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gvstyris's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I am not ready to pass the torch and hopefully I never will be. I want to light the torches of our daughters and granddaughters with mine. They will have to live for us, as we lived for our mothers, and carry on with the work we didn't have time to finish.
This was my first time reading Allende, funnily enough, and I'm not quite sure she knew what she wanted to do with Mujeres del alma mía. It's something of a feminist manifesto and a slightly unserious memoir combined, and I enjoyed my time reading it enough to devour it one sitting. I can't say that I've gained much from the experience, though -- beyond an increased appreciation of Allende's career and drive.
My spur-of-the-moment purchase of this novel also unfortunately led to me reading the English translation, which undeniably changed my reading experience. If nothing else, I will say that I'm now more eager than ever to get my hands on a copy of El Viento Conoce Mi Nombre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Abortion, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Rape
jdrosario_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
i’ve never really read many non fiction, but this one is absolutely amazing. it’s brutally honest, it doesn’t skate over any fundamental truths of the book. it talks about women’s sexuality, promiscuity, misogyn, feminism (obviously), machoism, rebellion, age, sexual violence and torture of women, reproducitge rights and gender identity. it’s so informative but somehow keeps a witty humour to it, i highly highly recommend!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Slavery, Sexism, Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Trafficking, Rape, Child death, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Incest
halkid2's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Part autobiography and part feminist treatise, THE SOUL OF A WOMAN is unlike the novels of Isabel Allende that I have read. It's much more the personal reflection of an older woman looking back at her own life and the current world that surrounds us.
There is lots to learn about what the author's has lived through, including:
• the traditional values held by her parents and grandparents,
• the violence associated with Chile's repressive political history,
• her early determination to achieve financial independence through her writing,
• two divorces and the death of her much-loved daughter, Paula,
• and finally, at the age of 82, a reflective review of her own success, lifelong commitment to feminism, and contentment in her senior years.
At the same time, there is much in the book that can be universally applied to the lives of women in all strata of society. Particularly our skills, interests, and concerns.
I didn't find the writing as lyrical as Allende's novels. THE SOUL OF A WOMAN is more straightforward, even didactic. Her arguments in favor of making women fully equal to men (around the world) are persuasive and read, in many places, like she's delivering a political speech. I happen to agree with her so that made it easier for me to enjoy the book. If I hadn't, I might have stopped reading.
It's a relatively short book (175 pages) but quite powerful. As she explains near the end of the book, Allende wrote his one in 2020, near the beginning of the global pandemic. And it's clear that timing influenced the book -- since she writes about the opportunity we will all have when the pandemic ends. A fresh chance to remake a better world. Of course now, three years later, it doesn't appear to me that gender equality has been targeted as an important worldwide goal. In fact, you could well argue many countries are in a period of regression where women have less control, rather than more.
Nevertheless, I recommend the book for its reasoned arguments, for its optimism, and for the image Allende offers of a world populated by equals.
There is lots to learn about what the author's has lived through, including:
• the traditional values held by her parents and grandparents,
• the violence associated with Chile's repressive political history,
• her early determination to achieve financial independence through her writing,
• two divorces and the death of her much-loved daughter, Paula,
• and finally, at the age of 82, a reflective review of her own success, lifelong commitment to feminism, and contentment in her senior years.
At the same time, there is much in the book that can be universally applied to the lives of women in all strata of society. Particularly our skills, interests, and concerns.
I didn't find the writing as lyrical as Allende's novels. THE SOUL OF A WOMAN is more straightforward, even didactic. Her arguments in favor of making women fully equal to men (around the world) are persuasive and read, in many places, like she's delivering a political speech. I happen to agree with her so that made it easier for me to enjoy the book. If I hadn't, I might have stopped reading.
It's a relatively short book (175 pages) but quite powerful. As she explains near the end of the book, Allende wrote his one in 2020, near the beginning of the global pandemic. And it's clear that timing influenced the book -- since she writes about the opportunity we will all have when the pandemic ends. A fresh chance to remake a better world. Of course now, three years later, it doesn't appear to me that gender equality has been targeted as an important worldwide goal. In fact, you could well argue many countries are in a period of regression where women have less control, rather than more.
Nevertheless, I recommend the book for its reasoned arguments, for its optimism, and for the image Allende offers of a world populated by equals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Abortion, Violence, and Rape
imlfox's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Misogyny
marlenebrennt's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Death
lorenagargom's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
bookswithbront's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Reading this felt like talking to a very cool, progressive grandmother: winding and rambling and not always aligned with how I see the world, but ultimately full of beautiful insight. I think this is a book I’ll want to revisit when I’m older, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Abortion
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Incest, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery
fatima_ff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
If I could package this book up and re read it to people everywhere I would. If I could play this book in short bite-sized tiktok shaped pieces all over the internet I would. If I could reel-ify this for Instagram I would.
It said everything. Every single thing you could possibly wanna say or hear from an elderly woman who has fought the good fight and stayed on the right side of history no matter the hardship or calamity that came for her.
“There is no feminism without noise”
“Defy. Disobey. And disrupt” the only way to end the patriarchy.
I cannot believe this would be my jump into nonfiction! I’m SO in!
It said everything. Every single thing you could possibly wanna say or hear from an elderly woman who has fought the good fight and stayed on the right side of history no matter the hardship or calamity that came for her.
“There is no feminism without noise”
“Defy. Disobey. And disrupt” the only way to end the patriarchy.
I cannot believe this would be my jump into nonfiction! I’m SO in!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence, Abortion, Domestic abuse, and Violence
caroline_rt's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
I like that worldwide numbers, statistics and facts were presented in an easily understandable way and also non-western circumstances were described. It is very inspiring that a woman from an “older“ generation & from a conservative country like Chile is fighting for feminism her whole life. The book gives away motivation to keep standing up for oneself and other women even though it often is frustrating.
What I did not like: Some statements were surprisingly conservative and did not really fit to the rest, e.g. feeling sorry for a man who cannot handle his girlfriend‘s interest in sexual psychology, or reproducing narratives about women (being sensitive/empathic, able to love unconditionally or aiming to protect their children at all cost which was presented as kind of „life goal“). In general, the book is written out of an hetero cis perspective only and might therefore not be very relatable for LGBTQIA+ persons.
What I did not like: Some statements were surprisingly conservative and did not really fit to the rest, e.g. feeling sorry for a man who cannot handle his girlfriend‘s interest in sexual psychology, or reproducing narratives about women (being sensitive/empathic, able to love unconditionally or aiming to protect their children at all cost which was presented as kind of „life goal“). In general, the book is written out of an hetero cis perspective only and might therefore not be very relatable for LGBTQIA+ persons.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Violence, Abortion, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
This is a small book physically speaking but in terms of content, it spans a wide array of topics. It's less memoir and more a feminist monologue. Isabel Allende turned eighty years old in August but still has so much coherent passion for certain controversial topics that have arisen throughout her existence. She mentions a multitude of topics such as the fluidity of gender, pronouns, reproductive rights, political uprisings, and discussions of women's rights. It's refreshing to read about someone from South America (Chile specifically) who is progressive in terms of their beliefs instead of the typical right-wing, religious figures we hear about on the news or in my case within my own relatives. I am eager to read her fictional work now more than ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Minor: Infidelity