Reviews

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

joannac224's review against another edition

5.0

It took me forever to finish this book, simply because I did not want it to end. I will never get to read this book for the first time again. A brilliant book, written so well and I am so privileged to have been able to read it in Spanish. Definitely one of my favorites.

gabiota's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

honkytonkwitch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny reflective sad slow-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

4.0

pshah5473's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-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

4.75

emma_vb's review against another edition

Made it halfway and still wasn’t invested in the characters and story. 

anawalt's review against another edition

4.0

It has some darker themes and was difficult at times. I also was confused every time “Indian” was used. My brain always defaults to India, not Native or Indigenous folks. Is this still used?

While certain activities and attitudes felt like a naked truth, I also hated reading the internal justifications for these acts. I desperately wanted to punch a certain promenant character in the face no less than every single time it was his turn to be the narrator. Dash in nearly every time he was brought up, too.

All that said, it’s a well told story. I am grateful for how it lead you up to certain things, but it did not force you to linger in the actions themselves.

I’m not sure I’d be able to make the journey again any time soon, but overall a great read.

edgar_allans_hoe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

tkdon2590's review against another edition

3.0

I really wanted to love this book but I just could not get into the story . While I can appreciate that the characters are fairly well written and the book even had a few interesting moments, it was moments not the overall story. A few of the major deterrents for me were the extremely long chapters (I’m talking hour long or more) and the overall lack of a true plot or story . The majority of the book is simply character ramblings ,internal monologues or stream of consciousness with no apparent purpose. The primary male character is not only physically and emotionally abusive but is portrayed in violent CSA multiple times throughout the story . Between the SA, DV , racism and misogyny in the book it’s hard to find an intriguing story. Also , why are all the main female characters referred to as strong or brave when they literally take abuse and allow themselves , despite being the only magically gifted people, to be walked all over at every single turn. The authors writing in general was decent but without the strong theme and plot the beauty of the words was lost .

jayneejohnson's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

suyagotz's review against another edition

4.0

3,5