******
- Verified Buyer
I had a phase of obsession with Isabel Allende’s books back in my teens and thought I had read them all. Reading this, part of me felt like I had read this before, but the way it “hit” me, I also felt like perhaps I hadn’t. Of course, it could simply be that I didn’t have the emotional maturity back then to read it as I just did. In short, this novel is EVERYTHING! If you’re a fan of magical realism, this novel has that in spades. If you like domestic fiction with messy family drama, it’s there. If you like historical fiction, it’s there. If you like romance, star-crossed love stories galore! If you like political intrigue, lots of that is in here. The lyrical memoir style of writing in this amazing novel is absolutely captivating and yet immensely accessible to any reader.This novel tells the story of Esteban Trueba and his beloved otherworldly wife Clara del Valle and the way life, patriarchal decisions and the changing political face of their country affects three generations of Truebas. This is a love story, a political history, a family saga, and a story of black sheep and magic that is underpinned by the descent into fascism of a country. It is so pertinent for the world right now and is a familiar tale for anyone who’s ever lived under a dictatorship.Admittedly, this novel felt long. It never felt TOOO long but it IS telling the story of 3-4 generations, so there’s a lot of story. The writing is beautifully descriptive with lots of gorgeously-phrases sentences and quotes that are as creatively crafted as they are useful and pertinent. The novel is long but not a clause is casual, not a moment is wasted to move the story forward. The narrators are varied- from del Valle grandparents to family patriarch Esteban Trueba, to beloved granddaughter, Alba, to the author herself- there’s a lot of unlabeled jumps in the voice, but yet all the voices are distinct and you’re never confused or adrift as to what’s happening or who is doing what. This book is nearly 40 years old and it’s written in a way that isn’t politically-correct now or before. The heroes and villains aren’t straightforward, the character development is beyond amazing- you swing between love, hate, annoyance, pity, sympathy, anger, frustration, empathy, with the same characters. Equally, the story development is on point and this family packs a lot of experience and pain and life into 3 generations.Beware of potential triggers of which there are numerous from rape (including of minors), to physical assault to the abuses to persons living under a dictatorship and this feels very real and true to life because there isn’t an easy answer of justice. Even though this is a very heavy book and not a particularly uplifting one, it is incredibly meaningful and readable and you’re not left crushed. You’re left feeling like you’ve lived 3 generations of life with these people and have been through their ups and downs and you’re better for knowing them and learning from the pitfalls of their imperfect lives. This is a full circle novel so in that respect, this is a satisfying read even if not a joyous one. It is only because it is IA that I can believe this was her debut because honestly... What. A. Debut!
