Sangre

Mercedes Abad is an author from Barcelona. Sangre (blood) is her first novel. Blood as a metaphor for our deep relation to our mum and indeed, our country. She reminds us that history could have been different, avoiding a dictatorship that lasted 40 years such as that of Francisco Franco in Spain (1936-1976). The consequences of such an historical event are lived by a religious minority of which a mother and a rebellious daughter are part of. The latter speaks frankly about the difficulties of growing up in such an inner looking community and it's by presenting the trauma of a family affair that the trauma of a country is cleverly re-enacted.

A different journey

I was about to post something about my relaxing weekend at the seaside resort of Andora, but then, having finished a couple of books in the last few days I had the urge to start a new one. It had been on my shelves for a long time. My former girlfriend's mum was clearing some space and it got into my hands. Not an attractive business card, don't you think? Well I'm glad it finally made it to my reading corner and I already feel that Gino Strada, the author and founder of the humanitarian agency Emergency will change the frame I've had so far about war, human drive and making decision that really matters. The book I'm reading is Buskashi