Spoilt, wilful, resourceful and proud, Sofia Solanas grows up on a magnificent ranch in the middle of the Argentine pampas, loved by all around her. All, that is, except her Irish mother, Anna, who punishes her daughter for her own sense of alienation and inadequacy while doting on her sons. When a horrified Anna discovers that Sofia has embarked on a passionate love affair that can only bring shame upon the family, she sends Sofia away to Europe, inadvertently exiling her from her family and the man she loves for over twenty years. And then a family tragedy calls Sofia home. Following the story of the Solanas family in Argentina during the tumultous years of political upheaval, and Sofia's life in exile, MEET ME UNDER THE OMBU TREE is a moving, evocative and unforgettable story of love and forgiveness from a brilliant new voice.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
The descriptions of Argentina are fascinating, there is enough of a sprinkling of politics to keep readers on their toes and, as ever, the predicament of star-crossed lovers is the stuff of delicious escapism.' -- Sunday Times 'A brilliant first novel and a classic piece of storytelling.' -- OK Magazine 'ambitious ... contains all the basic ingredients of a satisfying saga. It is impossible not to root for Sofia.' -- Sunday Telegraph 'All the ingredients of a classic romantic read - thwarted love, exotic locations and lifestyles of the rich and famous.' -- Daily Mail 'Plenty of intrigue and passion.' -- Birmingham Evening Mail 'An impressive debut. Intelligent and well researched.' -- Hampshire Chronicle 'All the ingredients for a big romantic read -- keep a box of tissues handy.' -- Woman
About the Author
Santa Montefiore was born in England in 1970 to an Anglo-Argentine mother, and read Spanish and Italian at Exeter University. She lives in London with her husband, the historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, and their children, Lily and Sasha. Visit Santa's website at www.santamontefiore.co.uk
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
I was born in England in 1970. My father is a farmer. When I was born he had grown a very successful crop of winter barley called Senter barley, so he suggested they name me Senter in celebration. My mother is Anglo Argentine and naturally thought it a terrible idea, so suggested Santa, which means saint in Spanish. Growing up I wanted to be called Jane. There isn't a joke I haven't heard. Now I rather like it, combined with my husband's name Montefiore, which means mountain flower in Italian, I think it's rather colourful. I always wanted to be a writer. There has never been a time when I haven't written. I spent a year in Argentina when I was nineteen and that changed my life in so many ways. I loved who I was when I was there. Speaking another language, not being boxed by class as we are in England, being free to be the person I chose rather than being dictated to by expectation. I fell in love with the pampa, the flat, fertile plains, the smells of gardenia and eucalyptus, the expressive, passionate people I met there. I wrote my first novel Meet Me Under The Ombu Tree, inspired by the country I had fallen in love with. My first four novels are based in Latin America. They're not sold in the USA yet. Here's hoping! My other four are published by Simon & Schuster. I live in London with my husband, the historian and novelist Simon Sebag-Montefiore, and our two children, Lily and Sasha.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
a melodrama - only for those who especially like romance,
By
This review is from: Meet Me Under the Ombu Tree (Paperback)
If you like melodrama, convoluted romance, South American telenovelas, and crying while reading stories, "Meet Me Under The Ombu Tree" is a novel for you. Santa Montefiore, who is half-Argentinian, but lives in Great Britain, managed to create a book full of clichés from popular soap operas from Latino television. Unfortunately, this is not what I expect from literature from that part of the world, so I was quite disappointed.Sofia Solanas, the heroine of this novel, is a daughter of Paco Solanas, one of the four sons of the wealthy landowner Hector Solanas, who managed to create a heaven on Earth on his rancho, Santa Catalina, where all his children built their family homes. Paco met Sofia's mother, Anna Melody O'Dwyer, in London, and the two fell in love from the first minute they laid eyes on each other, Anna left her parents and her native Ireland and came to Argentina, where she gave birth to two sons and Sofia. The story of Paco and Anna is given in retrospective, as the core is Sofia's life starting in early 1970s, since she has been a little girl, a stubborn tomboy who loves playing polo, the favorite sport of the men in the area. Unfortunately, Sofia is especially fond of her cousin, Santi, who likes her very much as well. When after his studies in the US Santi returns home, they give in to the forbidden love against all odds, and this leads to Sofia's exile and many sad years following. Everything can be found in this book: love from the first sight, patient, waiting love, incest, physical abuse, marital unfaithfulness, betrayed friendship, illegitimate child, sliding into poverty, purely sexual affairs... Additionally, the author tries to provide a background of current events in Argentina (the death of Juan Peron, the military dictatorship) and to connect the characters with these events, which results in more drama (the exile of Fernando, Santi's brother, to Uruguay), but just adds to what is already too much. It is definitely overdone - sometimes, really, less is more. Besides, there are irritating explanations of obvious things, such as that the seasons in Argentina are shifted by half a year in comparison to England, or what mate is. The language is very much like a school essay, with many sequences where the sentences do not follow the logic, or with complex sentences that are plainly wrong. It is, in literary categories, a mediocre text, which nevertheless can evoke emotions and is easy to read fast, but equally easy to forget.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best!,
By
This review is from: Meet Me Under the Ombu Tree (Paperback)
I had this book read to me on audio cassette. I was so bewitched, I listened to it twice in a row. The reading takes 22+ hours and since I drive a lot, it was the perfect timing for me. But truly, this is one of the best books I have ever"read" and now plan on buying a hard copy so I can share it with my friends and family that do not have that much time in a car to listen. Please, read this book if you LOVE reading as I do!!!
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ITS A LOVELY BOOK,
By Sindyrella "Smiles" (my own lil world, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Meet Me Under the Ombu Tree (Paperback)
THIS BOOK I REALLY ENJOYED READING,IT REALLY CAPTIVATES YOUI COULDNT PUT IT DOWN TILL I WAS DONE READING IT; THE FORBIDDEN LOVE BETWEEN SOFIA AND SANTI IS VERY PASSIONATE, UNFORTUNATELY FATE FORCED THEM APART...BUT THEIR LOVE NEVER DIED...READ IT YOU WONT REGRET IT.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
