Reviews

Where to start with this book? Probably where I usually do, with the characters. In this book, they are an apt place to begin. Personality is not lost in this sweeping tale of slavery, rebellion and family, as Allende confronts the Haitian slave revolt with style and grace. Of all the women in this book, and there are a few, the Europeans come off by far the worse, Tété, the protagonist and sometimes narrator, is an honest and refreshing voice, a strong character who gained my trust from the opening lines. Stood beside her various mistresses and "superiors", she embodied hard fought freedom and confidence, likewise with Violette Boisier.

By turns, I found this book engrossing and shocking. It is not a book for the faint hearted, I will admit, but the tale justifies the telling. The sultry heat of the Caribbean oozes from the pages of this book. Every character is created individual, and the writing has a certain kick to it often lacking in big-casted historical fiction such as this book. Relationships are explored and investigated, slaves and their owners, lovers, men and their mistresses, soldiers and their causes, brothers and sisters, mothers, wives, friends and enemies, each play their part in this saga. And yet, despite the intricacies, none of these relationships, (often unconventional and challenging to me as a modern reader) ever felt like set pieces.

All in all, a marvellous story, and a truly worthwhile read!

hibridnameteorka's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective tense medium-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

4.25

domigaet's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

mzzclaire's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this book about 5 years ago, and I still think about it from time to time. That's how deeply it resonated with me. To think that could have been me if I was born in another time. Haiti is still heavily at a point of unrest, there is no silver lining for this story. Perhaps you have to have been through a similar struggle to understand, sometimes there is no glass-half full conclusion. In any case, I do remember picking up a lighter read after this one to change the direction of my thoughts. I do not remember how I came across this novel as I usually avoid such heavy content as it affects me so emotionally, but I am a better person and reader for it and the conversations it has caused me to spark with others about such topics.

adz864's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad 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

3.5

mad_didas's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.5

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