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The Wind Knows My Name

A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick

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The Wind Knows My Name

By: Isabel Allende
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Maria Liatis
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Bloomsbury presents The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende, read by Maria Liatis and Edoardo Ballerini.

THE POWERFUL AND MOVING NEW NOVEL FROM LITERARY LEGEND ISABEL ALLENDE

PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR
'A grand storyteller' – KHALED HOSSEINI
'A new novel by Isabel Allende is always a treat' – DAILY MAIL
'What a joy it must be to come upon Allende for the first time' – COLUM MCCANN

No, we're not lost.
The wind knows my name.
And yours too.

Vienna, 1938. Samuel Adler is five years old when his father disappears during Kristallnacht — the night their family loses everything. As her child’s safety seems ever harder to guarantee, Samuel’s mother secures a spot for him on the last Kindertransport train out of Nazi-occupied Austria to England. He boards alone, carrying nothing but a change of clothes and his violin.

Arizona, 2019. Eight decades later, Anita Diaz and her mother board another train, fleeing looming danger in El Salvador and seeking refuge in the United States. But their arrival coincides with the new family separation policy, and seven-year-old Anita finds herself alone at a camp in Nogales. She escapes her tenuous reality through her trips to Azabahar, a magical world of the imagination. Meanwhile, Selena Duran, a young social worker, enlists the help of a successful lawyer in hopes of tracking down Anita’s mother.

Intertwining past and present, The Wind Knows My Name tells the tale of these two unforgettable characters, both in search of family and home. It is both a testament to the sacrifices that parents make, and a love letter to the children who survive the most unfathomable dangers — and never stop dreaming.(P)2023 Penguin Random House LLC 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking England
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Critic reviews

A true literary titan ... There are perhaps only a dozen authors as successful as Allende and fewer still whose writing remains as politically daring as her latest The Wind Knows My Name ... Allende blends fact and fiction, love and war, and juxtaposes the past with the present, meaning that as you read her escapist tale you develop a richer understanding of the world you inhabit
Allende’s new novel is a testament to love, survival and sacrifice
Allende skillfully braids the traumatic stories of two young children separated from each other by decades and thousands of miles ... It's a kind of homage to parents who make unthinkable decisions to save their little ones, and to kids who survive some of the toughest challenges imaginable ... With The Wind Knows My Name, Allende has added a new dimension to her already varied works
Few authors in translation have had quite the influence of Isabel Allende ... The Chilean writer has become a global literary great
Powerful ... The dual narrative structure gives historical weight to the contemporary story line, and Allende finds real depth in her characters, especially when portraying their sacrifices. This authentic and emotionally harrowing work is a triumphant return to form
The queen of magic realism, Isabel Allende, follows two parallel stories of war and immigration in The Wind Knows My Name
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I have seen Kindertransport which inspired this, so was familiar with that aspect but less with the other story and learned a lot. Having done a creative writing course with the author it was interesting to see her craft in action

Interesting and moving

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The characters in this book draw you in and highlight historical and present problems of the cruelty in society and difficulties in legislation that immigrants suffer. This story will stay in my heart.

Wonderful and thought provoking

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Beautifully written with solid characterisation. Allende’s author’s note gave perspective and background to the story which linked the main characters’ stories very effectively.

Thought provoking, powerful and moving.

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i really enjoyed the book, the way the characters found their way through the story.

Thought provoking

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I really enjoy Isabel’s books, the subject is well researched and she is able to highlight life injustices. By writing novels with strong characters especially women who show such courage in a world that wish to silence and control them. This is a story that will evoke emotion and anger with immigration policies.

The narration is excellent each character you can identify as the story is told. I would recommend this novel to my strong independent female friends

A story of sadness, courage and how history repeats itself.

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