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paulablanc's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Me encantó, disfruté mucho esta lectura. Lo que más me gusta de Isabel Allende es su capacidad para transportarte a la época y los lugares que va describiendo
important_idiot's review against another edition
1.0
Boring from beginning to end. I'm disappointed in this one.
inkwitchery's review against another edition
3.0
DAUGHTER of FORTUNE by Isabel Allende
After hearing so many great things about Isabel Allende’s novels, I decided to start with the first book in her Involuntary series (even though the books don’t necessarily have to be read in order).
Eliza Sommers’ life is filled with privilege, blind love/obsession, irrational decision making, stubbornness and just dumb luck. She jets off to California in search of a man she fell in love with. Along the way she befriends Tao Ch’ien (a Chinese healer) and various other characters who not only enrich her life, but provide companionship, love and support. Meanwhile, she’s still hung up on finding her long lost love.
I was hoping for an epic 1840s family saga set in Valparíso, Chile and San Francisco. What I got was a history and cultural lesson about the California gold rush of 1849 (which was actually interesting and something I’ve not read about before) along with pages and pages of text that did nothing to move the story forward or provide insight.
Also, everything that happened was revealed early in the story so there wasn’t much to look forward to or anticipate. The end was anticlimactic at best.
Perhaps, the next book will be better? Though I’m not in a rush to find out.
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
After hearing so many great things about Isabel Allende’s novels, I decided to start with the first book in her Involuntary series (even though the books don’t necessarily have to be read in order).
Eliza Sommers’ life is filled with privilege, blind love/obsession, irrational decision making, stubbornness and just dumb luck. She jets off to California in search of a man she fell in love with. Along the way she befriends Tao Ch’ien (a Chinese healer) and various other characters who not only enrich her life, but provide companionship, love and support. Meanwhile, she’s still hung up on finding her long lost love.
I was hoping for an epic 1840s family saga set in Valparíso, Chile and San Francisco. What I got was a history and cultural lesson about the California gold rush of 1849 (which was actually interesting and something I’ve not read about before) along with pages and pages of text that did nothing to move the story forward or provide insight.
Also, everything that happened was revealed early in the story so there wasn’t much to look forward to or anticipate. The end was anticlimactic at best.
Perhaps, the next book will be better? Though I’m not in a rush to find out.
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
kelforrest's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.75
This was a good book. I had to skim quite a bit since the paragraphs could be quite big which I struggle to read, but I enjoyed the story. The writing was nice - it felt like a classic but in an immersive way rather than a pretentious one. The main character was nice and some of the other characters were. I personally felt as if it ended quite abruptly but this is a series I think so that's not really an issue.
I rated it a bit lower just since the kind of story isn't something that interests me and it took quite a bit of brain power which made me bored at times.
I rated it a bit lower just since the kind of story isn't something that interests me and it took quite a bit of brain power which made me bored at times.
starswallowingsea's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
seraphia_gt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ryanpait's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-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
3.75
spacem0nkeyyy's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
takesthecake_'s review against another edition
This took me 2 years to finish. I visited Valparaíso before I finished the book. Allende, la autora chilena que quería leer I am putting together the pieces of the puzzle of the region I live in, the story of the Americas.