HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS

Rating:
Summary: Second best example of Latin America's Magic REalism novels
Review: For lovers of Hispanic novels for whom Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" was a bit too rich, Isabel Allende's "The House of the Spirits" goes further by mixing magic realism with fiction based on historical events. The reader is taken through 4 generations of women who all seem to have some exceptional powers. Blanca is the third generation and her life unfolds at the same time as some of the political events that shook a known South American country at the onset of and during a dictatorship. Though her mystical powers are not as evident as those of her ancestors, her willpower more than compensates for that. As Blanca develops a relationship with the leader of the resistance, her father is torn between his loyalty to the country's conservative political system and his love for his daughter. If you have not yet read the book, but saw the film version, do not prejudge the story by the film. The book is much, much richer and the imagery a thousand times more powerful than the movie scenes. Humberto Sanchez Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Rating:
Summary: A magical masterpiece to slimulate all of your passions.
Review: House of the Spirits is a rare concoction of every passion known to man and woman. I was drawn to read this book in an unremarkable way, but it's story has made a profound effect on me. Each element of passion (power, family, love, race, and spirituality) flow both independantly as well as separately. The movie version should not be seen. This is a tale that must be told between the words and your mind.

Rating:
Summary: Reused Characters Get a Little Old
Review: I really enjoyed House of Spirits while i was reading it. I thought it was one of the best books and had some of the most original and interesting characters I had ever encountered in a work of literature. After I finished reading it, I immediately read Eva Luna, another one of Isabelle Allende's book. If I had not read Eva Luna, House of Spirits would probably be one of my favorite books. However, I discovered that the characters in Eva Luna parallel the characters in House of Spirits so much, that I could not get past that while reading Eva Luna. In the end I was disgusted by both books. Although, I cannot forget how much I enjoyed reading House of Spirits. So, I only recommend reading House of Spirits if you are really fond of Isabelle Allende's characters or you have not yet read something by Isabelle Allende. I surmised that Isabelle Allende's characters are based on real people and to write about them is a form of personal exploration for her. I think it was interesting of her to do that in one novel, but annoying having to read about recycled characters.

Rating:
Summary: Reused Characters Get a Little Old
Review: I really enjoyed House of Spirits while i was reading it. I thought it was one of the best books and had some of the most original and interesting characters I had ever encountered in a work of literature. After I finished reading it, I immediately read Eva Luna, another one of Isabelle Allende's book. If I had not read Eva Luna, House of Spirits would probably be one of my favorite books. However, I discovered that the characters in Eva Luna parallel the characters in House of Spirits so much, that I could not get past that while reading Eva Luna. In the end I was disgusted by both books. Although, I cannot forget how much I enjoyed reading House of Spirits. So, I only recommend reading House of Spirits if you are really fond of Isabelle Allende's characters or you have not yet read something by Isabelle Allende. I surmised that Isabelle Allende's characters are based on real people and to write about them is a form of personal exploration for her. I think it was interesting of her to do that in one novel, but annoying having to read about recycled characters.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I think this book is great! Allende is a wonderful writer, and I think everyone should read this book if they get the chance. The story is really good, and sometimes its really hard to put down. Although the story and characters are very strange at times, I always want to see whats going to happen next. I would definitely recomend this book to anyone who is looking for a good beek to read.

Rating:
Summary: I love this novel!
Review: Yes, this novel bears great similarities to Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" but that's like saying that my family is similar to other Hispanic families! Besides which, that novel is about men whereas "House of the Spirits" is very much about the women in the family - the male characters are important but they revolve around the women. I'd read "Of Love and Shadows" (in Spanish) in one day - couldn't set it down - so when my cousin gave me a translated (English) copy of "House..." I plunged in. Years later, I re-read it in Spanish and was amazed by the fact that it had lost nothing in the translation!

I LOVE this book: the characters, the story remain a part of me to this day, I think of them often even though I last read "House..." at least ten years ago. If you're into magic realism or just want a taste of Latin American family life, this is your book. Then go seek out "Of Love and Shadows" (my favorite heart-wrenching love story of all time), "Eva Luna", "Cuentos de Eva Luna", etc. I don't think you can remain untouched by the characters and the stories they emerge from.

Rating:
Summary: I love this novel!
Review: Yes, this novel bears great similarities to Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" but that's like saying that my family is similar to other Hispanic families! Besides which, that novel is about men whereas "House of the Spirits" is very much about the women in the family - the male characters are important but they revolve around the women. I'd read "Of Love and Shadows" (in Spanish) in one day - couldn't set it down - so when my cousin gave me a translated (English) copy of "House..." I plunged in. Years later, I re-read it in Spanish and was amazed by the fact that it had lost nothing in the translation!

I LOVE this book: the characters, the story remain a part of me to this day, I think of them often even though I last read "House..." at least ten years ago. If you're into magic realism or just want a taste of Latin American family life, this is your book. Then go seek out "Of Love and Shadows" (my favorite heart-wrenching love story of all time), "Eva Luna", "Cuentos de Eva Luna", etc. I don't think you can remain untouched by the characters and the stories they emerge from.

Rating:
Summary: I love this novel!
Review: Yes, this novel bears great similarities to Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" but that's like saying that my family is similar to other Hispanic families! Besides which, that novel is about men whereas "House of the Spirits" is very much about the women in the family - the male characters are important but they revolve around the women. I'd read "Of Love and Shadows" (in Spanish) in one day - couldn't set it down - so when my cousin gave me a translated (English) copy of "House..." I plunged in. Years later, I re-read it in Spanish and was amazed by the fact that it had lost nothing in the translation!

I LOVE this book: the characters, the story remain a part of me to this day, I think of them often even though I last read "House..." at least ten years ago. If you're into magic realism or just want a taste of Latin American family life, this is your book. Then go seek out "Of Love and Shadows" (my favorite heart-wrenching love story of all time), "Eva Luna", "Cuentos de Eva Luna", etc. I don't think you can remain untouched by the characters and the stories they emerge from.