Phrase by Cristina Campos
Cristina Campos is a humanist, casting director and writer from Barcelona. She obtained a degree in Humanities from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. To complement her studies she went to the University of Heidelberg (Germany), where she trained in cinematography. One of her first experiences in this area was coordinating the International Film Festival of the German city.
In the world of literature, she is best known for having written the novel Lemon bread with poppy seeds (2015) This text achieved great sales success and had an equally famous film adaptation. Another title of the author that achieved notoriety was stories of married women (2022). This last work was a finalist for the Premio Planeta the same year it was published.
Synopsis of Lemon bread with poppy seeds
This is a story about reunion, female friendship and love.. Its lines address motherhood and the relationship between parents and children. In the summer of 2010, in a small town in beautiful Valldemossa, Mallorca, the sisters Marina and Anna meet again after fourteen years.
A timely inheritance
The reason for the reunion is to sell a bakery and an old mill inherited by a strange woman whom they claim not to know. The sale of the inheritance represents a large fortuneHowever, the process of getting rid of these properties will not be easy.
Anna's circumstances
Anna, The big sister, She is a wealthy woman who lives with a husband she no longer loves and a daughter she doesn't get along with.. Her family is not in a good financial situation because of a conflict at work with her husband.
Despite the bleak outlook, the woman seeks —needs— to maintain her image of “financial freedom” before the world. The given circumstances benefit Anna: The money for inherited businesses represents the solvency you need to be able to maintain your status.
Marina's circumstances
On the other hand, Marine is an independent globetrotter who works as an aid worker for Doctors Without Borders in Ethiopia. The woman shares her life with a colleague ten years younger than her. However, this disparity does not represent a problem, since the lovers are a great team and their relationship is very pleasant.
Prospects of the reunion
Both characters experience the reunion in very different ways. Anna longs for Marina's return to Valldemossa. However, the latter only sees the trip as a formality that will allow you to continue with your life as it was; there is in her a marked indifference.
It is not that the younger sister does not want to return to her homeland, much less that she does not feel affection for the older one. The reason for Marina's apathy is to see her brother-in-law again, because he was the reason for the estrangement of his family.
The sale of the properties highlights the differences between the sisters. While Anna tries at all costs to defend her lifestyle - one that has been imposed on her and that does not truly represent her -, Marina tries to find out why a woman they don't know gave them an inheritance. of such magnitude. Unknowingly, Marina's decision changes the lives of the two characters, and in turn will allow them to meet and love each other again.
Synopsis of stories of married women
This finalist of the Planet Award (2022) is a heartfelt novel about today's marriage, friendship, desire, and love. The work tells the story of Gabriela, a journalist who is married to a man she adores. However, the protagonist does not feel sexual desire for her husband, but should agree to be intimate with him once a month, because she loves him, and because he asks her to.
Meanwhile Every morning Gabriela runs into a stranger who arouses her unusual interest.. The woman works in the writing area together with her dear colleagues and friends, Cósima and Silvia, who, like her, hide little dark secrets from her husband.
The plot takes place between Barcelona, Boston and Formentera. It is in the streets of these cities where the intimacy of the female characters in the novel is delved into.
The plot: a great reality
stories of married women addresses female infidelity, a not very prolific theme in literature. From a perspective with a subtle sense of humor, the day-to-day anecdotes of three ladies who form a transcendental bond are told.
Gabriela, Silvia and Cósima live the reality of many contemporary women, trapped in situations that they did not imagine would be part of their day to day. Through these experiences they will discover more about themselves, the people around them and what they really want for their lives.
About the author, Cristina Campos
Cristina Campos
Cristina Campos was born in Barcelona in 1975. After finishing her studies in Germany, Campos returned to her country to work in the film industry. She 10 years later she became a casting director for television series and feature films. Beyond her work in film productions, One of his great passions is literature, a task that he has carried out in conjunction with his audiovisual work.
The result of his enthusiasm for writing was the publication of his first novel: Lemon bread with poppy seeds. This dream materialized in the 2015, by the well-known publishing house Planeta. Campos' debut feature had such an impact that, in 2021, it was made into a film by director Benito Zambrano. The film had a script adaptation by Zambrano himself, and was produced by various film houses.
The actresses chosen to play the sisters Anna and Marina were Eva Martín and Elia Galera, respectively. Like the original product, the film was very well received by the public.. The success of the film influenced the mood of the readers regarding the author's second novel: stories of married women.
As with your first post, Campos' second title had very positive reviews from readers and critics. This fact concluded that, in 2022 —same year of its launch on the market—, was chosen as a finalist for the Planeta Award. Currently, Cristina lives in Spain, and is dedicated to casting direction.