Reviews

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

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lwbarry0605's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad medium-paced

3.75

marlene55's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

kaylamatz's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I read that it is one of the most important books of the 20th century and I would whole heartedly agree. The magic was excentric and fun. Some characters were so loveable while others...not so much, just like in real families. I loved following through the generations and watching characters from birth or youth.

soniiasg's review against another edition

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4.0

La narración es muy buena, me alegro de por fin haberlo leído porque lo tenía en mi lista desde hace años, pero aunque es memorable, estoy segura que no lo volveré a leer, entre varias cosas, porque tiene un personaje que detesté y que ni por un segundo sentí algo bueno por él. Pero vale la pena la experiencia de leer desde Nívea y su lucha por el voto femenino hasta Alba y la brutalidad y crueldad de la dictadura, Isabel tiene una habilidad excelente para hilar historias sin hacerte perder el interés ni sentirlo pesado.

denriquez's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Es difícil hablar de la literatura de la dictadura militar chilena sin encionar este gran hito en la construcción de la memoria colectiva de lo sucedido, no es para menos su relevancia, que desde un enfoque transgenracio al de mujeres expresa lo vivido en gran parte del siglo.

Más que un libro panfletario político, es una recopilación de vivencias aderezadas con la magia vuelta cotidiana.

eleniphant's review against another edition

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challenging emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

Gorgeous prose and use of magical realism. The backstory of this book in relation to Allende’s life is just as fascinating. I think it paints an incredible portrait of another time and political situation- one we see develop over decades with an all encompassing slow burn-, there were scenes and quotes that hit hard (particularly about living and breaking cycles) - and the characters- some were beautifully and unflinchingly complex… but then others I felt could’ve been given more depth. Some scenes and handling of - I was not huge on. Parts did lay a bit. Overall this was a book that restored my love of the slow burn and getting lost in prose and emotions and relationships.