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angel07141789's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A group of relative strangers have to dispose of a body that’s mysteriously in a trunk
tennilles's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bridget_h's review against another edition
3.0
Really, a 2.85 stars. A few thoughts
a) I felt a lot like I was reading an episode of Law and Order SVU
2. I didn't bond with the characters until the last 40 pages
c) My rating may have been influenced in that I had really high hopes. But it was a good, timely story, and a good read that really touched on some compassion and empathy issues that are good lessons right now.
a) I felt a lot like I was reading an episode of Law and Order SVU
2. I didn't bond with the characters until the last 40 pages
c) My rating may have been influenced in that I had really high hopes. But it was a good, timely story, and a good read that really touched on some compassion and empathy issues that are good lessons right now.
xtine21's review against another edition
2.0
For me a little too political but at the same time very informative - I found the second half of the book much more entertaining.
brendatucci's review against another edition
3.0
A decent read, just not as delightful as some of her other work.
singsthewren's review against another edition
3.0
I am a huge fan of Allende, and after hearing her speak about this book I was even more excited to sit down with it.
There were parts of the novel that I really appreciated - her writing is beautiful as always, and the characters are vibrant and well written.
I had a little trouble with the driving narrative, though. Their disregard for justice of any kind for this poor murdered woman struck me as incredibly strange and frankly a little disturbing. I disagreed with the idea that the the murderer had been through enough and didn't deserve to be caught for her crime - spoiler alert about what that was, but jeez!
The backstories that made up the main part of the book were very much "told" instead of "shown", and that was a little jarring as I could never tell when the characters were actively telling the stories and when it was just being told to the reader but not to the other characters.
Not her best work, but still a solid read.
There were parts of the novel that I really appreciated - her writing is beautiful as always, and the characters are vibrant and well written.
I had a little trouble with the driving narrative, though. Their disregard for justice of any kind for this poor murdered woman struck me as incredibly strange and frankly a little disturbing. I disagreed with the idea that the the murderer had been through enough and didn't deserve to be caught for her crime - spoiler alert about what that was, but jeez!
The backstories that made up the main part of the book were very much "told" instead of "shown", and that was a little jarring as I could never tell when the characters were actively telling the stories and when it was just being told to the reader but not to the other characters.
Not her best work, but still a solid read.
situationnormal's review against another edition
3.0
I've been meaning to read Isabel Allende for such a long time, and this one was readily available on audiobook so I picked it up on a whim. A lot of my least favorite adult themes show up (sex, budding romance that seems misplaced, layers of mystery for no specific point, and older characters contemplating the remaining years of their lives). I enjoyed it nevertheless. The suspense is slow and steady and doesn't burn itself out too quickly, plus the interweaving and (mostly) linear stories kept me reading. The slow reveals were a little too slow, and I got a little sick of hearing about every character's sex life, but those are things I've come to expect in adult books, and can tolerate.
olicooper's review against another edition
4.0
Finding out there is something to live for when life has brought you so much suffering and the absurdity of the world is multiplying around you.
emilymreads's review against another edition
5.0
Isabel Allende doesn’t disappoint! Two immigrant women and a white man are stuck together during a snowstorm. As the snow piles up, they share their stories and unravel their deepest secrets. I love how Allende can take a small situation and turn it into such a beautiful novel. The characters are so deep and complex. The novel took a twist that I was SO NOT EXPECTING, and I absolutely loved it. This is a modern classic through and through. Definitely recommend this for everyone!