This is a beautifully written family saga and a lovely example of magical realism. It spans three generations and depicts a country undergoing drastic political change. The patriarch is Esteban Trueba, a man with a violent, manic temper and rigid ideals, while the matriarch is Clara del Valle, who is a clairvoyant, kind, and gentle soul.

I admired many aspects of this story, especially the characters. I liked how the relationship between Garcia Tercero and Esteban Trueba evolved, near the end, and their last conversations. Esteban Trueba's granddaughter Alba was a richly drawn, strong woman who becomes wise with her experiences and shares some fascinating insights about love and fate. The author depicts the people in her story world with compassion, something that made everyone memorable and the storyline relevant forever.

Some traits of this story reminded me of a Gabriel Garcia Marquez book--for one thing, she never actually names the country we are reading about (it's Chile), The President, or The Poet. A few times, when Esteban Trueba starts ranting, he speaks for two or three pages without a full stop. I couldn't help but think of Autumn of the Patriarch. (That was hard.)

Too much happens in this riveting saga to summarize in a review, so I'll simply say that I recommend it highly.