In this heartfelt memoir, Isabel Allende reconstructs the painful reality of her own life in the wake of tragic loss—the death of her daughter, Paula. Recalling the past thirteen years from the daily letters the author and her mother, who lives in Chile, wrote to each other, Allende bares her soul in a book that is as exuberant and full of life as its creator. She recounts the stories of the wildly eccentric, strong-minded, and eclectic tribe she gathers around her that becomes a new kind of family. Throughout, Allende shares her thoughts on love, marriage, motherhood, spirituality and religion, infidelity, addiction, and memory. Here, too, are the amazing stories behind Allende’s books, the superstitions that guide her writing process, and her adventurous travels. Ultimately, The Sum of Our Days offers a unique tour of this gifted writer’s inner world and of the relationships that have become essential to her life and her work. Narrated with warmth, humor, exceptional candor, and wisdom, The Sum of Our Days is a portrait of a contemporary family, bound together by the love, fierce loyalty, and stubborn determination of a beloved, indomitable matriarch.
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende is a Chilean author known for her magical realism and passionate storytelling. Her most notable works include "The House of the Spirits," "Eva Luna," and "Paula." Allende's writing often explores themes of love, family, and politics, drawing inspiration from her own experiences and Latin American history. She has had a significant impact on the literary genre of magical realism, blending elements of fantasy with reality to create vivid and captivating narratives. "The House of the Spirits" is Allende's most famous work, a sweeping saga that has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be celebrated for its rich characters and lyrical prose. Allende's contributions to literature have earned her international acclaim and a devoted readership worldwide.