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mickstrauther's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.5
This is a pretty solid read. It’s adventurous, historical, and pocked through with mini stories that feel like tall tales—faithful to the Old West style. Each character has a well-fleshed background that we glimpse into, and this I really enjoyed. Allende quite cleverly works in each person’s history into the present. Every character certainly feels full, well-rounded, and complex.
My one gripe is something that is both a strength and a curse of this book—what the hell happened to Joaquin?! Eliza’s whole journey is spurred by his own adventure into California, and while I understand that Eliza had fantastic character development on her own, I wanted to see Joaquin again. At the same time, I’m torn. I lil that he became a legend, a tall tale, where the truth of him was always rewritten by everyone but him. Jacob Fremont is the personification of the yellow journalism that would have plagued men of color in the Old West, so I get it. But man oh man, I wanted he and Eliza to reunite somehow, even if briefly. At the very least I would have appreciated an epilogue that glimpsed into his real life, since he was such a motor for the story…. I’m pretty sure that was his head at the end, but who knows if Eliza would recognize a half dead head Florina in whisky? . Let’s just say that if you like your endings to be neatly resolved, this book doesn’t quite give it to you.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the representation and diversity in this book. It felt true and authentic rather than awkward or forced, and so we get a great cast of characters who are Hispanic, Chinese, white, and/or LGBT. Black folks are oddly absent except in passing, even though they made up a good chunk of the cowboys. It’s not a reason not to read, just something to mention.
The writing takes a little patience sometimes, but I would recommend!
My one gripe is something that is both a strength and a curse of this book—
I was also pleasantly surprised by the representation and diversity in this book. It felt true and authentic rather than awkward or forced, and so we get a great cast of characters who are Hispanic, Chinese, white, and/or LGBT. Black folks are oddly absent except in passing, even though they made up a good chunk of the cowboys. It’s not a reason not to read, just something to mention.
The writing takes a little patience sometimes, but I would recommend!
kjarmschool's review against another edition
3.0
Fun little adventure story. The progressive/modern views of the main characters (who were obviously destined to be together from the beginning) felt a little sus, like 49ers pandering to my modern sensibilities. Entertaining nonetheless. Wish it was gayer.
maria_valentine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
blueyorkie's review against another edition
4.0
This work is an exciting historical novel in which we find a young Chilean woman of English education, Eliza Sommers. In 1849, when gold has discovered in California, she lived in Valparaiso. Still, when her lover, Joaquin Andieta, leaves in search of fortune, she follows him and finds herself in the basement of a ship, willing to do anything to regain the love of his life. The infernal voyage and the search for a lover in a land of prostitutes and lonely men exalted by the gold fever make this young woman an unusual woman with only the help and affection of Tao Chi'en, a Chinese doctor. This work portrays a time marked by violence and greed in a universe populated by characters that remain forever in our memory.
vanzfs's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
naisinkoi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I went into this book blind. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not but I was pleasantly surprised.
The kinds of adventures and challenges the main character went through were interesting and inspiring especially when one asks themselves if they would have done the same thing in similar circumstances.
I enjoyed the book, the overall story line and the loved the characters and was so happy with the ending.
I would definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to trying other books by this author. I am actually excited to see that it is part of a series so I will get to know more about what happens to my favourite characters.
The kinds of adventures and challenges the main character went through were interesting and inspiring especially when one asks themselves if they would have done the same thing in similar circumstances.
I enjoyed the book, the overall story line and the loved the characters and was so happy with the ending.
I would definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to trying other books by this author. I am actually excited to see that it is part of a series so I will get to know more about what happens to my favourite characters.