This book came to me as part of prize won for my last year’s readathon of reading 30 books in span of a single year. Since this was my first book by this author; I actually started reading it with a blank mind and on an afterthought it seems to be a wise decision.

As the synopsis says the book opens in war time (World War II) Lisbon; where two couples and eventually their lives collide. What starts out as a chance encounter ends up irrevocably altering lives of our four protagonists here – two couples viz. Winters and Frelengs. As somewhere mentioned in these chapters it like shifting or traversing through all four seasons from spring to the winter with each of them representing a season through their attitudes and outlooks.

An accidental meeting which may or may not be incidental as we learn through the subsequent progress of the story. The story in question is always narrated from a single point of view of narrator, so at times his voice seems going in too much of details or sometimes even rambling. It also doesn’t give any kind of explanation for certain detailing such as the long winding backstory of Frelengs marriage.

However, what is central line of this novel comes out (literally!) in the beginning of it (or at least we get certain hints). A clandestine relationship which can throw four people’s lives off track or can it help them survive the painful loss of wandering so much through the life’s journey.

Another interesting aspect of this book are the name of chapters which mirror the journey of its characters – sometimes physical but most of the time spiritual. It also tries to quote about the constant change in psychological conditions of two main protagonists who like to get away; this against the backdrop of a daughter, suffering from neurological disorders who have to live through her life rooted in one place.

This books tries to quote on all that and beyond such. Will recommend as a good read from a not so much known author in this part of the world.