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Please Note: I received an advance audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
From the New York Times bestselling author of The House of the Spirits comes an epic novel spanning decades and crossing continents, following two young people as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in search of a new place to call home.
In the late 1930s, civil war gripped Spain. When General Franco and his Fascists succeed in overthrowing the government, hundreds of thousands are forced to flee in a treacherous journey over the mountains to the French border. Among them is Roser, a pregnant young widow, who finds her life irreversibly intertwined with that of Victor Dalmau, an army doctor and the brother of her deceased love. In order to survive, the two must unite in a marriage neither of them wants, and together are sponsored by poet Pablo Neruda to embark on the SS Winnipeg along with 2,200 other refugees in search of a new life. As unlikely partners, they embrace exile and emigrate to Chile as the rest of Europe erupts in World War.
Starting over on a new continent, their trials are just beginning. Over the course of their lives, they will face test after test. But they will also find joy as they wait patiently for a day when they are exiles no more, and will find friends in the most unlikely of places. Through it all, it is that hope of being reunited with their home that keeps them going. And in the end, they will find that home might have been closer than they thought all along.
Review:
I have followed Isabel Allende's career from her very first novel, The House of The Spirits, a brutal examination of Chilean society under the rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet. Her newest novel, A Long Petal of The Sea, brings us back to Chile, before Pinochet, to a time where refugees were streaming into Chile to escape another dictator, Francisco Franco of Spain.
With wonderful generations of characters, this sweeping saga shows how people try to make the most of their lives, wherever they might end up. This was an epic novel, and I loved it.
What I Liked:
Settings:The novel starts in Spain during the civil war that tore that country apart. The characters are deeply rooted in Spain, yet they do what they must to endure. This means leaving Spain.
The novel does a wonderful job of describing the time period, with all its challenges. The ravages of war are detailed as the main character, Victor, works in a hospital and has a firsthand look at the toll the war is taking on the men of Spain.
Later, the story takes us to Chile where the characters emigrate to. It is much like Spain with liberal and conservative ideals clashing. But this society has subtle differences that the author takes time to identify. I appreciated this.
Characters:
The focus of this book is on the people who emigrate from Spain to Chile, so naturally, these are people with a determination to endure. I loved that the author equally emphasized male and female characters. There are some very strong personalities. Some are primarily motivated by fear, others by a sense of justice. Still others just want what they feel they are entitled to (don't we all want that!). As much as the characters are motivated by their wants and desires, they are also affected by circumstances beyond their control. That is one of the reasons I love Historical Fiction!
Story:
This story takes place over several decades. While their personalities remain the same, the novel shows how the characters must adapt to their changing world. Sometimes this means they abandon the ideals of their youth. But for other characters, it means discovering a different path towards the same goal. It demonstrates the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of enormous obstacles. I found this to be an extremely satisfying message in a world where so much of what we think is settled, can quickly change.
Rating:
Release Date: January 21st, 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Isabel Allende
Audio Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Audio Length: 9 hrs, 46 min
Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini
Print Publisher: Ballantine Books
Page Length: 353 Pages
Source: Penguin Random House Audio
Format: Audiobook
Recommendation: A sweeping epic of a book about refugees that has relevance to today. A must read for readers of historical fiction.
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