The Time In Between by María Dueñas
Apr 16, 2014 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
The Time In Between
We love a story that completely transports us to a different place and time. “The Time In Between” by María Dueñas gracefully changes our entire perspective and beautifully accomplishes just that. It’s very easy to find yourself entranced by the suspenseful adventures of the protagonist, Sira, during World War II – don’t be surprised if you find yourself braced on your seat’s edge. We highly encourage you to enjoy this novel and if you’ve read it, we welcome your comments below!
The Time In Between by María Dueñas
With some stories it’s the beginning of the book that draws you in, with others it may be the ending that finally gives you clarity and enjoyment – but our author had us hooked with the very first line. “A typewriter shattered my destiny.” (Dueñas 3) With this bold phrase Dueñas introduces us to Sira Quiroga, a Madrid-based seamstress who lives on the edge of two worlds: the have’s and have not’s. When we first meet Sira she is very impressionable, trusting only her hands with a needle and her heart with her fiancé Ignacio. His stability inspires her to see a simple future: kids, a job in the civil service, and a relatively boring but happy existence. But soon passion visits her in the form of a man named Ramiro. Before long, her all-consuming love affair destroys her projected future and that chaos is mirrored by Spain’s political turmoil. On the heels of a large inheritance, Sira and Ramiro escape for Tangiers, Morocco – eager to start a shiny new life together.
Yet this fragile dream is easily challenged by the weak character of Sira’s lover. There were moments when we found it hard to relate to the situations Dueñas presents. How could Sira utterly and completely trust such a charming con man like Ramiro? How could she not assess the obvious signs and formulate a way out? Yet we have to remind ourselves that at this moment in time Sira is a simple, rather uneducated young woman – prior to Ramiro her realm consisted of sewing, visiting the homes of rich clients, and wondering what it would be like to be part of that world. Ramiro serves as her guide into this seemingly magical place and her naiveté protects her like a shield. Sira’s love for him grows un-checked: “He looked up at me, smiling briefly at my confusion. Then he came over, grabbed me by the waist, and with a kiss tore all my fears up by the roots and gave me a transfusion of energy that could have flown me directly to Morocco.” (Dueñas 53)
Tangiers by Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix
Our author takes her time describing this love affair, the social divides that start to tug at the threads of their relationship, and the deep despair Sira feels after her abandonment. All these disparate elements coalesce to form the strong woman that finds herself within the following pages. Our protagonist builds herself from scratch, beginning with rediscovering sewing. “The satisfaction of sewing again was so pleasing that for a couple of hours I was taken back to happier times and managed temporarily to dissolve the leaden weight of my own miseries. It was like being back home.” (Dueñas 94) Our author captures the adrenaline of the political unease that has followed Sira from Spain to Morocco. It’s very believable as she presents the dichotomy of people trying to maintain normalcy in a context of unease. Suspense and terror is ratcheted up as Germany asserts its power and as Sira transforms herself from successful seamstress and designer to Allied spy.
Happily engulfed in the journey, the pages turn quickly as with each mission and every encounter the rich tapestry of Sira’s life presents itself to us. Pain’s impact on character building is a theme throughout the book, with each person playing a role in how fear affects reactions. The line between good and evil is taut, but finds itself bending from time to time. The bends are the most interesting and as a reader gives the most pause for reflection. There is a piece of Sira that anyone can relate to and perhaps that’s what makes the book’s ending so rewarding. But don’t take our word – read it for yourself and tell us what you think!
Cause A Frockus would like to thank their tremendous resources: María Dueñas and her beautiful novel and the people who post images without restrictions.
For our readers: Do you enjoy reading books about World War II? Have you ever found peace in rediscovering a hobby?