I blogged about Pablo Neruda a few weeks ago, prompting a conversation with Mary of The Modern Postcard blog about his poetry and her visit to his former home in Santiago, Chile. My blog post was prompted by a quirky coincidence - as is this one, for he and his poetry have popped up again in my current reading.

My book group has just undergone a bit of a transition, morphing from a very informal bunch of friends to a more structured group with many of the same people but now linked to my WI. As a result, the group is boosted by new members and this refreshed and very keen bunch of readers met for the first time a couple of weeks ago to chat about the book we’d just read and to plan the way forward.

The opening shot of a book hit the spot with everyone and proved to be a great starter. How will we follow that?! In the usual style of book groups large and small, we needed some suggestions, offers to host meetings and dates for our diaries. No problem there - Pam immediately offered to hold the next meeting and shared her choice of a title.

I downloaded a copy of A Long Petal of the Sea and quickly read the blurb as I did, thinking it sounded interesting. I was glad to have the challenge of a book I wouldn’t normally have picked up and which looked somewhat thought provoking. I didn’t quite expect the story within to be reflected quite so accurately in terms of actual world events right now, but nevertheless, had hope and optimism that I’d find the book fulfilling and a good starter for discussion.

I certainly didn’t recognise the source of the title but as soon as I opened the book and saw the first page, I had to message the group - had anyone else noticed the coincidence?

American Dirt had begun with a quotation from one of Neruda’s poems and here we were, embarking on our second read and lo and behold… Perhaps there’s a message here somewhere?

Well, I hadn’t anticipated quite how much the poet features in the story, nor did I realise quite what an influential character he was in so many respects. If ever the was a reason for finding out more about the man and his work, I think I’m being prompted.

In addition, of course, next time we’re in Santiago…