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Dali Summer
Her wild and vivid visions inspire an icon…
Nothing is more important to prim, colorblind Dolors Posa than family and living down the shame of her illegitimate birth, but when the sudden onset of fantastical visions threaten her sterling reputation, she must search for answers before the inhabitants of the tiny village of Cadaqués brand her as demente— crazy like her mother. In a quest to stop her hallucinations, she befriends a beautiful, intoxicating fortune teller and her handsome anarchist brother, as well as becoming a reluctant muse for thirteen-year-old Salvador Dali. In a summer that changes everything, Dolors must choose between her family’s reputation and a life filled with adventure, friendship, rapturous color and the possibility of love.
Set against the political upheaval of 1917 Spain, Dali Summer captures the fierce spirit of Catalonia, the generosity and stubbornness of its people and the blossoming promise of a woman who thought life was bland and empty and had long ago passed her by.
Nothing is more important to prim, colorblind Dolors Posa than family and living down the shame of her illegitimate birth, but when the sudden onset of fantastical visions threaten her sterling reputation, she must search for answers before the inhabitants of the tiny village of Cadaqués brand her as demente— crazy like her mother. In a quest to stop her hallucinations, she befriends a beautiful, intoxicating fortune teller and her handsome anarchist brother, as well as becoming a reluctant muse for thirteen-year-old Salvador Dali. In a summer that changes everything, Dolors must choose between her family’s reputation and a life filled with adventure, friendship, rapturous color and the possibility of love.
Set against the political upheaval of 1917 Spain, Dali Summer captures the fierce spirit of Catalonia, the generosity and stubbornness of its people and the blossoming promise of a woman who thought life was bland and empty and had long ago passed her by.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 15, 2020
Ever since I took Spanish and Art classes in high school, I have been fascinated with Salvador Dali. I mean, when you look at his paintings, how can you not wonder about him? I went on to further study his art in college, and I was fortunate to travel to Barcelona a few years ago and see some in person.
Dali Summer is about a muse of Dali’s. Dolors Posa is colorblind, and she’s not had the easiest start. She was born “out of wedlock;” however, her family is the most important thing to her. She suddenly has visions that are hard to explain, and before she is labeled as “crazy” by her fellow villagers, she wants to find out the cause.
She meets a fortune teller and eventually becomes a muse for Salvador Dali, only thirteen-years-old at the time. It is during this exciting summer that Dolors is at a crossroads. She must choose her family or a new adventurous life, all set on a backdrop of a challenging political time in 1917 Spain.
Dali Summer is an intriguing and beautiful story. It made me think of mental health during a different time, and I found Dolors and Dali’s relationship fascinating. I’m so grateful I was able to learn more about Dali’s first inspiration.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Dali Summer is about a muse of Dali’s. Dolors Posa is colorblind, and she’s not had the easiest start. She was born “out of wedlock;” however, her family is the most important thing to her. She suddenly has visions that are hard to explain, and before she is labeled as “crazy” by her fellow villagers, she wants to find out the cause.
She meets a fortune teller and eventually becomes a muse for Salvador Dali, only thirteen-years-old at the time. It is during this exciting summer that Dolors is at a crossroads. She must choose her family or a new adventurous life, all set on a backdrop of a challenging political time in 1917 Spain.
Dali Summer is an intriguing and beautiful story. It made me think of mental health during a different time, and I found Dolors and Dali’s relationship fascinating. I’m so grateful I was able to learn more about Dali’s first inspiration.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 7, 2020
First of all, I have to admire the beautiful cover of this book. it allowed me a glimpse of what life was like in the summer of 1917 - in the warmth of the Spanish sun where drama, intrigue, gossips, family and political turmoil abound.
I found this to be a quick and nice escape read - just like a summer fling. It was fun getting to know the characters and even meet a very young Salvador Dali in his teens as he was discovering his talents with the help of our lovely protagonist.
I thought that this book had a lot of heart that addressed our relationships with our family, the societal norms of the time, religiosity, and all matters of the heart. This was truly an enjoyable read.
I found this to be a quick and nice escape read - just like a summer fling. It was fun getting to know the characters and even meet a very young Salvador Dali in his teens as he was discovering his talents with the help of our lovely protagonist.
I thought that this book had a lot of heart that addressed our relationships with our family, the societal norms of the time, religiosity, and all matters of the heart. This was truly an enjoyable read.
May 9, 2020
Originally published at Reading Reality
So many stories are about characters that earn their names, their titles, their reputations, or a bit of each. Dali Summer, on the other hand, is the story of a woman who initially owns her name but loses that ownership, and who finally sheds her investment in a reputation that was never her own.
Dolor is Spanish for pain and ache, and for sorrow and grief. Initially, Dolors Posa is all of those things. She is lonely and filled with sorrow, grieving for her father, the mother she never knew, the life she might have had. The story opens with the pain of a sudden, intense, blinding headache that ironically lifts one of Dolors long standing aches while replacing it with a potentially greater one.
Dolors is completely colorblind. She sees the world only in shades of gray. But it was not always so. As a child, she saw colors like everyone else, but when her grandmother, in a fit of temper, struck her with a heavy crystal in the back of the head, Dolors’ color sight was taken away. Seemingly permanently.
But the vision she sees while in a fugue state brought on by that terrible, blinding headache is fantastical in the extreme – and in brilliant, living color. Even in technicolor, although that word hadn’t yet been invented in the summer of 1917.
The sudden re-emergence of color in Dolors’ life is just the beginning. The visions come to the attention of a very young Salvador Dali, just 13 and already on the road to becoming the eccentric artist that he will be remembered for. But in 1917, he is young, still learning, but fascinated with Dolors’ visions and willing to stretch his art to make them come to life.
Dolors’ need to discover the reason for her visions – or more precisely to determine whether or not she is going mad, bring her to the attention of Lidia and Xavi Sala, sister and brother, each revolutionary in their own ways.
Lidia’s revolution is a desire for sexual liberation, she wants to love everyone and doesn’t care who she hurts along the way. Her brother Xavi, however, wants to change the world. Xavi wants to free his country and turn it into a workers’ paradise.
Their flamboyant intersection with Dolors and her tiny little village of Cadaqués will change all of them – some for the better, some for the worse. But before Dolors can be shed of the griefs and sorrows that have weighed down her entire life, first she must drink the bitter cup to its dregs.
Escape Rating B+: There is a LOT going on in this story. At the same time, at its heart its a very simple story, the story of one woman moving out of the long shadow of her family’s expectations and finally making a life for herself.
The complications of the story feel like they are all in the background and setup. The introduction of the very young Salvador Dali is fascinating, but at the same time feels like it’s more of a “hook” to get readers to pick up the book than it is an integral part of the story. He’s kind of a symbol of Dolors unstated desire for more color in her life, both literal color and figurative color, than she is willing to own up to at the beginning.
The political upheaval of the period is represented by Xavi’s revolutionary agitation, but again, it feels more symbolic than it does a real part of Dolors’ personal story – and this is at its heart her personal story and not the story of the wider world.
The political ferment does have its effects. Even in backwater Cadaqués, the world is changing. A change that inveigles itself into Dolors’ life with the return of color and the introduction of the Salas.
But the story is of Dolors’ quiet revolution. The way that she slowly, and initially very cautiously, moves herself out of her grandmother’s long and hateful shadow, and at first carefully and then recklessly starts to live her own life, always looking over her shoulder at the demons of the past.
While Dolors’ is trying to move forward in her life, her grandmother is doing her level best – and worst – to keep the entire family moored in the past and under her heavy thumb. It’s a situation that brews throughout the story until it comes to its inevitable head at the climax.
But the one to watch in this story is Dolors’ every step of the way. This is the story of the brilliantly colored butterfly emerging from its drab cocoon. A story that is slow to unfold but surprisingly lovely in its portrait of a woman on the cusp of change.
So many stories are about characters that earn their names, their titles, their reputations, or a bit of each. Dali Summer, on the other hand, is the story of a woman who initially owns her name but loses that ownership, and who finally sheds her investment in a reputation that was never her own.
Dolor is Spanish for pain and ache, and for sorrow and grief. Initially, Dolors Posa is all of those things. She is lonely and filled with sorrow, grieving for her father, the mother she never knew, the life she might have had. The story opens with the pain of a sudden, intense, blinding headache that ironically lifts one of Dolors long standing aches while replacing it with a potentially greater one.
Dolors is completely colorblind. She sees the world only in shades of gray. But it was not always so. As a child, she saw colors like everyone else, but when her grandmother, in a fit of temper, struck her with a heavy crystal in the back of the head, Dolors’ color sight was taken away. Seemingly permanently.
But the vision she sees while in a fugue state brought on by that terrible, blinding headache is fantastical in the extreme – and in brilliant, living color. Even in technicolor, although that word hadn’t yet been invented in the summer of 1917.
The sudden re-emergence of color in Dolors’ life is just the beginning. The visions come to the attention of a very young Salvador Dali, just 13 and already on the road to becoming the eccentric artist that he will be remembered for. But in 1917, he is young, still learning, but fascinated with Dolors’ visions and willing to stretch his art to make them come to life.
Dolors’ need to discover the reason for her visions – or more precisely to determine whether or not she is going mad, bring her to the attention of Lidia and Xavi Sala, sister and brother, each revolutionary in their own ways.
Lidia’s revolution is a desire for sexual liberation, she wants to love everyone and doesn’t care who she hurts along the way. Her brother Xavi, however, wants to change the world. Xavi wants to free his country and turn it into a workers’ paradise.
Their flamboyant intersection with Dolors and her tiny little village of Cadaqués will change all of them – some for the better, some for the worse. But before Dolors can be shed of the griefs and sorrows that have weighed down her entire life, first she must drink the bitter cup to its dregs.
Escape Rating B+: There is a LOT going on in this story. At the same time, at its heart its a very simple story, the story of one woman moving out of the long shadow of her family’s expectations and finally making a life for herself.
The complications of the story feel like they are all in the background and setup. The introduction of the very young Salvador Dali is fascinating, but at the same time feels like it’s more of a “hook” to get readers to pick up the book than it is an integral part of the story. He’s kind of a symbol of Dolors unstated desire for more color in her life, both literal color and figurative color, than she is willing to own up to at the beginning.
The political upheaval of the period is represented by Xavi’s revolutionary agitation, but again, it feels more symbolic than it does a real part of Dolors’ personal story – and this is at its heart her personal story and not the story of the wider world.
The political ferment does have its effects. Even in backwater Cadaqués, the world is changing. A change that inveigles itself into Dolors’ life with the return of color and the introduction of the Salas.
But the story is of Dolors’ quiet revolution. The way that she slowly, and initially very cautiously, moves herself out of her grandmother’s long and hateful shadow, and at first carefully and then recklessly starts to live her own life, always looking over her shoulder at the demons of the past.
While Dolors’ is trying to move forward in her life, her grandmother is doing her level best – and worst – to keep the entire family moored in the past and under her heavy thumb. It’s a situation that brews throughout the story until it comes to its inevitable head at the climax.
But the one to watch in this story is Dolors’ every step of the way. This is the story of the brilliantly colored butterfly emerging from its drab cocoon. A story that is slow to unfold but surprisingly lovely in its portrait of a woman on the cusp of change.
May 8, 2020
I chose to read this book when it was offered to me for review because the main character is colorblind. I have a son that is colorblind and I struggle to understand exactly what he is seeing through his eyes. I was hoping that through Dolors’ perspective, I could begin to understand a little better what my boy sees in terms of color. (And I think it worked-I do understand a little better, actually.)
