One week in Spain, both books I took have been finished. A new dilemma: Do I read a crap best-seller or do I buy a good book in Spanish. The first one has the advantage of an easy read in holiday time, though will be finished fast which means that I will have the same problem again in a couple of days. The second option gives me the security that I won't have to buy another book in the week that is left, though reading in Spanish is not something that comes easy to me, even though I speak the language fairly fluent. The risk is that I will never even finish the book. Not reading never is an option, so I choose for the Spanish book.The title makes it easier. I have read several books by Allende. Although she usually is referred to as an author of women's books, I rate her very high. The combination of South American fantasy, the poetic language of the characters and the background of justice, i.e. more politics involved than at first sight, to me it is a perfect combination. One of her first novels, "Of love and shadow" ("De amor y sombra") is one of my favourite books of all times.
"Retrato in Sepia" is the story of a young woman. Aurora del Valle was born in California, mixed parents, raised by her grandmother. In three different parts we get to know the story of her life, which starts with the story of her parents and ends with an important discovery. Throughout the book, we get flashbacks and new characters are introduced who have played an important role in her past or will play a similar one in the future. Nearly half a century, nearly 400 pages, before we finally know everything about her. "The portrait in sepia" has finished.
Reading it was easier than I thought. It took me a bit to get used, but after fortysomething pages I knew I was able to read it completely. Plenty of words I don't know, plenty of things I didn't understand. But in the end, the story is strong enough to leave a lasting impression. In addition, the fact that I'm proud I managed to read it in its original language.
