Guernica

I think just the one book has captured me this year so far.
Bought with less thought than I usually give to my reading, I picked up Guernica by Dave Boling on a hurried trip to the supermarket before leaving for the beach at Easter weekend. I suspected I wouldn't even get time to read the cover with crabbing, walking, sleeping and french cricket all high on the priority list.
It was nothing short of an idyllic weekend. Early morning sunshine streamed through the windows of the tiny fishermans cottage looking out over the North Sea, heads were bumped on the ceiling (not mine obviously, logs were crackling late into the chilly evenings and I read.

Guernica was as much of a lovely surprise as the cottage and its wonderful neighbours
I escaped to a window seat and this lovely heartbreaking book drew me in.
Picasso makes a cameo appearance in the book and whilst his painting depicts the horrific destruction to the face of Guernica, Boling's book shows you the horrors inflicted upon its heart.
His characters were real within one chapter, the rich history of Guernica and the pride of the Basque people shone, and I fell hook line and sinker in love with it all.
After having a cream tea for breakfast on my birthday, April 25th. I escaped to a warm and cosy corner and moved into the closing chapters of the book and read about the bombing of Guernica which happened on April 26, 1937 almost 74 years ago to the day.It was an aerial attack on the Basque town of Guernica, by the German Luftwaffe.
Anyone as old as I am can probably name quite a few cowardly terrorist attacks over the years and not just the New York horrors, but the Northern Ireland troubles, Bali, and, of course, London. In 1937 I suspect they knew far less until that fateful day.

Beautifully written. Worth reading.
Incredible story.