Reviews

Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende

patti_cake08's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It begins slow, and not necessarily meant for you to appreciate one of the main characters which made it difficult to sympathize. But the growth they undergo, the revelation of what was truly going on behind the actions of the military, it's all unveiled beautifully. Though the rape was, in my opinion, unnecessary for the plot, and the incestuous brother uncomfortable to read through, it was nevertheless a great story. And a story of hope in the midst of a dictatorship that many Latin Americans can relate to.

morganw33's review against another edition

2.0

I may have enjoyed this more if characters had been introduced more gradually, but a large number of characters were introduced up front with similar or the same names that made some parts of the novel hard to follow. 

valelg2003's review against another edition

5.0

4.5

hibridnameteorka's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

natalialockey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

annacrowley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

lanika's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death

decoachwife's review against another edition

adventurous informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

soffeg6's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

eelsmac's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5