Reviews

Violeta by Isabel Allende

silvia_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

5.0

nsfoliveira's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

remmslupin's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.0

selina__gilbert__'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.25

lexcellent's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Lesbophobia, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Murder, Sexism, War, Cancer, Infidelity, Death, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Rape, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Suicide

haleyann_'s review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.25

muzykan's review

dark emotional funny informative reflective slow-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

4.0

franwyyazg's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

kaulhilo's review against another edition

4.0

there's so much to say about this book, and i don't think i'll do it any justice even if i try; there's always been something very compelling, to me, about books, or works of art about someone's life. not just the adventures and the high points, but down to the grit and the boring day-to-day. i didn't know what i was expecting starting this, if i'm honest; i started it out of a simple whim because it felt like something i might've wanted to read, in an almost abstract way. and yet- reading this, from the first page itself was captivating- a poignant story of a woman who's lived a century, who has seen people come and go, has seen regimes and governments start and fall, who has lived, quite literally, from one pandemic to another - who has had kids and has had to leave them; lovers, who sparked and died out.
the narrative in and of itself is unlike almost anything i've read lately, (which might be 100% on me, but still); the writing is so engrossing, even the details and the little intricacies that may or may not come into play later. i loved the characters, from start to end; i loved violeta and her story, i loved her resilience in the face of so much, her admittance, and her growth. it takes awful wonders to create a character like her, i think, and i think this story would've fallen very flat indeed without her.

thank you to random house for the arc. (4.5/5)

linyarai's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-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

3.5