Anyway, this is Dolors Posa’s story, which takes place in 1917. Dolors has been raised in the house of her grandmother, her father’s mother, who does not love her and isn’t very nice to her at all. Dolors’ mother gave birth to her out of wedlock and then a great tragedy happened. Dolors has always moved about in the world trying not to stand out, hoping to blend in to her surroundings. She has always wanted to distance herself from her mother and her shame, and this influences everything she does, says, thinks, etc.
This particular summer, Dolors begins to take risks and step outside of herself a little bit. She meets some new friends and begins to care less what other people think of her. She becomes more independent around the house and starts to stand up to her grandmother. And she begins to have some hallucinations or visions that challenge everything she knows about the world around her, including colors.
People begin noticing Dolors.
I love that the author chose to include Dolors’ feelings about her black, gray, and white world into the narrative as the story moves along. It is important to know how Dolors views things literally so that we can understand how huge it is for her when she begins to discover herself. I love stories where women are at a crossroads in their lives, having to decide whether or not to take risks or stay on a safe path. Dolors makes some bold choices given the time and the expectations on her, and I loved watching her take that journey.
I love the setting of Dali Summer in terms of time and place. In the story, there are a few cars out and about, but people are still walking mostly everywhere. They still dress a certain way. It really did have this early 1900’s Spanish/European feel as I read, and I loved that.
The best thing for me, personally, about this story is the expanded view into the world of a colorblind person, but aside from that: I loved the way Dolors really began to explore her family, what family has meant for her in her past, and how emboldening herself challenges her uncomfortable place in her own family. Stories of family and siblings are some of my favorites, and I appreciate the relationships in this one so much. The story read quickly and genuinely did feel like a window into another world.
It was also really cool that young Salvador Dali was in the story.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
Anyway, this is Dolors Posa’s story, which takes place in 1917. Dolors has been raised in the house of her grandmother, her father’s mother, who does not love her and isn’t very nice to her at all. Dolors’ mother gave birth to her out of wedlock and then a great tragedy happened. Dolors has always moved about in the world trying not to stand out, hoping to blend in to her surroundings. She has always wanted to distance herself from her mother and her shame, and this influences everything she does, says, thinks, etc.
This particular summer, Dolors begins to take risks and step outside of herself a little bit. She meets some new friends and begins to care less what other people think of her. She becomes more independent around the house and starts to stand up to her grandmother. And she begins to have some hallucinations or visions that challenge everything she knows about the world around her, including colors.
People begin noticing Dolors.
I love that the author chose to include Dolors’ feelings about her black, gray, and white world into the narrative as the story moves along. It is important to know how Dolors views things literally so that we can understand how huge it is for her when she begins to discover herself. I love stories where women are at a crossroads in their lives, having to decide whether or not to take risks or stay on a safe path. Dolors makes some bold choices given the time and the expectations on her, and I loved watching her take that journey.
I love the setting of Dali Summer in terms of time and place. In the story, there are a few cars out and about, but people are still walking mostly everywhere. They still dress a certain way. It really did have this early 1900’s Spanish/European feel as I read, and I loved that.
The best thing for me, personally, about this story is the expanded view into the world of a colorblind person, but aside from that: I loved the way Dolors really began to explore her family, what family has meant for her in her past, and how emboldening herself challenges her uncomfortable place in her own family. Stories of family and siblings are some of my favorites, and I appreciate the relationships in this one so much. The story read quickly and genuinely did feel like a window into another world.
It was also really cool that young Salvador Dali was in the story.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
May 14, 2020
Dali Summer is a historical novel set in 1917 Cadaques, Spain. It is the story of Dolors Posa, a quiet, reserved librarian who is living her life with tremendous caution. Dolors was born out of wedlock and her mother committed suicide; her grandmother, who raised her, instilled a sense of shame in Dolors. One summer Dolors' life changes as she meets a brother and sister who are "summer people" in Cadaques. The sister is a beautiful fortune teller and the brother is handsome, mysterious, and a bit more reserved. Dolors also meets a young painter (13 years old) on the beach named Salvador Dali.
