Rating: 
Summary: Viva, Allende
Review: The only Allende book I couldn't finish was El Plan Infinito. All the rest have been superb. La Casa de los Espiritus was the first novel I ever read in Spanish, once I got into the rhythm of her writing it was like reading a beautiful song. La Ciudad de las Bestias is no different, and I'm delighted that she's writing books for young people. Like the Harry Potter series, I suspect these books will be every bit as popular with her adult readers.Allende's ability and willingness to weave social themes into her books is to be applauded. All of us, no matter our age, need to be reminded that we have problems on this planet, and that we are the only ones who can solve them. We welcome her to the steadily growing group of human beings who are working to save this planet instead of destroy it. In light and joy, Nancy D.
Rating: 
Summary: Note to "Beasts": Bite me
Review: The past year or so has produced some fantastic juvenile fantasy by prominent adult authors, such as Michael Chabon's "Summerland," Neil Gaiman's "Coraline," and Carl Hiaasen's "Hoot." But Isabel Allende's "City of the Beasts" is excruciatingly dull, preachy, dull, awkwardly-written, dull, and containing the worst cast of characters imaginable. Alexander Cold's mother is suffering from cancer, and while she is in Texas for chemotherapy he is sent to stay with his grandmother Kate. The problems are that not only is Kate unstable and weird, but also is heading off on an expedition into the Amazon jungle to find a sort of jungle yeti called "the Beast." Alexander befriends Nadia, the daughter of the guide, who teaches him about the wildlife and the natives of the Amazon. But soon they discover that the jungle and the mysterious "People of the Mist" are in danger from the expedition. One of the worst things about this book is the fact that Allende seems to keep in mind constantly that she is writing for kids. A good book can be appreciated by adults and kids alike; you don't have to dumb it down. But dumb it down she does -- she seems to think that not only is her audience young, but also stupid and tasteless. For example, there's a language barrier between Alexander and the People. No problem -- he just "listens with his heart" and the language thing isn't a problem. I'll have to remember that when I travel abroad. The backhistory of the "Beasts" is excruciatingly stupid (and boring), as is the frantic conspiracy that Allende rigs up near the end. Alex is dull to the extreme, especially since halfway through the book he sheds all his doubts and fears and becomes Super-Jaguarboy. Nadia is apparently supposed to be a magical, quirky girl, but her constant New-Age lectures and preening bog her down (especially her women-ARE-nature line). Kate seems like a semi-abusive creep, and the professor is a sexist, racist, arrogant, bigoted pain-in-the-backside who is so ridiculous that you can't take him seriously; Allende was trying way too hard to make him unsympathetic. All military personnel and "modern" people are destructive, thick, and whiny. Every Indian is serene, otherworldly, attuned to nature -- in other words, boring and cliched. Additionally, none of the characters act like actual human beings; at one point, a member of the party is shot through the heart with a poison dart. Instead of being sad, frightened, or defensive, our very dense heroes stand around and debate about funeral rites. Elsewhere, Alexander contemplates his raging hormones -- really, "raging," you could have fooled me. The boy is as juiceless as a raisin. The plotline itself is halting, jerky and boring (there's that word again). Enormous stretches of the book are devoted to travelling on the river, or hanging out with the "People of the Mist." (That's right, let's tell the kids that ritual cannibalism and interbreeding polygamy are just fine) During these times, the other plotlines (like scheming adventurers or dying mothers) are completely dropped, only to be yanked back up a few hundred pages later. And Allende eagerly trots out every bit of trivia she knows about the Indians and wildlife of the Amazon jungles, meaning that the action stops dead whenever she wants to lecture us about piranhas. Perhaps the most unforgivable aspect of it is the preachiness, since every other page Allende reminds us how wonderful nature is and how we should live in tune with it and not destroy anything. Then maybe she shouldn't have kept showing us what a nightmare hole the Amazon is, or showed us a supposedly sympathetic character murdering an animal to "set it free," apparently out of the belief that it is better off dead than getting the royal treatment at a zoo. She never makes us feel any awe or love for nature, or any real urgency to conserve the wild places of the world. If you or your kids want a beautiful, well-written, well-characterized story that shows us why we should protect forests and animals and wild places, read T.A. Barron's books, especially "The Ancient One." His stories are exquisite, and the message about nature and conservation goes straight to the heart. Allende's book is only useful if you need some paper for your fireplace.
