A review by katiekip
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

This was a challenging book to read.  It was rich with characters and magic but heavy and often very sad. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a dark version of The Royal Tenenbaums - so many gifted but flawed family members of all different generations and their interwoven friends and partners in the same house that is just as eccentric. The dynamic kept the story moving even when characters did horrendous things.  I read this because it is one of the books the students at my school have to read and I can see how it would be amazing for discussion. I have a feeling I will be thinking about this book for a long time!