I wanted to read this novel because the setting and characters sounded unique and interesting. I love novels that feature art history and was intrigued by the Dali character.
This is a really unusual book. Dolors became color-blind (she only sees black, white, and gray) as the result of a childhood accident. During the summer of 1917 she begins to have visions and headaches and sees vivid colors. This is a big part of the story. The visions add a bit of a magical realism element to the storytelling.
Dolors is a unique character. She has such a strong sense of decorum that she is repressed and afraid to live. Her grandmother is a thoroughly awful person who has treated Dolors badly all her life, and Dolors still lives her life according to her grandmother's wishes. There are a couple of other characters in this book who are highly unsympathetic and who cause harm to Dolors (I won't say more, no spoilers) and I found some of these scenes difficult to read.
It was heartening to see Dolors break free of her grandmother's grip over the summer as the result of her new friendship with the summer people and a young Dali. I enjoyed the book more as Dolors felt more freedom to live her life and pursue her own dreams.
The sense of time and place in Dali Summer is beautifully evoked by T.J. Brown. I could really picture the small beach town from the author's description.
Dali Summer is a novel that will interest readers who are intrigued by art history and the early life of Salvador Dali, fans of historical fiction, and anyone who wants to spend some time in 1910's coastal Spain.
I wanted to read this novel because the setting and characters sounded unique and interesting. I love novels that feature art history and was intrigued by the Dali character.
This is a really unusual book. Dolors became color-blind (she only sees black, white, and gray) as the result of a childhood accident. During the summer of 1917 she begins to have visions and headaches and sees vivid colors. This is a big part of the story. The visions add a bit of a magical realism element to the storytelling.
Dolors is a unique character. She has such a strong sense of decorum that she is repressed and afraid to live. Her grandmother is a thoroughly awful person who has treated Dolors badly all her life, and Dolors still lives her life according to her grandmother's wishes. There are a couple of other characters in this book who are highly unsympathetic and who cause harm to Dolors (I won't say more, no spoilers) and I found some of these scenes difficult to read.
It was heartening to see Dolors break free of her grandmother's grip over the summer as the result of her new friendship with the summer people and a young Dali. I enjoyed the book more as Dolors felt more freedom to live her life and pursue her own dreams.
The sense of time and place in Dali Summer is beautifully evoked by T.J. Brown. I could really picture the small beach town from the author's description.
Dali Summer is a novel that will interest readers who are intrigued by art history and the early life of Salvador Dali, fans of historical fiction, and anyone who wants to spend some time in 1910's coastal Spain.
May 8, 2020
In "Dali Summer," Delors is consumed with the idea of ensuring that her reputation escapes the fate of her mother's. She has unexplainable visions and she isn't sure what to make of her color-blindness but it frightens her. She will thrust herself into new situations, in part because she is running away from her past and her fears of what her future may look like! Summer is a time of freedom and Delors finds it in the form of a beautiful fortune teller and her brother. She will also become the muse of a young Salvador Dali. This book has lovely detail and a thoroughly engaging story line - a treat for sure!
This book pulls you in right away as you find out about Delors and her background. She is trying so hard to escape her past and trying to outrun family secrets, sure that they'll knock her down just as they had her mother. You're pulling for her so hard to be able to find her own footing and a better way forward than living in fear of the past and her future.
The detail in the book really made it shine. During these times when we can't travel, I have been doing a lot of traveling through books and I loved visiting sun-dappled Spain through this book. The lower clamber of revolution and war is in the air and acts as a background beat to the story. I also really loved the glimpse that we get of Salvador Dali. I'm a huge fan but I don't recall having read a lot about him as a young person so seeing him as he is so inspired by Delors was great!
This book was a perfect escape, filled with great romances and great detail!
This book pulls you in right away as you find out about Delors and her background. She is trying so hard to escape her past and trying to outrun family secrets, sure that they'll knock her down just as they had her mother. You're pulling for her so hard to be able to find her own footing and a better way forward than living in fear of the past and her future.
