Reviews

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

april_liebt_libros123's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

This story is LONG but not without intention. As a multi-generational tale, I was often left wondering what was the point of it all. There is a rather extended climax of the end of the book, but it ties all the experiences of the many varied characters together in a way the mirrors the story telling of its protagonists. I finished it feeling an appreciation for the journey it took me on, even if it took me a minute to get there. While I won't say I ENJOYED this book, I do definitely feel like I learned from it and have a good representation of this style of writing and what the author is known for. I'm grateful for the read, even if I had to force myself through some of it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Violence, Grief, Racial slurs, Rape, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Sexism

motivoslobos's review against another edition

5.0

Apasionante y maravilloso para ser mi primera lectura de Allende, amé su pluma y la caracterización de los personajes, el final me dejó con el corazón en un hilo, pasaron cosas que necesitaba detenerme por un momento para asimilarlo pero no fue razón para abandonarlo. En cambio abrió mi apetito por seguir leyendo y sobretodo saber más de su vida. ¡Paula voy por ti!

filesm's review against another edition

5.0

Magical realism is creeping up to be my fav genre. The connection between magic and Latin America is so beautiful and I wanna learn Spanish so I can read the original bc it’s so good! I listened to half of it on audible and the narrators went tf off. “Marxism did not stand a chance in Latin America because it did not allow for the magical side of things”
Love love love

laurassc's review against another edition

5.0

A book about love, hate, money, power, politics, beliefs, life and death, but mostly about people, human relations and family. One of my most recent favourites! So glad I decided to read it.

mightyoscura's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Police brutality, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Body horror, Self harm, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Medical content, Gaslighting, Deportation, Classism, Child death, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, War, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Colonisation, Abortion, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, Physical abuse, and Mental illness

hiltzmoore's review against another edition

3.0

I had this recommended to me by a site that recommended books if you typed in another author that you liked (long before GR recommendations). I had typed in Barbara Kingsolver, and this book did remind me a lot of The Poisonwood Bible - the story of a domineering jerk of a father figure who thought he was doing the best for his family and the world. They even had mirroring ant scenes, although I loved how the problem was dealt with in this book. I enjoyed these characters and even enjoyed the few segments told in the Patron's voice, but the mysticism came across a little strange to me (maybe that was on purpose?). It also drove me nuts that the author kept spoiling me! It would have been one thing if it was a future told by the spirits as a part of the mysticism plotlines, but usually it was just an aside at the end of a section where the author chose to end with a spoiler from later in the book. Nice to discover a new author, though, I will read her again.

rosassy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

booksforjake's review against another edition

3.0

Oof. Tardé mucho en completar esta novela. No fue horrible, pero fue muy largo y a veces, denso. Había muchas escenas descriptivos sin cambios de parágrafos.

Por el cuento mismo, era un épico de la familia Trueba, especialmente sobre Clara, Blanca, y Alba, tres generaciones de chicas en la familia. El cuento me suena mucho de East of Eden por Steinbeck: una larga historia familiar, de algunas generaciones, con temas de violencia, venganzas, y conflictos.

De hecho, había un concepto similar sobre ciclos, balance, y libre albedrío contra el destino.

meredith_w's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

jhalloran99's review against another edition

2.0

I feel guilty giving The House of the Spirits only two stars when the last book club book I gave two stars was Love Letters to the Dead. Isabel Allende's writing is leagues ahead of Ava Dellaira's, but I honestly didn't like the story. I have realized over the years that despite the fact that I love fantasy, I hate magical realism. Although the prose was beautiful, I didn't feel any connection or sympathy for any of the characters until Alba's suffering in the last 2 chapters. I wouldn't recommend this book to a stranger, only a very specific kind of reader would enjoy it and I think it was too long.