Daughter of Fortune : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Allende is an outstanding author!
Review: This was the first book I had read by Isabel Allende and it will not be the last. She is an outstanding writer and this book kept me captivated from the very first page. I enjoyed the various characters, especially the bravery of Eliza, the intriguing world of Mama Freesia, Miss Rose who really is not the prude she is made out to be and the lifestyles of Captain John and Eliza's Asian comprade. The story gives wonderful insight into life in South America in the mid 1800's and what one strong willed woman will do in support of finding her lover. The two month trip aboard the ship to San Francisco was exciting and when Eliza does arrive in CA it gave a wonderful description of life in the midst of the gold rush. I found the author's style especially pleasing and very easy to read. She captured my interest from page one! I was sad to finish the book but have just purchased another of her novels--I cannot wait to read that! You will enjoy this book!

Rating:
Summary: Ended as it should have
Review: I know that many people felt this book's ending left too many questions unanswered, but I feel that the book ended just exactly as it should have ended. No neat and tidy answers, just like real life. Eliza was no longer the same person that had pursued her lover so many years before, and her response at the end was her way of discarding her past, and moving on with her new life, whatever that may be. While most people like to have a resolution at the end of a book, it is not always necessary for me to enjoy a book, if it is well written. I did think this book tended to drag a bit in the middle, when she was following her lover to San Francisco, but Eliza's relationship with Tao Chien saved the book for me. Just don't expect too much in the way of a resolution at the end.

Rating:
Summary: Decent novel from a brilliant writer
Review: The first half of Daughter of Fortune kept me mesmerized by Allende's well developed characters and poetic descriptions of Chile. I enjoyed the interesting tid-bits of everyday life in the nineteenth century and the little moments of wisdom that seem to come from Allende herself. Characters such as Mama Fresia and Miss Rose could only be created through the mind of a genius writer. But the problem is that Miss Rose and Mama Fresia are not the main characters. The main characters are less interesting and somewhat flat. Further flaws besome present in the second half of the novel when Allende focuses more on redundant descriptions of old San Franciso and less on the intriguing plot of Eliza and Jouquin. I found myself skipping page-legnth paragraphs (for several pages at a time) of space filling, unnecessary descriptions about secondary characters and the scenery. And even after skipping these pointless descrpitions I could return to the book and still know exactly what was going on with the plot. Allende also makes the mistake of throwing in secondary plots such as those involving Esther and the blacksmith that have absolutely nothing to do with the main characters or plot. These secondary plots seemed more like an attempt to fill space and to compensate for the fact that the main plot seems to thin out and weaken three quarters of the way through the novel. Sure, the book was entertaining - a good rainy day read but it is also predictable and at certain times it reminded me of a category romance with a trite formula. There is no questioning Allende's talent and skill as a writer and at moments Daughter of Fortune reveals Allende's genius. However the novel is not her best. Overall, Daughter of Fortune is a decent novel from a brilliant writer.

Rating:
Summary: very good book
Review: i liked this book much better than "house of spirits," which was an uneasy mixture of journalism and magical realism. here allende creates a better mix of history and magical realism. the characters are engaging (eliza and tao chi'en are my favorites) and you learn a lot along the way about Chinese and Chilean culture and the gold mining days in california. none of it is dry....it is very well told, crisp and well paced. it's also a story about finding love where you're not expecting it, and the serendipity is pleasing.

Rating:
Summary: Daughter of Fortune left me asking for more
Review: Having read Ms. Allende's work since high school, I felt alittle disappointed by it. Although it has a wonderful narrative and a great spectrum of colorful characters, it left me kind of hanging trying to imagine what will the future stores for Eliza, Tao Chien, Miss Rose, and Joe Rompehuesos.

Rating:
Summary: Predictable: like a Danielle Steele Novel (no offense DS)
Review: What has happened to the intriguing and well written Oprah selections? Most dissapointing. A preditcable tale about a young woman with troubles in love. The writing was very simple (perhaps because of the translation). I have so little free time that I want a book that engages me and compels me to put off all other things and read -read-read. This is not that book. Oprah, you did so well selecting good writers of great novels earlier in your book club. Go back to good writers, please. If you want a book that will knock your socks off: good writing and great story, I suggest The Pact by Jodi Picoult. If you have precious little time for reading, I would suggest a different selection.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I read this book thinking it was going to be about something else. I was not disappointed with this book. Allende transports you to another time and place. I think she did an excellent job of describing the gold rush in California. I also think she did an excellent job with her characters and their emotions. I wonder if Tao married Eliza? I love the surprises that she drops thoughout the book. I fell in love with this book and hope she writes some sort of sequel.

Rating:
Summary: DAUGHTER OF FORTUNE......OR MISFORTUNE
Review: This was the first book I've read by Allende and I've since ordered other books by her. Yes I admit I was introduced to her by Oprah and rate this as one of Oprah's better picks. Allende has a great way of dropping subtle hints throughout the book. I love when an author has the ability to take you into a foreign country and make you feel as if you've lived there forever. While others have posted that the characters could have been better developed, I felt just the opposite. I think Allende was able to get across just what Eliza was feeling and what motivated her. I do agree that there were a lot of loose ends and probably the author wanted it this way. I wonder about the possibility of Joaquin and Eliza possibly being brother and sister causing Joaquin to flee to California; I wonder if Tao and Eliza ever married; I wonder what happened when Rose arrived in California....and I'm sure this is just what Allende wants us to wonder about. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes true and believable characters in a setting far removed from the usual.

Rating:
Summary: Very good! Kinda long, but thorough on description
Review: I really liked this book. I was kind of disappointed by the ending, but you can't have everything! I love the in-depth description and the back story so that you understood the characters and why they were the way they were. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a summer read. I'd like to find it on tape, so that I had a copy for my car.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: I've read House of Spirits by Allende, and this was even more wonderful. It was an easy read and I enjoyed the rich development of the characters.