The detail in the book really made it shine. During these times when we can't travel, I have been doing a lot of traveling through books and I loved visiting sun-dappled Spain through this book. The lower clamber of revolution and war is in the air and acts as a background beat to the story. I also really loved the glimpse that we get of Salvador Dali. I'm a huge fan but I don't recall having read a lot about him as a young person so seeing him as he is so inspired by Delors was great!
This book was a perfect escape, filled with great romances and great detail!
May 5, 2020
New to me author T.J. Brown has given readers a unique character in Dali Summer. Dolors Posa whose grandmother hated her is a strong if prim and proper woman. How she became colorblind was one of the first questions I asked as I read. Then of course, why the visions. The first question is answered earlier than the last one.
Dolors is a character to empathize with as well as admire for how she has arranged her life for survival if not success. Then the summer came! Dolors has some powerful enemies though but begins to make some unique friends too. The family dynamics were dysfunctional in a Godfather movie way. Then there is young Salvador Dali. All of these relationships, heartaches, led me to wondering why she did not leave. Perhaps there would be no where for her to go in 1917 Spain, or the political turmoil or the lack of opportunities for women. Only I needed to read on, which I did.
An original voice in historical women’s fiction. Just think about the name given to the main character, Dolors who cannot see colors. Interesting. An author to be on the lookout for in the future.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dolors is a character to empathize with as well as admire for how she has arranged her life for survival if not success. Then the summer came! Dolors has some powerful enemies though but begins to make some unique friends too. The family dynamics were dysfunctional in a Godfather movie way. Then there is young Salvador Dali. All of these relationships, heartaches, led me to wondering why she did not leave. Perhaps there would be no where for her to go in 1917 Spain, or the political turmoil or the lack of opportunities for women. Only I needed to read on, which I did.
An original voice in historical women’s fiction. Just think about the name given to the main character, Dolors who cannot see colors. Interesting. An author to be on the lookout for in the future.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 5, 2020
A summer of intrigue and change transports you back to Spain and into a time of strict rituals and oppression for a young woman haunted by her birth and the hatred of her grandmother. She meets a brother and sister of loose morals and embarks on a time that will stay with her forever and upend her life for her good.
August 29, 2020
Delightful, quick, easy read. A great beach read for this summer. Loved learning more about Dali and his Muse, Dolors with all of her family drama. I truly enjoyed this book until the very last page. Would definitely recommend!!
April 6, 2020
Intense read. Reading this book gives you two views ( one with no colour only black and white and no social life contrasted to flashes of colour and becoming social).
May 21, 2020
Dolors is a proud young woman who is obsesses about maintaining her reputation. She is a child of parents whe were not married and her grandmother despises her. She is determined to not make the mistakes her mother did. But sometimes life does not always allow us to follow the path we want to, does it?
Dolors is color blind and lives in a world where women are not really appreciated. It is 1917 and Spain is roiling with political upheaval. She is worried about her brother as he is hanging with a wild crowd. She also starts to have disturbing dreams. Dolors finds many people working against her but she knows how to survive. Relying on her few faithful friends she gets by but then the summer comes and with it a sort of freedom as she meets Salvadore Dali and he opens her world and leaves her with decisions to make.
This was a interesting change in historical fiction for me. Spain makes for an exciting location as I don’t tend to read many books that take place in that country. If you don’t know Salvadore Dali – he of the crazy mustache – or his art it’s worth googling to help understand a bit as you read the book. It’s … different. I cannot say that he is one of my favorite artists but he certainly made an impact in the art world.
I do enjoy reading a book that presents a complicated and unique female character and I got that with Dolors. She rises from she thinks is her lessor place in life to find that she is much more than the mistake her grandmother keeps telling her she is. Her early life might be stagnant but she has her eyes opened by a man with an artistic vision far ahead of his time.
Dolors is color blind and lives in a world where women are not really appreciated. It is 1917 and Spain is roiling with political upheaval. She is worried about her brother as he is hanging with a wild crowd. She also starts to have disturbing dreams. Dolors finds many people working against her but she knows how to survive. Relying on her few faithful friends she gets by but then the summer comes and with it a sort of freedom as she meets Salvadore Dali and he opens her world and leaves her with decisions to make.
