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Portrait in Sepia

(Del Valle Family #2)

Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author),

Margaret Sayers Peden (Translator)

3.97 · Rating details · 32,479 ratings · 1,555 reviews

"Portrait in Sepia is the best book Allende has published in the United States since her first novel of nearly two decades ago, The House of the Spirits.”
—Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post Book World

“Portrait in Sepia tightens the weave of a multigenerational fantasy as complete and inspiring as the real world it parallels … Allende’s enchanting historical universe keeps ...more

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Paperback, 336 pages

Published May 2nd 2006 by Harper Perennial (first published 2000)

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220 books — 109 voters

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Mar 29, 2016 Brina rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, rereads, isabel-allende, hispanic-culture

Portrait in Sepia is Isabel Allende's middle book in a trilogy linking Daughter of Fortune to House of the Spirits. Sepia is the memoir of Aurora (Lai Ming) Del Valle, the granddaughter of both Paulina Del Valle and Eliza Sommers. The bulk of the story begins when Aurora is five years old, and Eliza Sommers, recently widowed, has decided to give Aurora to Paulina Del Valle to raise. Paulina ecstatic at finally having a girl to pamper agrees on the condition that Eliza no longer contacts the girl Portrait in Sepia is Isabel Allende's middle book in a trilogy linking Daughter of Fortune to House of the Spirits. Sepia is the memoir of Aurora (Lai Ming) Del Valle, the granddaughter of both Paulina Del Valle and Eliza Sommers. The bulk of the story begins when Aurora is five years old, and Eliza Sommers, recently widowed, has decided to give Aurora to Paulina Del Valle to raise. Paulina ecstatic at finally having a girl to pamper agrees on the condition that Eliza no longer contacts the girl. Within a year the Del Valles relocate from San Francisco to Santiago de Chile, creating a black hole of memories which Aurora carries for the rest of her life.

The Chile that the Del Valles return to is much like the country we know in House of the Spirits- full of political upheaval and civil wars. Here we meet Severo and Nivea Del Valle, Paulina's favorite nephew and niece and the parents of Clara the clairvoyant. Severo and Nivea already have political ambitions here, and once Aurora is grown, Nivea becomes her closest confidante. I would have liked for Allende to provide a touch more backstory to Clara and her siblings so that the bridge to House of the Spirits would have been seamless. Yet, this is Aurora's story, so we do not meet Clara, although she is born late in this book.

Paulina raises Aurora in a pampered, cultured life, allowing her to be tutored at home rather than school. At age 13 she becomes the photography apprentice to Don Juan Ribero, and Aurora quickly masters the trade. Because Paulina is two generations in the past, she feels photography will damage Aurora's marriage prospects so they embark on a two year voyage to Europe, both for Paulina's health and to find Aurora a suitable upper crust husband.

While in England, the Del Valles encounter the charming Dr Ivan Radovic. Paulina is captivated by his modern medical ideas but does not view him as "husband material" for Aurora because he is not of the upper class. Meanwhile at a societal ball Paulina finds Diego Dominguez of an old Chilean land owning family. Although his family appears backward thinking to Aurora, her grandmother practically forces them into marriage, against the better thoughts of practically everyone else concerned for Aurora's well being. In anticipation of the marriage, Aurora's black hole dreams return.

Part III focuses on Aurora's marriage to Diego Dominguez and briefly touches on Paulina setting up Severo and Nivea Del Valle in a vineyard enterprise before her death. Like in the other Allende books I've read there is a twist at the end that provides the reader with an aha moment. There is still some magical realism although not at the levels of Allende's other books, and it is still the sweeping epic I enjoy full of many beloved character; however, after Daughter of Fortune, this was a bit of a let down. The story serves as a bridge to link Eliza Sommers to Clara del Valle/ Trueba and the bridge was not seamless. Some of the writing felt forced because Clara’s story had already been written. Yet, less than stellar Allende is still among my favorite and I’m glad that I read this as it became more than a posterity read. Should I read the trilogy again, it will most definitely be in chronological order.

