A great start to a great series. Enjoyed it even more on re-reading, maybe because I knew the characters better. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is a fantastic narrator.

I wanted to like this more than I did. it's a compelling and important story, but I never felt close to any of the characters, although I did sympathise with them. I think it was the style of writing - very much "telling" rather than "showing". I don't remember feeling that about any of Allende's other books - I wonder if the fact this is a translation makes a difference?

An enjoyable re-read of an old favourite. Nina is a great character.

Warning for the gratuitous use if an extremely racist term which may have been in common usage in 1956 when the book was first published, but which shouldn't appear in a modern reprint.