The Sum of Our Days: A Memoir
About this ebook
"An inspiring and thought-provoking work." –Denver Post
Isabel Allende reconstructs the painful reality of her own life in the wake of the tragic death of her daughter, Paula. Narrated with warmth, humor, exceptional candor, and wisdom, this remarkable memoir is as exuberant and as full of life as its creator. Allende bares her soul while sharing her thoughts on love, marriage, motherhood, spirituality and religion, infidelity, addiction, and memory—and recounts stories of the wildly eccentric, strong-minded, and eclectic tribe she gathers around her and lovingly embraces as a new kind of family.
This unforgettable memoir is a powerful story of resilience, grief, and the unconventional bonds of family:
- Grief and Loss: A mother’s candid account of continuing on after the tragic death of her daughter, Paula, turning profound sorrow into a celebration of life.
- An Unconventional Family Tribe: Meet the eccentric, strong-minded, and eclectic tribe of relatives and friends Allende gathers around her, bound by love and unwavering loyalty.
- Motherhood and Matriarchy: Explore Allende’s powerful reflections on love, marriage, and motherhood as she navigates being the matriarch of a sprawling, modern family.
- A Generational Saga: From her stepdaughter Jennifer’s battle with addiction to the miraculous birth of her granddaughter Sabrina, witness the raw and hopeful tales that define three generations.
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About the author
Isabel Allende, born in Peru and raised in Chile, is a novelist, feminist, and philanthropist. She is one of the most widely read authors in the world, having sold more than eighty million copies of her books across forty-two languages. She is the author of several bestselling and critically acclaimed books, including The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, and Paula. In addition to her work as a writer, Isabel devotes much of her time to human rights causes. She has received fifteen honorary doctorates, been inducted into the California Hall of Fame, and received the PEN Center Lifetime Achievement Award and the Anisfield-Wolf Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, and in 2018, she received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from the National Book Foundation. She lives in California with her husband and dogs.You can visit Isabel Allende at IsabelAllende.com or follow her on Instagram @AllendeIsabel, on Facebook at Facebook.com/IsabelAllende and on X @IsabelAllende
