Homeland

A Novel

By: Fernando Aramburu, Alfred MacAdam - translator

Narrated by: David Pittu

Fernando Aramburu's internationally acclaimed novel evokes an unresolved history of violence, giving a fictional account of lives shattered by Basque terrorism even as it rekindles debate about truth and reconciliation.

Lifetime friends become bitter enemies when the father of one family is killed by militants—one of whom is a son from the other family. Told in short sections highlighting a rich multiplicity of characters from all walks of life, Homeland brilliantly unfolds in nonlinear fashion as it traces the moral dilemmas faced by the families of murder victim and perpetrator alike. Aramburu alludes only obliquely to the historical context while he focuses on the psychological complexity of his characters and builds nearly unbearable suspense.

Critic reviews

"Complex and challenging... exhibiting a kind of sophisticated tidal pattern, with each ebb and flow leaving behind new clues in the sand."
—The Washington Post

"A powerful novel which has a strong claim to be the definitive fictional account of the Basque troubles... Aramburu skilfully spins their stories in short, punchy chapters that dart back and forth in time."
—Economist

“Homeland has reminded Spain of the dormant power of literature to shake up society.”
—Politico Europe

"“Punch-in-the-face powerful, with a bittersweet ending, this leading Spanish novelist’s first English-language outing is a masterpiece.”
—Library Journal (starred review)

“Aramburu’s remarkable novel is an honest and empathetic portrait of suffering and forgiveness, home and family.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A humane, memorable work of literature.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“It's been a long time since I've read a book so persuasive and moving, so intelligently conceived, a fiction that is also an eloquent testament to a historical reality.”
—Mario Vargas Llosa, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

My first audio-novel! Couldn’t have chosen better!

Amazing story, I enjoyed it a lot. I just have to say that sometimes the narrator missed on the basque pronunciation and that is something to improve, cause the basque culture deserves respect. Now I will watch the hbo series but I totally recommend this book.

Best book ever

What a story and so artfully told.
If you love Spain and stories about people living their lives amidst turbulent times, this book will leave you spellbound.

Beautiful novel

Beautiful novel. Wonderful translation. Great narration. Can't wait to read his other novels when they are translated and narrated.

Disappointing caricature of the Basque struggle

Hoping to get a glimpse into  Basque culture and their struggle for independence from Spain, I listened to this novel. However I found little historical details that would lend to an understanding of the  Basque people and the reason for their conflict with Spain. While I don't know a lot about the specific historical events, Basque discrimination and repression in Spain, and their history as a separate people, I know enough about politics (struggle of Irish Nationalist against British Rule) , to see that this story is an overly simplistic  painting of the Basque separatist movement, a caricature of terrorists, devoid of political sophistication, one level up from street thugs.  

     One does in the beginning get a sense that in an acute political struggle, such as the question of whether or not to cross a picket line, there is no room for middle ground.  Yet, overall the novel was a disappointment and treated the legitimate struggle of the Basque people in an overly simplistic manner suchas to serve as an anti-Basque separatist propaganda piece.

As a side note: the title of the Spanish novel is  "Patria" and while it can be translated into English as "Homeland," this is not a good translation.  "Patria" conveys so much more than "Homeland."  There needs to be a better title to this book.