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Jane Morrison
Great Historical Fiction
I love reading about historical events that I don't know anything about. This was a well-written interesting account.
Shawna (TX)
Family Secrets
In a dual storyline, Andrea Yaryura Clark tells a story of family and secrets amidst the brutal backdrop of Argentina in the 1970s. As a reader who loves historical fiction, this novel takes place during a period which I knew little about. Clark successfully shares Argentinian history but in the development of the story and not a history lesson stuck in the narrative. Paloma, the daughter of Santiago and Lila Larrea, raised in the United States returns to Argentina with her parents for her father's political appointment. As Paloma searches for answers about her parent's past, Clark beautifully tells the horrific events of Argentina's Dirty War. Book groups will have much to discuss regarding Argentina's history and current events in the world, as well as family relationships. What makes a family, what secrets should be kept, and what should be told. Is there ever a right time to share events of your life with your children. On a Night of a Thousand Stars is a story to be read and discussed!
Claudia G. (Orange City, FL)
Family Secrets
Every family has secrets, but most secrets are not as compelling as the secrets Paloma Larrea tries to uncover. Paloma, the daughter of a wealthy Argentinian family, sweeps us into her search to discover what her father did during the political turmoil of Argentina's "dirty war". From the first page I was totally involved with the characters and felt Paloma's emotions as she uncovered details about her father and many patriots who suffered death, torture and persecution during a period little known to most readers.
I was captivated till the very end of the book, and I hope the author, Andrea Yaryura Clark, has more books in store for readers of historical fiction. . .
Nathalie M. (Cleveland, OH)
Loved it!
This book is so beautifully written and also informative on the history of Argentina during the Dirty War of the 1970s. Going in to this, I had zero knowledge of Argentina's history at that time (too recent to be in history books, yet too long ago that it was before I was born) so I definitely learned a lot while reading and was still entertained with the story line containing romance and family secrets. The story flips back and forth between chapters from Paloma in 1998 wanting to learn more about her father's history, to her father, Santiago, and his time during the 1970s. These alternating perspectives always had me excited to read what would happen next. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction and would like to learn more about this time period.
Wanda T. (The Villages, FL)
On a Night of a Thousand Stars
I admit I am a historical fiction addict. On a Night of a Thousand Stars by Andrea Yaryura Clark took me to a time and place about which I knew virtually nothing. Argentina in the '70s was in turmoil and entered a time of chaos with kidnappings and assassinations. The story follows the lives of Santiago, Valentina and their friends as they try to survive the times. Alternating chapters take place in 1998 as Santiago's daughter get caught up trying to find out what happened to the thousands of people who disappeared during this time. This is a story of love and loss with a few surprises thrown in.
It grabbed my attention from the beginning and inspired me to explore this time in Argentina's history.
I highly recommend this book!!
Alyce T. (San Antonio, TX)
On a Night of a Thousand Stars
I read this book in slightly over one day. I could not put it down. Andrea Clark does a fantastic task of telling the story of a daughter going back 20 years to discover how her family fit into the Argentina Dirty War of the 1970s. The author smoothly covers transitioning between the 1970s and 1990s. She describes the gaps in the history of both decades while covering the love stories in both periods. You finish the book with a desire to visit Argentina.
Cheryl W. (Crosby, MN)
Argentina's Political Injustice
Paloma returns to her birth country with her mother and father, an ambassador to Argentina. I knew nothing about Argentina's political history before reading this book other than Evita. The story moves between the 1970's and the 1990's. Great story as she discovers the injustice done to her country and her family. The author tells a great story that was compelling and so interesting. She got my attention.
Lynne Z. (San Francisco, CA)
Searching for Truth
Thirty years ago I learned about the "Dirty War", the Desaparecidos, and Argentina's military dictatorship when I read The Argentina Trilogy (Imagining Argentina, Naming the Spirits and Tales from the Blue Lagoon). Before that time I had extremely romantic notions about Argentina - gauchos, the pampas, tango, etc. What was remarkable about the books is that Thornton was able to balance the horror with the power of the human spirit to survive. Thornton writes, "If you are forced to live in a nightmare, you survive by realizing that you can re-imagine it, that some day you can return to reality." Andrea Yaryura Clark has now written an equally powerful book about this period of history told in chapters that alternate between 1998 and 1973 -1976. The two stories connect and converge as Argentine history and family secrets are revealed layer by layer. Clark is a wonderful storyteller who is able to weave fact and fiction seamlessly. On a Night of a Thousand Stars is the perfect title for this book! I still have romantic notions about Argentina, but Thornton and Clark have put them in a much broader context.