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Long Petal of the Sea
Long Petal of the Sea | Isabel Allende
188 posts | 110 read | 3 reading | 87 to read
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - From the author of The House of the Spirits, this epic novel spanning decades and crossing continents follows two young people as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in search of a place to call home. "One of the most richly imagined portrayals of the Spanish Civil War to date, and one of the strongest and most affecting works in [Isabel Allende's] long career."--The New York Times Book Review 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, they embark on the SS Winnipeg, a ship chartered by the poet Pablo Neruda, to Chile: "the long petal of sea and wine and snow." As unlikely partners, they embrace exile as the rest of Europe erupts in world war. Starting over on a new continent, their trials are just beginning, and over the course of their lives, they will face trial after trial. But they will also find joy as they patiently await the day when they will be exiles no more. 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. A masterful work of historical fiction about hope, exile, and belonging, A Long Petal of the Sea shows Isabel Allende at the height of her powers. Praise for A Long Petal of the Sea "Both an intimate look at the relationship between one man and one woman and an epic story of love, war, family, and the search for home, this gorgeous novel, like all the best novels, transports the reader to another time and place, and also sheds light on the way we live now."--J. Courtney Sullivan, author of Saints for All Occasions "This is a novel not just for those of us who have been Allende fans for decades, but also for those who are brand-new to her work: What a joy it must be to come upon Allende for the first time. She knows that all stories are love stories, and the greatest love stories are told by time."--Colum McCann, National Book Award-winning author of Let the Great World Spin
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review
pdxannie
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Pickpick

I loved this book for the second time! I picked it up in anticipation of our trip to Chile next month 🇨🇱✨

birdie_gw Mine is still on hold 😮‍💨 2mo
pdxannie @birdie_gw shoot! There was a bunch of used copies at Rose City Reads last week! I should have gotten you one! 2mo
7 likes2 comments
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pdxannie
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Pickpick

@birdie_gw have you read this one? If not, put it on your list. C and I are going to Chile in October bc Isabelle Allende inspired me - specifically this book - and I‘m going to reread it in Sept before we go. We can read it at the same time if you‘re game!

birdie_gw Yes will add to my list and we can read at the same time! I still revisit places in the Japanese lover in my mind. Your trip sounds so exciting! 8mo
pdxannie Yay!!! I‘m so excited to read it with you! 8mo
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Andrew65
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This was my favourite book read in #November for #12Booksof2023. This was an excellent read set initially during the Spanish Civil War, but most of the book takes in the lives of two people following their lives in Chile as a refugee. This book really will stay with me for a long time and is a strong candidate for my favourite book of the year.

Notable mentions also for Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan (always love her books) and 👇

Andrew65 The Queen of the Valley by Lorena Hughes and set in Colombia. 10mo
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Texreader
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Pickpick

This is the life story of Victor Dalmau, having served as a medic in the Spanish Civil War, fleeing to France when all is lost, and then immigrating to #Chile with his brother‘s pregnant girlfriend. This should be quite exciting, but it‘s told like a recitation of facts and the news (about the war and politics) in past tense. In a word, I found it dull. And hard to get through for that reason. Barely a pick for me. ⬇️

Bookwormjillk I thought the same 12mo
Lcsmcat I haven‘t read this one, but Allende is hit or miss for me. Some of hers I love and others leave me thinking “who wrote this?” 12mo
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Karisimo I love this cover though 🤷🏻‍♀️ 12mo
Librarybelle I‘ve seen mixed reviews of this 12mo
Texreader @Lcsmcat exactly 12mo
Catsandbooks Glad it was still a pick even if it was boring 🇨🇱 12mo
Eyelit Yes to all of this! 5mo
Texreader @Eyelit I think she could have made it much more interesting. 5mo
Eyelit Right!? I‘ve read other books by Allende and sometimes she nails it and others it feels like she‘s phoning it in (like this one) 5mo
Texreader @Eyelit I‘ve had the same experience with her books. 5mo
58 likes11 comments
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Texreader
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dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 12mo
Catsandbooks Lovely! ❤️🎄 12mo
52 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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I‘m making Christmas cards tonight listening to the tagged book

#Chile #foodandlit @Catsandbooks #readingtheamericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

wanderinglynn Super cute! 12mo
Librarybelle So lovely!! ❤️ 12mo
Prairiegirl_reading So cute!! 12mo
Aimeesue Cute! 12mo
Catsandbooks Such cute stockings! 12mo
63 likes5 comments
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Andrew65
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Pickpick

I read this book to cover #Chile for #ReadingTheAmericas, and must admit I fell in love with the book, the story it told and the characters.

