Autumn in Catalonia

by Jane MacKenzie

This is the story of three generations of women, torn apart by the Spanish Civil War, and by one determined man. It takes the arrival of an unknown cousin for them to start building bridges. Martin carries his own ghosts, but he has come looking for his family, and his belief in them helps them unite to face the enemy together, one autumn in Catalonia. This is a story in which love wins over evil, and belief brings hope, emerging victorious into the sunshine of the Catalonian landscape.

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2015

About the author

Jane MacKenzie has lived an exceptionally adventurous life, working in such far-flung corners of the world as the Gambia, Bahrain, and Papua New Guinea, and Switzerland and France nearer to home.

She is as much at home teaching in an African village as organising the research budgets of Nobel scientists, and is a natural linguist, picking up languages wherever she has lived, to complement the fluent French from her first degree in French Language and Literature.

She is an entrepreneur, an international expert in education, and latterly helped transform the UK Government’s Office at CERN in Geneva during two years as its Head. In her fifties Jane turned to writing novels, for a new challenge, and to fulfil a long-held dream.

Jane splits her time now between her homes in the Scottish Highlands, and in her beloved Catalan village in France, the region where her three novels have been set.

Jane is widowed with grown up children.

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading Autumn in Catalonia because it was fresh and different. I would love to explore Daughter of Catalonia by Jane Mackenzie.
Autumn in Catalonia opens up in Barcelona 1962, Carla takes her boyfriend Luc to introduce Luc to her Uncle and Aunt. unfortunately Carla's relationship with her strict father is rather strained. Her papa is unhappy with Carla, she has being doing something political, her father has heard that she has been going on student marches. It appears her controlling father has been having Carla watched while she is at university. Carla's papa was so angry with her that as he paid for her university course, he could take away her money for the course, her generous allowance that paid for her food and all her living cost. With a baby on the way Luc suggests that they should get married. But as Carla turns up with her case at Luc 's attic flat the door had been bashed in and the bed had collapsed and it certainly wasn't Luc who had broken them. As they were going to have a baby and get married. where has Luc gone?

[Daisy Gould · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoughtful and well paced story about a time and place I have little pre-knowledge about. The use of Spanish and Catalan phrases were used just enough to give a flavour of the language, but not enough to bog down someone who doesn't understand it fully. However, there were some language choices that took me out of the story's world as they felt either too modern or didn't fit with the Spanish setting.

While there were a fair few characters to keep track of, it never felt overwhelming and each character felt like they had distinct character arcs. I particularly like Joana's development from brainwashed housewife to a mother who would do anything to see her daughter free of her husband's tyranny (although I could have done without the her relationship with Martin slipping into something rather uncomfortable... her cousin!)

The overall plot seemed to fall apart towards the end and it was all wrapped up rather too conveniently. The looming threat of Sergi always seemed a bit too distant throughout as well, as if to make it obvious that the reader is in for an easy conclusion.

[Debbie Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable trip into the past, this time to 1962 with Luc and Carla. This story revolves around the lives of three women, the daughter, the mother and the grandmother and the choices they made in the past that now affect the future.

Maria learns that her daughter Joana made a decision in her past for all the wrong reasons, Joana finds herself powerless to protect her own daughter Carla - Carla is heavily pregnant and alone doesn't even try with her mother anymore. All Carla wants is for Luc to come home so they can marry and the baby will be safe.

When it all finally comes out and Joana seems to have the proof to allow Luc to be released Maria and Carla finally have hope that it will all come out ok.

There is forgiveness sought and given in this book. New respect and new family connections are forged that I hope will last the test of the next book!

[Sim'ish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A word Telenovela ! 💫 It was a bit confusing at first with all the characters and similar names but the story was very enjoyable. Of course it was predictable and over the top but that is why I picked this word to describe bit. It is cheesy,silly but very enjoyable. A nice break during summer.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jane MacKenzie's first novel; Daughter of Catalonia, so was delighted to be given the opportunity to read and review her next instalment, and once again I have been transported across Europe to an era that I knew little about and a region that is beautifully described.

The story opens in Barcelona in the early 1960s. General Franco is still in power and Carla is a student who is totally against the regime. Carla and her boyfriend Luc are active members of the student movement against the Government, but Carla's father is a very important man who ensures that Carla's heart will be broken when he makes sure that Luc disappears.

Carla finds solace with her Grandmother Marie. They have been estranged for many years, but Carla's father has finally managed to kill any love or loyalty she had for him, and she finds herself cast out of the family.

When a young man; Martin arrives and informs her that he is her cousin, Carla becomes determined to find out more about her heritage, and to discover what it was that made her mother cast aside her loving family and marry such an evil and cruel man.

Jane MacKenzie takes the reader and plunges them into the heart of a beautiful country that has been torn apart by the Civil War. Her descriptions of the small towns, the beautiful countryside and the oppressive regime are wonderfully drawn. The pain and horrors experienced by this one family are brilliantly depicted; colourful and authentically detailed.

The author has written a powerful story of love and family dynamics, it is both gripping and captivating. Skilfully constructed and immensely satisfying.

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[Victoria Sigsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book because it was set in the Catalan area of Spain and having spent 3 wonderful weeks there as a girl, I really wanted to read it.It is quite a complicated story set in the time when Franco was in charge and it is full of plot,from the political players with their own fascista,very much like the Mafia to the intertwined stories of the families. For a more detailed review of the story, I suggest you read the few other reviews on here etc as it really takes some telling. It is easy to follow however,but there is such a lot to talk about. I gave it 4 stars as in some ways,there could be too much going on and also there are some Spanish or Catalan words that I don't know the meaning of but can guess but would have liked to have had a glossary to refer to in order to get the most out of the meanings. However a well put together ,very enjoyable story.