A review by alleyboop
Barcelona Dreaming by Rupert Thomson

4.0

I won't say this is the most riveting or best book I've read this year, but I have to give it to the author for the prose. It follows three interlocking stories and each leaves you with a sense of finality, but also a sense of change for each character. It could be because it takes place in Barcelona, but it reminded me of Carmen Laforet's Nada - like a homage to that book but in the future of Barcelona. There is this lovely ache about Barcelona and he captures this with his diverse cast of characters who range from English, Moroccan, Brazilian, to Catalan. Barcelona often feels like it's own place separate of Spain and I really felt that in this novel. And of course, the wanderlust has returned full swing and how I'd love to eat in a restaurant on the Barceloneta or walk down Passeig de Gracia again.