This covers the Spanish Civil war initially and the journey, and future life in Chile of two of the war refugees from that war War. It is a long and involving story but so beautifully told. Following this I look forward to reading more books by this author. ❤️‍🔥

@Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Andrew65 7th book finished in November for #Rushathon @DieAReader @Ghabi4Roses 12mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 12mo
Librarybelle Great review! I love when a book really speaks to you! 12mo
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TheBookgeekFrau I happened to bail on this one - but in general I love her books. Her writing is just so damn beautiful 12mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I really enjoyed this one too but I have fascination with Franco's Spain. This also gave me pause on Pablo Nerudo, I am reading Michael Ondaatje's autobiography and finding him there in Sri Lanka also which is so interesting. 12mo
BarbaraBB Chile and Allende is always a good match 🤍 12mo
Andrew65 @Librarybelle Thanks, it is so good when this happens, especially when it‘s unexpected. 12mo
Andrew65 @DieAReader Thanks 😍 12mo
Andrew65 @TheBookgeekFrau It took a while for me to get into this one, but then really took off for me. 12mo
Andrew65 @ChaoticMissAdventures Yes, this is something I want to find out more about too. The autobiography sounds interesting. 12mo
Andrew65 @BarbaraBB I will definitely be looking to more of her books generally, but especially those set in Chile. 12mo
Lizpixie What dates are the readathon weeks/ends this month lovely? 12mo
Andrew65 @Lizpixie A strange month with the way weekends go and wanted to give a bit of a break after all the #Scarathlon Readathons, so have gone with :

#NovelNovember : Saturday 18th November - Sunday 26th November

#20in4 1st - 4th December

As you see that pushes #20in4 into December and they‘ll be two #20in4 Readathons in December. Will help people doing #WinterGames
12mo
Lizpixie @Andrew65 thanks for the info lovely!♥️ (edited) 12mo
jitteryjane724 What a cool reading challenge! 12mo
Andrew65 @jitteryjane724 Love these challenges and helped to increase my knowledge about different areas of the world, and their history. Also extended my reading range. 12mo
kspenmoll Loved this book! 12mo
92 likes2 stack adds17 comments
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Texreader
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Catsandbooks I'm reading another book by her! 12mo
Amor4Libros Loved this one!! 12mo
Texreader @Catsandbooks I read it earlier this year. I hope you like it. 12mo
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Jas16
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Pickpick

Two people get married to flee the Spanish Civil War and migrate to Chile. They are not in love. He was the the brother of the deceased father of her child. However they agree to journey together for a chance to survive neither knowing what the future holds. This was a slow paced book that taught me about Spanish and Chilean history while I fretted about fictional characters. A soft pick but well worth a read.

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TEArificbooks
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Pickpick

This is my first book from this author. I will be reading her others.

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Bookwormjillk
Long Petal of the Sea | Isabel Allende
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This was a soft pick. I liked the historical parts about the Spanish Civil War and the history of Chile a lot better than the characters. #ReadingTheAmericas #Chile

TheBookHippie SAME!!! It‘s been a bit but I had the same thoughts 🤷🏻‍♀️. 2y
Librarybelle I‘ve heard a number of so-so reviews about this one 2y
Bookwormjillk @TheBookHippie @Librarybelle I really expected to love it from the description. Oh well. 2y
57 likes3 comments
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Ellohcin
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JGadz11
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S E A S I D E #Pantone2023 #AiryBlue

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melissajayne
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Mehso-so

2.5⭐️ Thought that the book was ok. While I really enjoyed the craft by the author, I thought that the story went by a little too slowly for my liking and I just didn‘t like it as much as I thought I would. #2022 #bookreview #bookstagram #historicalfiction #fiction #warfiction #literaryfiction #bookclub

KristiAhlers I really had to force myself to read this one. I mean it had important historical details but it was so slow. And so sad. Honestly if this was the first time I read her it would probably be the last. Thankfully it wasn‘t my first book by her. 2y
melissajayne @KristiAhlers it was my first book by her… 2y
Booksblanketsandahotbeverage I‘ve only read one by her, but I enjoyed her 2y
KristiAhlers @melissajayne oh no! Violetta is a really good book of hers (edited) 2y
27 likes4 comments
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paisleyjess
Pickpick

Language that sticks with you and a story that breaks and mends your heart over and over.

