In the Midst of Winter: A Novel

Isabel Allende, like any prolific talented writer with a long career, has themes that are very meaningful to her, and she explores them in book after book. Politics, family, generational pride and history, human rights and, of course, passion and love are some of these pertinent topics. IN THE MIDST OF WINTER is another example of the beautiful prose of this remarkable strong woman, activist and writer whose every tome seems to only deepen our respect for her talent and wisdom.

This is a time travel novel that slips back and forth between very specific places and periods, and weaves together a compelling story of present-day Brooklyn, Guatemala in the near past, and Chile and Brazil in the tumultuous 1970s. In Brooklyn, Lucia Maraz deals with a blizzard, a cold basement apartment, and a landlord who is also her boss at NYU and on whom she has a little crush. Visiting professor Lucia ends up helping Richard Bowmaster, the boss, when an undocumented woman from Guatemala gets into a fender bender with him. Evelyn Ortega confides in them about her personal situation and fears that this small accident could contain bigger consequences for her.

As the three of them talk out the situation, they begin to unleash some dark secrets on each other. It is these secrets that lead them to admit that each has suffered loss through political injustice, and that love as well as great despair has been dealt out to them as a result of their experiences. Each character has regrets, fears and a connection to a past where things were not fair and equal. Their friendships with each other are formed on that snowy day in the midst of a very New York–type intersection of their lives.

Each character carries a weight that feels finely wrought. The details they divulge, the attention Allende gives their strife (and her own, including the death of her father, Salvador Allende, in the narrative), and their fears are deep and thoughtful, providing an integrative storyline that pulls the reader in deeper and deeper as more and more details are divulged. The story is complicated and messy --- there are no easy answers or endings to any of their struggles. And yet, there is that overwhelmingly positive sense that simply by sharing your own tale and then considering someone else’s as well, we could all come to a greater understanding and stop the partisan destruction that misunderstandings create in this age of change. It is almost a parable for this time in history --- and Allende knows, from personal experience, that love and justice, and listening and understanding, really are the answers to the world’s problems.

Immigrants and refugees are very much on our minds these days as we all fight to ensure their freedoms and rights. IN THE MIDST OF WINTER brings those important topics to the forefront in a story for the ages --- a timeless tale of coming together that hopefully will shine a light on how best we can work together in the real world, in real time, to improve everyone’s future prospects. Allende is poetic, filling her book with a light and savory prose that belies its intense political undertones and thus makes it a very readable story.

Allende is on a big book tour for this novel, and I strongly suggest checking out her website for the details. Thank her for this beautiful work. I hope that all readers find some wisdom in the story that they can take to heart in these difficult times. I certainly did.

Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

I would rate this a 3.5. This is not one of my favorite Isabel Allende novels. I really enjoyed her most recent novel, The Japanese Lover, but I found this one lacking in cohesion and engagement. The focus of the novel is an incredibly interesting tale of three very different people but with a common thread of roots to South America or Central America, each having lost a brother, and the challenges of immigration (legal and illegal), love, torture and murder, and forgiveness. Richard Bowmaster is a professor in his 60s NYU who experienced a heartrending tragedy in Brazil; Lucia Maraz is a survivor of the murderous rampages in Chile after the 1973 military overthrow of Salvador Allende, and now teaching at NYU with Richard; and Evelyn Ortega, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who as a young child saw firsthand the terrors of gang violence and government inaction and how it affected her and her immediate family. A snowy night in Brooklyn brings them all together and out of their comfort zones. I really got into it at the beginning but then found it disjointed and had trouble maintaining my interest. It does go back and forth in time, a literary tool that has often worked in other novels but not for me in this one. I did find the historical aspects very interesting, the gruesome times in Chile and Guatemala and which are topics that are indeed very current in today’s world. this story legal and illegal. However, although I did not enjoy this book as much as some of her other novels, one cannot underestimate Isabel Allende’s incredible prose and writing style.

In the Midst of Winter was a huge disappointment for this reader. I expected more from Allende. The story was not fluid, jumping around way too much. The characters were not well developed despite the enormous amount of added details that became tedious. The topics of immigration, undocumented immigrants, human trafficking,spousal abuse, special needs children, murder, mafia style crime, and love are all rolled into a huge jumble of words. The very serious topics are juxtaposed with a ridiculous story line of murder and disposing of a body. The contrivances were too extreme to work . At one point in the novel, a main character steps in moose sh_t. Need I say more!!!!

Ordinarily I’m not a fan of books that jump around in time and are told in different voices but that’s what made this one so effective. The stories reveal circumstances from the past lives of Richard, Lucia and Evelyn that were so wrenching that I couldn’t have endured reading them without the pull from the crazy contemporary situation that bound the three of them together together, literally a page turner every bit as compelling as a thriller.

Lucia grew up in middle-class Chile during the Allende era and Evelyn grew up in Guatemala in poverty during the purges. The circumstances weren’t all that different and each woman had lost a brother. I had to stop and read those two stories again for clarification and it mattered later. In spite of the knuckle-biting adventure in the snow, Allende has some very serious modern issues that she leaves for her readers to think about, including immigration, human trafficking and LGBT which is also thrown in the mix, all without a heavy hand. A surprise ending was the frosting on the cake. As always when I read a book that I’ve enjoyed as much as this one, I’m left with the question - what on earth am I going to read next?!

This is my third book by Isabella Allende and each one has been uniquely different from the other. I know she has a large body of work and I’m happy to know there are so many books waiting for me to discover.

As other readers have commented, this novel was laced with too much political opinion, pain and suffering and, I would add, a plot and "love story" so absurd they provided no redemption. The 3 characters are essentially strangers to each other but quickly concoct a crazy plan to drive a dead body through the snowy frozen country, dump it and then, without any emotion, cover up for the killer as vigilante justice. Really?? And the romance goes from zero to 100mph based on "he knew very little about Lucia and even less about himself, but none of that would matter if she was to reciprocate his love." Really?? Just absurd. I listened to the audiobooks of both of Isabel's memoirs and thought they were just brilliant and funny, so I was extremely disappointed with this novel. I've cancelled plans to go see Isabel on this book tour.

