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I have long been wanting to read a Allende novel (to my surprise I have, in which I learned at our book club zoom) and my opportunity came in the form of the Spilling Tea online book Club hosted by Ryan & Russell (IG: readbyryan & inkandpaperblog).
This book was published in 1982, which makes it one of her earlier book and most famous. The setting is in a country that is not named but reflects much of Chile, in which Isabel is from. It is a family saga that spans over generations. We are introduced to the del Valle daughters, Rosa & Clara. We find that both are very unique and in touch with the spiritual world especially Clara. Very early on Rosa passes away and leaves a fiance Esteban Trueba, who is overwhelmed with grief he begins to throw himself in developing a land in which his father left behind. However, he is then engaged to Clara and they embark on their marriage and expanding their family, on and on.
The book I had was well over 450 pages and every inch of that is more descriptions I have ever experienced in my reading life. I wish the author took note and let her characters in on the descriptive nature of this because these are probably some of the most one dimensional characters I have ever read. I mean the one character I did like was Clara but even then there was no substance to who she was, how she felt. The one person that is given a narrative is Esteban and he is the worse. He needed to kick the bucket early on, the author kept redeeming him for all his maliciousness! So to that effect, the descriptions of the country and the homes were welcomed because I hated the characters so much! Probably, why i gave it 2 stars.
During book club, one of the other gals mentioned she tried to read Daughter of Fortune by Allende, then it came back to me that I tried that one too and hated it! Needless to say, she is going in my authors i will not soon read (Margret Atwood has a plot there). Most of the book club did enjoy this book and it was their second reading. This is why I enjoy book clubs because you are able to get insight on how others view the book from their perspective.
Hope all of you are doing well! Happy Hump Day!
