At once an epic family drama and a sweeping love story that spans both an ocean and a generation, Palm Trees in the Snow is an emotionally gripping and historically vivid tale of the secrets that can destroy a family—and the bonds that endure.
When Clarence of Rabaltué discovers a series of old letters from her father’s past, she begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her once-noble family. Her father and his brother worked in the colony of Fernando Po, but these letters tell a different story than the tales of life in Africa that made it to the dinner table. Clarence has no idea what really went on during their time at the cocoa plantations—or why no one in her family has ever returned to the island in all the years since. But the letters suggest that a great love story is buried beneath the years of silence.
Setting out from her home in Spain’s snowy mountains, Clarence makes the same journey across the sea that her uncle and father traveled before her. There, she unlocks the painful secrets her family has hidden in the rich African soil. But what she discovers may also be the key to awakening her own listless heart.
An intriguing story. Curiosity, mystery, intrigue, danger, family secrets — this novel combines them all to carry the reader along on an international venture that is greater than finding home.
I have learned much but not enough This is a wonderful novel that though fictional is so deeply grounded in truths it could also be biographical. The years of Spain’s colonization of Guinea are told from the points of view of the people of Guinea, the imported workers and plantation owners from Spain who had managerial roles and the laborers from Nigeria and other countries. It is both a poignant and painful read. The inhumane and bigoted parts are difficult to read. The love and respect that grew among others gave you hope…
Great Human Story Very interesting story about relations between Equatorial Guinea and Spain towards the end of colonial times and thereafter (or to be exact between Guineans and Spaniards) and the effects of colonialism on both countries long after the practice has ended. I found the story captivating, with well-developed characters we follow throughout their lifetime, and enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested. I did not know much about Guinea and learned a lot about its recent history and…