Daughter of Fortune : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Good beginning, disappointing ending
Review: I've loved previous Isabel Allende works, and the beginning of this book has all the promise of its predecessors. Unfortunately, the book quickly shifts into a "wild west" cliche, with plot twists that are unbelievable, characters that don't deliver, and endless pages of "California gold rush" descriptions that are unoriginal and ultimately, boring. I found this book to be a real disappointment, especially from a gifted writer such as Allende.

Rating:
Summary: A letdown
Review: I have read all of Isabel Allende's book. With each book I felt that she was not as good as her first The House of the Spirits. The latest Daughter of Fortune is certainly a dissapointment. It is more a detective story than a master work. I read it to the end because I wanted to know what happened to the characters. One can say it means that she captivated the reader, so did Aghata Christi. I feel that Allende has spent her literary art, and therefore she should stop.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Journey
Review: I have enjoyed Isabel Allende's previouse works and was once again pleased with Daughter of Fortune. I thoroughly enjoyed Eliza Sommers journey. While some reviewers have expressed frustration with the ending, I felt it was logical and satisfactory. I would love to see a sequel where Miss Rose joins brother John for a new life in California, leaving Jeremy in Chile. Such strong female characters..I loved them all and would enjoying reading more about them.

Rating:
Summary: Embarassing Effort by Allende
Review: I am so disappointed in Isabel Allende. Previously a big fan of House of the Spirits and Paula, this book turned me off completely. It read as though it had been composed by a mooning teenager rather than a world class author. The story lacks depth and is one of the most tedious sagas I've ever waded through. The heroine Eliza is anemic, the love story frankly unbelievable and the Chinese character just a shade shy of caricature. Blech!Phooey! I think Oprah rescued this book from the scrap pile of the remainder box, because it's hard to imagine why anyone would seek out this putrid soap opera piece otherwise. If Allende can't do any better than this, she should find another line of work.

Rating:
Summary: Majestic and Exhilarating
Review: An occasionally dark, ambitious and adventuresome tale of finding life and love where you least expect to. Somewhat somber, the author has managed to really provide the reader with a feeling of the times - from the small British encampment in Chile to the mayhem of the California Gold Rush to the mysticism of the Orient. Pull up a cozy armchair and plan on doing some fireside traveling, and meeting a few characters that you will find enchantingly refreshing.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful journey
Review: This is one of Oprah's best picks- the characters are multi-cultural, diverse, and interesting. I found the story to be educational and inspiring. The heroine was strong, wise, nurturing and humane. The story was not bound by race or continent and was most captivating. I loved every page. The hidden history and cultural tapestry upon which the story is written is refreshing and unpredictable. Unlike other books that attempt such story lines this author keeps the reader engaged as each new character and twist are uncovered. The ending is fascinating-each reader will be challenged to figure it out. I loved the book -in fact, I was so "into this book" I took it on a canoe trip and it ended up on the bottom of the river - so, I promptly returned home and ordered the replacement so I could finish the book! I will read more of Isaabel Allende in the future. Wonderful voyage!

Rating:
Summary: De Santiago a California
Review: La odisea de la protagonista es su carrera por el amor: siguiendo su corazón se lanza en una dura aventura que la lleva de su cómodo Chile a la disputada California, justo durante la fiebre del oro. Pero el oro que ella busca no lo va a conseguir sin antes entender el precio de ser valiente. Hermosa novela, finamente escrita y con el ingenio que se agradece a Isabel Allende. Por cierto, es una excelente lectura de aeropuerto, sobre todo para un vuelo largo.

Rating:
Summary: not the first Allende book to read
Review: I'm a true fan of Allende's works and I must say very few contemporary writers are gifted with her eloquence which turns prose into poetry and her amazing ability to imagine. This book, nonetheless, is not the first book I'd recommend to anyone who hasn't read Allende before. It's a captivating story, simply a beautiful narration of the saga of Eliza and Tao Chi'en. However, considering the discontentment the ending brings, one can only hope that Ms Allende chooses to continue the saga in the nearest future.

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: Having read "House of the Spirits," I expected more from Allende in this latest novel. It's too much like a Danielle Steele book for my taste. The prose is average. It barely held my interest. I had no particular emotion -- in any direction -- for any of the characters. Not as good as most Oprah choices.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Poignant!
Review: This is a breath-taking tale of a baby girl left in a basket, on the doorsteps of a British Import and Export Company. We follow her life and the pursuit of her destiny. This drama takes us from Valparaiso, Chile to gold-rush fever in California. "Daughter of Fortune" might well be called "Daughter of Adventure". This book is heavy laden with detailed violence, betrayal, agony and love. It is a journey of transformation. Isabel Allende's grasp of history and her infusion of it in this story far exceeds her previous writings. Sometimes the detail and multiple perspectives and viewpoints of characters get in the way of plot continuity for the reader, but over-all this book is a passionate masterpiece.