A Long Petal of the Sea - Isabel Allende

A Long Petal of the Sea - Isabel Allende

She read

Publication Date:  Jan. 21, 2020

The life story of Victor and Roser reflects the history of the Spanish Civil War, emigration of Spanish refugees to Chile, and the fraught political history of that country.

I enjoy Isabel Allende’s non magical writing, and this saga is no exception.  The atrocities man inflicts upon man are told in a matter of fact manner, but this does not take away from their horrors.  Each chapter begins with a quote from poet Pablo Neruda, an important actor in the history and culture of Chile whose life is interwoven into this narrative.

Written in third person gives the reader the feeling of being an observer not only of the lives of Victor and Roser, but also monumental historical events.  Some of those events gives one pause in reflecting on our current political climate as well.

Lady Clementine - Marie Benedict

Lady Clementine - Marie Benedict

She read

Publication date:  Jan. 7, 2020

This is the story of Clementine Churchill from the time she meets Winston through World War II, with additional insight into her childhood and family background as well.  Lady Clementine presents as an admirable woman, not only for what she did for Britain, but also her ability to negotiate around her larger than life husband without cowering before him.

I am always hesitant to read fictionalized accounts of real people; I have concern about what is real and what is made up as authors put words into the mouths of historical figures.  This does seem to be well researched.  I learned a bit of history of Britain; and just hope that it reflects reality and not a fictionalized account.

This is a fast read as it jumps through a historical time line, highlighting important events and reactions to them.  Although I thought it a bit saccharine, it was an enjoyable read.

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