This is the story of Alma and Ichi. It covers their entire lifetimes, and it incorporates all that happens to them over the years.

It is also the story of Irinia, a woman from Moldova who works at the care home where Alma resides, looking after the elderly woman.

People who like romance stories. People who find themselves spellbound by beautifully-told stories.

The way Isabel Allende writes with tenderness and care. She paints these characters with brushstrokes so exact. It's a joy to read.

Entering this book is a little like entering the Kingdom of Run-On Sentences. It took me a while to get used to it. Once I did though, I was lost inside the narrative.

Contented. Caught up in this love affair that, today, wouldn't turn heads at all. It made me sad that the characters in this book had to hide their love for one another when in public, and sad that they were born sixty years too soon.

Isabel Allende. Born in Peru and raised in Chile. I didn't realise she is still alive, and this book is one of her more recent ones, being published in 2015.

It's quite simply beautiful. It's a real treat, and a book that covers a lot of events and struggles. But, also, a lot of happiness and joy.

It is quite tough-going at first. Super long sentences. It takes a while to get into it.

The story begins with Alma's being evacuated from her native Poland in 1939 and sent to live with her wealthy aunt, uncle and cousins in San Fransisco. There, she meets Ichimei Fukuda, the family's gardener's son. Instantly, the pair fall in love, despite their young years. They spend as much time together as they can. Also, Alma forms quite an attachment to her sousing, Nathaniel, although more as a brother than anything else. Things change for Alma and Ichi when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbour. Suddenly, it isn't safe for people to see the Japanese family. They are abused and mistreated, eventually being sent to a concentration camp; Topaz, UT. At the end of the war, when liberated, they don't at first return to Alma's Uncle Isaac's employment. They remain in Arizona for some years.

The book follows their love affair. They go for years without seeing one another, but whenever they do, their passion is just as fervent as before. They relish in the act of making love.

Both Ichi and Alma marry other people and have families of their own, but they meet regularly in a seedy hotel room to make the most un-seedy love ever. Alma marries her cousin Nathaniel, and they have one son together. However, their marriage remains one of friendship and not romance. But that is enough for both of them because they are both in love with other people.

The present-day setting of the book is in an assisted living facility. Here, Alma thinks about her life and her Japanese lover. Her grandson Seth spends time with her, collating her memories with a view to making a book out of them. Slowly, Alma opens up to him. Her nurse, Irina Bazili, has her own troubled past, which we slowly learn as the story progresses. Seth loves her from the start, but it is so hard for her to trust anyone. They become closer and, well, I won't give away the ending.

The ending. Oh. I had tears in my eyes. It is absolutely beautiful, and absolutely perfect.

So, the theme of this book is love. Love in all its forms and all its glory. It speaks of how love transcends time. It speaks of different loves that we all have and what they mean to us. It's quite magical, especially at the end.

I have to mention Lenny Beal. An important character who we only really meet a good way into the book, but who it turns out is key to the story. I was really moved at the parts with him in it. He is a great character.

It did take me the first 1/3 of the book to get used to the long sentences. I had to work at it, but I was so lad I did. I didn't expect to enjoy this nearly as much as I did. It captivated me, mesmerised me. The way the author writes of love is incredible. I don't normally read a lot in the romance genre, it's not my favourite. But this book, I could have read another 500 pages.

I want to read more Isabel Allende now that I'm finished.

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Created Jun 13, 2024 at 3:04am • Submit your own review...