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oakened's review against another edition
4.0
i really enjoyed all of the short stories in this book, but none quite as much as i enjoyed the preface.
christine_exlibris's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderfully creative and imaginative stories to get lost in for a few hours. This was a delightful and very well written collection by the incomparable, Allende. Personally, she never disappoints.
laurieb755's review against another edition
3.0
Is Eva Luna a wondrous story teller? Yes.
Is Isabel Allende a wondrous story teller? Yes.
Their imaginations are fertile, with powerful, masterful use of words to tell and describe and evoke. At the same time, they only say what needs to be said; no unnecessary bits of story.
I tried to enjoy this book as a stand alone, but could not help but think back to Eva Luna and realize I wanted more from this person who had experienced a lifetime of stories.
To be fair, Eva Luna retained her magic and each individual story held sway over me. I often read two or three at a time. I recognized people who came in to a tale and then reappeared multiple tales later. Yet, by the book's end I had forgotten why Eva began her stories in the first place and wound back to the beginning to remind myself how this collection all began.
In reflecting on the above, it makes me wonder if perhaps this book would have been better devoured reading more chapters in fewer sittings. This might have pulled the connecting strings tighter, yet life's strings are not always tight and neat…
For the record, I read a hardcover version. And I have just returned to update this review after spending quite awhile exploring Isabel Allende's website, which I highly recommend. Her magic with words reins supreme, her life story fills in gaps in what I've gleaned elsewhere, and if you cannot get a hold of books in this time of the pandemic, you can immerse yourself in Isabel Allende's writing without any concern of a library due date.
Is Isabel Allende a wondrous story teller? Yes.
Their imaginations are fertile, with powerful, masterful use of words to tell and describe and evoke. At the same time, they only say what needs to be said; no unnecessary bits of story.
I tried to enjoy this book as a stand alone, but could not help but think back to Eva Luna and realize I wanted more from this person who had experienced a lifetime of stories.
To be fair, Eva Luna retained her magic and each individual story held sway over me. I often read two or three at a time. I recognized people who came in to a tale and then reappeared multiple tales later. Yet, by the book's end I had forgotten why Eva began her stories in the first place and wound back to the beginning to remind myself how this collection all began.
In reflecting on the above, it makes me wonder if perhaps this book would have been better devoured reading more chapters in fewer sittings. This might have pulled the connecting strings tighter, yet life's strings are not always tight and neat…
For the record, I read a hardcover version. And I have just returned to update this review after spending quite awhile exploring Isabel Allende's website, which I highly recommend. Her magic with words reins supreme, her life story fills in gaps in what I've gleaned elsewhere, and if you cannot get a hold of books in this time of the pandemic, you can immerse yourself in Isabel Allende's writing without any concern of a library due date.
triceroar's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.0
siffy's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful descriptions and stories set in historic Chile from a female perspective. Life is difficult, even more so for the women especially the way the men treat them, but sometimes they have their revenge.
eveyhammond's review against another edition
5.0
This may be my favorite book. I know that that is a very loaded statement but if my place was on fire I would grab this book( and maybe my knitting) and run out the door.
Its just beautiful, the pictures she paints with her words, the worlds she creates. The book is a bunch of stories told by the main character Eva, from the book Eva Luna and I have this addition of the book. I would never get rid of it no matter how damaged it may get.
One story in particular is just haunting...to this day I wonder what the two words is from the first story of the book. Just beautiful. If you love magical realism, modern myth and modern storytelling this book is for you.
Can't stress how much I love this book.
Its just beautiful, the pictures she paints with her words, the worlds she creates. The book is a bunch of stories told by the main character Eva, from the book Eva Luna and I have this addition of the book. I would never get rid of it no matter how damaged it may get.
One story in particular is just haunting...to this day I wonder what the two words is from the first story of the book. Just beautiful. If you love magical realism, modern myth and modern storytelling this book is for you.
Can't stress how much I love this book.
perspecteva's review against another edition
4.0
Fabulosas historias que describen el realismo mágico de Latinoamérica, visto a través de los ojos de una mujer!
belogrudovaite's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the writing style and many of the stories - a perfect read for a long, quiet night, much like the mood of the whole book, but many of the notes really didn't hit the tune for me. A lot of creepy, terrifying and horrible things seemed to be romanticized, and I'm uncertain if it's because I'm missing something from the original book that I have not read.
Although certain traits and story elements were repeated nearly in each book (older man, girlish woman or actual girl child, extreme age differences, awful men who gain women's love and tenderness, women deserving of these attentions being tender, graceful, soft etc.) which nearly drove me mad, the story elements themselves are imaginative and fantastic, chewing you up and swallowing you in...
Although certain traits and story elements were repeated nearly in each book (older man, girlish woman or actual girl child, extreme age differences, awful men who gain women's love and tenderness, women deserving of these attentions being tender, graceful, soft etc.) which nearly drove me mad, the story elements themselves are imaginative and fantastic, chewing you up and swallowing you in...
harrydichmont's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
It's good, I just never really seem to get into collections of short stories
It's good, I just never really seem to get into collections of short stories