very last pages of the book. The author uses very short chapters to alternate between the brutality of the Argentine political system of the 1970's and the more current lat 1990's which is set mostly in Buenos Aires. It was a book I couldn't put down. The Author made the stars of the Southern Hemisphere come alive with the characters and the plot. "On a Night of a Thousand Stars" is a real "Star".
Kristen H. (New Bern, NC)
Secrets Between Friends
I grew up during the time of the Argentina's "Dirty War" but honestly can say that never knew that much about it. I saw the play "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" - the story of Eva Peron and again being a young person during that time had little effect on me other than it being a good story.
I am glad that I was able to read this book. It introduced me to a time, that like any other upheaval in a country, can be frightening for the people who live there and how the government can swiftly change how one lives their everyday life in that country.
I can only imagine being held captive just because you have different
…more ideas than the government. The author took a situation and showed how families and friends can be torn from each other as well as what they may do to survive in that situation. Secrets can be
come the life saving element and families are easily pulled apart.
Even though your past is your past, it can easily pop into your future and disrupt the life you are living.
I highly recommend this book. It will definitely make for some great discussions and certainly can be related to in this day as well even though it happened 46 years ago (less)Argentina in the 70's and 90's--these dual timeframes set the stage for this captivating historical novel. In the 70's portion the focus is on the "Dirty War," a brutal attempt by the government to suppress any criticism of its actions. During this period, citizens were "disappeared"--snatched from their homes, businesses or right off the streets in broad daylight. Although the exact number will never be known, it is estimated that between 9,000 and 30,000 were taken. The main character in this period is Santiago Larrea, a law student from a wealthy family. Although initially Santiago walks the middle road of
…more Argentinian politics, as the Dirty War progresses, he uses his influence and resources to help his friends and the woman he loves.
In the 90's Argentina is more peaceful but it is still dangerous to ask too many questions about the past and the Abuelas de Plaza Mayo still march in the square asking the government for information about their missing children. At a cocktail party, Santiago's daughter Paloma overhears a conversation with someone from her father's past about his activities in the 70's. Since he's not forthcoming when she questions him, she decides t investigate on her own. The secrets she uncovers will change her life.
This novel has everything I love in a story--history, romance, friendships, bravery in fighting the forces of evil, and beautiful prose that brings the setting and characters to life, (less)"On a Night of a Thousand Stars" by Andrea Yaryura Clark is a historical page-turner and I highly recommend it. As Paloma digs into her father's Argentinian past, she discovers some secrets about her father's activities during the "Dirty War". The author takes us back in time to 20 or so years earlier to tell the story to us as Paloma is uncovering the tale for herself. In alternating chapters, we get Paloma's discoveries and the actual events as they happened. The book was hard to put down as you move towards the climatic ending. If you enjoy fun to read historical fiction, this is the book for you.
Marion M. (Mishawaka, IN)
Five Genre in One Title
In her debut novel, Andrea Clark has written a love triangle story, a mystery, a suspenseful tale, an adventure, and historical fiction. Chapters alternate between late 1970s and late 1990s and between two generations of the Argentinian Larrea family. The 1970s chapters are narrated by third person; the 1990s by that period's main character, Paloma. Santiago, the main character of the 1970s chapters, is a rich playboy law student during the time Argentina is vacillating between democracy, dictatorship, and progessive ideas. He finds the love of his life in middle-class architecture student Valentina, and they
…more become involved with activists. Fast forward to Santiago in the 1990s. He is now a wealthy Argentinian businessman living in New York with his wife Lila and daughter Paloma. At a party a 1970s friend of Santiago tells Paloma a cryptic message about former life in Argentina. Paloma is curious. What part of her father's life is he not telling her? Paloma begins to investigate while on a family vacation in Argentina. In the 1970s people were disappearing off the streets of cities, towns, and villages in Argentina. A gaucho who still lives on the family estate offers another clue about a "safe house." A stranger seems to be following Paloma. Paloma meets a fellow researcher, and falls in love with him, who is the child of one of the missing Argentinians. What role did Paloma's father play in the 70s; what role did he play in the 90s? Clark has written a fast paced page-turner. She knows Argentina well and intersperses landmarks and streets and buildings along with student life and culture of Buenos Aires in the 70s. At times, however, she strings examples together without making them come alive, evidence of a new writer. The love scenes in both time periods, while gentle and sweet, seem to be addenda. A chapter near the end of the book could be titled "the get even chapter" and seems extraneous. Even so, I recommend On a Night of a Thousand Stars as a complex novel that takes place during the period of Argentina's "dirty war" history that few in the U.S. may know about. (less)Many readers of this book are probably unaware of Argentina's Dirty War – the period of state terrorism from 1976 – 1983 when state security forces, military, and right-wing death squads hunted down political dissidents and anyone believed to be associated with socialism. It is estimated that between 9,000 and 30,000 people were killed or disappeared. All were killed in an attempt by the ruling military dictatorship to silence social and political opposition.
On a Night of a Thousand Stars is historical fiction with dual timelines: Argentina in the 1970s and New York in 1990s. The main character, Paloma, is a
…more college student whose father is a wealthy diplomat from Argentina. Paloma decides to learn more about her father's life in the 1970's. When the family travel to Buenos Aires, Paloma meets Franco, an activist and part of a group whose parents were disappeared during Argentina's Dirty War.
The book is beautifully written, and you feel as though you've been transported to the time and places being described. The author explored diplomacy, dictatorship, human rights, tragedy, and family ties to the past in telling the story. It's a great read and I highly recommend it! (less)This book was brought to my attention by Bookbrowse. It was offered as an ARC for First Impressions, where members can request a book that they would like to read and review. I know next to nothing about Argentina and nothing about it's Dirty War of the 1970s. My favorite genre is Historical Fiction and the synopsis intrigued me. I was hooked from the beginning. The book has dual timelines, 1973-1976 and 1998 which went seamlessly back and forth with each storyline equally compelling. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!
I'm excited about this new voice in literature bringing stories from Argentina and look
…more forward to Andrea Yaryura Clark's next novel.
A big Thank You to Bookbrowse and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book! (less)
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