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carlapastor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
Soy una de las mayores haters de libros que me mandan leer en clase pero sorprendentemente este me ha gustado bastante. Soy incapaz de decir cómo de realista es porque habla de muchos temas que nunca he experimentado y espero no experimentar, pero por lo que sé Isabel Allende tenía familiares que han sufrido en la adicción a las drogas, así que asumo que será real.
Me gustan los personajes, me gusta la historia y me gusta esta narración alternada aunque en algunos momentos se sentía un poco como si fuese relleno, pero no era la mayoría del libro.
Adoro con todo mi alma que pudiese terminar sin un hombre y no pasase nada, aunque no me queda muy claro si al final pretende volver con él. Por favor, no. No es necesario.
En fin, me parece bastante buen libro. Sorprendentemente.
Me gustan los personajes, me gusta la historia y me gusta esta narración alternada aunque en algunos momentos se sentía un poco como si fuese relleno, pero no era la mayoría del libro.
En fin, me parece bastante buen libro. Sorprendentemente.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Death, Xenophobia, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Drug use, and Mental illness
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Gun violence
emberley's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
5.0
I feel like I've just lived another life through this book. The details and narration actually do feel like a real memoir. I chose this to read for the Chile prompt of 'StoryGraph Reads the World' challenge as the concept of an American-born teenager moving to rural Chile sounded like it would end up detailing Chilean culture through her story, and it does, so I loved it for that too!
(Also, though the book is a lot of Dark, I couldn't help select 'funny' when remembering Maya's humour and Manuel's sass. I am gonna miss them)
(Also, though the book is a lot of Dark, I couldn't help select 'funny' when remembering Maya's humour and Manuel's sass. I am gonna miss them)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Violence and Torture
Minor: Incest and Pedophilia
loxeletters's review against another edition
challenging
funny
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
3.0
I've been sitting in this review for a while... I enjoyed this book. It was funny, interesting, and well-written. I really enjoyed exploring the Las Vegas drug scene and the topic of addiction. I
But there were also some major issues I had, especially the way this book treats PTSD. Manuel's trauma is confronted in a way which I found distasteful and unrealistic. I would have liked to explore the topic of Pinochets dictatorship more in depth in general - I was hoping it would be a big theme in the book, that's why I picked it up - but instead it felt rushed and shallow. This may very well be also due to the diary format, which of course lends itself to a lot of telling and less showing.
My second big issue with the book was the way the big mystery was realised. For the first half of the book, we're wondering why Maya is in Chiloé. Once the Las Vegas Part of the story is told, however, the stakes felt suddenly quite low. I felt like they were all being a bit overdramatic. Then, in the last thirty pages, things suddenly pick back up again and everything devolves rapidly. The final solution regarding Arana was also very speculative for me... Not enough actual proof, only some speculation on Maya's part to eplain his role. It felt weird.
All that being said, I really enjoyed the setting of Chiloé and the community of the little island. Makes me want to visit actually! I liked the characters, though I was frustrated by Maya at times. I enjoyed the parts about the dictatorship and about her addiction. I also appreciated the dry, understated humour. Overall a mixed experience. I was told this is Allende's most "YA" work, and I'm excited to read more adult works by her.
But there were also some major issues I had, especially the way this book treats PTSD. Manuel's trauma is confronted in a way which I found distasteful and unrealistic. I would have liked to explore the topic of Pinochets dictatorship more in depth in general - I was hoping it would be a big theme in the book, that's why I picked it up - but instead it felt rushed and shallow. This may very well be also due to the diary format, which of course lends itself to a lot of telling and less showing.
My second big issue with the book was the way the big mystery was realised. For the first half of the book, we're wondering why Maya is in Chiloé. Once the Las Vegas Part of the story is told, however, the stakes felt suddenly quite low. I felt like they were all being a bit overdramatic. Then, in the last thirty pages, things suddenly pick back up again and everything devolves rapidly. The final solution regarding Arana was also very speculative for me... Not enough actual proof, only some speculation on Maya's part to eplain his role. It felt weird.
All that being said, I really enjoyed the setting of Chiloé and the community of the little island. Makes me want to visit actually! I liked the characters, though I was frustrated by Maya at times. I enjoyed the parts about the dictatorship and about her addiction. I also appreciated the dry, understated humour. Overall a mixed experience. I was told this is Allende's most "YA" work, and I'm excited to read more adult works by her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Drug abuse, Addiction, Grief, Kidnapping, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Torture, Incest, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Abortion, and Terminal illness
merenguita's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Incest
reginaaruiz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Drug abuse
Moderate: Rape and Torture
Minor: Abortion and Incest
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