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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Audible audiobook performed by Cynthia Farrell & Timothy Andrés Pabon.
From the book jacket: Meet Eva Luna – a lover, writer, revolutionary, and storyteller. Eva is born poor, orphaned at an early age, and works as a servant. Eva is a naturally gifted and imaginative storyteller who meets people from all stations and walks of life. Though she has no wealth, she trades her stories like currency with people who are kind to her.
My reactions
I’m already a huge fan of Allende’s magical realism, and this book did not disappoint. I loved the many characters – from the Lebanese merchant to the petty criminal/guerrilla leader to the transsexual entertainer. As Eva tells the story of her life, she tells the story of this South American nation – of corruption, class struggle, peace, war, feast and famine. The story comes alive with saints and ghosts, servants and political leaders equally profiled, skewered and cherished.
Both Allende and Eva Luna are great storytellers, and this a marvelous escape.
The audiobook was performed by Cynthia Farrell and Timothy Andrés Pabon. These are two talented voice artists, and having them both narrating, makes it easy to follow the shifts in perspective
.
From the book jacket: Meet Eva Luna – a lover, writer, revolutionary, and storyteller. Eva is born poor, orphaned at an early age, and works as a servant. Eva is a naturally gifted and imaginative storyteller who meets people from all stations and walks of life. Though she has no wealth, she trades her stories like currency with people who are kind to her.
My reactions
I’m already a huge fan of Allende’s magical realism, and this book did not disappoint. I loved the many characters – from the Lebanese merchant to the petty criminal/guerrilla leader to the transsexual entertainer. As Eva tells the story of her life, she tells the story of this South American nation – of corruption, class struggle, peace, war, feast and famine. The story comes alive with saints and ghosts, servants and political leaders equally profiled, skewered and cherished.
Both Allende and Eva Luna are great storytellers, and this a marvelous escape.
The audiobook was performed by Cynthia Farrell and Timothy Andrés Pabon. These are two talented voice artists, and having them both narrating, makes it easy to follow the shifts in perspective
.
mariugonza's review against another edition
5.0
I read this instead of using effectively my time and study for the SAT, as I was supposed to do.
So yes, this book is pretty good
So yes, this book is pretty good
cappog's review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
aghanty's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
roseteeth's review against another edition
4.0
// "she sowed in my mind the idea that reality is not only what we see on the surface; it has a magical dimension as well and, if we so desire, it is legitimate to enhance it and color it to make our journey through life less trying."
and so our protagonist, the tenacious eva luna, sets out to find friendships and love armed with her power for captivating storytelling set amidst an unnamed fictional south american country riddled by political turmoil.
this novel is the second time i am coming across isabel allende's work- the first being the house of the spirits. allende's writing is as stunning and immersive as ever, as she traces the life of eva luna's mother, eva's birth, and her life in the succeeding years as she gets older. eva and her stories, as well as the secondary protagonist rolf and his upbringing, was narrated with finesse. allende has this innate talent of breathing full life into every character- the personalities and stories of the main characters all stood on their own, and they were all well-rounded and had depth to them. the protagonist herself was likeable and readable, with her stubborn, determined, and hard-working nature
additionally, i really appreciated the portrayal of the fighters in this novel; it isn't every day that you come across a realistic and positive depiction of this section.
this has been one of my favourite novels that i have read in recent times, would definitely recommend!
and so our protagonist, the tenacious eva luna, sets out to find friendships and love armed with her power for captivating storytelling set amidst an unnamed fictional south american country riddled by political turmoil.
this novel is the second time i am coming across isabel allende's work- the first being the house of the spirits. allende's writing is as stunning and immersive as ever, as she traces the life of eva luna's mother, eva's birth, and her life in the succeeding years as she gets older. eva and her stories, as well as the secondary protagonist rolf and his upbringing, was narrated with finesse. allende has this innate talent of breathing full life into every character- the personalities and stories of the main characters all stood on their own, and they were all well-rounded and had depth to them. the protagonist herself was likeable and readable, with her stubborn, determined, and hard-working nature
additionally, i really appreciated the portrayal of the fighters in this novel; it isn't every day that you come across a realistic and positive depiction of this section.
this has been one of my favourite novels that i have read in recent times, would definitely recommend!
clody89's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
medium-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? No
4.0
srcamacho93's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
I liked the book I was just waiting for the climax of the book and I don’t think I got it. Also, this book feels that is in the same universe as The house of spirit.
hoppma's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
is_book_loring's review against another edition
2.0
A story about a storyteller stumbled from one bizarre event to others while also telling stories of these eccentric personalities she met, came and went through her life, whom she loved or had loved her and shaped her life. Eva Luna herself, started as a rebellious orphan, full of wonder with fantastic imagination and streak of dramatic insanity that could surprise you when its infrequent but impressive occurrence. Weirdly enough, despite being supposedly such a talented inventor of fantastical stories, writing a telenovela about the story of her life was the big destiny of her existence. That and devoting her entire being waiting for her soulmate, revolving around men and falling in love with them or more like in love with her idealistic fantasy of romantic love and being disillusioned afterward. She ended up as a dull, damsel in distress who was flat, boring, loved by everyone, faultless and flawless. This very disappointing resolution mirrored the book story line, which was very interesting in the beginning with its alluring prose, sometimes beautiful moments, and odd but fascinating happenings, progressed to boring half-cooked political plot about guerrilla war and melodramatic telenovela itself. I lost interest halfway down the book and around last quarter of the book, I just wanted it to be over. It was not that bad, if one was into telenovela stuff, in this case, with stroke of perverse taste and sexual relationship in certain flavours, it just put me off from the already banal tale. The writing style was the saving grace for me, and some of the sideline characters were delightful.