Mientras Vivimos

In this 2000 Premio Planeta award-winning novel, three women of different generations come together at critical points as each searches for her place in the world. Judit, a 20-year-old wannabe socialite scribe, looks to famed novelist Regina Dalmau to rescue her from her working-class neighborhood. But Regina, who is nearing 50 and yearning for her younger self, must first confront her past before helping her young fan. Specifically, she must reconcile her conflicted feelings toward her late mentor, Teresa, an elegant but conservative children's book author in the post-Franco years. A veteran journalist, novelist, and the author of the well-known novel Un calor tan cercano (A Warmth So Near, Alfaguara, 1997), Torres walks the reader through three generations in the vividly portrayed city of Barcelona. Some Spanish colloquialisms are easily understood in context. The novel's exceptional ability to capture the reader from the first chapter makes it highly recommended for all bookstores and public libraries. Teba Cespon, Queens, NY