I never read Neruda before. I was opened up to his world through the movie "Il Postino," a bittersweet, funny fictitious movie about Neruda and an aspiring poet (a postman). He recited poems there and....I had to watch it again and again. Then, I discovered the CD with all these name stars reading his poems: Sting, Andy Garcia, madonna, Ralph Fiennes. As if that wasn't enough, I found this book! Ahhhhh! Romantic bliss on those dreamy nights with your signficant other. Believe me, if you want to sweep me off my feet (and I believe my female friends would all agree), send a girl this book, and you'll get her attention (and later, maybe her heart).