REVIEW: A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

Here's what the book is about: Displaced by the Spanish Civil War, Roser and Victor rebuild their lives in Chile, and we're along for the next half-century as their new home lives through a history just as turbulent as the one they left.

This book lingered on my nightstand longer than I anticipated, almost as if both the story and I were playing a game of hide and seek. I had great expectations because fo the grand reputation of Isabel Allende, and I started this novel hoping to be swept away on a journey through time but I'm not sure I found that.

I did find the plot engaging and as the novel unfolds, Roser and Victor's lives become intertwined, despite not being romantically involved. Roser's musical talents flourish, and she becomes a renowned pianist, while Victor continues his medical career. The two face numerous challenges, including political upheaval, social changes, and personal trials, all set against the backdrop of historical events that shape the course of their lives.

“Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional.”― Isabel Allende, A Long Petal of the Sea

I'm a sucker for historical sagas that span generations, offering glimpses into the intricacies of life and family over time such as Pachinko by Min Jin Lee set in Korea and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi set in Ghana and the United States. But let's just say that this novel left me yearning for more, for that substance that makes a story truly resonate especially one with a historical background where there's many characters and generations and events. Allende's approach was so matter-of-fact simplicity and going through the motions that it kept me at arm's length from the characters. The moment I closed the book, it was almost as if they evaporated from my memory.

I think that's my biggest disappointment because this should have been a book that lingered in my thoughts, that invited me to contemplate the threads of loss, exile, migration, and national identity. But over 60 years of recent Chilean history was crammed into 300 pages with little else left. I think I’m in the minority when it comes to feeling this way, however, my first encounter with Isabel Allende's work has left me with mixed emotions. "A Long Petal of the Sea" held the promise of a poignant historical journey, the trauma of the Spanish Civil War, the difficulty of living under the military dictatorship in Chile, the sorrow of leaving your home behind, and the comfort of creating a new one. However, to me it fell short, leaving me wanting more.

2.5/5✰