4 stars ...more

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Nov 03, 2008 Huyen rated it it was ok

Shelves: literature

“only passionate people make interesting characters. Nice people with common sense only make good former spouses”.
Keeping that in mind, i usually have high expectations to see rebels, outlaws, eccentrics in Allende’s novels. Much to my disappointment, she fed me with a horde of former spouses. That story kicks off with a character that belongs to the type i hate the most: a teenage girl incredibly beautiful but also endowed with a less than peanut-sized brain who didn’t do anything but daydream ...more

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Jan 12, 2017 Book Concierge rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: california, latino-literature, audio, book-club, library, concierge, strong-women, historical-fiction, chile, foreign-literature

Audiobook narrated by Blair Brown

This is the third book Allende has written about the Del Valle family. Though it was the last published, in chronological order it falls between Daughter of Fortune and The House of the Spirits, but can easily be read as a standalone novel. The sweeping scope of this book takes us from mid 19th-century San Francisco to early 20th century Chile, and is narrated by Aurora Del Valle, a fiercely independent woman who followed her own destiny regardless of convention. ...more

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Feb 25, 2019 Joy D rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: relationships, historical-fiction, south-america, family-dynamics, strong-women, zck, reviewed

Historical fiction covering 1862 – 1910, set mostly in Chile, that carries on the family saga started in Allende’s outstanding Daughter of Fortune. Aurora del Valle tells her life story, starting with her birth in San Francisco to Chinese and Chilean parents. A traumatic incident has erased memories of her early years and has resulted in recurring nightmares. She grows up in the privileged world of her grandmother, which enables her to initially avoid the social restrictions placed on women and ...more

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Nov 17, 2018 Abbie | ab_reads rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars

The sequel to Allende’s Daughter of Fortune is well worth your time picking up if you enjoyed the first one, but I did think Portrait in Sepia was a bit lacklustre in comparison to its predecessor. There wasn’t the same amount of passion and vibrancy leaping off the page, but as it’s Allende you can be sure that there is still SOME passion!
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She is such a natural storyteller that I always can’t help but devour her books in a day or two. She weaves her stories so well that everything feel ...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Lamski Kikita rated it really liked it

I am not sure how I can review this book as a piece independent from Daughter of Fortune. I have to admit though, that I enjoyed the aforementioned more than the book I am reviewing, though they are closely related.

I will start with what I didn't specifically enjoy. First, there are all the details of domestic life. I really do not need to know all that much about it, personally; I just don't feel like it is a subject that interests me to an extent that I wanna read paragraphs at a time about it I am not sure how I can review this book as a piece independent from Daughter of Fortune. I have to admit though, that I enjoyed the aforementioned more than the book I am reviewing, though they are closely related.

I will start with what I didn't specifically enjoy. First, there are all the details of domestic life. I really do not need to know all that much about it, personally; I just don't feel like it is a subject that interests me to an extent that I wanna read paragraphs at a time about it. Second, why skimp on the juicy stuff? The narrator just mentions something that could be so great if elaboration was to follow, but alas, it is just a passing note and she goes back to failed love stories; why not elaborate on the coalmine workers and the massacre in the plaza that she witnessed?? Knowing that something like that could have been in the book makes me upset! Third, the love stories. Way too many desperate love stories and triangles that sometimes made me feel like I'm watching a telenovela. Fourth, the protagonist: although she had a horrible experience as a child, and lived to be a great photographer, I still was not very attracted to her character; she is not the usual strong female of Allende books, but was rather naive, too forgiving, and so easily manipulated. Her reactions to her marriage, her desperation to have a child, etc just made me not like her at all. She also always had a rather bigoted tone, which bothered me a whole lot. But i guess maybe this is Allende's way of surprising us; you won't always get a different version of the same character, sometimes the people in my stories can be silly, even the women?

