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abicaro17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This gets an extra star exclusively for the fact that the man whose life this book was based on died 6 days before Allende could give him the final manuscript and tell him she dedicated it to him. The main plot of this book is the long and painful lives of Victor and Roser. The background of their lives includes the Spanish Civil war and political unrest in Chile. Unfortunately this book is boring. Because it never settles on a time period and elaborates on feelings and growth of the main characters, this story falls flat for me. The characters are flawed (as most people are) but, they spend almost no time ruminating or atoning for things like cheating or lying. I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone or anything in this book. Allende is a beautiful writer I just think this is a boring story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Medical content, Sexism, Torture, War, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Colonisation, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Body horror, Cancer, Deportation, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, and Slavery
charley0796's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A historical fiction about the Spanish Civil War and Chilean Coup - emphasis on the history and information with some entwining of character’s stories. It spans a whole generation, with quick jumps between time periods, which can make it hard to form bonds to the characters.
I’m glad I read this book, I knew nothing about these two periods of history so I found it interesting to learn about. However, I just couldn’t connect to the characters and felt at arms length (something many other readers seem to feel). At first I felt that there were too many POVs considering we only actually follow Roser and Victor. Characters we have spent time with and you think are going to be incorporated into the main story vanish half way through (Ofelia), coming back with a bit of a butchered character - which is somewhat understandable with what happened.
There was also some misogyny and mention of rape, and adult physical abuse, which I think more reflects the time period accurately and so didn’t bother me like another reviewer. The two main women were business women in their own right.
Overall, it didn’t capture me enough to score more than 3.5 - it was just too matter of fact.
I’m glad I read this book, I knew nothing about these two periods of history so I found it interesting to learn about. However, I just couldn’t connect to the characters and felt at arms length (something many other readers seem to feel). At first I felt that there were too many POVs considering we only actually follow Roser and Victor. Characters we have spent time with and you think are going to be incorporated into the main story vanish half way through (Ofelia), coming back with a bit of a butchered character - which is somewhat understandable with what happened.
There was also some misogyny and mention of rape, and adult physical abuse, which I think more reflects the time period accurately and so didn’t bother me like another reviewer. The two main women were business women in their own right.
Overall, it didn’t capture me enough to score more than 3.5 - it was just too matter of fact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Murder
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Sexism, Torture, and Rape
kierscrivener's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I really liked this story, it takes a little bit to follow the treads and years but as we continue it makes a beautiful love story that tells the story of twentieth century Chile.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, and Confinement
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