Description
GRANDMOTHER'S THIMBLE
Book Summary
In the turbulent Granada of 1970, Maruja survives trapped in a loveless marriage marked by violence and abuse. Her only refuge is sewing, a craft she practices while clutching her grandmother’s thimble, an object charged with almost magical symbolism. This novella narrates a woman's struggle to find a way out of her oppression, combining the harshness of the social reality of the time with the redemptive strength of family tradition and the art of sewing. A story of female resistance and hope.
What is it about?
The story is set in 1970, in a Granada stirred by construction workers' protests demanding labor improvements. In this context of social effervescence, Maruja lives a suffocating domestic reality: a loveless marriage where she suffers abuse and violence. Sewing becomes her only escape and her tool of silent resistance. She never parts with the thimble her grandmother gave her, an object that for her holds a protective magic and a connection to a heritage of female strength. Through needle and thread, Maruja weaves not only garments, but also the possibility of a different future, facing the limits imposed by her environment and her era.
Main themes
- Gender-based violence and domestic abuse in 1970s Spain.
- Sewing as an escape route, personal expression, and a tool of female resistance.
- Family legacy and the symbolic power of inherited objects, such as the grandmother's thimble.
- The struggle for autonomy and the search for a way out of a situation of oppression.
- The social and labor context of 1970s Granada, with workers' protests as a backdrop.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in contemporary fiction with a social and gender perspective, especially those stories that address personal overcoming in adverse contexts. It is also suitable reading for those who enjoy short novels with a strong symbolic and emotional weight, set in Spain during the transition, and for those who value narratives that focus on female resilience and the power of traditions.
What this book offers
- An intimate and realistic look at sexist violence in a specific historical context, far from clichés.
- A reflection on how hobbies and manual crafts can become a space for freedom and empowerment.
- A story of hope and resistance that shows a woman's ability to redefine her destiny.
- The emotional connection between generations through an everyday object loaded with meaning.
- An agile and emotional read that invites empathy and reflection on the fight for dignity.
Technical specifications
- Author: Vallejo Molero, Rafael
- Publisher: EDICIONES CON M DE MUJER
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION
- Collection: CON M DE MUJER
- Publication date: September 2025
- Number of pages: 106
- Weight: 145 g
Editorial review
This is a concise novel of great emotional intensity that addresses, from a human perspective and without stridency, a highly relevant social issue such as gender-based violence. The work stands out for its ability to create an oppressive atmosphere and, at the same time, for offering a ray of hope through the symbolism of sewing and family legacy. It is a recommended read for those looking for a committed, emotional narrative that invites reflection on the capacity for resistance and the search for personal freedom.