What I Liked

The premise. It may be that I was particularly taken with the idea that the premise of the novel was based on an actual episode in Allende’s past. Or it may be that I just love winter and even a good snow storm once in a while. I just found the concept of three very dissimilar characters becoming trapped together (in more ways than one) during a snowstorm really intriguing. It’s an ideal setup for the characters to tell each other (and the readers) their stories, as well as and opportunity for them to get into several entertaining capers. One of these capers may or may not involve a murder, but don’t worry – Allende herself assured that this is NOT a thriller.

The character backstories. Richard, Lucia and Evelyn are three very different people who find themselves thrown together in unexpected circumstances. Hilarity definitely ensues as each adapts to the quirks of the other, especially Richard to Lucia’s fieriness and wit. What I most loved about the characters, though, was learning about their pasts through regressions in the plot of the novel. In particular, Evelyn’s story was incredibly moving and harrowing as well as highly topical as an all too realistic example of the despair which leads people to leave their home country as refugees. Lucia’s story was similar in its heaviness and sadness, somewhat mirroring Allende’s own story living in exile from Chile after the 1970s coup.

The theme of rebirth and second chances. Allende spoke at length during the event I attended about times in her life when she felt she was in a form of hibernation, waiting to believe in life or love again. The snowstorm setting of this novel acts as a foil for the internal winters each character is experiencing to different degrees, whether by hiding from love, experiencing physical insecurity after an illness or living in near slavery. Allende clearly believes that when life seems most difficult, with time it’s still possible to make a new start. The stories she weaves for her characters throughout this novel epitomize the essence of that ethos. The inescapable events that draw Richard, Lucia and Evelyn into their orbit bring out their dormant strengths and provide the needed catalyst for each of them to change their lives.

What I Didn't Like

A bit cheesy in parts. There were parts of this book that were extremely sad and even at times involved graphic violence, but the majority was a relatively straightforward entertaining read about the adventure Allende’s three protagonists face. I appreciated that Allende counterbalanced the darker chapters with lighter and more humorous ones, but at times her writing almost seemed romance novel like and definitely cheesy in the repartee between two of the main characters. I also felt that the ending of the novel was too tidy and simplistic considering some of the complexity of the plot. She could have further explored the potential consequences of some of her primary and secondary characters’ actions to make it a more realistic ending.

Final Verdict

Dark and profound when dealing with the past – adventurous and entertaining when dealing with the present, this novel’s effortless combination of lightness and depth make for a satisfying quick read that will make you think about new beginnings.

Summary:
        A severe snow storm in Brooklyn makes for unlikely friendships and love when three people- two women, both immigrants, and a dour professor are thrown together by chance.  They tell their stories as time and situation keep them together.  A story filled with pain, but also compassion; guilt and forgiveness.  Two people, in the winter of their lives, will find a love that could complete them.
My Thoughts:
I have loved Allende ever since I first read Eva Luna when I was fifteen.  This is still what I consider to be the gold star for magical realism.  With her way with descriptions and her beautiful characters, she can get me out of myself better than any other author.   I now own the book in paper (my eighth copy) and eBook…. and I eagerly await an audible edition (in English please).  When I saw that Netgally and Atria books was offering her newest novel…. well, I had to have it.  Many thanks guys, please know that  I will be buying the audible edition for myself and at least one hard back for Christmas presents.
Now, this book was spectacular to me because of the time she spent introducing each character- fanning them out and breathing life and pain into them.  Their stories broke my heart- Allende has a gift for making things real and terrifying with just a few words.  I feel that this is important, especially now when so many (POTUS) try to use immigrants- both legal and illegal- as scapegoats for issues that they don’t want to take a deeper look at.  Seeing the stories of where these women came from humanized the issues faced by so many- though hopefully not to this extent.  This is not a quick read for me- I had to take my time, breathe it in and take breaks; but it was worth it.  I loved this book so much!  Five stars!!!    
On the adult scale, there’s a lot.  Violence, language, alcoholism, light sexual content, rape….. this is one that while I would let my niece read, there would be a discussion later- there are, after all, some very heavy hitting content.  I give it a seven.

Stranded in the basement of her boss's Brooklyn brownstone (from whom she rents a space that has seen better days) during one of the worst winter storms in recent history, university professor Lucia Maraz assumes that she'll only have to endure the inconvenience of this arrangement until the snow clears. However, when Richard Bowmaster, her boss and landlord, accidentally rear-ends the Lexus of a man who may have ties to significant criminal activity, she realizes that she may be in for more than she'd ever imagined.

"Lucia had joked to Richard that he should sell this relic with its rickety stairs and dilapidated doors and grow old living like royalty on a Caribbean island, but Richard was a gloomy man whose natural pessimism was reinforced by the demands and drawbacks of a house with five large empty rooms, three unused bathrooms, a closed-off attic, and a first floor with such high ceilings that you needed an extension ladder to change a lightbulb."

Putting aside the drama of the aforementioned scenario, Allende shines, as usual, thanks to her ability to weave stories into stories. The historical references, as both Lucia and Richard recount the experiences of their younger days to Evelyn Ortega, terrified driver of the Lexus, are spectacular; this novel reminds me why I am drawn to the events that have taken place in Latin America over the past several decades.

"Parks for children had been created on the banks of the Mapocho River, and no one remembered the garbage or the bodies the river had once carried away. In the center, the gray buildings, the traffic of buses and motorbikes, the drab poverty of office workers, the weary passersby, and the boys juggling at the streetlights to beg a few pesos were in stark contrast to the shopping malls of the rich neighborhoods."

