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finessa's review against another edition
5.0
Isabel Allende is absolutely enthralling. The House of Spirits is magical, tantalizing, & heartbreaking. I highly recommend if you’re craving a strange, almost otherworldly family in a very real world.
evie5120's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kbishop24's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.5
manubpa's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
savaging's review against another edition
5.0
First, the form: wonderful book to read for those wanting to polish or maintain their Spanish.
Second, the content: a masterpiece. Everyone already knows this, but I'll say it also: trust Allende. She knows what she's doing, and her heart is good. You can sit in her world for as long as you need to. All of that whimsy and beauty? It's only because she has to be honest with you, and her honesty is going to hurt.
How to write a book about dictatorship and torture? Allende suggests you stuff it as full of love and hope as you possibly can, because you can't blink when you have to say the worst things.
Second, the content: a masterpiece. Everyone already knows this, but I'll say it also: trust Allende. She knows what she's doing, and her heart is good. You can sit in her world for as long as you need to. All of that whimsy and beauty? It's only because she has to be honest with you, and her honesty is going to hurt.
How to write a book about dictatorship and torture? Allende suggests you stuff it as full of love and hope as you possibly can, because you can't blink when you have to say the worst things.
marlie_lisa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
liz_castel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
pianizza's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rose8's review against another edition
5.0
Any review that can be left regarding a 20th century masterpiece will likely fall a bit short, but here I go trying anyway.
This was my first exposure to Latin American literature with all of its twisting turns and magical realism. The book was so beautifully written that I wonder how much a language course would cost me so that I can read it in the original Spanish.
The plot flowed really well and kept me engaged with every page. The character development was flawless and by the end of the book, I felt like they were my closest friends. I knew their strengths, weaknesses, hopes, and dreams. I knew these things not because Allende told me what they were feeling at every turn, but rather because they showed me themselves through their personality and actions.
This was truly a masterpiece. Following generations of the same family through their love affairs and trials, Allende has created a book that will touch any reader. This book not only touched me but allowed me to truly appreciate great writing. Her sentence structure and word choice (kudos to the translator) made me a better writer and a more refined reader.
If you're already on this page reading these reviews, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. If you're a Jane the Virgin fan, you'll be happy to know that Jane is also quite enamored with Allende's writing like the rest of us.
This was my first exposure to Latin American literature with all of its twisting turns and magical realism. The book was so beautifully written that I wonder how much a language course would cost me so that I can read it in the original Spanish.
The plot flowed really well and kept me engaged with every page. The character development was flawless and by the end of the book, I felt like they were my closest friends. I knew their strengths, weaknesses, hopes, and dreams. I knew these things not because Allende told me what they were feeling at every turn, but rather because they showed me themselves through their personality and actions.
This was truly a masterpiece. Following generations of the same family through their love affairs and trials, Allende has created a book that will touch any reader. This book not only touched me but allowed me to truly appreciate great writing. Her sentence structure and word choice (kudos to the translator) made me a better writer and a more refined reader.
If you're already on this page reading these reviews, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. If you're a Jane the Virgin fan, you'll be happy to know that Jane is also quite enamored with Allende's writing like the rest of us.