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ale's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I don't know what about Isabel Allende's writing is so addicting, but it is. I read this book in two sittings, probably would've finished it in one if I didn't have to sleep.
There were some things that made me give this 4 starts instead of 5:
- Things were a little too conveninet at times, characters became sucessfull too quickly and too easily (but I was able to overlook most of it because it wasn't with the main characters, and also because those things weren't the focus of the story.)
- Being a white author writing about slavery, Allende did do some things wrong. I do believe she had the best intentions, and it's clear she did A LOT of research, but some scenes were a bit unconfortable (for ex. the one where the Irish woman tells Teté about how she had to work to pay her debts and compares it Teté's situation. Those two things are incomparable).
- The end part of the book wasn't my favorite.
Now, the things I loved the most:
- The setting was obviously very well researched and I loved learning more about Haiti's history. The book even became a little duller once we moved away from it. But I felt like I was truly immersed in the setting, and that's great.
- Allende's writing is always great. I see a lot of people talk about the way she describes dialogue instead of writing it word for word, but that's actually very common in Latin America and came mostly from people outside of Latam. A lot of people need to learn that there are other places in the word and that those places will have different writing styles, and only because they aren't used to it, it doesn't mean it's bad.
- I loved most of the characters. I was able to connect with them. I was always eager to learn more about them and what they were up to.
Anyways. Eager for my next book by the author.
There were some things that made me give this 4 starts instead of 5:
- Things were a little too conveninet at times, characters became sucessfull too quickly and too easily (but I was able to overlook most of it because it wasn't with the main characters, and also because those things weren't the focus of the story.)
- Being a white author writing about slavery, Allende did do some things wrong. I do believe she had the best intentions, and it's clear she did A LOT of research, but some scenes were a bit unconfortable (for ex. the one where the Irish woman tells Teté about how she had to work to pay her debts and compares it Teté's situation. Those two things are incomparable).
- The end part of the book wasn't my favorite.
Now, the things I loved the most:
- The setting was obviously very well researched and I loved learning more about Haiti's history. The book even became a little duller once we moved away from it. But I felt like I was truly immersed in the setting, and that's great.
- Allende's writing is always great. I see a lot of people talk about the way she describes dialogue instead of writing it word for word, but that's actually very common in Latin America and came mostly from people outside of Latam. A lot of people need to learn that there are other places in the word and that those places will have different writing styles, and only because they aren't used to it, it doesn't mean it's bad.
- I loved most of the characters. I was able to connect with them. I was always eager to learn more about them and what they were up to.
Anyways. Eager for my next book by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: War
Minor: Xenophobia
bookishplantmom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don't often pick up historical fiction based on slavery because of the work I do as a historian for my day job. This book was recommended to me whilst on an archival research trip years ago. It is very well researched and quite historically accurate. I appreciated the author's emphasis on the close relationship between Saint-Domingue and Louisiana. I would have been interested to have the story better anchor Canada within the history of transatlantic slavery as there is a connection there as well but I also understand that isn't what the story is about. I was very happy with how Zarité's story ended especially her ultimate decision at the very end regarding Valmorain's request. : I loved that Zarité refused him and that she decided not to carry on actively hating him as it was not serving her. I was concerned the author would decide to make Zarité "be the bigger person" and forgive his ass thus falling into the harmful trope of the Mammy figure who is always there to kiss away white people's booboos but thankfully she gave Zarité an ending which honoured the harm she survived while also giving her closure without it being about redemption with the white man. I was not into the whole incest part - it is however historically accurate to have incestuous interracial relationships, that's not my issue. I think my issue was the decision to fold a love story into it. That made me uncomfortable because it implied that consent between Rosette and Maurice was possible when I don't believe is was because of the inherent racial and social power imbalance between them free wealthy white man vs unfree quadroon woman. Anyway, this isn't a Uni lecture it is a book review so I'm going to stop. Overall a great great piece of literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Torture, and Xenophobia