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jennazim's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder
beyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.0
There’s a time to live and a time to die. In between there’s time to remember.
All I can think about is, it must be tiring to live that long.
I would recommend this book to hisfic enjoyers because in no way it is bad, but I can’t say I actually enjoyed reading this. I suspect it was because it is written in first person, but it can also be the writing.
I was not looking forward to what will happen next in the story because I am… afraid??? An understatement. Terrified??? Of what things will a character do to escalate the story because boy, do they escalated quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, and Police brutality
sofipitch's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.0
This book holds a lot of similarities to The House of the Spirits, and a lot of Allende's other books tbh. She doesn't name the country the MC is in but it is very clearly Chile, so we get the history of Childe in the 20th century from a european descendended once wealthy family. The book even suggests that Violeta is related to the family from Allende's first book. But the characters aren't well developed, the story isn't as interesting, it's overall a mediocre book from an author who I know has written better and more interesting works. Additionally while I could tolerate the occasional socially unconcious phrase or word or sentiment in her older works, in a book published in 2022 I feel like Allende should know better, or that at least her editor or publisher would have said something, since Allende is considered to be liberal and willing to learn/update her beliefs (Although maybe not, I read the synopsis of Ines of my soul and went 😬 and put it back)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Violence, Pregnancy, and War
maevebm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My first Isabel Allende novel was every bit human and authentic as I had hoped for. You see Violeta change, make mistakes, learn from mistakes, feel anger and loss yet she never loses her unique voice. Although I wish there was more dialogue, Allende developed her characters through Violeta’s experiences and wisdom. There is also an incredible amount of history sprinkled throughout, which adds depth but also serves as a reminder that the world can shape us in unimaginable ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Grief, and War
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Colonisation
maddysoup's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 audiobook
it dragged on at some points, but was a very cool story to listen to
it dragged on at some points, but was a very cool story to listen to
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
internationalreads's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism
wellreadjill_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
booksonadventures's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Violeta follows the 100-year life of the titular woman through a letter she is writing to her grandson, Camilo. From the heels of the Spanish Flu to the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Violeta's life spans a period of extraordinary historical events and upheaval.
There's no denying that Allende is a storyteller, and reading her work conjures the exact feeling of listening to my grandmother share her life story, down to the dry humor and matter-of-fact approach to historical events. While I can respect this style, much of this book fell flat in its execution. Overall, Violeta lacked emotional depth and left me grasping for any sort of connection to her character or her life.
Violeta dryly recounts everything from her father's death to her sexual escapades throughout the course of the novel, but never gives me a reason to care about her story. The novel struggled to grab my attention until nearly Chapter 20, when she began to outline the events leading up to the 1973 military coup and following Pinochet dictatorship. Even here, these events primarily hooked me due to my prior reading in the time period, because Allende moves quickly through details and declines the opportunity to expand on topics like Operation Condor and Colonia Dignidad (that could truthfully be entire books on their own).
Ultimately, Violeta does both too much and not enough, with a 100-year storyline that lacks the central themes and magical realism that make Allende's other works memorable. There are a few notable ways Allende has grown as a writer (with more respectful references to difference issues of class and race), but in the end, this book lacks heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault
mhinnen's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
This historical epic novel is written as a letter from Violeta to Camilo about her life - a relationship we come to understand later in the book. Spanning a century and several countries and loves, Violeta is a lot stronger than she recognizes. We see over the course of her life that began in one pandemic and ends during another - that political upheaval, war, poverty, domestic abuse, tragedy, and grief are ever present but we don't need to accept or succumb to what the world throws at us.
I love how Violeta grows and learns from life lessons - not in a way that sanitizes the suffering, but in a way that is rooted in finding her place in the world and leveraging her privilege. From the people who touch her and those she touches who are closest to her and those whose lives are impacted through the ripples she creates, we see how one life finds its place in the enormity of time and place. It's a beautiful story that reflects the imperfect lives we lead that are filled with joy and love and meaning even in the midst of challenge. I almost wish it could have been longer to go deeper into different periods of her life. I was especially moved by the way she lives in the second half of life - she flourishes as awakens to self awareness and she embodies her best self.
Some minor critiques:
I love how Violeta grows and learns from life lessons - not in a way that sanitizes the suffering, but in a way that is rooted in finding her place in the world and leveraging her privilege. From the people who touch her and those she touches who are closest to her and those whose lives are impacted through the ripples she creates, we see how one life finds its place in the enormity of time and place. It's a beautiful story that reflects the imperfect lives we lead that are filled with joy and love and meaning even in the midst of challenge. I almost wish it could have been longer to go deeper into different periods of her life. I was especially moved by the way she lives in the second half of life - she flourishes as awakens to self awareness and she embodies her best self.
Some minor critiques:
- The way it was written to Camilo felt disjointed. For most of the book, it didn't really matter that it is was a letter. Talking about Camilo in the third person in some places and then in others recounting memories that he would have shared didn't feel natural to me. A cover letter and closing would have been more seamless.
- The name of their home country is not identified. Perhaps this was to allow for literary license around the political climate, but the use of "our country" seemed a little distracting.
- It was hard for me to keep track of all of the characters especially since many of them are referred to inconsistently. Also there were several J names of men close to Violetta which took more of an effort. It was helpful to have connections and reminders woven in - especially later in the book.
Overall, beautiful and moving writing as expected from Isabel Allende. I appreciate the ARC from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books #VioletaEnglishEdition #NetGalley
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Infidelity, Police brutality, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy