Sea of Memories

First time reading this author.....really enjoyed the story. Takes place on a barrier island off of Australia. Story was very intertwined and was about relationships, living in a remote place & recording info about the sea turtle population. Also one of the main characters learned a new way to live without the amenities she was used to & she overcame her fears & learned to deep sea dive, discovering another world down under.

What a story--loved it. Loved Ella, can understand her devotion to Robbie and at the same time, could understand her daughter feeling let out of her life. Although she was Daddy's girl she needed her Mother's love and devotion too.. This story was sooo interesting, I coulden't put it down. The author had my attention from the very beginning. Can't wait to read another by Fiona Valpy. Also have to say this story was a real tearjerker!!

I love stories in this period of time, the greatest generation. They lived, loved in a period of such darkness and hardship. They lived a nd survived a period of such evil, and yet when it was over they thrived and survived. I loved the back And forth of this story. Both grandma and granddaughter struggled with their marriage, yet both succeeded in the end.

The author apparently spent too much time digging into her thesaurus. Writing is over the top with silky adjectives and similes. While reading you cannot get into the story because of the distractions. Wondering if she had an editor, or even bothered to review what she had written. Here's an example:

"The three of them walked alongside the donkey-cart, following the road which ran in a straight line across the island, unhindered by hills or valleys, on the flat, low-lying sliver of land. In the evening light, dusk-softened now, tall spikes of hollyhocks glowed against the white render of the fishermen’s cottages clustered here and there along their way. The colours of the flowers –raspberry pink, lemon yellow, dark plum and soft apricot –seemed particularly vivid, as if there were a clarity in the light here that was lacking on the mainland. Ella tipped the brim of her hat low over her eyes, dazzled by the setting sun ahead of them which, even this late in the day, still bathed the island in far more warmth than she’d experienced on even the most clement summer’s day in Scotland. Her body seemed to be expanding, like a seedling unfurling in a hothouse, in response to this sudden surfeit of heat and light. Again, she felt the sense of constraint in her tailored dress and jacket, her stiff leather shoes, her hat and gloves."

In addition to the overly fulsome description of the terrain, note, the conflict between the "dusk-softened light of evening" and the "dazzling" sun. Dusk is the time AFTER sunset. Even before sunset, flowers would be less vivid than described. Do valleys and hills really "hinder" roads that run across and through them?

She also has one of the characters wearing "pedal pushers" in France in 1939, 5 years before the first marketing of such clothing.

Kendra's grandmother is old and doesn't have long to live anymore, but she has one last wish. She wants Kendra to write down her memories. Kendra has a busy life, being the breadwinner at home and taking care of her autistic son, but she's intrigued by her grandmother's request and decides to give it everything she has. Ella's lead an interesting life and before Kendra knows it she's entirely enthralled by her grandmother's story.

It's 1938 and seventeen-year-old Ella is excited. She's going to France for the summer. On Île de Ré she can improve her French by spending time with twins her own age. She immediately falls in love with Christophe, who teaches Ella about beauty, freedom and art. He's a brilliant artist, but his father has other plans for him. The weeks they have together are glorious and Ella's sad when she has to go home and promises she will return to him next summer, which is exactly what she does. Their time together is precious, as Europe is on the brink of war and Ella has no idea what will happen to them in the future.

Ella can't stay in France and Christophe joins the army. There's no way for them to be together and they lose contact. Ella can't sit still and do nothing, she wants to contribute and joins the WAAF. There she meets Angus, a man who would do anything to keep her safe. Ella's life with Christophe seems like a dream, a memory she will cherish forever and due to the war she will never get it back. She has to move on and look at the future, but will she be able to do it? Can she ever leave Île de Ré and everything it meant behind her?

Sea of Memory is a beautiful poignant story. I was greatly impressed by this deep and multilayered love story. Because of the war Ella loses the love of her life and this is something she will never completely get over. She isn't complete when she's in Scotland, even though there's a lot of love in her life. Her time on Île de Ré has left a lasting impression. It was truly special and these memories made me smile and brought tears to my eyes at the same time, because there was so much to lose. The war has brought misery and unrest, but there was also bravery, selflessness and community spirit and Fiona Valpy has perfectly translated these subjects into a fantastic story.

Sea of Memory is tragic and sad, but also hopeful and filled with unconditional love, miracles and friendship. It's a bittersweet story that immediately found its way into my heart. Fiona Valpy's gorgeous descriptive writing style makes the story come to life in an amazing way. She effortlessly captures the magic of Île de Ré and I love how she skillfully creates her atmospheres. She combines this with a perfect thorough exploration of emotions. That makes Sea of Memory a terrific heart-rending story, it's a book that will stay with me for a very long time.

Kendra has the opportunity to write her grandmother's life journey. WWII historical fiction that touches on tough choices made during wartime and truly an amazing life lesson and love story. Seventeen year-old Ella is an Irish girl who visits her mom's best friend and her family, for a magical summer on the coast of the Ile de Re in Paris with twins, Carolina and Christophe. There is instant chemistry between Christophe and Ella but threesome are bound for life. The following summer, Ella deepens her relationship with by spending time with the twins in Paris but falling in love for the first time with Christophe. When Christophe joins the military, Ella has to do her bit and gets involved in helping Paris against the Germans. Do not want to spoil the book but you will be taken on a magical adventure to the wonderful seaside and feel that you are part of their journey.

Cannot wait to read more of Fiona's novels...extremely well written and would give it a 6*, if possible.

I adored this book, so it might seem incongruous that I gave it only four stars. Truthfully, it’s a solid 4.5 just not a 5. Read this, you will come to know and respect Ella. You just might grow to love the person she was. Her story has so many layers to it, so many lessons to be learned from Ella’s living. How profound to share that some hearts will know both a first love and a lasting love, Ella’s fate.

The author does a good job journeying back in time to tell Ella’s story. She has the talent to tell her tale in multiple settings. It simply frustrated me to leap rather haphazardly from one event to the next within a setting. While some authors tell way toooooo much, there were times I wished Fiona would have told us more. That being said, I am ready to read her next book. Sea of Memories held all the promise reviewers claimed it had, read it.

I loved this book. The author expertly wove a message of love and beauty neatly through some terrible times in history. She is magic with her words. Ella 's journey was a realistic portrayal of a woman's life, her everyday challenges, and tragic love. Cristophe's words that spoke of how perfect their love was because it never saw the challenges of every day, his selflessness, and ability to see the beauty of things even through heartbreak was the true gift he gave to Ella and to this book's readers. Although, I understand this was Ella's story, I would have liked to known more about Caroline and Cristophe. The war brought unspeakable pain and tragedy to them both, much more so than Ella had to endure. I would have liked to see that explored a bit more. How did they endure, what got them through? They lost their parents, their aunt and cousins, Cristophe lost his true love yet they persevered. Overall an excellent read and worth one's time.

I could not have loved this story more! The vivid images of each character were made razor sharp by Fiona Valpy's artistic ability to awaken the five senses. I could smell the salt air, the crepes, the stale odor of sickness and disinfectants. I could hear the owl in the night forest and see the co!ors of the sea! The taste of fresh white peaches and caramel and sea salt ice cream were delicious and I could feel the warmth of the sun and the biting cold of the wind. As if these were not enough, Ms. Valpy unlocks the door to the reader's emotions that leads to both depths and heights and leaves you with a sense of satisfaction and a new appreciation for beauty in the midst of the mundane things of this world! If I could speak French Id end with some beautiful poetic French phrase, but since I don't I'll simp!y say, you'll want to eat this story up, so, Bon Apitit!

My initial impression was far removed from my final one. As I began to read this book, I thought it might not hold my interest. It was not a slow read, but something made me wonder if I would love it. Before long I was drawn into Ella's life with a passion that is hard to express. I rarely ever rate a book 5 stars, but this one deserves all the praise I can offer. I feel like I want to be Ella or that I could have been her, so well is her story told. It is a tale of love, discovery, independence, trials, friendship, hardship, and victory. It is history, discovery, romance and fiction all combined to paint a picture of a world we think is gone, but is still very real and worth pursuing. This is true love in every sense! Everyone needs to read this beautiful story!

I just finished a life story so engulfing, so poignantly, lovingly written I feel as if I lived it. A story of loves so deeply rooted it allows it's gossamer wings of steel to carry bodies and souls through every struggle in life. It is not just a story of a great love between two people but of a love of country, family and the true joys of life. Brilliantly detailed description of each character makes them all real. I felt what each one felt.......while at one point I thought I would finish this and be left wanting that was not the case. Beautifully, delightfully, whimsically written with a depth of insight into life that will stay with me for a very long time. Possibly the rest of my life.

Perception is everything. An adult looks at a pebble on the sidewalk and sees just that -- a pebble. A child looks at that same pebble and sees a sizable rock. Another person looking through a magnifying glass looks at that pebble and sees a huge boulder. All perceptions feel right to each person, and as much as their views differ, they are all looking at the same thing. So it is with human relationships. We have an innate ability to read what we want into a conversation, a human gesture or a person's actions.

This was a story of Ella's life - seen from her eyes, seen from her daughter's eyes and seen from her granddaughter's eyes. The story is the same for all, plus or minus a few details, but their perceptions of who Ella is/was all differ. Ella is laying in a nursing home in the much latter part of her life. She has been estranged from her daughter for many years. Her granddaughter visits and Ella asks her to transcribe her recorded life's story. It is a sweet story; it is a sad story; and it is a misunderstood story -- all the same story, but different perceptions. There was much to love and much to learn about Ella's approach to life, happiness and her life's calling.

My favorite paragraph in the book talked about the difference in a parent's love for their child and a spouse's love for their partner. It came fairly early in the story, but it spoke volumes and was the resonating voice throughout the pages that followed.

"The love that you have for your children, that is the only pure and simple kind. It's overwhelming, instinctive, absolute. But it sits alongside the love that you have for your partner, which is another kind of love entirely. That's anything but simple; it's far more complicated; and yet it's the love that we chose, meaning it should really be the easiest one of all, so why do we make it the hardest?"

I was attracted to this book basically because I love Scotland and I was familiar with the Scottish locations in the book. After the first chapter I was enthralled with the characters and the time period and really can't write enough good things about this author and this book! The characters seem real, you can easily imagine the scenery where the book is set in (both Scotland and France). I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not feeling deeply moved. I loved it!

Meaning to look at something a different way. This is what that this story did for me. What's important and what's not not. Fractures in life and love and relationships can all be mended with love that makes it all more stronger and more beautiful. The strength of Ella's love for all those around her created such a beautiful lasting portrait of life. The memoir of Ella not only changed the characters in her fictional life but those who read it also. Applause to the author! Can hardly wait to start the next book of hers.

I enjoyed this book very much. The writer's descriptions are wonderfully evocative and the story moving. I read most of it, but listened to some of it while driving. The reader's repetitious inflections were very distracting, although her reading of Ella's dialogue was excellent.

A ninety year old Scottish grandmother tells her granddaughter about the two loves in her life. At seventeen she is sent to pre-WW II France where she finds her first love in a young boy. Returning to Scotland as WW II threatens and then when it rages, she becomes involved in the war effort, has an exciting covert experience and meets her second love. It is a good story involving human relationships and the lives of the characters.

There was nothing I did not love about this story. One of my favorite books is The Nightingale. Since reading it, it has been difficult to find another story which triggered so many emotions and stayed with me long after turning the last page. Sea of Memories was such a story. I found all of the characters to be relatable and essential, and I felt a kinship to many of them, especially Ella and Kendra. This is one of those stories that left a smile upon my heart.

The author has crafted a multi-layered story of four generations, all impacted by the events of WWII. Capture the memories of your grandparents while they are alive. You maybe surprised and encouraged by the beauty, strength and enduring love they experienced in tragic circumstances, and that are in your genes. Heartbreakingly beautiful and satisfying, teaching lessons I won't soon forget.

I was emersed in this story from the beginning . Each of the characters passing along throughout the story strength, passion for life. Throughout the winding twists and turns of the loves and sorrows of 3 generations during and after WWII the emotions of the characters and positive reassurances from each of them made this story difficult to put down. This story kept me hooked from the beginning.

I have read some very good books recently, but this is the first book in a while that I have had trouble putting down. It beautifully portrays how joy and pain in life are interwoven into a complex tapestry that makes us who we are. How we choose to react to pain and challenge determines whether we find happiness. I didn't want the story to end.

I truly enjoyed this story from beginning to end.
It is very well written & held my attention throughout. Now that I ,myself,have advanced years,I understand Emma's need to share her life's story. We all try to protect our loved ones by teaching what we've learned from our choices...good or bad. Anyway,I loved this book & I will certainly be following this author.

Life is all about choices, though circumstances can influence those choices. Through her grandmother's memories, the author of the story learns far more about herself and her own inner strengths and realizes she too must make choices, especially in love and family, and in the end, she choses the better path, though it is more difficult.

This was like spending a sun filled vacation on a lovely island in the Atlantic. The descriptions are rich and vivid, and the characters are memorable. I highlighted all the names of the flowers Valpy included in her book and hope to plant them one day in my own garden. I want to say thank you for the sea of memories!

This beautiful novel is now among my favorite reads of the year. The author brings a wonderful, metaphorical voice to her writing, evoking the elusive character of the sea as a background for her lovely story. I feel as if I have met these people. The story hinges on choices we make as we navigate our lives, in good times and bad. I love this book!

Sea of Memories is an inspiring story of enduring love, friendship, and family ties. The double narrative--Emma's story and her granddaughter's, provide windows into the experiences of World War II and the full and adventurous life of a 94-year-old woman who must tell her story to help heal family ties and estrangement.

I was swept away by this book. The intrigue during the second world war unfolding into the romance of the French island where Ella formed a lifelong bond with Caroline and Christophe. But the best part, for me, was the unfolding of the relationship between Ella and her granddaughter. Beautiful.

My thanks to the author for delivering such a well written story....a different love story....a life story. You’ll not regret the time spent reading this lovely novel ( although I do kind of wish I would have thrown in a load of laundry before I started to finish the book tonight).

Initially, I had a difficult time staying with this book, as it starts out a bit slow. But, having read and enjoyed other books by Fiona, I decided to stick with it. I am SO glad I did!!! This is a beautiful story of love and the power of love. Well written and I highly recommend it.