Reviews

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

wasupe12's review against another edition

4.0

It's Isabel Allende -- what else can be said?

This book touches on social issues, bigotry, racism, and just plain meanness. It touched my heart in so many ways.

littlemissica's review against another edition

3.0

I really struggled to want to read this. I liked the idea of weaving a Holocaust story with a modern-day immigration study but I am always hesitant when non-Jews write Jewish Holocaust stories and I’m not sure that I really appreciated how this was done either, or that Samuel does not practice Judaism at all. The story of Anita is its own beauty but I could not connect with the chapters written from her perspective and it made me dread reading it. I do find beauty in the story told now that I’ve finished it but reading it felt like a chore at times.

crossers_x's review against another edition

reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

3.0

I'll quote the cover's quote "Isabel Allende is a magnificent storyteller". It was truly a wonderful storyline, just much slower than my usual pace. Pros: I really developed an understanding and visualisation of the characters. Con: probably not desperately rushing to read her books again, despite a wonderful technique. 

PS: Also, take a moment for the excellent cover illustration.

laurimarit's review against another edition

4.0

Simply a beautiful novel. I know people have mixed feelings about this one, and maybe it was a bit too much to introduce a lot of different characters and storylines. However, that didn't bother me at all, I really enjoyed reading it.

minireader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

cindyhen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

he_j's review against another edition

5.0

I always enjoyed Allende’s writing. This is a dual story: of a young Jewish boy Kindertransported from Vienna to England, and a young blind Salvadorian girl torn from her mother at the USA border. The way the help each other in the end is heartwarming.
Nice to hear that this novel is a result of all the people Allende has met over her lifetime, and at the foundation she set up to honor her daughter’s memory.

annemiekvr's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

kanderson246's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Antisemitism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Xenophobia, and Murder

luds's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative 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