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catherine_the_greatest's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a long time to get into this book, but it was worth the read. It's very timely historical fiction, since it's set during the Haitian revolution, showing a lot of the forces that have shaped Haiti into the nation it is today. Woven into the same narrative is a glimpse of decadent Creole New Orleans right around the time of the Louisiana Purchase.
dorouu's review against another edition
5.0
Allende is, without a doubt, one of the best historical fiction writers out there. Island Beneath the Sea follows one woman and the people around her for about four decades while taking the reader through huge historical events and the lives of the people at that time in Haiti, Cuba, and Louisiana over four decades. I found myself Googling different characters (like Mackandal) and being amazed at how well Allende integrated real people into her stories.
The main person you follow in the story is Tete, who was born into slavery to a mother who tried everything she could to prevent the birth. Tete's journey starts as a child and then her enslavement under Valmorain, another important character, and eventually her life as a free Black woman in Lousiana. As a reader, you become a part of historical events such as the Haitian revolution, the French revolution, and the Lousiana purchase. Each character has background and depth and I found myself holding space for all of them, even those I despised. In just a few short sentences Allende can bring someone new to life. In a book? You feel as if you truly understand someone.
The book is artfully written, full of beautiful imagery. I could see how Haiti was stripped of natural resources and bullied by France after their independence. Every once in a while, the book switches from third person omniscient to Tete's story telling of what happened from her perspective. I think more people should read historical fiction based in the global south during colonization and slavery. Maybe then they would understand that the US/EU isn't the hero in everyone's story.
The main person you follow in the story is Tete, who was born into slavery to a mother who tried everything she could to prevent the birth. Tete's journey starts as a child and then her enslavement under Valmorain, another important character, and eventually her life as a free Black woman in Lousiana. As a reader, you become a part of historical events such as the Haitian revolution, the French revolution, and the Lousiana purchase. Each character has background and depth and I found myself holding space for all of them, even those I despised. In just a few short sentences Allende can bring someone new to life. In a book? You feel as if you truly understand someone.
The book is artfully written, full of beautiful imagery. I could see how Haiti was stripped of natural resources and bullied by France after their independence. Every once in a while, the book switches from third person omniscient to Tete's story telling of what happened from her perspective. I think more people should read historical fiction based in the global south during colonization and slavery. Maybe then they would understand that the US/EU isn't the hero in everyone's story.
amaranto's review against another edition
4.0
La cara Isabel Allende ci narra la storia della bella schiava Zarité, chiamata Tété, dalla sua infanzia fino alla maturità, del suo passaggio da Santo Domingo alla Luisiana, dalla fede nei loa all'apertura verso il cattolicesimo, dalla schiavitù alla libertà. Intrecciata strettamente alla vicenda personale di Tété, la storia di Santo Domingo, colonia francese tanto redditizia quanto carica del sangue dei neri, che costituivano una manodopera a così basso prezzo che si preferiva sfruttarli fino alla morte e rimpiazzali alla svelta piuttosto che curali. La prima parte specialmente, con la descrizione delle condizioni disumane di vita degli schiavi nell'isola, è veramente toccante e ben scritta. La seconda parte è forse la più ordinaria, quella che più si ispira ad altre storie della Alliende, e in qualche modo meno coinvolgente, ma nel complesso il romanzo è molto bello, uno dei più bei racconti scritti negli ultimi anni dalla Allende.
brea07's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
culverreader's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this story and its characters. In addition to the drama of their lives, I learned a bit about Haiti and New Orleans. When learning about the Louisiana Purchase in history class, I had never thought about the reaction of the people living there. Thought provoking! The storyline was not overly predictable with everything turning out just right for all of the characters. Like real life, there was plenty of heartache and injustice along the way, but not so much that it was over-the-top and depressing. Great read!
anxiousqueenb's review against another edition
3.0
I'm glad I finished this book. It was not an easy read, but the historical parts of it were interesting. I'm glad to move on.
marcusesstories's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't make it very far in this one. The setting was great, but the characters were paper-thin.