This was a interesting change in historical fiction for me. Spain makes for an exciting location as I don’t tend to read many books that take place in that country. If you don’t know Salvadore Dali – he of the crazy mustache – or his art it’s worth googling to help understand a bit as you read the book. It’s … different. I cannot say that he is one of my favorite artists but he certainly made an impact in the art world.
I do enjoy reading a book that presents a complicated and unique female character and I got that with Dolors. She rises from she thinks is her lessor place in life to find that she is much more than the mistake her grandmother keeps telling her she is. Her early life might be stagnant but she has her eyes opened by a man with an artistic vision far ahead of his time.
May 23, 2020
"Her wild and vivid visions inspire an icon…"
This is the story of Dolors Posa.
She is a a prim, colorblind and loyal member of the Posa family. She was born in shame, an illegitimate daughter. She has a stellar reputation, but she starts having a sudden onset of fantastic visions. She is in search of answers before the other members of the tiny village she lives in think she is crazy like her mother. She befriends a fortune teller and her handsome brother. She also befriends and becomes a muse for a thirteen-year-old Salvador Dali.
During the summer, everything changes. She must choose between keeping her family's reputation or having a life filled with adventure, friendship, possible love and getting her color sight back.
Dolors blossoms that Summer. The bland empty life she had turns into a life of promise that she thought had passed her by. This story captures the fierce spirit of Catalonia, Spain in 1917.
I really enjoyed this story. It took a minute to get the feel of it but then it was a real page turner. It was exciting to see how her visions inspired the young Salvador Dali.
This is the story of Dolors Posa.
She is a a prim, colorblind and loyal member of the Posa family. She was born in shame, an illegitimate daughter. She has a stellar reputation, but she starts having a sudden onset of fantastic visions. She is in search of answers before the other members of the tiny village she lives in think she is crazy like her mother. She befriends a fortune teller and her handsome brother. She also befriends and becomes a muse for a thirteen-year-old Salvador Dali.
During the summer, everything changes. She must choose between keeping her family's reputation or having a life filled with adventure, friendship, possible love and getting her color sight back.
Dolors blossoms that Summer. The bland empty life she had turns into a life of promise that she thought had passed her by. This story captures the fierce spirit of Catalonia, Spain in 1917.
I really enjoyed this story. It took a minute to get the feel of it but then it was a real page turner. It was exciting to see how her visions inspired the young Salvador Dali.
May 11, 2020
I’ve been a big fan of T.J. Brown for several years and was very excited at news of a new release. Dali Summer did not disappoint! Dolors is a fascinating, sympathetic character who navigates a world that doesn’t seem so unlike our own. While a historical novel, it isn’t clunky with details as so many pieces of historical fiction are—you don’t have to love historical novels to love Dali Summer.
I read it in one afternoon and enjoyed it immensely. I’d highly recommend—and encourage you to check out Brown’s other books, as well.
I read it in one afternoon and enjoyed it immensely. I’d highly recommend—and encourage you to check out Brown’s other books, as well.
May 19, 2020
Dali Summer by T.J. Brown was a delightful historical romance to read.
It went at a slower pace than I normally like, but this time it fit both me and the storyline and most importantly the setting.
I was a hugh fan of the setting and the authors way of describing everything through the eyes of a young woman who was color blind.
The vivid colors and images that comes to life on the pages in this book were amazing and I for one just loved the story very much.
It captured me at the perfect time and place.
It went at a slower pace than I normally like, but this time it fit both me and the storyline and most importantly the setting.
I was a hugh fan of the setting and the authors way of describing everything through the eyes of a young woman who was color blind.
The vivid colors and images that comes to life on the pages in this book were amazing and I for one just loved the story very much.
It captured me at the perfect time and place.
September 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, good story set in historical Spain. Dali as a boy.
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