Student Blogs

Rodoreda’s The Time of the Doves is a story about Natalia, set in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil war. Rodoreda tells the story through the lens of Natalia, the main character, providing readers with the insight to the everyday life of people amid the chaos created by war. Additionally, this story also revolves around Natalia’s […] read full post >>

This was a really heart-wrenching book, one that made me feel a lot of emotions (mostly anger), and I loved every part of it. From start to finish, it was filled with memorable moments; the dance, the battle with the pigeons, Rita’s wedding, and obviously the finale. Yet, beyond these events, what resonated with me […] read full post >>

Hi everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their reading week and is enjoying the sudden snow!  Jumping into « The Time of the Doves » by Mercè Rodoreda was like being swept into a storm of emotions, history, and the vivid streets of Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. And, oh my god, I felt so much anger […] read full post >>

“Time of the Doves” is an oddly peaceful and happy sounding name for this book. From the title, I would have thought this book was about a happy wedding or about a conflict coming to an end where everyone holds hands and sings Kumbaya. This novel, was quite the opposite. I found this novel quite […] read full post >>

The foundational elements of the story set up tropes that are fairly common however, even though the concept of displaced lovers isn’t necessarily new, the feminine perspective and unique way in which Rodoreda illustrated Natalia’s thoughts introduced a particularly intriguing angle. Natalia’s character was rather complicated and the ways in which she articulated her thoughts […] read full post >>

The TIme of the Doves by Merce Rodoreda was quite a difficult read for me, but regardless, I still enjoyed it and took a lot away from it. Firstly, I think it was especially difficult for me to read because I felt so deeply for Natalia’s situation. Personally, I consider her the embodiment of a […] read full post >>

This week’s reading of The Time of the Doves by Mercé Rodoreda was definitely a very interesting read yet unfortunately not one of my favourites. I felt the writing style was a bit exhausting to keep up with because such grand and … Continue reading → read full post >>

One thing that is apparently clear throughout “The Time of the Doves,” is the theme of loss in Natàlia’s life. Her story is a representation of grief, resilience, and the will to persevere. Moreover, Natàtalia navigates loss in the context of the Spanish Civil War adding another layer of complexity to her story. Something that […] read full post >>

         Rodoreda’s “Time of The Doves” is a story of love and loss, and the desperation that ensues when one must carry such a heavy weight for so long. I must say I was shocked when Natalia was about to kill her children and ... read full post >>

         Rodoreda’s “Time of The Doves” is a story of love and loss, and the desperation that ensues when one must carry such a heavy weight for so long. I must say I was shocked when Natalia was about to kill her children and ... read full post >>

This novel is incredibly sad. Between the war that their society is going through, the abusive nature of Quimet, and Natalias’ plans and intentions to kill her children and herself. I’ve been having a hard time figuring out which parts of the novel I want to address, like perhaps the complicated yet intriguing relationship between […] read full post >>

This week's reading was another interesting one. Now that it is halfway through this marathon of reading, I'm finding how I'm able to compare how differently each of the books are written and the effect this has on the reader. Usually, in my spare time... read full post >>

This week's reading was another interesting one. Now that it is halfway through this marathon of reading, I'm finding how I'm able to compare how differently each of the books are written and the effect this has on the reader. Usually, in my spare time... read full post >>

I am still not used to reading. It might be the selection of books in the course, but it’s probably just me. I rarely read books that do not involve supernatural powers or mystery solving. Anyway, I am definitely sensing a pattern here. Why does every book need a problematic figure? To be frank, I […] read full post >>

The Time of Doves by ​​Mercè Rodoreda is set in Barcelona during the time of war. The story covers all aspects of war from deaths to the family of the soldiers left behind. The protagonist of the story Natalia is shown to be a people pleaser who breaks up with her fiance to marry a […] read full post >>