The Sands of TimeThe Sands of Time
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1970s Spain, a Basque separatist leader carries out a daring raid on a prison, and in the chaos four nuns are forced to flee their secluded convent into a world they long ago left behind. They fall in with the rebels, and each woman's past, and future, is changed by the journey across Spain.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 11 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It's a fast, dramatic adventure.
You'll love it if you liked
Windmills of the Gods
Bloodline
Rage of AngelsGood to know
There's violence and sexual content.
By the numbers
- Readers10 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #187 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #492 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #726 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2565 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by Sidney Sheldon
If Tomorrow ComesRage of AngelsBloodlineWindmills of the GodsIf you like this, read next
Too Late
Sam's Letters to Jennifer
The Inheritance Games
The Hawthorne Legacy
At First Sight
A Study in DrowningExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Sands of Time worth reading?
Yes. It spent 11 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,565 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 57.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Sands of Time about?
In 1970s Spain, a Basque separatist leader carries out a daring raid on a prison, and in the chaos four nuns are forced to flee their secluded convent into a world they long ago left behind. They fall in with the rebels, and each woman's past, and future, is changed by the journey across Spain.
How long does it take to read The Sands of Time?
About 2 hours (100 pages), or about 4 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Sands of Time?
If you liked it, try Windmills of the Gods by Sidney Sheldon, Bloodline by Sidney Sheldon or Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon.