"Sea of Memories"

A full book review of "Sea of Memories" by Fiona Valpy.

A 'Sea of Memories' is a beautiful, heart-breaking, and spell-bounding read that will leave you with a whole melting-pot of emotions, from sadness to hope and love. In this novel, Valpy takes us on a breath taking journey that begins with Ella's fateful arrival on the Île de Ré in 1938, where, over the course of the summer, her love for art, sandy beaches, and a charismatic Christophe blossom. As their passion for one another grows, so does their hope to one day be together - until the outbreak of WWII changes everything.

Forced to return to Scotland, Ella finds her dreams to return to the Île de Ré slipping further and further away. Hopeless and confused, she puts her heart and soul into her work for the war effort - where her passion and drive (and the powerful Angus), lead her down a dangerous and life-changing path. Will fate ever lead Ella back to the windswept shores of the Île de Ré - and what will she do if it does?

A 'Sea of Memories' is a beautifully written, poignant story about loss, hope, forgiveness, and ever-lasting love. A must-read for book lovers of any kind!

*Please note the section below contains spoilers*

To say that I absolutely loved 'A Sea of Memories' would be an understatement! This was one of the most touching, moving, and emotional stories that I have ever read - and is, without a doubt, my favourite book of 2018. Valpy drew me in with delicately vivid, mesmerizing descriptions that were infused with heartfelt emotions and loving characters. The perfect and seamless way in which she drew together the past and present made the story that much more compelling, and definitely left me on the edge of my seat!

“Do you remember what I told you? About the philosophy behind this? That something which is unique has its own beauty that can never be destroyed; that it’s always worth mending, even when it’s broken; and that the fractures and the scars become part of the beauty too, making the piece even more remarkable, even more precious.”

As someone who is extremely close to her grandmother, I was deeply touched by the relationship between Ella and Kendra. I loved how the writing of the memoir not only brought them closer together, but also helped Kendra overcome her own struggles. As Kendra learns the story of Ella and Christophe, she also discovers who her grandmother really was, and how the sacrifices she made shaped their families entire legacy.

It was also wonderful to see how compassionate, loving, and wise Ella was in the present time, which made me love her even more. As a character, Ella really grew between the beginning and ending - from outgrowing her reserve and becoming a more carefree version of herself during her first stay on the island, to growing into a stronger, more mature woman who chose to place the needs of her family before her own - and we were right there with her throughout. We were there for her heartbreaks, her struggles, and her joy; all thanks to Valpy's powerful writing. I personally sobbed, both tears of joy and anguish, when it was revealed that Christophe was still alive so soon after Ella had already married another man (and was pregnant with his child too). I was ecstatic, yet devastated at the same time; two emotions that stayed with me for the rest of the book. I think it is safe to say that I was crying non-stop for the second half of the story, and yet despite that (or maybe because of it) I could not put the book down.

Just as Ella struggled to choose between the two men she loves, so did I as a reader. It was smart of Valpy to portray Angus as a man worthy of Ella's love, despite the time he cheated on her, rather than a man who wasn't, as it made the struggle that Ella faced that much more powerful and difficult. Whether it was intentional or not, I loved how both men brought out in Ella the characteristics that define them best; while Christophe, creative and passionate, brought out the carefree side of Ella, Angus, sensible and structured, brought out the more responsible side of her. Both men were great, but if I had to choose one for Ella, I think it would be Christophe.

Although Valpy didn't expand much on the relationship between Kendra and her husband, I did like how she gave us a glimmer of hope that everything would be okay between them towards the end of the novel. Despite Kendra's secondary-character status, I was still invested in her story and was anxious to hear all about it. Would Dan learn to dream again? Would Finn be okay?

Rarely is an author able to write and develop a character so well that the reader takes on the character's feelings as their own, yet Valpy did so perfectly in a 'Sea of Memories'. I loved every second of this book, and I'm so excited to read more of Fiona Valpy's work!

What did you think of the book? Who would you choose for Ella, Christophe or Angus? Let me know in the comments below!