Rating: 
Summary: A good read for young readers
Review: There is an age all young readers get to where their reading abilities and interests don't mesh well. Capable of reading full sized adult novels, they find them boring. Most books directed at people their age are ridiculously simple. City of the Beasts is a perfect fit for those in betweeners. In case you're wondering, I'm an adult, but am reviewing this with my 11 year old in mind. For myself, it was a quick read, and a little silly. But for readers around 10-14, I would highly recommend it.
Alexander's family is in complete disarray with his mother very ill with cancer and his dad barely holding things together. In order for his mother to get treated, the family must split up and go off to the rellies for awhile. Alex draws the short straw and winds up with his paternal Grandmother, Kate. While I've seen her described as "cold, quirky, and eccentric" I found her interesting. Her interpretation of love includes helping you learn to take care of yourself. Alex's forced independence is something that will appeal to young readers. Kate agreed to take Alex provided he would accompany her on a trip to the Amazon. Alex meets a new friend, Nadia, and the two of them embark on an incredible journey of discovery---of people, "beasts", nature, human nature and greed, and most importantly, self reliance. All life knowledge they will need to survive in the Amazon, and back home in California.
The characters are amusing and appealing with a few evildoers thrown in. The plot is a bit messy, but clear enough for most readers, while providing a great backdrop for everything these two teenagers need to discover. The ending winds up a bit neatly, but most young readers would be incredibly disappointed with any late plot twists. Readers will come away from this book with a new appreciation for different kinds of love, different kinds of people, different countries, different lifestyles, and all the similarities that tie us together.
Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This book is excellent. It is the first book for children Isabel Allende has wroten, and it's very good, specially if you read it in spanish, it's original language. It's only for those ones who like to read adventure and fantasy. It keeps you on its pages for hours and you can't leave it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book !
Review: THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS. I LOVE ISABEL ALLENDE AND THIS BOOK IS A GREAT FANTASY AND LOST OF FUN.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book from Wonderful Author!
Review: This masterwork of literature takes us on breathtaking journeys down the Amazon, into mythical cities in uncharted valleys, and into the very bowels of the earth. This book is a wonderful one, using beautiful language and a wonderful sense of humor.
READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Stunning!!
Review: This summer my Mom reccomended this book to me, I thought i wouldn't be able to get through it, but I finished it in a few days!! It was tottaly wonderful and enraptureing!! Once you start, you can't put it down!! This is one of those books you want to read again and again!! I definitly Reccomend this book, it is perfect for adults and children. The plot and characters were written wonderfully!!
Rating:
Summary: Wont appeal to young readers????
Review: We are only on page 70 or so but my 10 year old son loves it!!! No ands ifs or buts! The book has helped set off lots of lively discussions about life and growing up. My son is having fun and we are getting to know each other better.... So you wanna have a litterary nit-pick? As the reader it is much more satisfying than most of the stuff for his age group.
I am afraid I haven't read her other books so I cannot compare. But I bought the book to read to my son. And so far so GREAT!
Thank you Allende.
Rating: 
Summary: bad books happen to good writers...
Review: Well, I am a huge Isabel Allende fan but this was too much! And I read it in Spanish so you can stop blaming the translator... I can't even begin to explain how insulted I was (and on how many levels!) by the Omaira character. On top of that, the story is one sorry new-age cliché after another. I gave the book 3 stars because despite the omnipresent [stuff] we do get a few glimpses of Isabel Allende at her best. I don't know about the rest of you but I want the old Isabel back. PRONTO.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I Have Ever Read! That's saying somthing!
Review: Why can anyone not like this book?! I recived this book as a birthday present and kind of put in a corner not thinking it would be good, as I write this I hit my self on the head for this is one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made! So a week or so later I finished the book I was reading and was desparate to read somthing so I took this book out and began to read. The first 40 pages were slightly boring so I once again put in the corner. Finaly I began to read it and was engulfed, I unfortly was forced to eat and go somwhere once again delaying the process of reading this book. One might imagin that I read and then stoped again, but no I read ad read and read untill I was finished and than I dreamed and thought about it long after I was into another book. So if you are looking for a book you can stop and start this is not for you because once your in you are not coming out intill the end.
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