Thrown together under difficult circumstances, and with an interesting bit of cargo in the trunk of the Lexus, these three characters, in the midst of their trauma, unravel their own struggles in their efforts to help one another. From grief and disappointment to love and generosity, Allende highlights the power of unexpected relationships and the uncanny ways in which we are all connected.

Having studied Latin American history and the Spanish language in college, I have read several of Allende's novels (even in Spanish; I'm sure I couldn't do that now!); she continues to inspire with her colorful, descriptive writing and sense of adventure.

I discovered Isabel Allende when I was assigned to read House of the Spirits in 8th grade...I had a very progressive english teach, and I have read all of her novels to date. In the Midst of Winter was really three different stories, which I think were told for the contemporary reader, who may not recall, or be aware of the South American political history of the 60's and 70's and of the abuse, poverty and fear that drove Central Americans into the US in the 80's and 90's in droves. I found this book to be especially poignant in this time and place, due to our very unique political issues and struggles. Lucia, a visiting professor from Chile was truly the glue and the level-head (though with slightly macabre humor) that held this group together. Evelyn was the young, undocumented immigrant from Guatamala, with an incredibly tragic past, and Richard, a professor at NYU who leads the life of a careful hermit to escape his ghosts, wraps up the trio. This book tackled themes of aging, racism, immigration, loss, substance abuse, and ultimately, hope. Had this been any other writer, I don't think I would have quite so drawn to the story, but I cannot resist the storytelling of Ms. Allende. She writes beautifully and powerfully about extremely important, yet uncomfortable, topics. As always, I believe Isabel Allende is one of the greatest storytellers of our time.

I received a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review

Forced together during a winter storm, three people (Richard, Lucia, Evelyn) bond during an unlikely adventure. During their time together, they shared secrets and troubled experiences from their pasts. Why is Evelyn absolutely terrified of her employer, Frank Leroy? Why are Richard and Lucia compelled to help Evelyn even though she's a stranger?

Since the author herself revealed a secret in an interview, I'm going to include it here: "... And, there is also a body in a car."

I very much enjoyed learning about life in Brazil (Richard), Chile (Lucia), and Guatemala (Evelyn), especially the intense look inside the life of an illegal immigrant. Even though I guessed the ending, it did not at all detract from my enjoyment of the story. This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I look forward to more!

The title was taken from the following quote by Albert Camus: "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back."

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Locations: Present-day Brooklyn, Guatemala in the recent past, and 1970s Chile and Brazil.

Three different people are brought together in an interesting premise that travels from present-day Brooklyn to Guatemala in the recent past to Chile and Brazil in the 1970s.

The story opens with a minor car accident which becomes the catalyst for an unexpected relationship between two people who thought they were living in the winter of their lives. Richard Bowmaster is a 60-year-old American human rights scholar that had lived for a time in Brazil. During a snowstorm, Richard hits the car that Evelyn Ortega is driving. She is a young, undocumented immigrant from Guatemala working as a nanny in the city. At first it seems like a just a minor fender bender, but when Evelyn turns up at the professor’s house needing help, the situation becomes serious. Richard doesn't know what to do with the young woman so he calls on his tenant, Lucia Maraz for her advice. Lucia is a 62-year-old lecturer from Chile who is attracted to Richard but has given up any hope of a more intimate relationship.

These three very different people are brought together in a captivating story. Allende's narrative moves from present-day Brooklyn to Guatemala in the recent past to 1970s Chile and Brazil and sparks the beginning of a long overdue love story between the two older characters, Richard and Lucia.

Allende explores the timely issues of human rights and the plight of immigrants and refugees. It is a much needed novel in these regards. However, having the story unfold the way it does is a disservice to the weighty topics that she depicts. The structure is disjointed—the life stories are much more interesting than the modern day storyline that binds the characters together and I felt that Allende should have used another narrative style. The backstories are beautifully written and incredibly moving in their harsh realities but again, the present day plot takes away from this. Perhaps this was done on purpose, to juxtapose a love story against the darkness.

Isabel Allende is one of my favorite authors but I don’t think this is one of her best novels. Usually I’m struck repeatedly by the beauty of how she puts words together. And while there were a few places where that happened in this book, most of it read like a work from a more standard writer. But that wasn’t my main problem was this one. My larger issue was that the book did not seem to have a clear focus — as though the author was not sure which story she wanted to tell.

The book centers on three main characters.
• Richard is an aging professor, an alcoholic, and a man who has walled himself off from life, in response to deep guilt and trauma.
• Lucia, a Chilean-born academic who is temporarily renting a room in Richard’s Brooklyn brownstone, is also working to come to terms with the brutality her family suffered under Chile’s continually shifting political realities.
• Evelyn is a young Guatemalan immigrant, without papers, working in NY as an underpaid aide to a disabled child. She too was the victim of a brutal politically-motivated crime, back in her native country.

A harsh snowstorm places these three people together squarely in the middle of a murder mystery. And on top of that, the book delves into in a variety of unrelated themes, including domestic violence, human trafficking, mature love, depression, and the mystical beliefs that run through so much of South American culture. Plus, there are the back stories of the three main characters that must be unveiled. A lot to include, right?

On the plus side, a lot happens so the book so it keeps moving along. And each character’s story is interesting to learn. In fact, it’s all interesting. I guess I just think, in this case, less would have been more.

This novel can easily be called a comedy of errors, except it is not a comedy but a wacky adventure based on mix-ups and misunderstandings piled on top of one another.

The story begins in a snowstorm with a car accident when the distracted NYU professor Richard Bowmaster rear ends a Lexus, popping open the trunk, which is driven by Evelyn Ortega, an undocumented Guatemalan refugee/worker for a mobster’s wife. Evelyn escapes in a panic. Later on, Evelyn shows up at Richard’s door, trembling and in fright. Not understanding what Evelyn is saying, Richard calls his tenant and colleague Lucia Maraz. Lucia calms Evelyn by telling her that she, too, has been exiled from Chile. Richard’s parents have also fled the Nazis. Richard and Lucia find out that the Lexus belongs to Frank Leroy, which Evelyn has borrowed the car without permission to find the corpse in the trunk later. Feeling for Evelyn, Lucia and Frank want to help her and thus starts their adventure of mishaps and mix-ups as they drive through upstate New York through the snowstorm that lasts for days in order to get rid of the corpse.

