Alex

a gut punch of sorts

beautiful and easily digestible.

even as the emperor he's able to offer poignant advice on everyday struggles, such as developing mentality of your own, not being beholden to others.

his words on empathy, friendship and finding happiness have stayed with me to this day

One of the most refreshing and wondrous books I've read in a long time. This represents sci-fi at its best: not as a display case for “cool future technology”, but as a vehicle through which to explore how humanity engages with concepts beyond their understanding.

First and third letters were incredible; the second was tainted with a misogynistic/patriarchal attitude that ruined whatever wise words were there.

Reading this is like unfurling a long tapestry full of rich detail and vivid color. Allende effortlessly brings the characters to life, endowing them with beautiful, vibrant, flawed personalities. I felt joy at their triumphs and anguish at their hardships. The wild, spiritually-entangled Trueba house feels like a second home, a base from which to venture out into the alluring world Allende has dreamed up.

I felt drawn into this story to a level matched by few others. One of the most beautiful and poignant books I've read in a long time.