Portrait in Sepia: A Novel (P.S.)
by Isabel Allende
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Mary-Marcia by:
Wendy
More than the story was intrigued by the writing. The metaphors of memory and photography and it's artistic passion. The independence of self.
Portrait in Sepia
Portrait in Sepia
Isabel Allende
pg 97-98
“...If you observe an ordinary object or body very closely, it is transformed into something sacred. The camera can reveal secrets the naked eye or mind cannot capture; everything disappears except for the thing that is the focus of the picture. The photograph is an exercise in obs...more
Portrait in Sepia
Portrait in Sepia
Isabel Allende
pg 97-98
“...If you observe an ordinary object or body very closely, it is transformed into something sacred. The camera can reveal secrets the naked eye or mind cannot capture; everything disappears except for the thing that is the focus of the picture. The photograph is an exercise in obs...more
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Again - worth the read but not my favorite. I was glad I read it but it took me longer to get through then usual.
From the Publisher
Internationally celebrated novelist Isabel Allende has written a magnificent historical novel set at the end of the nineteenth century in Chile, a marvelous family saga that takes up and continues the story begun in her highly acclaimed Daughter of Fortune.
Recounted in the voice of a young woman in search of her roots, Portrait in Sepia is a novel about ...more
From the Publisher
Internationally celebrated novelist Isabel Allende has written a magnificent historical novel set at the end of the nineteenth century in Chile, a marvelous family saga that takes up and continues the story begun in her highly acclaimed Daughter of Fortune.
Recounted in the voice of a young woman in search of her roots, Portrait in Sepia is a novel about ...more
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Read in May, 2007
The complex and engrossing tale, colorful characters, and beautifully poetic words (despite translation from Spanish) made this book very difficult to put down. I hesitate to give it five stars because, especially in the last hundred pages, it appeared to turn into a predictable romantic tragedy, but it still kept me on my toes and the end was very good, bringing me back to the questions I had asked when I first started reading it. Much appreciation to Sarah for recommending it to me. I extend t...more
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Read in February, 2008
This was a very interesting book. It was the book that came after "Daughter of Fortune." Once again Allende wove a story within several generations of several families. What was interesting is that she often changed the voice of the story so you would hear parts of the story from different voices. Allende is truly one of my favorite authors. She has to have one of the most creative minds ever! I highly recommend reading "Daughter of Fortune" then "Portrait in Sepia...more
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Read in November, 2006
This book is the second chronologically in the "House of Spirits" series. This was the first book I read of the series and I flew through it. It was difficult at first to remember the names of the family members and all of their connections but my copy had a wonderful family tree printed in the front that was very helpful as a reference. The story was even more meaningful to me because I am currently living in Chile (Valparaiso area) and have lived in the Bay Area of California in t...more
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Read in June, 2008
An entertaining read. I loved "House of Spirits" and enjoy Allende's storytelling style. I'm fascinated by this period in San Francisco's history, and I enjoyed learning more about Chile's history as well. It also must be said that Allende is talented at describing love scenes!
I did think the characterization was lacking a little. I felt like I knew Severo and Paulina better than I did the narrator... or that I cared more about them than Aurora, somehow. The whole photography thing...more
I did think the characterization was lacking a little. I felt like I knew Severo and Paulina better than I did the narrator... or that I cared more about them than Aurora, somehow. The whole photography thing...more
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Read in June, 2004
recommends it for:
amateur historians, people who love a good story
This is the first Allende novel I read, and it spoiled me for Allende novels and Latin American lit subsequently. :)
Paulina del Valle towers overall characters in this book, including the perceived protagonist. A somewhat sequel to Daughter of Fortune (spinoff seems more appropriate), the book is utterly engaging in describing a dysfunctional yet loving superwealthy clan in Santiago, Chile, with connections to San Francisco, Paris, and even China. It's a great, engaging tale, and one that ...more
Paulina del Valle towers overall characters in this book, including the perceived protagonist. A somewhat sequel to Daughter of Fortune (spinoff seems more appropriate), the book is utterly engaging in describing a dysfunctional yet loving superwealthy clan in Santiago, Chile, with connections to San Francisco, Paris, and even China. It's a great, engaging tale, and one that ...more
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Read in July, 2008
I've had trouble finding Latin American Lit that I actually like. Garcia Marquez and I didn't click. His magical realism reminded me more of Salvador Dali's surrealism. Allende's House of the Spirits was too creepy. I loved like water for chocolate, and was looking for a non-creepy, magical but real, delightful read en espanol.
Enter Portrait in Sepia (follow up to Daughter of Fortune). Fantastic and quirky characters, captivating love stories, but grounded enough to keep me reading.
...more
Enter Portrait in Sepia (follow up to Daughter of Fortune). Fantastic and quirky characters, captivating love stories, but grounded enough to keep me reading.
...more
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My god...the woman has beautiful writing, but DAAAAAAMN....she's boring. This one I suffered through. I mean the culture of Chile I'm sure is facinating, don't get me wrong...but she's not helping the tourism industry.