Ok, so that aside, I can now express how happy I was to learn more of Tao Chi'en; he had left me with a sour memory after he fell in love with a woman because her feet were tiny in Daughter of Fortune, but he more than redeemed himself and is now one of my favorite fiction heroes. I was also enchanted by the bits of history that Allende always enriches her stories with, and this was was especially interesting because it was not only about Chile, but also about 19th century (and early 20th century) America; the great melting pot of cultures that was filled to the brim with prejudice, racism, and so much hate. I also enjoyed her paternal grandmother's enterprising character, who represents the strong matriarch in this book, much to my relief. I absolutely loved the character of the protagonist's teacher, who was definitely my favorite in this book; her strength, her daring, her political stance, and her zeal. She is the perfect Allende female character which, sadly, had a very small role in the novel. And of course, i can't fail to mention the usual beauty of words and brightness of descriptions that Allende never seizes to please the reader with. I am always transported to whichever place she describes: China town, Valparaiso port, the Del Valle castle, or just a barn. Oh, how can I forget that there is a clairvoyant girl with green hair in this book too??

All in all, I enjoyed this book. And I guess after rambling about what i didn't like about it I realize that there is a point behind this novel; it is a story of someone's life, not a story of a nation or a generation, and sometimes a novel is only about the protagonist, whether I fall in love with her character or not. Nevertheless, I can't wait to read something of Allende's that is more powerful.
...more

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Oct 21, 2011 Jalilah rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

During the Covid-19 pandemic my local library has closed. As I result I have been rereading books I already own and Portrait in Sepia is one of them. I have actually upped the rating from 3 to 4 stars. This is because the first time I read it I did not realize it was part of a trilogy. I'd already read House of the Spirits decades before and Daughter of Fortune maybe 5 years before. At the time I did not make the connection and the story alone felt incomplete.
House of the Spirits is definitely ...more

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Jun 30, 2013 Roxanne rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I wanted to love this more than I did. It's a fictional character's memoir, but even so, a memoir, fictional or not, should have a sense of plot arc. The first half of the book was compelling, but the second half was kind of flat - this happened, then this happened. The ending seemed like it was supposed to be climactic, but most of it I'd figured out a couple hundred pages earlier. A little disappointing. ...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Stefanie rated it it was ok

I read Daughter of Fortune at some point last year and found it very enjoyable. This book is sort of the sequel to it, although it really follows a different generation of the same family. We do get to wrap up the "ever after" story from the previous book, though it's not until the very end of this one. I did not find this book to be as entertaining as its predecessor. I can't pinpoint what exactly I didn't like about it, except that it felt sort of rushed, like Allende was trying to get too man ...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, latin-america, read-in-spanish, 4-stars, chile, family-saga

I love Isabel Allende's writing: I read Daughter of Fortune and House of the Spirits, and found this one good but not quite up to the quality of the other two; lacking a distinct plot of its own, it mainly serves to tie the other two (standalone) books together. Still, it was an enjoyable book: Allende's character development and writing style are excellent as always, and I'm in the camp that loves to use fiction as a way to learn about the history of other countries, which this one certainly pr I love Isabel Allende's writing: I read Daughter of Fortune and House of the Spirits, and found this one good but not quite up to the quality of the other two; lacking a distinct plot of its own, it mainly serves to tie the other two (standalone) books together. Still, it was an enjoyable book: Allende's character development and writing style are excellent as always, and I'm in the camp that loves to use fiction as a way to learn about the history of other countries, which this one certainly provides.

Still, the structure was somewhat odd. I would describe it as three novellas tied together to make a novel:

1. The continuation of the story of Eliza and Tao Chi'en (and company) from Daughter of Fortune. On the positive side, we finally get that love scene that went missing from the previous book; on the other hand, so many beloved characters come to tragic ends that I'm not sure bringing them back was a good thing.

2. The backstory on Severo and Nivea (and company) from House of the Spirits. This was my favorite part of the book: I liked them in House of the Spirits and like them even more now, and as it turns out, there was a lot we didn't know! This is also the plotline where we get to read about 19th century Chilean wars, politics and such.

3. The story of Aurora, the narrator, who does not appear in either of the other books. While not as well-developed as many of the other characters, she's the glue that holds the rest of it together. Her life is interesting enough, but the truth of the Big Terrible Secret from her childhood is obvious from quite early on (perhaps intentionally so), and she lacks the strength and character of the heroines in Daughter of Fortune and House of the Spirits. I didn't think that setting her up as the narrator worked very well; she winds up describing in detail conversations that took place before she was born, other people's sex lives, etc., and generally stretching credibility.

