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dani__gomezz's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A beautiful book where Isabel Allende’s own connection to the Chilean civil war and dictatorship. The story of Victor’s resilience and love in the face of uprooting himself constantly is touching. The book reads a little slow because it’s clear Allende is an expert on the history here, but other than that, it’s wonderful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Police brutality, Death, War, Classism, Colonisation, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Torture
jinmichae's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This one didn't pull me in nearly as much as the others I've read by the author. It feels more like a biography than something with an overarching plot.
It mostly explores the full lives and loves of the main two characters and how they were affected by the Spanish Civil War, what was done in Chile on September 11, 1973, and other instances closer to their family. I enjoyed it--the writing was beautiful as always, the subject interesting and giving voice to parts of history I haven't encountered before--but because it was many narratives coming together, it didn't have as much focus as I prefer.
It mostly explores the full lives and loves of the main two characters and how they were affected by the Spanish Civil War, what was done in Chile on September 11, 1973, and other instances closer to their family. I enjoyed it--the writing was beautiful as always, the subject interesting and giving voice to parts of history I haven't encountered before--but because it was many narratives coming together, it didn't have as much focus as I prefer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Deportation, Medical content, Pregnancy, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Xenophobia, Dementia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Torture, Gore, Terminal illness, and Genocide
Minor: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Rape, Cancer, Abortion, Confinement, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Racism, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Colonisation, and Homophobia
maevebm's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another beautiful story. This serves as a reminder of the pointlessness of war and violence, yet demonstrates the resiliency and determination of humanity. The characters were independent and flawed, and their interactions with one another felt genuine. As always, Allende’s prose flowed and felt like a friend recounting memories. What made this book so special, was knowing how closely Allende’s and her family’s history so close echo it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Torture, War, Classism, Deportation, Death, Xenophobia, Violence, and Genocide
Moderate: Child death and Terminal illness
Minor: Pregnancy and Medical content
kelly_e's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Title: A Long Petal of the Sea
Author: Isabel Allende
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: May 21, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Powerful • Beautiful • Profound
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In the late 1930s, civil war grips 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 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 desires.
Together with two thousand other refugees, Roser and Victor embark for Chile on the SS Winnipeg, a ship chartered by the poet Pablo Neruda: "the long petal of sea and wine and snow." As unlikely partners, the couple embraces exile as the rest of Europe erupts in world war. Starting over on a new continent, they face trial after trial, but they will also find joy as they patiently await the day when they might go home. Through it all, their hope of returning to Spain keeps them going. Destined to witness the battle between freedom and repression as it plays out across the world, Roser and Victor will find that home might have been closer than they thought all along.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Isabel Allende is an author whose books I've heard wonderful things about, yet have still never read. It made complete sense to include her on my 'Author Taste Test' challenge for 2023, especially since A Long Petal of the Sea already sat unread on my shelf. Allende embarks on the ambitious task of telling such a grand tale, and yet she does so with historical accuracy and poignant prose.
Spanning decades, continents, and the lives of many characters, this novel took me through the history of both Spain and Chile in the 20th century. With beautiful writing and impeccably crafted, Allende has weaved together love, war, family, and the search for belonging. I love historical fiction for many reasons, but mostly for gaining knowledge about past events I may know little about. This one definitely broaden my understanding and has encouraged me to seek out more diverse historical fiction, beyond WWI and WWII.
While there are many characters in this book, it is really Victor and Roser's story. Forced into an unconventional union they face many challenges yet remain hopeful. Their characters are so beautifully developed, where the reader is privy to their story layer upon layer and I was along for the heartbreaking ride.
This may have been my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last. I look forward to exploring her backlist, as well as seeing what future projects she writes. And again I must take a moment to acknowledge the stunning cover. The colours, the gold detailing, even the font - all of it is just gorgeous.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction lovers
• readers looking for diverse historical fiction
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional."
"Our land only rewards those who work hard in it."
"Poetry is what stays in your head and isn’t forgotten."
Author: Isabel Allende
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: May 21, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Powerful • Beautiful • Profound
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In the late 1930s, civil war grips 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 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 desires.
Together with two thousand other refugees, Roser and Victor embark for Chile on the SS Winnipeg, a ship chartered by the poet Pablo Neruda: "the long petal of sea and wine and snow." As unlikely partners, the couple embraces exile as the rest of Europe erupts in world war. Starting over on a new continent, they face trial after trial, but they will also find joy as they patiently await the day when they might go home. Through it all, their hope of returning to Spain keeps them going. Destined to witness the battle between freedom and repression as it plays out across the world, Roser and Victor will find that home might have been closer than they thought all along.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Isabel Allende is an author whose books I've heard wonderful things about, yet have still never read. It made complete sense to include her on my 'Author Taste Test' challenge for 2023, especially since A Long Petal of the Sea already sat unread on my shelf. Allende embarks on the ambitious task of telling such a grand tale, and yet she does so with historical accuracy and poignant prose.
Spanning decades, continents, and the lives of many characters, this novel took me through the history of both Spain and Chile in the 20th century. With beautiful writing and impeccably crafted, Allende has weaved together love, war, family, and the search for belonging. I love historical fiction for many reasons, but mostly for gaining knowledge about past events I may know little about. This one definitely broaden my understanding and has encouraged me to seek out more diverse historical fiction, beyond WWI and WWII.
