On a Night of a Thousand Stars

By: Andrea Yaryura Clark

Narrated by: Paula Christensen

In this moving, emotional narrative of love and resilience, a young couple confronts the start of Argentina's Dirty War in the 1970s, and a daughter searches for truth twenty years later.

New York, 1998. Santiago Larrea, a wealthy Argentine diplomat, is holding court alongside his wife, Lila, and their daughter, Paloma, a college student and budding jewelry designer, at their annual summer polo match and soiree. All seems perfect in the Larreas’ world—until an unexpected party guest from Santiago's university days shakes his usually unflappable demeanor. The woman's cryptic comments spark Paloma’s curiosity about her father’s past, of which she knows little.

When the family travels to Buenos Aires for Santiago's UN ambassadorial appointment, Paloma is determined to learn more about his life in the years leading up to the military dictatorship of 1976. With the help of a local university student, Franco Bonetti, an activist member of H.I.J.O.S.—a group whose members are the children of the desaparecidos, or the “disappeared,” men and women who were forcibly disappeared by the state during Argentina’s “Dirty War”—Paloma unleashes a chain of events that not only leads her to question her family and her identity, but also puts her life in danger.

In compelling fashion, On a Night of a Thousand Stars speaks to relationships, morality, and identity during a brutal period in Argentinian history, and the understanding—and redemption—people crave in the face of tragedy.

Critic reviews

"With suspense and heartbreak, Andrea Yaryura Clark’s debut novel explores the human toll of Argentina’s Dirty War, whose atrocities can still upend the most cloistered and prosperous lives. On a Night of a Thousand Stars turns one woman’s genealogical quest into a searing indictment of the complicity inherent in cultural silence."—Jennifer Egan, New York Times bestselling author of Manhattan Beach

"This novel sheds light on a dark chapter in Argentina's history, the effects of the country's worst dictatorship, and the consequences for those left behind and those who survived."—Greer Hendricks, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Wife Between Us

"A powerful debut about a chapter in history that must be told."—Janice Y.K. Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Expatriates and The Piano Teacher

"In luminescent prose and exquisite detail, Andrea Yaryura Clark chronicles a family's history through the political turmoil of Argentina's Dirty War and beyond. Both heart-rending and hopeful, On a Night of a Thousand Stars explores the strength and endurance of love and familial bonds in the face of chaos and tragedy. A deeply moving, timely and important debut."—Cristina Alger, New York Times bestselling author of Girls Like Us

"Andrea Yaryura Clark’s deep understanding of the complexity and savagery of Argentine history brings an authority to this gripping novel, a chilling reminder of the precariousness of human rights and the extraordinary bravery of those fighting to preserve freedom for all."—Lisa Gornick, Author of The Peacock Feast

"In Andrea Clark’s debut novel, she has accomplished the remarkable feat of rendering the political and the human story, telling a painful narrative of lives lost, Argentinian history, and the family. Brava and welcome.”—Roxana Robinson, Author of Dawson's Fall

"Vividly rendered . . . Both heartbreaking and race-to-the-end suspenseful."—Library Journal

Ok book, helped me learn about Argentinian politic

Audible Book

I must admit that I have biases, so when the story opened at a political match in Long Island, I doubted this book would be for me. But I continued to listen.

The center of the story is Paloma Larrea, the college student daughter of Argentinian parents, Santiago and Lila. Her father has just been appointed the Argentine diplomat to the United Nations, and the wealthy Larreas are about to travel to Buenos Aires.

The political situation in 1998 Argentina is still shaky, and dissent still unwelcome when they arrive. In taking note of strange but almost unnoticeable occurrences, Paloma begins to question her father. Soon, she finds herself looking into people from her father's past.

The story moves between the unrest of the 70s when Peron returns to power and the present situations (1998,) and Paloma finds herself needing help in uncovering her father's past from dissenters she meets. She learns about the disappeared and the story of Valentina, a college student, then architect it those tumultuous days.

I can't say this book was great, but it held my interest. I know nothing of Argentina's political past or present, and I now need to remedy this.

Highly Recommend

Incredible writing - excellent narration!
Captivating, heart wrenching storyline with well developed characters - from beginning to end. Looking forward to additional works from this author.

A beautiful story about a turbulent time

Oh I beautiful story that goes back-and-forth between the 1970s and the 1998 in Argentina. If you like historical fiction, this is the book for you. Even if you are not particularly drawn to historical fiction this is still a wonderful wonderful book.

Great

I always wanted to know the story of this history and this book did a good job

Surprised

On the start, I didn't think I would like this, but was really surprised that I couldn't wait to keep listening. I did however kept waiting for someone to break out singing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" LOL