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Graciouswarriorprincess
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Books 130-132 of the year.

Garabrandtreviews I loved A Long Petal of the Sea! I've always loved Allende's work, though. 2y
Graciouswarriorprincess @Garabrandtreviews This was the first book that I read of hers for my book club at work. I loved it and it definitely won‘t be my last of her books! It was so beautifully written! 2y
Garabrandtreviews I loved Eva Luna and In The Midst of Winter 2y
37 likes3 comments
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EmberIvyRose
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Bailedbailed

I have tried to get into this one a few times and am just going to call it. I'm not sure what it is exactly (a bit too slow in the beginning?...) Just not feeling it at this point and too many others I want to get to.

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SusanLee
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Eggs Well done 👍🏼 3y
9 likes1 comment
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Ivonnini

Pain is inevitable… suffering is optional

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Skygoddess1
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Pickpick

I rather enjoyed this historical fiction both for the story of Roser and Victor living in exile in Chile following the rise of Franco, but also because I learned a lot about this part of Spanish history that I did not know. I loved the appearances by actual historical figures like Pablo Neruda. #AuthorAMonth #BookSpinBingo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
16 likes1 comment
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ScientistSam
Long Petal of the Sea | Isabel Allende
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Pickpick

A beautifully written, sweeping story from the Spanish Civil War through the fall of Chilean dictator Pinochet. I'd say this is more a story of what happens on the world stage than a story of the individual characters in the book. There isn't as much character development, but rather the characters are a window into what was happening more broadly. The book beautifully sets up the parallels of dictatorship and exile across the world.

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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

A soft pick for me. I learned a lot about Spanish and Chilean politics that I hadn‘t known, but I felt like there was more telling than showing so the characters stayed at a remove from me. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

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Lcsmcat
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Lcsmcat
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“THE YOUNG SOLDIER WAS PART of the “Baby Bottle Conscription,” the boys called up when there were no more men, young or old, to fight the war.”

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staci.reads
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Pickpick

Wow, that was a lot, and not always in a good way. There were sections I loved, but a lot of it felt like a detached summary of a life story. I think when it slowed down and focused on some character development and dialogue, I could see some beauty, but so much of it was hurried and shallow. Overall, a Pick, but I wasn't blown away. #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

Lcsmcat I‘m 2/3 in, and having similar feelings about it. 3y
61 likes1 comment
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Lcsmcat
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I started another Allende. The only one on my Kindle. #authoramonth

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Butterfinger
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Pickpick

A sweeping epic that I didn't know I needed. From the Spanish Civil War to the Chilean Revolution of the 60s and 70s to modern day. Beautiful writing that made me fall in love.

Left me wondering - would there have been a successful socialist country that hadn't turned into a police state?

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

Chrissyreadit I think most tribal cultures are socialist or socialist leaning. I personally like tribal cultures…. 3y
Butterfinger @Chrissyreadit I think some would have succeeded if America hadn't interfered and had given weapons to the military to overthrow the government which is what happened in Spain and Chile. And every other South America nation. Chile was a Democratic Socialist, but Nixon ... 3y
Chrissyreadit @Butterfinger this country does have a dark history of interference and machinations. And I know and understand why many people have a hard time trusting the government. 3y
41 likes3 comments
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alisiakae
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I‘m glad I was on Litsy this morning to see that sign-ups for #NewYearWhoDis are now open!

Tagged one of the books appearing on my list. Head over to @monalyisha ‘s post to sign up!

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ontheBL
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Since I've been so bad at posting book reviews this past year.... or so. Here's a list of books I would call easy reads to fill up your fall reading list.
https://onthebl.org/2021/10/21/easy-fall-reading-list/

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underground_bks
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Mehso-so

In the acknowledgments of the last Isabel Allende book I read, she says she starts a book on the same day each year and finishes it within a year and that has really colored how I feel about her writing. While I valued learning about the history of Spain and Chile, A Long Petal of the Sea doesn‘t read like a novel but like a draft of a college assignment on family history.

