Paula

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Summary: An example of writing that comes from the heart
Review: Isabel Allende's book Paula, strikes a chord with those, like myself, whom enjoy her books so readily. It is not only touching and emotive, but a page turner. A book that can bring you to tears and yet make you smile at the same time. I highly recommend it and other books by Allende.

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Summary: Unforgettable and Touching
Review: I have recommended this book to many people, and they all love it too. It is a very moving story, funny, sad and wonderful all at the same time. You won't be able to put it down. You won't ever forget the story either.

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Summary: COMPLETAMENTE INCREIBLE Y CONMOVEDOR!
Review: Este es mi libro favorito de Allende... Es una historiaincreiblemente personal.. El libro me tomo y me hizo parte de sufamilia y de su vida... Sentia sus deseos de mujer. No se comeexplicar lo que quiero decir, pero este libro es sumamente excepcional. Uno de los mejores (sino el mejor) de Allende.

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Summary: Best and most moving book I've ever read...
Review: I was surprised at how Paula Allende's memoirs grabbed me. The further I got into the book, the more it pulled and invited me to read. It's divided between Allende's tales of her life and the experience of watching her daughter slowly die of porphyria. The last chapters pose a heart-wrenching question: How can you release someone you love so powerfully and not let it destroy you? Thought-provoking and moving, this is the best book I've read by Allende or anyone else.

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Summary: Thought-provoking
Review: I can't see how anyone who reads Paula can be unaffected by theexperience. It may break your heart, make you laugh and cry or upsetyou, but it can't leave you untouched. Allende has an amazing talent, not just her writing style but her bravery in being herself and not worrying about what others think. She writes about her reactions to Paula's medical problems, then switches over to thoughts about her own past. While this might bother some, it made perfect sense to me. Her daughter lay in a coma and everyone told her she was as good as dead, so Allende's thoughts were understandably out of control. One of the best things that Allende accomplished with this book was to bring out into the open the often overlooked fact that we need to think about what we'll do when faced with a long drawn-out illness of a loved one. Then we have to be prepared to just "go with the flow" and listen to more than just our common sense to get through it. A very thought-provoking book on many levels.

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Summary: Starts out great
Review: This book started out really well. Like Allende's otherbooksthe readers become involved with characters immediately. By theend, however, the story has bogged down and is only Allende rambling on about herself. She seems very impressed with herself and seems to believe that we should find anything she writes facinating. Stick to fiction! END

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Summary: True Story Behind "House of Spirits"
Review: I stayed away from reading this book for years, thinking it would be too depressing. I was wrong. Although it is written for her daughter, who is in a coma, this book is written with love, beauty, and hope. If you enjoyed "House of Spirits" you will truly love "Paula." This nonfiction memoir shows the true history that led to the writing of "House of Spirits."

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Summary: BUY THIS BOOK!
Review: I absolutely loved this book. It was written by the author to her daughter after she fell into a coma,and it is about their family history. The tales from the past are so well written it is hard to believe it is nonfiction. Allende is honest and funny as well as seriously shaken by what has happened to her only daughter. I love this book so much I have read it 3 times and I love it more each time.

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Summary: Understand
Review: Having also lost my daughter, Isabel writing reached into my soul and helped me face and dredge up my emotions with her beautiful prose. Felt we were talking face to face. As a result, I've read almost all her books. Love the switch from real to supernatural in much of Llatin American literature. Love the music of Chili, if you love her books you"ll love the music, Inti-Illimani!

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Summary: Paula
Review: If an author wants to substantiate her family lineage she should do it through personal theopary rather than trying to impose her family's "importance" through a novel that unsuspecting readers will have to digest. Paula is a bad attempt at unmasking Allende's personal drama and is a real turn off. Allende is too self-absorbed and socially removed to represent the Latino world.