I love love loved this book so much. It wasn’t something I typically pick up to read and the style was definitely different than I am accustomed to, but I’m so glad my school book club decided to read this because I absolutely adored it. The writing is in an almost straightforward manner that is really relaxing to follow along with and I described some choices Allende makes as going on side quests in a video game, which I found really enjoyable to read through. 

tldr:  it’s so positive about finding love in a world that has shunned you and exiled you and if you’ve seen the worst of mankind finding a way to see the best in it 

I also loved how much I learned in this and it gives me an interest in Pablo Neruda’s writing, who I had never heard of before reading this. I loved the excerpts before each chapter and looking back on it and I loved learning about Spain and Chile’s history in fragments. This book really made me love to learn things. 

The characters and the messaging were just so wonderful as well. Roser and Victor specifically. In the last chapter Allende used the Neruda quote “And yet. / Here are the roots of my dream, / This is the harsh light we love.” I love how it ties into how we go through life and see all of its complexities and can choose how we see mankind, Victor describes how he has seen the worst of mankind and how love has been the thing that has pulled him through, love has been what he devoted his life too, love for others and love for helping others. I loved his and Roser’s love story, it was so sweet and I loved the foundations of it being on an unbreakable tie and duty to one another before any kind of romance because of the necessity for it. 

I loved this book a lot.