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Maike
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Pickpick

My first Allende book! I picked it up as an emergency read during a trip and I enjoyed this family saga so much. You also learn a lot about Spain and Chile in the 20th century - definitely something I needed.

40 likes2 stack adds
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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

A beautiful story based on real individuals. A story of exiles, identity, belonging and home. Gorgeous writing💚

EvieBee And beautiful picture, as always! 💕 3y
Cinfhen Thanks so much @EvieBee 😘 3y
Cathythoughts Gorgeous pic ❤️ 3y
See All 7 Comments
Garabrandtreviews I love this author 3y
Cinfhen She‘s such an excellent writer @Garabrandtreviews 😍thanks @Cathythoughts 😘 3y
BarbaraBB You finished it in time and you loved it! That‘s a big win! 3y
Cinfhen Thanks @BarbaraBB I was determined to finish!!! 3y
78 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Cinfhen
Long Petal of the Sea | Isabel Allende
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Slowly making my way through this epic saga. Three days until bookclub. Yes, I can 🧡

TrishB Yes you can ♥️ 3y
Cinfhen Thanks @TrishB it‘s also my #August #BookSpin so I‘m determined to finish in the next two days 3y
Megabooks You can!!! 3y
See All 8 Comments
Cinfhen I have less than an hour left on audio @Megabooks ❤️🙌🏻 3y
Megabooks Awesome!! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Go baby go!! 3y
TrishB Yay 👍🏻 3y
77 likes8 comments
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AmyK1
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Pickpick

This is a story about civil war and exile. About love and loss. About family. The writing style took a little getting used to and there was a lot of history-from the Spanish civil war in the 1930s and the politics in Chili through the 90s. I learned a lot. I also loved Victor and Roser‘s relationship.

Have you read it yet @Cinfhen

#bookspin for August @TheAromaofBooks

alisiakae I loved this book so much. I feel like it is Allende back at her best. (edited) 3y
AmyK1 @4thhouseontheleft This is the first one I‘ve read by her. I‘ll have to check out some of her others. Which is your favorite? 3y
alisiakae My faves are the De Valles books: Daughter of Fortune, Portrait in Sepia, ans House of the Spirits (my favorite one). 3y
Cinfhen No, I haven‘t started it yet but it was @4thhouseontheleft review which peaked my interest!! Bookclub meets Aug 31 so I still have some time 😄 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
43 likes1 stack add5 comments
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AmyK1
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The tagged is my #bookspin and The Invisible Woman is my #doublespin for August!

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
28 likes1 comment
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amfny311
Long Petal of the Sea | Isabel Allende
Pickpick

A saga with Allende‘s rich language. Couldn‘t put it down.

3 likes2 stack adds
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Purpleness
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EmMcKee
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Pickpick

Mellifluous. It's a shame that I have not read Allende before, but I'm grateful that I've discovered her now. A Long Petal of the Sea is beautifully written, woven, and winding, through incredible circumstances that nonetheless closely mimic the experience of many people exiled from Spain, and then subsequently from Chile. Highly recommend.

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EmMcKee
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"Listen, Ingrid, the most important events, the ones that determine our fate, are almost always completely beyond our control."

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EmMcKee
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"Entropy is the natural law of the universe, everything tends toward disorder, to break down, to disperse. People get lost: look how many vanished during the Retreat; feelings fade, and forgetfulness slips into lives like mist. It takes heroic willpower just to keep everything in place. Those are a refugee's forebodings...No, they're the forebodings of someone in love, Victor corrected her."

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Purpleness
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TheSpineView 💜💜💜 3y
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EmMcKee
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"Reason is on our side, but that won't help stave off defeat."

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MelKelsey
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Mehso-so

Book 71

I listened to A Long Petal of the Sea, the story of a woman and her brother-in-law, who pose as a married couple while fleeing Spain during a civil war in the 1930s. To be more immersed in the story and writing, I would recommend reading rather than listening to this novel. ⭐⭐⭐

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Nag1
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I love this book so much. I couldn‘t put it down. I wanted to cancel all my plans to finish reading it. Isabel Allende is one of my favorite writers.