While there are many characters in this book, it is really Victor and Roser's story. Forced into an unconventional union they face many challenges yet remain hopeful. Their characters are so beautifully developed, where the reader is privy to their story layer upon layer and I was along for the heartbreaking ride.
This may have been my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last. I look forward to exploring her backlist, as well as seeing what future projects she writes. And again I must take a moment to acknowledge the stunning cover. The colours, the gold detailing, even the font - all of it is just gorgeous.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction lovers
• readers looking for diverse historical fiction
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional."
"Our land only rewards those who work hard in it."
"Poetry is what stays in your head and isn’t forgotten."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Torture, Confinement, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Medical content, Rape, Grief, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Police brutality, Child death, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Body shaming, Misogyny, and Terminal illness
katiejohns's review
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Terminal illness, and War
teigancollins's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, War, Terminal illness, Dementia, Child death, Gun violence, Torture, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
mesulkin's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Classism, Violence, War, Abandonment, Pregnancy, and Medical content
Minor: Terminal illness, Blood, Cancer, Fatphobia, Suicide, Death, Genocide, Police brutality, Body shaming, Child death, Death of parent, and Murder
bridgetkay's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Allende handled the historical context well, deftly placing her protagonists as Catalan refugees from the Spanish civil war who establish a new home in Chile, only for that to result in a dictatorship also. However, the setting is not the focus of the novel, with relationships being what anchors this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and War
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Genocide, Xenophobia, Child death, Miscarriage, Violence, Sexual violence, Cancer, Police brutality, Rape, and Pregnancy
solacelight's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Unfortunately, Allende fails to evoke true emotion beyond the emotion of a fact, in either the reader or the characters. This is a story of selfish people with in a time of great upheaval, personally and otherwise. Even the love Allende so deeply relies on is not truly explored. They don't feel like real people. However, it is undoubtedly incredibly well-researched. Read this for the history with an extra hit of intrigue, not for the story itself. The story is not about the characters, rather the characters are vehicles of history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Gore, Infidelity, and War
Moderate: Cancer, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Terminal illness, and Antisemitism
Minor: Colonisation, Incest, Suicide, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
beaucoupmich's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book has reminded me of why I love historical fiction so much.
I think it's right to put a highlight on how rich the writing is in this book. It's the first time I read any of Allende's book and since this is one of her most recent works I consider myself lucky, because she's certainly known her way around with words for years. Of course the premise sounds strange for our times since the book took place throughout decades starting from the 1930s, and some aspects could be weird as heck, especially regarding the characters, who had questionable moral compass, in my opinion. I'm not too fond of the characters as individuals, but by God, what a long life they've been through together (and not)!
While reading we got to see meaning behind the title and I think it was so touching how it was delivered. This book is overall a tribute to a homeland, a homage to history, and a beautiful narrative about home and the idea of home. It is also, to my understanding, an acknowledgement to creative minds: poets, artists, musicians, and how their contribution too were important in surviving the wars and other dire times. I can't get over the following paragraph:
"During the endless evenings in that reduced space, he went over the list of refugees he had granted a place on board in Bordeaux that distant August 1939 day, as well as other exiled Spanish men and women who arrived in Chile in the years that followed. Victor pointed out that Neruda's refusing to stick to the government's order to select only skilled workers, and instead including artists and intellectuals, had enriched the country with a wide range of talent, knowledge, and culture. In under a decade they had provided outstanding scientists, musicians, painters, writers, journalists, and even a historian whose dream was the monumental task of rewriting the history of Chile from its origins." (p. 215)
This could've been that love story with marriage of convenience trope, but to me it's more than that. It's a story with an immense expression about hope and loss, the becomes and the could've beens, the surprises in life, and the broken promises that have never been pledged. If you're a historical fiction fan I highly recommend it.
I think it's right to put a highlight on how rich the writing is in this book. It's the first time I read any of Allende's book and since this is one of her most recent works I consider myself lucky, because she's certainly known her way around with words for years. Of course the premise sounds strange for our times since the book took place throughout decades starting from the 1930s, and some aspects could be weird as heck, especially regarding the characters, who had questionable moral compass, in my opinion. I'm not too fond of the characters as individuals, but by God, what a long life they've been through together (and not)!
While reading we got to see meaning behind the title and I think it was so touching how it was delivered. This book is overall a tribute to a homeland, a homage to history, and a beautiful narrative about home and the idea of home. It is also, to my understanding, an acknowledgement to creative minds: poets, artists, musicians, and how their contribution too were important in surviving the wars and other dire times. I can't get over the following paragraph:
"During the endless evenings in that reduced space, he went over the list of refugees he had granted a place on board in Bordeaux that distant August 1939 day, as well as other exiled Spanish men and women who arrived in Chile in the years that followed. Victor pointed out that Neruda's refusing to stick to the government's order to select only skilled workers, and instead including artists and intellectuals, had enriched the country with a wide range of talent, knowledge, and culture. In under a decade they had provided outstanding scientists, musicians, painters, writers, journalists, and even a historian whose dream was the monumental task of rewriting the history of Chile from its origins." (p. 215)
This could've been that love story with marriage of convenience trope, but to me it's more than that. It's a story with an immense expression about hope and loss, the becomes and the could've beens, the surprises in life, and the broken promises that have never been pledged. If you're a historical fiction fan I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Blood, War, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: War and Terminal illness
Minor: Racism and Body shaming