The story goes back and forth in time as each character talks about his or her own backstory, a bit too much for my liking. If the readers are reading this from a book, they should be fine, since they can go back more easily and reread, but if they are listening to its audio version, it is a given that they’ll lose track of the story with all three very different people’s backstories and the numerous back and forth of the storytelling.

Despite all that back and forth, characterization is superb and especially Evelyn’s trials and tribulations, as she tries to make it into the United States, are eye-opening, which I am sure, what happened to Evelyn reflects the true harrowing experiences and harsh realities of the refugees. The story or the trek itself is exciting and mesmerizing added to each character’s specific experiences.

The love relationship that develops between Richard and Lucia both in their sixties adds a romantic interest to the story. The harsh lives of the two women and their beliefs in the magical and their such experiences juxtaposing with Richard’s somewhat easier life and realism makes up a sensational story with a stunning twist at the end.

When Richard Bowmaster hits the back of the Lexus that Evelyn Ortega is driving in the middle of a snowstorm, he is suddenly enmeshed in a much more serious crime. He asks Lucia Maraz, his basement tenant for advice, and the three are off on an adventure none could have foreseen. Along the way, the reader learns the backstories of each: Richard is a professor at NYU who lived in Brazil for many years, Lucia is also a professor from Chile, and Evelyn is an undocumented refugee from Guatemala.
Their stories are especially important in today's world, dealing with refugees seeking asylum, human rights, and human trafficking. Meanwhile, the growing relationship between Richard and Lucia is sweet and is the perfect anchor that holds the disparate sections of the story together. Some of the scenes dealing with what's happening in Guatemala and what happened in Chile are hard to read but are also something Americans should know.
The title comes from a quote from Albert Camus: "In the midst of winter, I finally found there was within me an invincible summer." It not only represents the senior romance between Richard and Lucia, but also the resiliency of each of the three main characters. The writing is excellent, humorous without preaching. I very much enjoyed this book.

In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
Title: In the Midst of Winter
Author: Isabel Allende
Read by: Dennis Boutsikaris, Jasmine Cephas Jones & Alma Cuervo
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: Approximately 9 hour and 47 minutes
Source: Simon & Schuster Audio Digital Review Copy – Thank-you!

Richard is a professor in his 60’s who is set in his ways and is patiently riding out a large blizzard in New York City. When he is involved in a minor car accident with a young woman, Evelyn, who he believes only speaks Spanish, he brings his tenant Lucia up from her apartment to help. They both discover that Evelyn can speak English . . . and that she has a dead body in her trunk. Evelyn is an undocumented migrant who left brutal violence in her native Guatemala for a better life in the United States. If they call the police, Evelyn may be deported. What will the three do? Who is the dead body and why were they killed?

I like that the story involved is at its heart a love story between Richard and Lucia. They are both in their 60’s and in the “midst of winter.” They have both had romantic disappointments in life, are they ready for a new spring?

I also really enjoyed the background story of each character. In particular I was intrigued by the story of Evelyn’s journey to America and escape from the brutality in Guatemala. It really made me appreciate what young immigrants have to go through to survive. Lucia’s story in Chile and the history of brutality in that country was fascinating and disturbing as well. Richard had an interesting back story involving tragedy and his own ill behavior. I’ll admit to liking him less once I knew his story.

In this book all three characters are narrators of different sections. I enjoy that the audiobook uses three different narrators to read these sections and give a unique voice to each of the characters. It made the book a very enjoyable listening experience.

I also really loved how the book delved into the hot topic of immigration and gave face and story to an illegal immigrant. Besides showing why Evelyn would want to migrate here, it also showed what a mess the immigration system is for anyone trying to get into the country. The story gave a lot of food for thought on current political topic.

Favorite Quotes:
“He was so unfamiliar with this peaceful sense of happiness he did not even recognize it.”

“Her body was growing old, but inside she still kept intact the adolescent she once was.”

Overall, In the Midst of Winter is a mystery, romance, and story of three unlikely people coming together to help each other and change their futures.

IN THE MIDST OF WINTER
Isabel Allende

MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Simon and Schuster Audio
PUBLISHED November 2, 2017

A relevant and lyrical novel that runs the gamut of emotions, blending humor, tragedy, depression and love.

SUMMARY
IN THE MIDST OF WINTER begins with a minor traffic accident on a snowy morning in Brooklyn. Richard Bowmaster, a depressed 60-year-old human rights professor slides on the snow into the rear a white Lexus causing some minor damage. The Lexus is driven by Evelyn Ortega, a young undocumented Guatemala immigrant who works as a nanny for a New York gangster. She immediately drives off, as Richard throw his business card through her window. The accident takes a serious turn when Evelyn shows up on Richard’s doorstep later that evening in immense distress and uncommunicative. Not knowing what to do, Richard calls his downstairs tenant Lucia Maraz, a 62-year-old visiting professor from Chile, for help. After several hours, Richard and Lucia are finally able to understand the full extent of Evelyn’s plight regarding the accident and they agree to help her. Later the next day the three travel together to upstate New York in an attempt to resolve Evelyn’s issue. During this trip the story branches into the backstories for each of three protagonists. The backstories, a significant part of the novel takes the reader to Guatemala, Chile and Brazil. Ultimately, a charming unexpected love story develops between Richard and Lucia, who both had given up on ever finding love again.

REVIEW
ISABEL ALLENDE has artfully woven a lyrical novel running the gamut of emotions. This spellbinding novel creatively blends humor, tragedy, depression and love. It takes us places we have never been and shows us things we have never seen. The backstories for each of the three protagonists are tragic, yet here they are in New York trudging though the snow and helping a stranger. The novel is informative and revealing, and at the same time gives us hope, that after the worst thing that could ever happen to you happens, good may ultimately follow, in the most unexpected circumstances.

