A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabelle Allende is historic fiction set in Spain during the Civil War and following a couple on the SS Winnipeg, a boat chartered by Pablo Neruda, as they emigrate to Chile at the start of WWII.

Although not my favorite of Allende’s books, it’s still full of her usual charm, interesting characters and masterful storytelling. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about Spanish refugees at that time and what life was like for them in Chile, until they were exiled yet again under Pinochet’s rule. Allende explores ideas of home, country, family, identity and love with wonderful bits of Neruda’s poetry thrown in the mix. A worthwhile read.