45 pages • 1 hour read
In the Midst of Winter
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Book Brief
352
Novel • Fiction
Brooklyn, New York • 2010s
2017
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende follows the intertwining lives of Richard Bowmaster, Lucia Maraz, and Evelyn Ortega after a car accident during a snowstorm in New York City. As they shelter together to avoid exposing Evelyn's undocumented status, they each share their immigrant histories and grapple with a crime involving a dead body in the car Evelyn borrowed. Topics addressed include gang violence and human trafficking.
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Romantic
Emotional
Hopeful
Reviews & Readership
56,510 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende intertwines past and present traumas, delivering a poignant narrative with rich character development. Readers commend its emotional depth and engaging storytelling. However, some criticize its pacing and predictability. Overall, the novel succeeds in blending heartfelt themes with compelling, albeit sometimes slow, prose.
Who Should Read In the Midst of Winter?
Readers who relish deeply emotional, multicultural narratives will enjoy Isabel Allende's In the Midst of Winter. Fans of Allende's earlier works like The House of the Spirits or those captivated by Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude will appreciate the blend of historical context, magical realism, and richly drawn characters.
56,510 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Richard Bowmaster
Richard Bowmaster
The son of a German Jewish survivor, he is a former alcoholic and a scholar whose cautious and routine life is disrupted by unexpected events. His academic pursuits are initially detached from personal experience until he meets Lucia and Evelyn.
Evelyn Ortega
Evelyn Ortega
A Guatemalan immigrant with limited speech, she carries a traumatic past and a profound connection to spirituality. Her presence catalyzes the narrative's central journey, although she communicates primarily through action and intuition.
352
Novel • Fiction
Brooklyn, New York • 2010s
2017
Adult
18+ years
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