Lucia’s character was adorable and steals the show, she is feisty and full spunk. She sums up this amazing story when she tells Richard, “Enough wallowing in the sorrows of the past. The only cure for so much misfortune is love.” Richard, on the other hand, adds much levity to the story by his eccentricities and his stomach problems. Evelyn, is in a word, resilient. She has been through more than we can imagine and she still manages to show care and compassion for others. All three diverse characters uniquely come together to form the perfect ensemble in a most relevant book.

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.”
- Albert Camus

I love Isabel Allende. In my mind her books are always a warm hug, keeping the threats of a cold world at bay for a few hours.

In the Midst of Winter takes this analogy of a cold world even further. The book begins in a blizzard in New York City, while the characters keep warm in their own respective homes. Richard is 60 and set in a very strict routine, refusing to acknowledge his attraction to Lucia, a 62 year-old Chilean woman living in his basement apartment.

When a car collision brings young Guatemalan immigrant Evelyn into their world, the two are drawn together in an effort to help Evelyn. Between chapters telling the story of their adventure, Allende also tells their individual stories in their Central American homes, which also gives readers a glance at the histories of those countries (Chile, Guatemala, and Brazil, FYI).

The title In the Midst of Winter works in other ways as well. The story takes place in the midst of the winter season, so there’s that obvious point. But Richard and Lucia are in the winters of their lives, and much of the story focuses on the question of love and a relationship for them. Can they find love?

There is so much heartache and sadness in each character’s history, and how each of them survives the heartache is so human and real. Lucia is the catalyst of this story, the one that brings them all together and pushes them to solve Evelyn’s problem and to live a bit.

I believe the overriding theme of In the Midst of Winter is ‘don’t give up!’ Keep pushing, keep dreaming, keep going even when it seems impossible. Step out your comfort zone and live a bit!

I loved the backstories and the history of their respective tumultuous countries. Lucia grew up in the shadow of facism in Chile in the 1970’s, losing a brother in the ensuing governmental change. Evelyn grew up in Guatemala during the rise of MS-13, and is forced to travel with a mule to the United States, where she became an underage refugee. Richard lived in Brazil for a few years do post-grad work, and ended up with a very sad story that caused him to shrink his life drastically.

The backstories, and the history, all add to the ‘adventure’ during the snow storm. The actions of all three characters are understandable because of their histories.

Underlying the ‘adventure’ is the hope for a romance between Richard and Lucia. Will they? won’t they? Can he overcome his anxiety? Can she cajole him out of his routine? Can Evelyn help bring them together, or will she tear them apart? All of these questions float through the book, and all are answered.

I loved this story. I love the thought of love through the ages, and I loved the intertwining of history throughout. A great read, perfect for cold, winter days!

A goal of mine in 2017 was to try books that are outside of the genres I typically pick up, which really encouraged me to give this book a try. In The Midst of Winter follows three very different people that are brought together due to unlikely circumstances. It takes place over multiple timelines and the main plot follows Richard Bowmaster, Lucia Maraz, and Evelyn Ortega in present day New York. Richard hits Evelyn's car in the middle of a snowstorm. After realizing thing are more serious than they Eem at first Evelyn shows up at Richard's house. Not knowing what to do Richard enlists the help of his neighbor/colleague Lucia and the story between these characters takes off from there.

My favorite thing about this novel was going into the past and learning about where each character came from and how they got to where they currently are. Each character had such a heart breaking story. I loved being able to follow their stories and see how they were able to overcome so much. I also really loved that I learned some things while reading. I had to take a step back and really think about each event in the character's lives and the consequences of those events. I would like to do some research to learn more of the basis where each character's story came from.

While I did enjoy the story I don't think I read this at the right time in my life. It took a lot out of me to get through but I felt like I wasn't retaining a lot of the information. I ended up switching over to the audiobook and once I did I felt like I was able to become completely immersed in the story and really enjoy it. However, I wasn't able to personally connect with any of the characters. Once again, the background of the characters as well as the mystery/thriller component was the main source of my enjoyment. In The Midst of Winter is a book I would like to revisit in the future! For now, it was an entertaining look on what it means to be human and how that experience is affected by different circumstances and experiences.

Allende will always tell a good story and she does so here again. All three of the main characters are interesting, unique, and easy to connect to as a reader. Even the secondary characters around the periphery of the story are intriguing. The political circumstances in Latin and South America are fascinating to see from such a personal point-of-view and touch on issues that still plague the Americas today including immigration, human trafficking, gangs, violence, and political upheaval.

The problem for me was the delivery, which is why there are only four stars despite the wealth of what is good about this book. The vast majority of the story has already happened and takes place in flashbacks. By the time we get to the inciting incident that moves the three main characters down a path together (in the present), we've already had multiple chapters of explanation of their individual pasts and personalities. I'm not against flashbacks as a storytelling device, it's just that was the majority of the story in this book. And, by having so many flashbacks, it completely removes the tension from the present circumstances, which I found more interesting and suspenseful.

I also really missed the magical realism that I've come to love from Allende. I thought that by having characters so believing and well versed in the mythical traditions of the Americas would lend itself to more usage of it. Despite all this, I will read the next Allende novel for sure.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Atria Books, and the author Isabel Allende for the opportunity to do so.

A blizzard in New York? A fender bender? An unlikely...but yet likely, trio of characters. What a great combination for another amazing story by Isabel Allende. Once again, she takes each character's past and weaves it into an adventure shared, that is not only believable...but again, somehow likely. Perhaps laws are broken, but which ones? And does it matter?
For over 30 years, Allende has had the ability to completely transport this reader into each of her stories. This book is no different! The past experiences of each character is rich with color, feelings, and wisdom. Their lives are brought together by a series of upheavals, but written so smoothly that each time you close the book, it all (somehow) makes sense. In the Midst of Winter makes ‘willing suspension of disbelief’ easy, and quite entertaining!

Any day is a good day to read about the redemptive power of love. In her novel titled, In the Midst of Winter, Isabel Allende draws three dissimilar characters together to tell each other their personal stories. Experiences in Latin and South America about human trafficking and immigration bring them together, and the care they show each other becomes a driving force in the plot. Allende explores how maturity can deepen the love that can develop between people approaching the sunset of their lives.

Rating: Four-star (I like it)

While I am quite fond of some of this author's earlier works, this one just didn't have the same charm for me. It started out interesting and I had hopes that it would continue on that way, but it just seemed to fall flat after a few chapter. I found myself struggling to pay attention and keep the thread of the story. perhaps it was the way it bounced around from one character to the next, but I just couldn't keep my attention focused on this book.

As usual, the author created beautiful, interesting characters, but this story just wasn't one that I could lose myself in. I encourage others to read it and form their own opinions. There were some truly captivating sentences in this book and there is no doubt that the author is good at her craft. I simply didn't feel a connection with this book.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book on many levels. The first story and basic plot of the book concerns Richard, a Professor at NYU, who lightly rear-ends Evelyn on a very snowy evening. The next day Evelyn, an undocumented immigrant, shows up at Richard's door telling him that she can't return with the car to her employer because it has a dead body in the trunk. Richard then involves his tenant, Lucia, and the story goes on from there. There are also three back stories; the first one is about Evelyn's horrible time in Guatemala, and her gripping escape from there. The second story is about Lucia, who was from Chile, and also a refugee. Then there is Richard, who marries a woman from Brazil and their story. This is a light read in spots, a romance in spots and a gripping story in other places. I definitely recommend this book.

I think this is an important story about the immigrant/refugee experience but I really could not connect with any of the characters. They provided enough interest that I kept reading but I was not excited or moved by the story. It was not until the middle of the book that I became curious enough to finish the book.

I could not put my finger on the problem but despite all the emotional events described, I could not feel the emotions. It may have had something to do with the jumping between the characters stories and voices but for me it did not work.

It was an easy quick read and gave me a greater understanding of the refugee plight but I found the book disappointing.

Interesting book that at first seems to be a tight story about one main incident involving three people, but then slowly reveals itself to be a much wider storyline that delves into the plight of two different immigrants, one from Guatemala, and one from Chile, as well as an American that spent a lot of time living in Brazil. I enjoyed the writing and the character development. There is a lot of backstory, but I feel that it’s done extremely well, and it adds to the current storyline by filling in some blanks.

This is my first book by Allende! Have no idea what took me so long to pick one up. But now I know it will not be my last. Looking forward to reading some of her others.

The author has talent, which I suppose her awards and accolades testify too, but this was a boring read. I pushed myself through it: through the storyline, through the characters, through the historical reflections that heavily laced this book. I couldn't wait for it to end. And at the end, the supposed plot twist was something I had already figured out since shortly after the issue was introduced at the beginning.
I will not recommend this book unless you love history in general and want it in the context of a story. And perhaps also if you have strong opinions about the illegal immigrant issue in the United States from either side of the question.

How do you respond to tragedy, from the loss of family members to the inescapable indignities of growing old? What are our obligations, beyond the law, to refugees? How do you build a just society in an age of cruel states and dictatorships?

In the Midst of Winter starts with a car accident on a snowy day, an incident that upends the lives of everyone involved. Richard Bowmaster, a stuffy norteamericano academic, gets drawn into the lives of Evelyn Ortega, an illegal immigrant, and Lucia Maraz, a lusty 60-something Chilean. All three are haunted by painful tragedies, their lives shaped by the loss of loved ones. Drawn together in conspiracy, they grow closer as they share the stories of their lives.

People from hundreds, maybe thousands, of miles apart – for fateful or other reasons – converge to the city and become involved with an accidentally stupid tripping over a murdered body. Metaphorically speaking and in reality.

So what do good people do in a bad situation. Stupid things.

Do they get hurt for doing what they thought was the right thing to do? You have to read the novel for that question’s answer.

In this as good as the House of the Spirits? No.

But, this author can really tell a story. It is so believable, that you wonder if it is true nonfiction.

Isabel Allende is one of my favorite writers. She weaves her tale by skillfully drawing the readers deep into her characters' heart, soul, and psyche. In the Midst of Winter tells the life stories of three people -- Lucia, Evelyn, and Richard --- whose lives are irrevocably thrust together on a cold winter day, the impact of which is life altering. Lucia and Evelyn's stories are compelling, and the more you learn about them, the more you love them. Richard is the opposite -- the more you learn of his life story, the less sympathetic you become of him and the traumas buried in his past. However, his contact with these two women, his compassion helping Evelyn, and his evolving friendship with Lucia, thaws the chill of his past, and changes him for the better.

In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in early November.

Richard consults his Chilean lodger Lucia when he gets into an auto accident with Evelyn, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. Then, over a batch of pot brownies, each of them bond over their life stories of things left unsaid and the frivolousness of youth & beauty (you know, typical Allende stuff), before the story turns vaguely and morbidly slapstick when Evelyn reveals a MacGuffin in the trunk of her car (which has been borrowed from the catty, thankless family that she works for as a PCA) that leads to, quite naturally, a road trip.

Isabel Allende in my opinion is a gifted writer but this novel is a thinly veiled attack on the immigration system in the US. Her insertion of Donald Trump as a reason for xenophobia and hatred of Latinos is pathetic. She is so critical of US laws and justice, the horrible way we treat "undocumented" aliens, and the way police discriminate against latinos, yet talks about how these aliens should all be allowed to live here. She expresses her opinion clearly though one character who says, "Money and crime do not respect borders. ...Why [should} we human beings..do so?" I get plenty of politics in the news, I do not need it shoved inartfully down my throat in a novel. I hope Allende can redeem herself in subsequent works.