Others have mentioned Paulina del Valle as the main character, and I think there's some truth to that (although I see her in more of a supporting role): she raises Aurora and is around for most of the book, and certainly has the stronger personality of the two. She's one of those trademark Allende characters who make fascinating character studies, but are hard to like.

I would recommend this book, but primarily to those who have read some of Allende's other work and liked it; if not, I'd recommend starting with House of the Spirits, which is her masterpiece. Come back to this one once you've read that and Daughter of Fortune and are looking for the rest of the story. ...more

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Feb 27, 2009 Karima rated it it was ok

Read this book because I will be traveling to Chilé in April and am attempting to educate myself. Am somewhat familiar with Allende's writing and am looking forward to seeing her when she comes to Buffalo in April....but this book...: skip it.
It just doesn't work. I can't even accuse the author of trying too hard. I don't think she had her heart in it. The characterization was inconsistent and I found this very confusing. She would flesh someone out in a particular manner (colorful and bold)and ...more

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Dec 23, 2020 Kitty Cat rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

I loved the powerful story! Fulled of powerful women characters and the writing is a delight. It was my first book of the author. I will read more from her

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Jan 18, 2019 Paula Monica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It took me two weeks to finish this amazing piece of art. However I enjoyed every page of it. A must read.

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Jun 22, 2019 Ann-Marie rated it it was amazing

I bought this book years ago to give to my mother for Christmas. Somehow it got shoved into a cupboard, life happened and Abi got something else that year. I kept the book, unread intending to give it to her another time. More life happened.
I decided to just read the darn thing, and pass it along to her as a good, already read book.

I always approach Isabel Allende hesitantly. I don't know why. I am as reluctant to begin reading her books as I am to give them away.

Perhaps it is the three dimensi ...more

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Feb 01, 2015 Jane rated it it was ok

This book is a sequel to Daughters of Fortune which I read a number of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, this book didn't thrill me as much and I quit reading about 1/2 way through. The Characters from the first book have not aged so well and I found them considerably less interesting as they led their lives in late 19th century San Francisco compared to when we first meet them in Chile and the gold rush fields on mid-18th century California. Tedious......best describes the book. ...more

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Aug 02, 2015 Kate S rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crixus, 2015, owned

I need to go read Daughter of Fortune and then come back and re-read this one. I enjoyed the historical parts, but seriously felt a lack of characterization throughout most of the story. Maybe if I read the other book, I would find this as an adding onto previously developed characters. ...more

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Apr 04, 2008 Wendy rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Trisha

My second book to read from this author. I enjoyed revisiting some of the same characters from Daughter of Fortune. The characters in her books never have easy lives, but I guess none of us do. I have learned a lot about Chile from reading her novels.

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Apr 09, 2019 Sophie rated it really liked it

Really happy I read this, it's my first Isabel Allende and it was so much better than I imagined. I thought the structure of the book as a whole was so fascinating, I just knew as I was reading that I was going to get every single detail of every character's life. The uncertainties of Aurora's retelling actually enhance the story and the true history places it in a context you wouldn't get otherwise. Crazy ending!! Big fan of her writing style. Not five stars because it was kind of hard to get t ...more

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Aug 07, 2020 Anna Curran rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Another really beautiful book! Definitely worth reading this after Daughter of Fortune because even though it was written first, it's definitely a sequel. ...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Faith Justice rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: given-away

