Description
Love in Black and White
Book Summary
A work that explores the redemptive power of love in the darkest moments of life. Ernest Perelló, a man marked by memories of his childhood during the Civil War in Vinaròs, finds in the hospital setting the vehicle to unburden a weight he has carried for decades. Between the black and white of the past and shared vulnerability, this novel, winner of the 2022 Sebastià Juan Arbó Literary Prize, weaves a moving story about guilt, failure, and the only force capable of healing the deepest wounds: love.
What is it about?
Ernest Perelló, a man of ordinary appearance except for the intense blue of his eyes, is admitted to a hospital where he shares a room with Baltasar. In that space of forced intimacy, Ernest finds in his companion the perfect confidant to unfold the memories that weigh most heavily on his soul. Through his narrative, the reader travels back to his childhood in Vinaròs during the Civil War, a period marked by black-and-white images that have pursued him relentlessly. A hidden secret and the crushing weight of guilt have stained his life with failure. The novel draws a parallel between childhood and old age, two stages united by vulnerability, and shows how love stands as the only true path toward hope and healing.
Main Themes
- The healing power of love as an antidote to guilt and life failure.
- The traumatic memory of the Spanish Civil War and its impact on childhood.
- Confession and listening as tools for emotional release.
- The shared vulnerability between old age and childhood.
- The weight of family and personal secrets throughout a lifetime.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in historical fiction set during the Spanish Civil War, but from an intimate and psychological perspective. Also for those seeking short, highly emotional novels that explore the human condition, forgiveness, and redemption through deep personal relationships. Especially suitable for those who appreciate stories of resilience told with sensitivity and a refined literary style.
What this book offers
- A moving reflection on how love can transform even lives marked by failure and guilt.
- An original look at the Civil War through childhood memory and deathbed confession.
- A brief but intense read, ideal for a complete literary experience in a short time.
- The recognition of a prestigious literary prize, which guarantees the quality of the narrative.
- A story that connects two vulnerable life stages to show the universality of pain and hope.
Technical Data
- Author: Boldu Mayor, Montse
- Publisher: Cossetània Edicions
- Language: Catalan
- Theme: Modern and contemporary fiction, Historical fiction, Spanish Civil War
- Collection: Notes de color
- Binding: Paperback
- Edition date: March 2023
- Number of pages: 104
- Weight: 178 g
Editorial Assessment
A novel that stands out for its ability to condense a story of great emotional depth into barely one hundred pages. The author succeeds in creating an intimate and immersive atmosphere through the dialogue between two characters, exploring with sensitivity the impact of war on individual memory. The 2022 Sebastià Juan Arbó Prize guarantees a literary proposal that combines historical rigor with a human and hopeful perspective. Recommended for those looking for a read that moves you without the need for grand narrative artifice.