How I Found:  I encountered Isabel Allende for the first time as a literature major. With my limited world-experience, she opened my eyes to a literary and cultural experience that would forever change me as a reader and person.  When I came across this newest of her works, I was ecstatic to find my mentor still teaching me life-long lessons.  Traveling from the Spanish Civil War to Chile with Neruda, once again brought perspective and insight, connecting histories, people, and places I knew in a way I hadn't yet.  
Why You Might Read: Along the way, the war-beaten Victor and the resilient Roser will teach you that sometimes, the person who carries you through is not the person you expect to be there for eternity. Despite their marriage of convenience Victor discovered that,  "He felt certain that as long as she existed, he wouldn't be alone in this world of misfortune." A resonating lesson that in recognizing those constant in our lives, accepting them and being accepted, is where love that lasts across space and time is how we exist beyond this limited life experience.   

​How I Found: In the depth of January, looking for something to fit the season, the whole world seemingly covered in snow and stillness, I uncovered this fairy tale. The white cover and pages drew me in and before I knew it I was wrapped in magic. Along with Mabel and Jack I struggled with their loneliness and longing for a child. Watched them beat back the wilderness of Alaska with the help of wholesome friends and saw the miracles that love and nature create.
Why You Might Read: Like true fairy tales, this one has a message for its readers. With it you’ll find, . . . “The joy and sorrow of a lifetime.” For those who get to live to old age, there is nothing but the balance of life: joy, sorrow, fear, peace, life and death. With these come acceptance but also hope for they live on in the next generation and season.