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emirandres's review against another edition
4.0
Este libro continúa con la historia que comenzó en Hija de la fortuna, tomando personajes secundarios y haciéndolos protagonistas, e introduciendo a Aurora del Valle, nieta de Eliza Sommers, quien nos va a contar sobre el hecho traumatico que le hizo olvidar los primeros cinco años de su vida. Creo que se puede leer independientemente, pero recomiendo leer el anterior primero.
cbatstone27's review against another edition
4.0
the blurb didn't capture the book's content at ALL, it's like it was written by someone who didn't bother to read the book. anyway, i loved Portrait in Sepia. Paulina and Frederick were such memorable, lovely characters. now i want to read The House of Spirits.
wildmountainjane's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. Allende's writing is beautiful and her characters are fascinating. It didn't quite live up to its predecessor in my mind, partly because of personal preference (I really enjoyed the historical setting of the gold rush and didn't know enough about Chile's history to be engaged with her historical sidebars on the same level) and partly because the main characters and their stories lacked the depth and passion of the ones featured in Daughter of Fortune. Aurora's story mirrors Eliza's in many ways, but I never identified with her the way I did with Eliza, and it seemed things just happened to her, rather than her being a driving force in her own fate. Paulina felt like a completely different character who was called Paulina del Valle simply to keep us in the same world of characters. I did love Frederick and her relationship with him. Overall, a lovely and easy read that just doesn't pack the same punch as some of Allende's other stories.
a77virginia's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. Loved the perspectives from which it was written!
tariana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
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? No
5.0
Another great story from Isabel Allende.
alfredesin's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
caitlinruth's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
catherine_the_greatest's review against another edition
3.0
I realized about halfway through this book that I'd read it before. I thought it was a third book in a series when really it was the second. I thought the beginning seemed so familiar because maybe it was overlapping some of the same story from the second book. Finally I got to a point where it was just too familiar. While I basically enjoyed the read, it wasn't great enough to stick in my memory the first time, warranting only 3 stars.
snaomiq's review against another edition
4.0
Being the second book (after Daughter of Fortune) of Allende’s trilogy, this story provides the context for Aurora Del Valle’s (the adopted daughter of Severo Del Valle from House of the Spirits) birth and coming of age. As a photographer herself, her memoir feels like a developing picture… slowly taking form and gaining visibility. Set in the latter half of 19th century Chile (and at the turn of the century), this book also details the War of the Pacific and the Chilean revolution; it also details life in the city vs. life in the countryside. More than anything, this becomes a story centered on generations of women who prioritize their freedom and independence in an age that expects them to marry well and raise children under the guise of domestic bliss.