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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Completely charmed by this thoughtful and beautiful story of a nation’s history through four generations of one family. A masterpiece in playfulness, humanity, and wit. What a delight. I hope to read it again one day.
Finally finished it! I've started this book more than a few times in the last several years but always lost interest within a few chapters. This time I decided to plow through, and sometimes that's exactly what it felt like. I think what has turned me off to this book is exactly what makes it a classic from Latin America: mountains of description with little dialogue, the presence of magic and organization according to events rather than chronology. It wasn't until the last few chapters of the book that I discovered the beauty of the whole story. The end of the book brings the beginning into focus. If you can hang in past the halfway point, it will all start to make sense.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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:
No
Alba no pudo describirlo mejor: "Una historia inacabable de dolor, de sangre y de amor"
De verdad wow. Es que está historia ha cambiado tanto en mí.
Fue difícil y dura de leer, sobre todo por los temas que toca, muy fuerte todo. Y pasa tanto en muy pocas páginas! Es de esos libros que hay que leer con cuidado y paciencia, saboreando cada palabra y relato con toda el alma. Simplemente, maravilloso. La prueba más digna de la historia cultural y política de Latinoamérica. Cada persona es un mito y una realidad. El ambiente político y social es crudo y real, la magia y sincretismo enredados en el medio le dan un toque inolvidable. Y la narrativa de Isabel... UFF. Es que en serio amo como escribe esta mujer. Claro que llega a ser pesado, a ser cansado incluso, pero vale totalmente la pena, simplemente no podía darle a este libro más que mi más completa atención.
Me daba miedo que no superara mis expectativas con Cuentos de Eva Luna, pero definitivamente los superó. Y con ESE final, no pude más que volver a leer las primeras páginas de esta obra maestra.
Btw.... No sé cómo le hizo para que el maldito desgraciado de Esteban Trueba se ganara mi compasión y entendimiento al final... Te amo Clara, te amo Tránsito Soto, Rosa, Blanca y Alba. Grandes mujeres ficticias, grandes historias en un contexto donde no se le da suficiente voz a las mujeres.
De verdad wow. Es que está historia ha cambiado tanto en mí.
Fue difícil y dura de leer, sobre todo por los temas que toca, muy fuerte todo. Y pasa tanto en muy pocas páginas! Es de esos libros que hay que leer con cuidado y paciencia, saboreando cada palabra y relato con toda el alma. Simplemente, maravilloso. La prueba más digna de la historia cultural y política de Latinoamérica. Cada persona es un mito y una realidad. El ambiente político y social es crudo y real, la magia y sincretismo enredados en el medio le dan un toque inolvidable. Y la narrativa de Isabel... UFF. Es que en serio amo como escribe esta mujer. Claro que llega a ser pesado, a ser cansado incluso, pero vale totalmente la pena, simplemente no podía darle a este libro más que mi más completa atención.
Me daba miedo que no superara mis expectativas con Cuentos de Eva Luna, pero definitivamente los superó. Y con ESE final, no pude más que volver a leer las primeras páginas de esta obra maestra.
Btw.... No sé cómo le hizo para que el maldito desgraciado de Esteban Trueba se ganara mi compasión y entendimiento al final... Te amo Clara, te amo Tránsito Soto, Rosa, Blanca y Alba. Grandes mujeres ficticias, grandes historias en un contexto donde no se le da suficiente voz a las mujeres.
3.5 stars.
Favorite line: "He had the awkward tenderness of someone who has never been loved and is forced to improvise."
Favorite line: "He had the awkward tenderness of someone who has never been loved and is forced to improvise."
I would have given this five stars, but the book had hardly any dialogue, which made it a slog to read at times
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Hierba mala nunca muere!! Esteban, espero que la pases muy mal en el infierno.
It took me a while to get into it but it was worth the effort. Very lovely writing and unforgettable characters.
While it took me awhile to get into the plot, and the alternating narrative structure, I found myself more and more engrossed as I went on. It was a dense read, in my opinion, but I enjoyed the character development and subtle weaving in of magical realism elements into the story. Most of the other members of my book club did not enjoy the story and struggled at times with the character and density of the prose. I, however, found it engaging. It's definitely not a book for everyone, but if you can make it through I think it is definitely worth the time.
It was the first book of Allende's that I've read, and I cannot wait to read more.
It was the first book of Allende's that I've read, and I cannot wait to read more.