A Distant Voice in the Darkness
"A distant voice in the darkness... So on the ocean of life we pass" - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow A chance meeting at university leads to a relationship that spans marriages, the world and the decades in this sweeping and fulfilling novel from acclaimed author Leela Dutt
A Distant Voice in the Darkness 2022 - Paperback by Leela Dutt
The kitchen fills with black smoke. Alec is roasting a chicken for his mates – as you do – but the marmalade catches fire in the oven, and Eleanor rushes in to investigate. Thus begins this long-distance love story which takes us from Cardiff University to Nigeria and Rome, and over the decades to Copenhagen, Iceland, Los Angeles, the Grand Canyon, Kolkata, Darjeeling, Melbourne, South Africa and more. It reaches a climax when Eleanor is shot trying to escape an armed uprising in Lesotho, and the conclusion resolves the underlying story of Norman’s battle up the spine of Italy to Monte Casino during the Second World War.
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Reviews
My Thoughts: this is a lovely story spanning a couple of decades, of first love and the fact that when the heart decides what it wants you just can’t fight it..
We travel the world watching Eleanor and Alec fall in love & separate but then their paths continually cross throughout the book in the most unlikeliest of places.
The descriptions of the places were beautiful and made me want to visit them all so I can experience it for myself.
The story was told from both perspectives which I loved, because you got to see what both of them were up to during their time apart and experience the emotions and inside thoughts of both of them which gave the story a well rounded feel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The book takes you on a journey around the globe where you follow the roller coaster of the relationship of the two main characters. The author having visited the places in the book gives authenticity to her writing. The only thing missing were prints of the sketches. You will understand this comment if you buy the book.
I found this a very interesting read following the life of Eleanor Larson - Bruun after her chance meeting with Alec Jenkins in 1972 until 1999. This was to the point and easy to follow. The backstory and how the other characters were connected to Eleanor and Alec was easy to understand and also relevant without any unnecessary details. There are chance meetings and some planned between the two, all in various places. I liked the way this was written and how each character was explored. It is essentially a love story that spans decades but one where you can't predict the outcome.
Smashwords Interview: https://www.smashwords.com/interview/LeelaDutt
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