Isabel Allende is a wonderful writer with a deep sense of irony. The juxtaposition of the melancholy, wintry world the characters find themselves in is a sharp contrast to the hot, vibrant and violent climates and cultures from which they come.
Readers who didn't like the novel complained that the plot was improbable; but stranger things than that happen every day on this wildly improbable, spinning globe. I've never been disappointed in Allende's work. She is always adept at weaving the political heartbreak she has observed firsthand into stunning fiction.

An interesting read, taking place through a short span of time in the present, yet with much reflection on the past. This story ties together three characters, with their own tragic histories, coming together though an accident. Much reflection on South American challenges, immigration, helping others without judgement, and forgiveness ourselves. Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Isabel Allende for letting me read this reflective novel "In the Midst of Winter".

It was poorly written. I have read all her books and this one has politics in it. It was not necessary like when she wrote the House of the Spirits. It is her own point of view and is not the common denominator of her readers specially when she is referring to this country that she was not born here.

Boring and lack of imagination for these days of politics.

I was disappointed with this book expecting much more from Isabel Allende. The writing was bland and the plot seemed contrived to meet some of the hot topics of our time - immigration and diversity while attempting to connect 3 characters scarred from their lives experiences. I hope as January 8, the date each year Allende likes to begin new books, she stays true to her earlier works.

Isabel Allende's In the Midst of Winter is a story of romance, compassion, guilt, emotional scarring, and forgiveness. In her signature fashion, Allende blends history and culture to provide a rich backstory for the characters, Richard, Lucia, and Evelyn. All three lovable characters have South American connections. Lucia grew up in Chile during the 1973 overthrow of Salvatore Allende. Evelyn's grandmother raised her and her brothers in poverty and dire circumstances, while her mother immigrated to the United States. Richard met his wife in Brazil and lived with her family, while the couple suffered devastating losses. Alternating between a loosely-held together present-day plot line and flashbacks to the past, readers learn of each of the characters' painful journeys. The relationships between the three characters are endearing. I applaud Ms. Allende for her realistic portrayal of romantic love between middle-aged characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC of In the Midst of Winter, and to Isabel Allende for once again providing an intimate glimpse into worlds previously unknown to me.

This is the first book I have read by Allende and really enjoyed reading it. It centered around the relationship of two professors in New York, both of whom suffered tragedies in their life. They met another woman from Guatamala and learned about her challenges in that country and went on anadventurous ride in a car containing a corpse, connected to the other woman's employment as a nanny in New York. The writing was excellent and the content was humorous as well as serious and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Coincidentally the backgrounds of the two women from Chile and Guatamala and their immigration issues are timely .

It's a story told over a few decades about the lives of migrants, including illegal, from South America. It's a story of late love but the struggles of life across two older adults and a younger illegal immigrant. It was slow and dragging and when interesting not that compelling. I listened to in audio. I'm not sure I would have completed the book in hard copy or ebook

While the backgrounds of the three main characters were compelling, the plot as the book moved forward was frivolous. The contrast did not work. If someone were looking for light reading, the back stories are too heavy. Someone looking for depth would find the plot almost silly.

Isabell Allende has the ability to make characters come alive. She drew each chapter with a pen of words so beautiful that I laughed as well as cried. The story is about 3 people who are forced come together in the middle of a snow storm. Their past lives, revealed during several chapters, told of the traumas people go through to become who they are. Their unique personalities and their ability to work together drove the plot. I loved this book.

It was poorly written. I have read all her books and this one has politics in it. It was not necessary like when she wrote the House of the Spirits. It is her own point of view and is not the common denominator of her readers specially when she is referring to this country that she was not born here.

Boring and lack of imagination for these days of politics.

I was disappointed with this book expecting much more from Isabel Allende. The writing was bland and the plot seemed contrived to meet some of the hot topics of our time - immigration and diversity while attempting to connect 3 characters scarred from their lives experiences. I hope as January 8, the date each year Allende likes to begin new books, she stays true to her earlier works.

Isabel Allende's In the Midst of Winter is a story of romance, compassion, guilt, emotional scarring, and forgiveness. In her signature fashion, Allende blends history and culture to provide a rich backstory for the characters, Richard, Lucia, and Evelyn. All three lovable characters have South American connections. Lucia grew up in Chile during the 1973 overthrow of Salvatore Allende. Evelyn's grandmother raised her and her brothers in poverty and dire circumstances, while her mother immigrated to the United States. Richard met his wife in Brazil and lived with her family, while the couple suffered devastating losses. Alternating between a loosely-held together present-day plot line and flashbacks to the past, readers learn of each of the characters' painful journeys. The relationships between the three characters are endearing. I applaud Ms. Allende for her realistic portrayal of romantic love between middle-aged characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC of In the Midst of Winter, and to Isabel Allende for once again providing an intimate glimpse into worlds previously unknown to me.

This is the first book I have read by Allende and really enjoyed reading it. It centered around the relationship of two professors in New York, both of whom suffered tragedies in their life. They met another woman from Guatamala and learned about her challenges in that country and went on anadventurous ride in a car containing a corpse, connected to the other woman's employment as a nanny in New York. The writing was excellent and the content was humorous as well as serious and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Coincidentally the backgrounds of the two women from Chile and Guatamala and their immigration issues are timely .

It's a story told over a few decades about the lives of migrants, including illegal, from South America. It's a story of late love but the struggles of life across two older adults and a younger illegal immigrant. It was slow and dragging and when interesting not that compelling. I listened to in audio. I'm not sure I would have completed the book in hard copy or ebook

While the backgrounds of the three main characters were compelling, the plot as the book moved forward was frivolous. The contrast did not work. If someone were looking for light reading, the back stories are too heavy. Someone looking for depth would find the plot almost silly.