There's the Straight White Savior who's able to completely turn around a failing labor camp for growing sugar, while simultaneously improving the lot of his captive workers, despite having no knowledge of agriculture nor business management, and despite having sour relations with all the surrounding suppliers, co-planters, and distributors. Because, you know, he's a great guy. He's the hero. He's handsome and appreciates a beautiful woman. That's what it takes to make a successful agricultural venture in a brutal and cruel environment.
And who is he in love with? A Hooker With a Heart of Gold, of course. Despite growing up in desperate poverty and being whored from childhood, she's somehow maintained a playful, jubilant attitude about life. Because, you know, for some reason the cruel, ugly men who would be her patrons always follow her rules because she's just so beautiful and joyous and radiant that none of these viciously racist, aggressive kidnappers and sadists give any of that bad energy to her. Oh, besides she has a big, black Mammy servant as her bodyguard. Because, you know, that would be really intimidating to a man who can whip hundreds of captured, work-hardened men into submission.
So rich, romantically-inclined man in place. Check. Poor but ravishingly beautiful woman for him to possess in place. Check. What are we missing? You guessed it! The still handsome and dashing but less virtuous rival, so that the girl will have to choose between them and the man will have to fight for his trophy. Barf.
This book is written in exactly the style of an historical biography. Allende says things like, "So now he owned a successful plantation on an island that by 1784 was producing nearly 70 tons of sugar a year, shipped to points as far away as Europe, America, and even Asia." I made that sentence up, but that's the tone. Lots of historical factoids and cultural mise-en-scene are dropped in to make up for the boring characters and their boring love story.
Two stars for the cool historical setting.
There's the Straight White Savior who's able to completely turn around a failing labor camp for growing sugar, while simultaneously improving the lot of his captive workers, despite having no knowledge of agriculture nor business management, and despite having sour relations with all the surrounding suppliers, co-planters, and distributors. Because, you know, he's a great guy. He's the hero. He's handsome and appreciates a beautiful woman. That's what it takes to make a successful agricultural venture in a brutal and cruel environment.
And who is he in love with? A Hooker With a Heart of Gold, of course. Despite growing up in desperate poverty and being whored from childhood, she's somehow maintained a playful, jubilant attitude about life. Because, you know, for some reason the cruel, ugly men who would be her patrons always follow her rules because she's just so beautiful and joyous and radiant that none of these viciously racist, aggressive kidnappers and sadists give any of that bad energy to her. Oh, besides she has a big, black Mammy servant as her bodyguard. Because, you know, that would be really intimidating to a man who can whip hundreds of captured, work-hardened men into submission.
So rich, romantically-inclined man in place. Check. Poor but ravishingly beautiful woman for him to possess in place. Check. What are we missing? You guessed it! The still handsome and dashing but less virtuous rival, so that the girl will have to choose between them and the man will have to fight for his trophy. Barf.
This book is written in exactly the style of an historical biography. Allende says things like, "So now he owned a successful plantation on an island that by 1784 was producing nearly 70 tons of sugar a year, shipped to points as far away as Europe, America, and even Asia." I made that sentence up, but that's the tone. Lots of historical factoids and cultural mise-en-scene are dropped in to make up for the boring characters and their boring love story.
Two stars for the cool historical setting.
staceywells780's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nike_leest's review against another edition
3.0
Ik geraakte totaal niet in het verhaal. Ze graaft met momenten net iets té diep in de geschiedenis om het boeiend te houden. Oké, ik heb iets bijgeleerd over de kolonisatie in het Caraïbisch gebied, maar er komen teveel namen en data aan te pas om het interessant te blijven vinden (als ik alles wil weten, dan lees ik wel een geschiedenisboek). Van de laatste honderd pagina's heb ik wel genoten. Daar herkende ik terug de rasverteller die Allende is.
s4h1ta's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful, captivating story. I had a day off and I read the entire book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down!