Daughter of Fortune : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Crappy ending
Review: you know what, i have mixed feelings about this book. At times it was interesting, but in the end i didn't feel i knew as much about the characters as i would have liked. It did drag many a time, only to lead to a most unsatisfying ending, seems almost lazy on the part of the author.

Rating:
Summary: Memorable transportation into worlds long vanished
Review: As a history lover, I was most fascinated by Allende's re-creations of three worlds gone by: California during the Gold Rush, Valparaiso of the 1800's, and, to a lesser extent, China at the same time. Allende takes the interested reader on wonderfully memorable journeys into these times and places. However, she does not neglect detailed characterizations, which makes this novel an exceptional one. Independent Eliza Sommers is one of my favorite characters, and the understanding Tao Chi'en is an outstanding male protagonist, caring, patient and intelligent. Although I never disregard a novel simply because of an open ending, I was disappointed in the relative abruptness of the ending of "Daughter of Fortune." After 400 pages of exceptionally-detailed character and setting development, I found the uncertainty of the last few pages of this novel a let down. There's no need to draw me a perfect picture of who ends up with whom, but I dislike being left with the impression that the author was not sure what to do with her characters, and so she contrived a quick, ambiguous conclusion.

Rating:
Summary: Reading this is misfortune!
Review: Normally, I like just about anything I read. And normally, I like any of the books in the Oprah club. However, this book was ridiculous. The book is very poorly written with a wondering plot, that introduces characters and situations that never go anywhere. It was hard to like the heroine or any of the characters. I finished the last page shaking my head and wondering where the writer every got the notion that she had talent!

Rating:
Summary: A rich and alluring tale by an exquisite storyteller...
Review: Allende's books have always transported me to different worlds, different lives, and different time periods. I have been a fan since the days of, "The House of the Spirits". She infuses all her tales with a otherworldliness and a hint of mysticism that is so very Latin American and at the same time so alluring. Our protagonist is a Chilean orphan (of course) who is full of life and vigor (of course), being raised above her (supposed) circumstances (of course), by a spinster named Rose with a mysterious past (of course) and her emotionless, social climber brother businessman Jeremy (oh, and let's not forget the mysterious and wonderful ship captain, Jeremy's and Rose's brother, John). But it is the wonderful way that the story progresses from the fascinating 1800's Chilean household complete with music nights and the ubiquitous nurturing housekeeper to the adventure of a first love and a brave and wild escape to the California of the Gold Rush. Eliza (our orphan) is taken care of by her own good sense and her good fortune (to meet many people who watch out for her - sometimes against their initial better judgment. For example, Tao Chi'en the chinese medicine man/cook, and his own is a wonderful story in itself!). I was as engaged by this tale at the beginning as I was at the end... finishing it deeply satisfied by the wonderful world that exists in Isabel Allende's mind and that she is generous enough to share with us.

Rating:
Summary: Hija de la fortuna
Review: Un libro de Isabel Allende.

Rating:
Summary: Not as spectacular as Opra suggests...
Review: Ok, the beggining of the book lags on with no plot, too many intertwining chracters, but towards the middle it starts getting adventurous. You can feel the passion Eliza feels towards her potential lover at the end of te book, compared to the yawn-it-along first love of her life. I liked how passionate i felt for the 2 at the end. Though the back cover itself practically gives the ending away, if you don't even read between the lines!

Rating:
Summary: is there a sequel??
Review: This was the first book by the author that I had read. She is a gifted writer who really hooks the reader early. I loved reading it but I wasn't thrilled with the ending. It was as though the author should have wrote "...to be continued" after the conclusion. I have read 2 more books by Isabel Allende and so far House of Spirits is my favorite. I recommend that one to everyone I know--I have even given it as a Christmas gift.

Rating:
Summary: Empty Ending
Review: Daughter of Fortune was "somewhat" capturing in the first half of the book, then it started to drag. The rest of the way, I was struggling to get through the next chpaters, hoping it would be more fulfilling. I was then forced to read it to the end since I had put so much time and hope into it. The ending was abrupt, and disappointing, leaving me empty and frustrated!

Rating:
Summary: Un placer leerla.
Review: Isabel Allende con su talento natural de un mundo real y fantastico describe la aventura maravillosa de Eliza, su personaje es el clasico personaje femenino de Allende, donde el elemento principal es el amor por la vida. Otra vez los mundos magicos de Allende se entretejen con tanta delicadeza, incluyendo espiritus orientales, bandidos, marineros, y gente de sociedad. Su narracion de la fiebre de oro en California al lado de la personaje es tan fina y llena de aventuras y magia. EL final de la novela deja una chispa de esperanza para un amor que se fue formando a partir de la amistad y camaraderia entre dos almas muy similares que se encuentran separados por razas. Es un placer leer a Allende.

Rating:
Summary: A very entertaining read!
Review: Be transported to the world of Eliza, a privileged young girl born in 19th century Chile who stows away on a ship to San Francisco in search of her lover who has gone to search for gold. This was a wonderful book and I was hooked from the start. Allende does not deliver obvious storylines - the book does not end how you think it will. The locations and the love stories are fabulous too! There is more than one daughter of fortune in this story... I was entranced by Eliza and her tale and did not want it to end. Thoroughly recommended.