A review by sofipitch
Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende

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

4.25

I really enjoyed this book till the end half. In some parts it can be unclear what Allende's position on things are. She dedicates so much time to Valmorian I thought she was going to have Tete forgive him (she didn't) and she includes the half-siblings getting married which I can see as a symbolic consequence of Valmorian never claiming Rosette but she doesn't seem to outright condemn them. Like in some parts she's heavy handed on how racism and slavery are bad and some parts it's not so it made me feel worried.
Another criticism is that while Tete is the main character, it doesn't really feel like it. I've read some of Allende's novels so I know she never focuses on the perspective of one character but like I said, giving so much time to the slave owner is exhausting because I only care about what goes on in his life as it affects Tete.
I also wouldn't file this book under magical realism. Just because Allende is known for that genre it doesn't mean all her books are. This is historical fiction.
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