Sea of Memories

It has been a while since I had a good cry while reading a book. The Sea of Memories is such a book that takes you on a beautiful boat ride along the coast until you finally return to the harbor.

This story takes you far back to just before the Second World War began, where you meet Ella and her family tucked away in Edinburgh. When she receives an invitation to visit the island, Île de Ré to sharpen her French life truly begins. To the murky waters of Kendra's life back in 2015.

The ebb and flow of love delicately woven into the viridian blue of the ocean to weave a story of love, heartache, choices, determination and courage.

I have added a few quotes from the book which marked the intensity of these events so vividly that I too, show more feel the calls to this island of healing just to relive this story that has left such an impression on me.

"I see her differently now that I know her story. Her past has come to life and made me see what really matters in this world. I’m proud that I’m her granddaughter and I hope that I can claim some of her courage and her sense of beauty in my own genetic make-up."

"‘When I was in the prison camp, I kept a drawing I’d done of you under my pillow. It was the same principle. You were my Mona Lisa, my reminder that truth and beauty existed even in that dismal place. And here you are again now, in my hour of need. In real life this time. How lucky I am to have known this.’ She leant over and kissed his forehead as he drifted off to sleep again, the faint smile still creasing his face."

"Her dry, cracked lips moved and he leant in close to hear her whispered words. And he smiled, hearing the wonderment in her voice as she echoed the words she’d said that night, so many years ago, in a dark and alien forest: ‘You came to find me. I was lost and you came to find me.’"

Definitely a must read to every reader that loves a good romance story which takes you back to the past in such vivid expressions. The terror of war and the devastation it has brought a reminder that we should stay in the present and love wholeheartedly. show less

I did not enjoy this one, it started out great with such potential but quickly turned into a generic, love story. (One man she deeply loves and longs to be with and then the man she spends her life with).

It was very eloquently written, too much so at times for my taste. If we got rid of all the long descriptions the book would be about half the length.

Very predictable plot line after the first few chapters. Everytime there was a story line development I would think, no this can't be where she is taking this. Sure enough, that's where it would go.

Not my style, probably the first and last I'll read by this author.

A few events didn’t ring true to me. She discovered her husbands affair by being in a bar when he celebrated his ladies birthday??? He’s not too secretive! Good enough story overall.

A wonderful and original story. I loved reading it and feeling like I was there with the characters.

3.5 stars

Im Jahre 1938 verbringt die Schottin Ella einen Sommer an der Atlantikküste in Frankreich und verliebt sich in den Franzosen Christophe. Sie schmieden Zukunftspläne, doch dann bricht der Krieg aus und macht diese Pläne zunichte. Ella baut sich ein neues Leben auf.
Im Jahr 2014 soll Kendra anhand von alten Dokumenten die Lebensgeschichte ihrer Großmutter Ella aufschreiben. Dabei hat Kendra selbst alle Hände voll zu tun, denn sie ist Lehrerin und hat einen autistischen Sohn. Mit ihrem Mann läuft es auch nicht mehr so problemlos. Doch als sie die Dokumente und Tonaufnahmen ihrer Großmutter in die Hände bekommt, ist sie fasziniert von der Lebensgeschichte Ellas.
Dieses wundervolle Buch lässt sich wirklich toll lesen. Ich mag es, show more wenn Geschichten in verschiedenen Zeiten spielen und auch hier wechseln sich die Handlungsebenen ab, so dass man sowohl Ellas Geschichte, aber auch Kendras Leben ausführlich kennenlernt. Ergänzt wird das Ganze durch die Briefwechsel, die Ella mit den Geschwistern Caroline und Christophe Martet führt. Die historischen Begebenheiten werden von der Autorin Fiona Valpy sehr schön mit einer tragischen Liebesgeschichte verknüpft.
Die Charaktere sind sehr gut und lebendig beschrieben. Ich konnte mich gut in sie hineinversetzen und mit ihnen fühlen. Ella hat in Frankreich ihre große Liebe gefunden, doch die Zeiten sind schlimm und der Krieg zerstört die Träume. Kendra hat es nicht leicht, aber die Auseinandersetzung mit der Lebensgeschichte ihrer Großmutter bringt sie dazu, sich über ihr eigenes Leben Gedanken zu machen.
Die gefühlvolle und tiefgründige Geschichte ist wirklich fesselnd. Ich kann Das Buch nur empfehlen. show less