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Cinfhen
Long Petal of the Sea | Isabel Allende
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#BookMail #IRLbookclub we are now all set from June through December🤓I suggested this book after reading @4thhouseontheleft glowing review 😘and I‘m loving this gorgeous edition from Bloomsbury 🥰 #BookDepository

alisiakae 🙌🏽🙌🏽 3y
KarenUK Sooooo pretty 😍 #coverlove 3y
78 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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candc320
Long Petal of the Sea | Isabel Allende
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An indie bookstore near where I grew up (The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia) had an Independent Bookstore Day preorder of this awesome tote and a surprise book handpicked by the owner! I was a little nervous they‘d send a book I‘d already read (common problem for any reader) but not only have I not read this but I‘m super excited to read it! And I can‘t wait to use my tote!!

Tamra Super cute! 4y
27 likes1 comment
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alisiakae
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1. Used to live at the 4th house on the left side of my street. We‘ve now moved, but the name stays 😃

2. Um, anywhere! Couch, bed, in the car at school pick up line, under a tree...

3. Tagged! Allende at her best!

4. 2 adults, 1 teen, and 2 cats. RIP Bun Bun 🐇
👩🏻👨🏻‍🦲👱🏻‍♀️🐈 🐈‍⬛

#wondrouswednesday

Eggs Thanks for joining in 💚📗💚 4y
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alisiakae
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Pickpick

I love Isabel Allende. I‘ve read almost everything she has written & met her once. The Del Valle family books have always been my favorites, and this one feels like a return to those earlier novels. This is definitely Allende at her best. A sweeping saga of war and exile, family secrets, love, and loss. Many real people are woven into the story, including Neruda, and both his poems and memoir. I highly recommend!

#pop21 #setinmultiplecountries

alisiakae Interesting tidbit: This is where our kitty #Isabel got her name from 😻 #catsofLitsy 4y
BarbaraBB I haven‘t read her since the 90s, when I used to love her early books and then became a bit disappointed because it felt to me as if she wrote on autopilot. You make me want to reconsider though. This review is tempting, so is mentioning Pablo Neruda. (edited) 4y
Cinfhen Great review 💜makes me want to pick up this book, too @BarbaraBB 4y
See All 12 Comments
Cinfhen And I love the #KittyTidbit 😻Alisia xx 4y
alisiakae @BarbaraBB I haven‘t read some of her 2010s published books because I was starting to feel the same way. I got the impression this was a book she‘s been meaning to write for a while, about the Spanish Civil War, and the ship Neruda organized to evacuate 2200 refugees for resettlement in Chile. 4y
alisiakae @Cinfhen there are a lot of prompts it could fill for #pop21! 4y
BarbaraBB That does sound fascinating. I‘m definitely tempted. 4y
Cinfhen I‘m going to nominate this book for bookclub!! Do u think it‘ll make for good discussion??? 4y
alisiakae @Cinfhen definitely! 4y
Cinfhen Yay!!! Thanks 😊 4y
KVanRead Loved this one and Daughter of Fortune and want to read more by her. Do you have a favorite? 4y
alisiakae My favorites would probably be Daughter of Forgune, Portrait in Sepia, and House of the Spirits. And this one. Maya‘s Notebook holds a special place in my heart because she signed my copy, making it out to my daughter Maya. 😄 But story wise it is not a favorite. 4y
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alisiakae
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I bet Isabel Allende didn‘t realize when she wrote this how easily most readers would be able to relate to a 🧻 shortage shortly after the book‘s publication!

DGRachel I still find the toilet paper shortage befuddling. 🤔 Of all the things I would have thought you‘d need to stockpile for an apocalypse, I never thought toilet paper would be at the tippy top of the list. 4y
aperfectmjk Apparently a luxury item. 4y
5feet.of.fury 😂😂 ahead of its time. 4y
75 likes3 comments
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alisiakae
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Living in a neighborhood with a lot of new homes still under construction means that I don‘t sit and read on my front porch very often. But tonight is the perfect night for that! It‘s fun to listen to the frogs and coyotes in the woods behind our house!