This is a sequel to Daughter of Fortune, a bridge to The House of the Spirits and not quite as good as either. Portrait in Sepia is written as the memoir of Aurora del Valle, granddaughter of the intrepid Eliza Sommers and formidable Paulina del Valle from Daughter of Fortune. Isabel Allende uses her usual style of intense character portraits, lyrical descriptions and background history of Chile to tell us what happened to all our favorite characters from that book; but her heroine is a lack lus This is a sequel to Daughter of Fortune, a bridge to The House of the Spirits and not quite as good as either. Portrait in Sepia is written as the memoir of Aurora del Valle, granddaughter of the intrepid Eliza Sommers and formidable Paulina del Valle from Daughter of Fortune. Isabel Allende uses her usual style of intense character portraits, lyrical descriptions and background history of Chile to tell us what happened to all our favorite characters from that book; but her heroine is a lack luster vehicle. To me, Aurora came off as a "poor little rich girl." Sure, she was orphaned, but raised by people who loved and cherished her. She watched a horrible tragedy as a child that gave her nightmares, but lived a life of luxury and intellectual indulgence. Even in an unhappy marriage, she found refuge in sympathetic and loving in-laws who did nothing to curb her eccentric behavior or limit her in any way. Aurora takes up a modern hobby (later profession) in photography, rides in men's clothing, and has an affair--all with no, or even threatened, consequences. She faced little in the way of personal obstacles, which is the essence of conflict in a character-driven story.

I'm not denigrating the psychological effects of witnessing a personal tragedy, or saying rich people can't be unhappy; just that it didn't make for compelling reading in this particular book, especially against the background of poverty and war that Allende provides. The most interesting parts, for me, were catching up with the characters from Daughter of Fortune and seeing the seeds planted for The House of the Spirits(both of which I very much enjoyed). There are several more engaging characters than Aurora, which make the book worth reading; including Severo and Nivea del Valle, the parents of the main characters in The House of the Spirits. The Chilean history is also interesting and well integrated. I would recommend Portrait in Sepia for folks who want the bridge from Daughter of Fortune to The House of the Spirits, truly enjoy character-driven fiction and/or are interested in Chilean history. For those who like more plot-driven fiction, this will be a disappointment. ...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Andy Wilkins rated it really liked it

This sequel to Daughters of Fortune pretty much carries on the same way as its predecessor. I had a feeling through the book of here's a bunch of characters previously created with a few new ones and then some of them do a bit of this, some of them do a bit of that. There wasn't such a strong central theme as there was in Daughters of Fortune. There also seemed too many serendipitous meetings which struck me as a too obvious method of reintroducing characters into the mix. One other thing that I ...more

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Jun 17, 2014 Steve rated it it was amazing

Vividly drawn characters, a hallmark of Allende’s that I’ve enjoyed before, take the forefront of this saga continuing the story of the extended Del Valle family, set largely in Chile during a time of tumult and in San Francisco of the post-Gold Rush times. It stands alone well, but if you’ve read House of the Spirits and Daughter of Fortune, both highly recommended, you’ll know some of the characters’ backgrounds better. Allende is particularly deft at bringing to life complex women who questio ...more

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Sep 16, 2009 Linda Hart rated it really liked it

Late 1800's San Francisco, and Chile. It's another complicated plot, great book so far.... I just started part II. She is one of my favorite authors. more later, when I finish it!!
I finished it & loved it:
This book reminded me of her other novel, "Daughter of Fortune." The family saga includes strong and unforgettable characters It occurs 1870-90 San Francisco's Chinatown & Nob Hill, and 1880-1910 in revolutionary Chile. For me it was a real page turner. I enjoyed reading about the historical e ...more

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Feb 17, 2014 Paul Servini rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm a fan of Allende's writing and though this book is different from any I've read so far, I loved it. One big constant with her, is her ability to create fascinating characters, and here the book doesn't disappoint. In contrast, the narrator seems somewhat wet behind the ears. But the whole canvas of the book makes for fascinating reading as it sweeps from California to Chile, on to Europe and back to Chile, and from one generation's story to the other. This book is not strong on plot. Indeed, ...more

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Jun 25, 2019 Wendy rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-fiction

If you like Isabel Allende's books for their exciting adventures and interesting locales (instead of romance or elaborate fictional multi-generational family sagas), then you are likely to be disappointed by 'Portrait in Sepia'. For adventure lovers, stick with its predecesssor 'Daughter of Fortune', 'Zorro' or 'Island Beneath the Sea' instead. The first quarter of the book is a dull explanation of the characters and their relationships. If you stick with it impatiently waiting for the plot to d ...more

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Dec 18, 2016 Stirnaite rated it liked it · review of another edition

*"When I was your age," said Sor Marìa Escapulario, "I had only two choices: marry or enter the convent."
"Why did you choose the second, Mother?"
"Because it gave me more freedom. Christ is a tolerant husband..."
*Memory is fiction. ...more

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Feb 06, 2018 Carla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: intense, angst, romance, em-portugues, marriage, historic, tears, drama, read-in-2018, estágio

When reading a book I'm usually all about the characters, a strong narrative and interesting world can usually be a bit more lacking if the characters can completely grab a hold of my attention.

