Isabel Allende

[cristo]

What do you think about Isabel Allende? I read few of her books, and in my opinion she is great writer. She can connect magic, fiction and reality in her books. After "La hija de la luna" I decided that I will read only Latin American writers.

[Eloise]

Awful. I've only read House of the Spirits (it's not like I'd volutarily pick up another one of hers), and I thought:

1. It was boring (I thought).
2. It was badly written.
3. Its account of historical events was not believable (come on, it was your uncle, as if we're going to accept your account at face value).
4. The narrative voice of Esteban Trueba also was not believable, for similar reasons to the above (the evident political/class perspective of the author/primary narrator does not qualify her to assume the voice of her opponent with any authority).

If you want to read magical realism done well, try Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

[den]

Gabriel Garcia is fine...
Love in the Time of Cholera, 100 Years of Solitude.... standards...

but really, check out Mario Vargas Llosa, he's got much more vitality and conviction of spirit if you ask me... `In Praise of the Step-Mother', `The Notebooks of Don Rigoberto'.

Sorry, :( never read any Isabel Allende.

[cristo]

hmm. It's strange. I know that some people think that books of Allende are like soap opera, but I hope there are some persons which like her creation.
I know G.G.Marquez. "No One Writes to the Colonel" is really good book, especially end of this book.

Hey DEN, maybe you should read something of Allende. What do you think?

[AbdoRinbo]

I know that some people think that books of Allende are like soap opera.

That's OK, because den's entire life is just a big ol' soap opera.

[den]

I live my life vicariously through you now, so you better make it all high drama Ab!

Indeed, I've noted `Isabel Allende' in my `authors to look out for' list.
Jorge Amado is another Latin American writer I like.
`Dona Flor and her Two Husbands'




I know that some people think that books of Allende are like soap opera.

That's OK, because den's entire life is just a big ol' soap opera.

[AbdoRinbo]

You want drama?! You got it!

[cristo]

I forgot about Paulo Coelho. I'm reading now "O monte cinco" (I don't know what is english title, "fifth mount"? ) I recomend this writer.

[lazy cat]

I LOVE Isabel!ok i cannot be objective since i am a big fun of hers...I have read all her books(even the one with the cooking recipies!) and i loved each and every one of them.I just think they are magical...G.G. Marquez is also one of my favourite authors and i think that he and I.Allende have a lot in common in the way they write. :)

[Koa]

A lot of people think that Isabel Allende and Paulo Coelho (whose surname by the way means 'rabbit' in Portuguese, or at least so I'm told) are boring soap-opera style mainstream writers...

I can see where this criticism comes from for Coelho, but I actually enjoyed reading one of his books (soemthing like 'Veronika decides to die', if I'm not wrong), even if in some points it seemed to be trying to be some kind of 'world-saviour' by using lots of effective sentences, that , a teacher told me, seemed to almost want to fool people, in his (the teacher's) opinion. I replied that yes, maybe there are too many effect-sentences, but we're free to disagree if we take the tiem to think about them and not accept his 'philosohpy' as a whole!
(Am I making sense?)

I also enjoyed reading some Allende's books... 'The House of Spirits' reallly cuaght me, and it reminded me a bit of the masterpiece '100 years of solitude' by Garcia Marquez... I don't remember much of it tho (still talking of Allende), and since I didnt know much of the historical background, I couldn't judge how accurate it could be.. I also read another of her books, soemthing about 2 young journalists...I really can't remember the title, can anyone help me?

As for Gabriel Garcia Marquez... this is pure GENIUS!!! Reading his books, and some other south-americna stuff, including Allende, I foudn out that I love the way south-american authors write: the style keeps the book always interesting, even if they're talking of nothing at all!!! Opposite to German writers, whose style I find extremely boring even in the best moments of a novel....I even think it must have something to do with the language's grammar...

[lazy cat]

The book you are searching for is 'of love and of shadows' .I agree with you ,all latin american writers have a unique and magical way of writing...I have also read every book written by Marquez and Coehlo and i like them both very much!as for German authors i'm afraid i haven't read any of them :oops:

[den]

Latin American authors in my opinion have much more finely honed sense of passion and sensuality, very easy to lose ones head in, I never wanted any of G.G. Marquez' books to end!

Same goes for Mario Vargas Llosa, he's very opinionated and has even covered some controversial subjects.

[Koa]

The book you are searching for is 'of love and of shadows' .I agree with you ,all latin american writers have a unique and magical way of writing...I have also read every book written by Marquez and Coehlo and i like them both very much!as for German authors i'm afraid i haven't read any of them :oops:

Right, 'Of Love And Shadows'!!! Thanks
No Germans? Siddharta, Death In Venice...???

den, I agree about Garcia Marquez, his books should never end!!!

[lazy cat]

No ,no German authors so far...any suggestions?

[crisaor]

On Latinamerican authors, you should read some Borges. I consider him to be Latin America's finest. Ficciones or El Aleph are both very nice early on.
On Garcia Marquez you shouldn't miss Cronica de Una Muerte Anunciada. That's my favorite one.

[lazy cat]

Thank you about the suggestion!as for Marquez i have read all of his books and the last one i bought was the first part of his autobiography which was very interesting! :)