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jinmichae's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This one didn't pull me in nearly as much as the others I've read by the author. It feels more like a biography than something with an overarching plot.
It mostly explores the full lives and loves of the main two characters and how they were affected by the Spanish Civil War, what was done in Chile on September 11, 1973, and other instances closer to their family. I enjoyed it--the writing was beautiful as always, the subject interesting and giving voice to parts of history I haven't encountered before--but because it was many narratives coming together, it didn't have as much focus as I prefer.
It mostly explores the full lives and loves of the main two characters and how they were affected by the Spanish Civil War, what was done in Chile on September 11, 1973, and other instances closer to their family. I enjoyed it--the writing was beautiful as always, the subject interesting and giving voice to parts of history I haven't encountered before--but because it was many narratives coming together, it didn't have as much focus as I prefer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Deportation, Medical content, Pregnancy, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Xenophobia, Dementia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Torture, Gore, Terminal illness, and Genocide
Minor: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Rape, Cancer, Abortion, Confinement, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Racism, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Colonisation, and Homophobia
solacelight's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Unfortunately, Allende fails to evoke true emotion beyond the emotion of a fact, in either the reader or the characters. This is a story of selfish people with in a time of great upheaval, personally and otherwise. Even the love Allende so deeply relies on is not truly explored. They don't feel like real people. However, it is undoubtedly incredibly well-researched. Read this for the history with an extra hit of intrigue, not for the story itself. The story is not about the characters, rather the characters are vehicles of history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Gore, Infidelity, and War
Moderate: Cancer, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Terminal illness, and Antisemitism
Minor: Colonisation, Incest, Suicide, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
beaucoupmich's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
5.0
This book has reminded me of why I love historical fiction so much.
I think it's right to put a highlight on how rich the writing is in this book. It's the first time I read any of Allende's book and since this is one of her most recent works I consider myself lucky, because she's certainly known her way around with words for years. Of course the premise sounds strange for our times since the book took place throughout decades starting from the 1930s, and some aspects could be weird as heck, especially regarding the characters, who had questionable moral compass, in my opinion. I'm not too fond of the characters as individuals, but by God, what a long life they've been through together (and not)!
While reading we got to see meaning behind the title and I think it was so touching how it was delivered. This book is overall a tribute to a homeland, a homage to history, and a beautiful narrative about home and the idea of home. It is also, to my understanding, an acknowledgement to creative minds: poets, artists, musicians, and how their contribution too were important in surviving the wars and other dire times. I can't get over the following paragraph:
"During the endless evenings in that reduced space, he went over the list of refugees he had granted a place on board in Bordeaux that distant August 1939 day, as well as other exiled Spanish men and women who arrived in Chile in the years that followed. Victor pointed out that Neruda's refusing to stick to the government's order to select only skilled workers, and instead including artists and intellectuals, had enriched the country with a wide range of talent, knowledge, and culture. In under a decade they had provided outstanding scientists, musicians, painters, writers, journalists, and even a historian whose dream was the monumental task of rewriting the history of Chile from its origins." (p. 215)
This could've been that love story with marriage of convenience trope, but to me it's more than that. It's a story with an immense expression about hope and loss, the becomes and the could've beens, the surprises in life, and the broken promises that have never been pledged. If you're a historical fiction fan I highly recommend it.
I think it's right to put a highlight on how rich the writing is in this book. It's the first time I read any of Allende's book and since this is one of her most recent works I consider myself lucky, because she's certainly known her way around with words for years. Of course the premise sounds strange for our times since the book took place throughout decades starting from the 1930s, and some aspects could be weird as heck, especially regarding the characters, who had questionable moral compass, in my opinion. I'm not too fond of the characters as individuals, but by God, what a long life they've been through together (and not)!
While reading we got to see meaning behind the title and I think it was so touching how it was delivered. This book is overall a tribute to a homeland, a homage to history, and a beautiful narrative about home and the idea of home. It is also, to my understanding, an acknowledgement to creative minds: poets, artists, musicians, and how their contribution too were important in surviving the wars and other dire times. I can't get over the following paragraph:
"During the endless evenings in that reduced space, he went over the list of refugees he had granted a place on board in Bordeaux that distant August 1939 day, as well as other exiled Spanish men and women who arrived in Chile in the years that followed. Victor pointed out that Neruda's refusing to stick to the government's order to select only skilled workers, and instead including artists and intellectuals, had enriched the country with a wide range of talent, knowledge, and culture. In under a decade they had provided outstanding scientists, musicians, painters, writers, journalists, and even a historian whose dream was the monumental task of rewriting the history of Chile from its origins." (p. 215)
This could've been that love story with marriage of convenience trope, but to me it's more than that. It's a story with an immense expression about hope and loss, the becomes and the could've beens, the surprises in life, and the broken promises that have never been pledged. If you're a historical fiction fan I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Blood, War, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: War and Terminal illness
Minor: Racism and Body shaming
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