Isabell Allende has the ability to make characters come alive. She drew each chapter with a pen of words so beautiful that I laughed as well as cried. The story is about 3 people who are forced come together in the middle of a snow storm. Their past lives, revealed during several chapters, told of the traumas people go through to become who they are. Their unique personalities and their ability to work together drove the plot. I loved this book.

This book brings together three complicated people, two Latinas, who need to get rid of a dead body found in the trunk of a car. It is first and foremost the story of the risks to refugees and immigrants in the United States, but it has a good plot line, a story of human trafficking, and a simple, mature romance.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Evelyn, Richard and Lucia are brought together during a snow storm in this story that moves from present-day Brooklyn to Guatemala in the recent past to 1970s Chile and Brazil.

The past sequences were rather long, with deep measures of political history. I better liked the current time-line of Richard and Lucia. This book just didn't capture my imagination and interests.

A minor traffic accident turns into a convoluted farcical attempt to hide a dead body. Along with the silliness, is a very sobering retelling of three lives, A native of Chile shares her story of growing up under dictatorship, an illegal Guatemalan girl tells her nightmare of a life and a college professor shares his former life of loss and alcoholism. This is perhaps one of my most favorite Allende books.

Once again Isabel Allende has written a moving story that is romantic, fanciful, and suspenseful. The plot highlights many aspects of immigration—legal and illegal—without becoming politically charged. The characters share their stories, and the reader grows to love and admire them. Book groups will enjoy a meaningful discussion.
I received a complimentary copy from Linda’s Book Obsession. There was no expectation of a favorable review.

Beautiful novel, typical of Isabel Allende, intertwining the mystical and the present. She brought a view of what our brothers
and sisters in Central America are facing--poverty, gangs, violence against women and the challenges the undocumented face.
She shows that the challenges that undocumented people (esp. women) face in their home countries and when/if they reach the U.S.
are real.

Quite disjointed . Not up to authors usual standard. Loved The Japanese Lover. This book started off great.....I was looking forward to the entire story being about Richard and Lucia and Evelyn. Too many extras woven into it. Quite lost my interest at times. Couldn’t wait for it to finish.

This is a story that spirals with the stories of its characters. I cannot use the word swirls to describe its progress; because it is such a fine example of her inner clarity. The story addresses the realities of sorrow and aging in an amazing way. It will keep you in its grip in surprising ways.

This one pulled me in from the first page. I loved the writing style. The timing from present day with each character's past history interwoven throughout with excellent precision. Felt the immigration journeys were interesting. Loved the characters and how they dealt with their various flaws, romances, and triumps. Please do not miss this one.

I enjoy Isabel Allende books and always learn a little bit of history . She always takes me on a journey sometimes reluctantly because of some of the violence that happens to some of her characters but you end up investing in them and hoping things will turn out better for them.

If she were not famous, no publisher would have picked up this novel to publish. It is hard to believe the author of House of the Spirits and Paula wrote this book. The plot is ridiculous, the characters unbelievable, and the politics preachy.

Likes: greater understanding of immigrants
Dislikes: hard to keep track of characters since story jumped around a great deal.
However, I may read it again before our book club meets since I now know the main characters well!

The back and forth between stories and decades got confusing at times, but I like the way that was used to develop the overall story. The characters supported each other in their weak places and used their strengths to complete their quests.

It was sad,but a realistic story of male and female feelings ,along with the heart breaking story of three with so different lives.. Being from upstate New York, I truly understand the road trip. Lots to think about, what would we do?

I found this book very disappointing. It was as if she was clutching at straws trying to find something to write about. Not well rounded characters and disparate stories which somehow were linked by tenuous and sometimes tragic threads. As far as the main story was concerned this was simply far fetched and rather silly. Don't know what happened here, just not up to her usual standard.

First let me say that I LOVE Isabel Allende. I have loved her work for years. I enjoyed this book and appreciated the timely subject matter. The characters were real even though the plot seemed far-fetched at times. There are other Isabel Allende books that I have given five stars, but this was still really good.

Rambling, preachy, implausible plot, boring and predictable characters. In the acknowledgements Allende tells us that the novel started as a brainstorming session among friends and families. It reads, like it never got beyond that. Does she have an editor? Only redeeming value was that it kept me reading looking for it to turn around. I didn't. It just got worse. Unexpectedly bad and sloppy writing from Allende.

Isabel Allende is one of my favorite authors. This book In the Midst Of Winter intrigued me as it included much of what is currently being discussed: desperation in becoming an illegal, physical abuse and overcoming adversities! Isabel Allende has written this novel in such an intelligent manner that I couldn't put this book down. The journey this book takes the reader is real and s well written.

Allende is always a great storyteller, getting inside her characters so that you know them so well you could swear they live next door. This is a moving story that has you thinking, "What would I have done in their situation?" A great read!

What is invaluable about this novel is its portrayal of life in Guatemala (which no doubt applies to lots of other places in that part of world). It's a means of understanding immigration in a way opposed to what our leaders want us to think. And I am so grateful to Izzie for a Central/South American setting!

This formula of having three divergent personalities collide in a random twist of fate has been done before and to much better effect than in this attempt. I'm reading this for a book club otherwise would have dropped in chapters ago. I guess this is the ugly side of being in a book club.

Disappointing book by one of my favorite authors. Your story just proved The President’s point about people entering the US illegally with no regard for our laws. Inappropriate placement of the President’s “hateful campaign”. We are sick and tired people entering illegally, working illegally, sending money to other countries etc etc. Sadly disappointing book which only serves
To enrich the base who support the President. MAGA!!!

So sorry, but if this book had not been assigned reading for a book club, I could not have finished. In fact I didn’t actually finish it, but eventually cheated and skipped over 4-5 pages at a time, Nothing seemed cohesive to me (possibly because of my page skipping, you think?) The author kept pulling me in so many directions that I all too quickly lost any interest in any of the characters, except Frank. Ending was predictable. One star for appropriate use of the Camus quote.