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Read A Spanish Lover (2001)

A Spanish Lover (2001)

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Rating
3.38 of 5 Votes: 5
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ISBN
0425181707 (ISBN13: 9780425181706)
Language
English
Publisher
berkley trade

A Spanish Lover (2001) - Plot & Excerpts

There is quite a problematic question analysed in this book: what is eventually needed that a woman would be happy? This book presents the two most common scenarios: a traditional family with a caring husband, children, a comfortable home on one hand, and a life of a single, career-oriented lady, creating her own business, traveling a lot on the other. These two opposite poles are represented by two women - twin sisters. Later, as it turns out, none of these two paths does guarantee carefree happiness without a single cloud. You can not have everything. However, like on purpose, you just want the most what you cannot get. Therefore it's no surprise that in rainy England a housewife constantly fighting with her teenage children thinks with envy about her "free" sister, who enjoys a love affair in sunny Spain and the latter in the meanwhile desires home comfort, stability, her own family, and the most importantly - a baby. It's not prohibited to dream, but to fulfill those dreams is a bit more complicated, because it turns out that her perfect man does not want to even hear about the joys of parenthood. He brings a clear condition - a child or himself. Relying on a typical feminine optimism (ah, let's do it first, and then we'll see), and, apparently, hoping that it is possible to turn everything for the better, she risks...

This is a more complex story than I expected -- in a good way. Several people's lives play out during the course of a dramatic love affair between Frances (the reliable and less demonstrative of a twin) and a married Spanish businessman. In this book, the author successfully draw the picture of several modes of life, each of its rewards and pains, each of its unexpected turns. This is a deeply realistic story, even though it is colored with a lot of romantic glow (which nearly made me give it up by page 120). There is not a single person who is impeccably aware of their own state of imperfect affairs, and their indecision or inertia has caused other people's indecision and inertia as well -- the damage was laid out much too painfully and much too late. Frances made her choice based on a more urgent need than being generous and considerate to others (such as her lover's wish). In some light, her bravery and insistence of "what I want" can be viewed as deeply selfish and morally questionable. Yet one's life can not simply be measured by the parameters of morality. As human, we search for fulfillment in this life urged by our own inner drive. There is no perfection other than living fully.

What do You think about A Spanish Lover (2001)?

Good book, like most of Joanna Trollope's. This one about the dynamics of twins who have chosen or just happened into very different lifestyles- one is married with children and owns her own business and the other works for a travel agency. For business reasons the second twin lands in Spain and a romance ensues. She is happy. The first twin begins to have her life unravel and jealousy raises it's ugly head. Roles are changed and that is always a disturbance in any relationship-this one just happens to be grown twins. Good read if you like chick books except Trollope raises that genre a notch. Also enjoyed the British flair mixed with some Spanish culture.
—Mary

I picked this British book up at a book sale, not knowing anything about it or the author, but needing some beach reading. Though it appears by title to be a romantic romp, it's actually more fundamentally about family dynamics, the dilemmas of accepting or rejecting conventional roles, and the consequences of choosing to meet or break with others' wishes and expectations. The story overall was interesting enough for vacation reading, but not something I expect to revisit beyond a few key passages. I do think the author portrayed the life choices that face young and middle-aged women well, putting in sharp contrast the traditional path of becoming young wife and mother with that of making a more independent but less secure life for one's self. The contrast between the two paths--personified here by each twin--and how each views the other, was interesting.I also enjoyed picking up a few tidbits of Spanish culture and history by way of the endearing romance between Frances and Luis, and was charmed by the book's many casual scenes and phrases unique to British life that still sound quaint to my American ears.
—Suzanne

Lizzie (néé Shore) and her twin sister Frances are in their late 30's; they resemble each other but are different in temperament and Lizzie always more successful than Frances. Lizzie is married with a family; she and her husband run a boutique. As the story opens, Frances starts a travel business, Shore to Shore, and goes to Spain on a business trip where she meets Luis, a wealthy hotel owner and begins an affair with him. Her family is shocked Luis is both married and Catholic. Frances blossoms, however, with a growing and successful business to manage and her meetings with Luis, she is happier than ever. About this time, Lizzie's business takes a turn for the worse, and the twins' roles of who is the successful caregiver are reversed. The twins' parents and their history of marital problems figure in the story too, and the psychological interaction between all the characters is very interesting. But then Frances goes one step too far in her relationship with Luis...
—Linda

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