A review by lostcanticles
The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

3.0

I struggled with this at first. I didn’t expect that many changes in POV, and the narrators connection with each other confused me until halfway through when I began to truly piece together where the story was leading.

The Wind Knows My Name weaves past and present, showing how gravely the past events affects those who no part in it: the children. The book opens by introducing the narrators, their backstories and history as children so as the reader, we would be familiar with the whys and hows of their current state in the present. This wasn’t by any means a light read and the amount of time spent with each character felt equal; one of my favorite aspects of this book. I loved the way Allende handled the themes and the topics here - immigration and the effects of violence and war - highlighted in the different ways the characters think and view things. This was most evident for me in Anita’s chapters and her manner of coping with all she’s been through. I always wished for the best for all POV characters even when I knew the best wasn’t going to happen. Either way, Allende managed to put light in the heaviest moments in the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!