“Only passionate people make interesting characters. Nice people with common sense only make good former spouses”. [Allende]

This book surprised me, in that aspect. This is not something I picked up out of my own volition, but it quickly had all of my attention. The premise is simple enough, we get to und When reading a book I'm usually all about the characters, a strong narrative and interesting world can usually be a bit more lacking if the characters can completely grab a hold of my attention.

“Only passionate people make interesting characters. Nice people with common sense only make good former spouses”. [Allende]

This book surprised me, in that aspect. This is not something I picked up out of my own volition, but it quickly had all of my attention. The premise is simple enough, we get to understand how Aurora came to be Aurora and all that she went through and who she went through it with. The book has an amazing fan of characters - the grandparents, uncles, parents, family friends, doctors, etc. You so easily get enraptured in each of their lives that it's easy to forget that this will all, ultimately, lead to Aurora.
Severo, Nívea, Paulina and Tao Chi'en specifically stood out for me - much like they did for Aurora, really. All, in very different ways, molded her and helped her grow and develop. Their presence in her childhood, her early teens and early years as an adult are a defining part of her life. It's impossible - well not impossible, but it would make this one a too long review - to properly explain how amazing it is the role each character played, and how in being a part of someone's life, they were someone themselves and that comes across perfectly clear. For a good chunk of the book I did feel like I was reading about Severo and that this was his journey; in a way, it was too.
(view spoiler)[
Tao Chi'en after suffering the loss of his first wife and after remarrying (Eliza Sommers) had two children: Ebanizer (Lucky) and Lynn. Lynn was named after Tao's first wife, Lin, but the writing was changed so she would have good luck. As it were, she was a very beautiful but incredibly naive woman, who really didn't understand much of how the world around her worked. Lynn would be the mother of Aurora. Matías, Paulina del Valle's eldest son was the biological father, but always refused even having ever been involved with Lynn and as such refused to acknowledge the child. It was Severo, who at the time - despite technically also being infatuated and in love with Nívea - was living with his aunt Paulina and fell in great love with Lynn, who offered to legally be the child's father and give her his family name which would guarantee her fortune.
With Lynn's untimely death, Tao and Eliza preferred to raise the child themselves.

So Severo goes back to Nívea and the two of them have over a dozen children. I was happy for those two, lmao. He survived through war, amputation, dealt with loss. Nívea kept checking in on how things were, she kept herself informed about the world and kept fighting for women to have more rights - all of this she shared with Severo and they always traded books back and forth. They were lovely and went through a lot. Also her name fits her perfectly. But with this, and seeing as they build their own (extremely large) family, Severo and Nívea can't take Aurora in themselves because they wouldn't be able to give her all the attention she needs. So, since she's legally a del Valle, she goes to her paternal grandmother's house - Paulina del Valle. I love this woman. So much. Despite Aurora's love for her grandfather Tao, I can definitely say that Paulina shaped her and made her as strong of character as she is. Everyone saw her as an unshakeable force of nature, and that she was. A smart, business oriented woman who knew what she wanted and how she wanted. She was proper but extravagant. And for her, Aurora was her daughter.

What put Aurora through a real struggle and shook her inside and out was her (pretty much forced) wedding to Diego - who she fell in puppy love with. Despite how she claims to have forgiven him, and how we're given light into what's happening with him I can't really come to feel sympathy for the man. He took a young girl and treated her as nobody should be. She was his beard and there wasn't really ever an effort to make her feel like anything else. Diego and Susana get 0 mercy.