Literally this book put me to sleep page by page, I understand the story she was writing towards, but rambled off track so much you get lost in that hogwash.
A valient battle was put up, but I finished it. 304 pages of fighting off sleep...a battle which I may or may not hav...more
Literally this book put me to sleep page by page, I understand the story she was writing towards, but rambled off track so much you get lost in that hogwash.
A valient battle was put up, but I finished it. 304 pages of fighting off sleep...a battle which I may or may not hav...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
history buffs, romantics
This novel interested me in that it had a bit of a complicated plot that took place over three continents, several decades, and introduced me to a very large extended family (tree provided on the end papers). I thought Allende did a wonderful job describing the 19th century details of rough and rude San Franscisco and the genteel wealthy villas of Chile and Europe.
It wasn't "can't put down," but by the end, I was sad to put it down, that I had really met the characters and cared a...more
It wasn't "can't put down," but by the end, I was sad to put it down, that I had really met the characters and cared a...more
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Read in June, 2008
This book started out fascinating, the story of a web of people in San Fransisco in the 19th century, filled with chinese and chileans and money and a little seafaring thrown in. Then it became what it told me it was supposed to be all along, a first person narrative of a girl growing up in SF and then Chili. Once it was really about her, and no longer setting us up with her pre-history, I became less than intrigued. Her story wasn't dull, but I didn't care what she was feeling and she always to...more
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Read in December, 2007
This is the sequel to Daughter of Fortune and, of the two, I liked this one better. Not only did I know many of the characters from the outset, but the writing was more concise and had fewer of the descriptive tangents found in Daughter of Fortune. It held my interest well, and I plowed through it in two days. Not too bad. I am still a little confused by some characters that were mentioned, but never developed (like Clara the Clairvoyant). Maybe this signifies a future novel based on these chara...more
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recommends it for:
those who enjoy strong, vibrarnt characters
I've already declared my love for Isabelle Allende's work. Though I wasn't quite as enamored of this as with "Daughter of Fortune", I still found the characters charming and well developed and the story full of humor and magic. This tale picks up where "Daughter of Fortune" left off. The protagonist is the granddaughter of Eliza Sommers and in the book are mentioned a number of characters from both "Daughter of Fortune" and "The House of the Spirits."
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Read in March, 2008
I really enjoy Isabelle Allende's books. I started reading them before our B-school trip to South America as a professor recommended her as a Chilean author and I've read almost all of them now.
This book actually has some characters from House of Spirits and Daughter of Fortuen which I thought was interesting.
Allende often writes about Chile and here she includes a mix of Chilean, American, and Chinese history. I read this in less than a week and would recommend to y'all!
This book actually has some characters from House of Spirits and Daughter of Fortuen which I thought was interesting.
Allende often writes about Chile and here she includes a mix of Chilean, American, and Chinese history. I read this in less than a week and would recommend to y'all!
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Read in July, 2008
Okay, I marked this as read, but I didn't quite finish it. I got to a part somewhat near the end and when I had time to read it just never sounded appealing to pick it up again. I passed it along to a friend. Maybe she'll finish it. The first half was decent, it is not a quick read. At least not for me. The author is a good writer, but it took me a little bit longer to get through the book. I often had to re-read parts. Sorry Isabelle.
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After Daughter of Fortune we return to revolutionary Chile, and the most vivid character, our heroine's grandmother, Paulina del Valle. The story of her custom bed; meant first for romance and second to comfort her gigantic girth, is a perfect metaphor for the changes in life. This Grandmother encompasses Nana’s everywhere in what we hold in our minds: the voice, the appetites and the rules of powerful matriarchs in every family.
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Read in January, 2007
As an Isabel Allende fan, I found Portrait in Sepia disappointing. Yes, it was lyrical, but not quite; yes, the characters were developed, but not quite; yes, it had moments of sexual tension (when is Allende just gonna take the leap into erotica for crying out loud!), but not quite...everything in this novel was not quite. I've come to expect so much more from Allende and Portrait in Sepia did not deliver.
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This has been on my "to read" for over a year.....I finally begin to read it the day before my parents make a journey to San Francisco to meet up with friends, visit Chinatown to see an Chinese herbal doctor, and take in Nob Hill....total coincidence....I could not put this book down prior to finishing it this evening....amazing to see what strides women have made during the past century...thank goodness!!!
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2007
The sequel to "Daughter of Fortune", this book is mostly about Chilean history in the War of the Pacific of the 1880's--something still very political in Chile. I may have liked this book even more than its prequel, since it focuses more on cities I was actually visiting at the time, but I love Allende's descriptions of people and places---you don't have to visit them to see it.
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Read in November, 2007
One of my favorite authors - her books never cease to satisfy. This is the third of a trillogy based in Chili/California during the gold rush (along with House of the Spirits & Daughter of Fortune). Strong, smart, powerful female characters who flaunt society while still maintaining a place for themselves in a male-dominated world. Definitely on my re-read list.
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