En la tierra de los nombres propios

In the Land of Given Names

Arripenea is the hamlet which gives warmth and shelter to the protagonist family In the Land of Given Names, an intense choral novel set in the seventies, which plot revolves around a couple and their three kids, the youngest with Down Syndrome. The story is narrated by Julia –the second of the three siblings--, a teacher who is of the belief that there are no normal or abnormal people, but rather people who live consciously and people whose lives have become stagnated. Dogged, sensitive and attentive, Julia will become the axis of her people, all while events occur at a vertiginous pace at a time marked by uncertainty, hope and divisiveness.

As he achieved in The Silence of the Beech Trees, in this new novel by Mikel Alvira, with great skill, takes us on a journey through the daily fortunes and misfortunes of a family in time, presenting us with unforgettable moments.