Reviews

In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende

jess_mango's review

4.0

The lives of the 3 characters in this book all intersect during a 2016 snow storm in Brooklyn, NY. Richard is a stressed out academic. He dashes out in his car to run an errand and accidentally rear ends a Lexus driven by a nervous young woman name Evelyn. She doesn't talk to him and doesn't want to exchange info but he gives her his business card anyway. Later she shows up at his residence. Since she seems to speak Spanish he asks his tenant Lucia, who is originally from Chile to come help out. It turns out that Lucia is an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant and the car that she was driving belongs to her employer and was apparently involved in a crime. The resultant conversation ends up bonding these 3 together. During their time together they share details of their past in Chile, Brazil, Guatemala etc.

This was a nice winter-themed read. It was a blend of contemporary fiction with a smidge of romance with a slight twist of a thriller and magical realism.

This book counts towards the Reading Women 2021 Challenge Task #5: Protagonist older than 50

alex_lk's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

enid815's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this story about three people who come together under trying circumstances. Each character has a back story of something dark that happened in their past. They are all unhappy and scared individuals for different reasons.

I like how the author goes back and fourth to the different characters past and then talks about the present. The characters show us why some people may need to leave their country of birth and move to the USA and not always legally.

I appreciated the ending and how the author puts everything together of how things happened even though I had pretty much figured it out. Enjoy the book it is very entertaining.

littleoldrachel's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring

4.75

selenityelizabeth's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

joannac224's review

4.0

I absolutely love Allende’s writing. This was no exception. However, the Kathryn Brown plot line I was really not expecting and it through me off guard. Worth reading at least once, if only for the Lucia/Richard story line which I found so adorable.

unpinguinolector's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

pam2375's review

5.0

I loved this book! One of the things that makes a book so meaningful for me is when and how the reason for the title is revealed. This book was no exception and I found it absolutely beautiful.

Many thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for this advanced readers copy.

atrautmann217's review against another edition

5.0

My first book by Isabel Allende, but a wonderful place to begin! I think I’ll read many more by her. It started out a bit slow, the beautiful prose kept me going. Finally the story picked up and once it did I couldn’t put it down.

strawb3rry_moon's review against another edition

3.0

3.5
Para ser honesta esta no tenía expectativas altas del libro, pero me sorprendió. Es la primera vez que leo a Allende y no será la última. Me conmovieron mucho cada una de las historias de los personajes, todos sus problemas y dificultades los sentí profundamente.

Me encantó como Allende describe a la muerte:
“…una poderosa ola oceánica, agua fresca y luminosa, que se la llevaba a otra dimensión.”