We could delve into the depth of how they acted as they did, and why Aurora understood them, and how it must've been hard for the two of them too - like I'm sure it was -, it's still super selfish to knowingly directly hurt two people (Eduardo - Susana's husband and Diego's brother -, and Aurora) and create the possibility of wrecking a whole family with three children involved. Like, nah. I don't respect that.

Through the loss of family and love, and then regaining her foundations and finding her place is how Aurora finds out who she is as an individual.

It's an incredible journey through someone's life, so beautifully explained and narrated that it's impossible not to feel how palpable and alive all of these characters are. (hide spoiler)] ...more

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Dec 01, 2017 Mrs. Elaine rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

This is the second book I have completed by this author and I am currently reading a third. And what a wonderful writer she is. What struck me the most was her ability to make the protagonist the focal point of the story. I’m sure that sounds redundant and not in the least original but there is actually so much going on within the story that you can’t help but appreciate her ability not to become lost in the excess. Her novel(s) do contain romance but it never becomes the focal point, it remains This is the second book I have completed by this author and I am currently reading a third. And what a wonderful writer she is. What struck me the most was her ability to make the protagonist the focal point of the story. I’m sure that sounds redundant and not in the least original but there is actually so much going on within the story that you can’t help but appreciate her ability not to become lost in the excess. Her novel(s) do contain romance but it never becomes the focal point, it remains a part of the woman’s journey and I loved that. The other characters: lovers, family, friends, and business associates are but her accessories. Some break, some are lost, some remain with her for a lifetime but in the end they are all her accessories.

It’s the woman, her thoughts, her passions, her explorations both into the world and of herself that makes the story. The readers are left with a living breathing work of art. Flawed, beautiful, and made more beautiful by those flaws. This is where Allende blew me away. Even the side characters become detailed works of art and we the readers are shown portraits of humanity in all its greatness and flaws. Some actions we recoil from, in others we see ourselves revealed on paper, and some we rejoice in.

All of her books in my experience have a focal point of feminism. Not twentieth century feminism but the seeds that sparked it. You won’t find any bra burning or woman picketing for equal pay. The characters struggles remain limited to the times which I was grateful for. The author was exquisitely careful to remain true to the times. Nothing ruins an historical novel faster then characters behaving hundreds of years before their times in wholly unbelievable ways.

There are multiple settings in her books. This one takes place in Chile and California. We jump from setting to setting as the characters move from place to place and the author gives you a good sense of the changes that are place from one location to another.

In short, Allende tells a good solid story with good solid characters. I will be recommending her books frequently as I read more and more of her books. My only issue was finding myself wanting more. We aren’t left with cliffhangers but I could easily have read a hundred pages more. ...more

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Feb 11, 2021 Samantha rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-literature-post-1900, historical-fiction, owned, south-america

This is the second book in a three series family saga set in Chile and San Francisco during the 19th century. The book links nicely with Daughter of Fortune, picking up the story in 1862 and written through the eyes of Aurora, the grand-daughter of Paulina del Valle and Eliza Sommers. Set in three parts and speckled with Allende's signature wit, we are at first re-introduced to the two families: how Eliza met Tao Chi'en and came to live in San Francisco's China town establishing professions, bus ...more

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Dec 31, 2020 Lindsey Z rated it liked it

3.5 🌟

Beautiful writing and reflections about history, family ties, love, and memories. At times, there was little to no plot or focus to this book. And I could have done without most of the Chilean politics and war (though I did learn about Chile at the turn of the 19th century, which I didn't know anything about before). Still, I enjoyed reading about this cross cultural and intergenerational family saga that centers on Aurora (though we don't meet her until more than 1/3 of the way through the ...more

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About Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende

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Isabel Allende Llona is a Chilean-American novelist. Allende, who writes in the "magic realism" tradition, is considered one of the first successful women novelists in Latin America. She has written novels based in part on her own experiences, often focusing on the experiences of women, weaving myth and realism together. She has lectured and done extensive book tours and has taught literature at s ...more

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“Memory is fiction. We select the brightest and the darkest, ignoring what we are ashamed of, and so embroider the broad tapestry of our lives.” — 87 likes

“La verdadera amistad resiste el tiempo, la distancia y el silencio.” — 78 likes

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Portrait in Sepia

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