The Stories of Eva Luna

Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This fantastic book is a must read. Isabel Allende is a very gifted writer who continues the story set out in Eva Luna (the first book) in a series of vignettes. Definately of the calibre of Gabrielle Garcia Marquez or Laura Esquivel (Like Water for Chocolate) this book embodies all of the best aspects of the Latin American fiction novel.

Rating:
Summary: A book to pass on to others to be enjoyed.
Review: This is not a feminist novel in the politically correct fashion, yet still enables an integrity in the women that is rarely seen. Isabel Allende has extraordinary ability to tell stories that reflect emotions so strongly that the characters become a part of you. I don't recall how many times I've read this book. I'll read a favorite story before I go to sleep for pleasant dreams, or the whole book from time to time. Everytime I borrow the book out, my recipient has enjoyed it so much that I end up giving the book to them. Read this book, and realize the beauty of Allende's world.

Rating:
Summary: Very good, concise and strong
Review: What I enjoyed most about these short stories was how they were complete and concise. In Allende's work there tends to be a propensity to drift as she introduces so many possible roads for the story/character to go to. But the short story formula forces Allende to stay on topic/character and not digress into irrelevant historical facts.
The one flaw I would say that I noticed about this book, and I wouldn't term it flaw but there are points where a character or situation touches briefly onto a former story or heralds something of a future tale. Unfortunately this skill is used so deftly that it left me clamoring for me but there wasn't any. That was my only disappointment with the book. Buy it, an excellent resource for teaching short story form (which is what I used it for) or for studying how to do it well. Or even to read on a short trip, the subway perhaps....?

Rating:
Summary: Very good, concise and strong
Review: What I enjoyed most about these short stories was how they were complete and concise. In Allende's work there tends to be a propensity to drift as she introduces so many possible roads for the story/character to go to. But the short story formula forces Allende to stay on topic/character and not digress into irrelevant historical facts.
The one flaw I would say that I noticed about this book, and I wouldn't term it flaw but there are points where a character or situation touches briefly onto a former story or heralds something of a future tale. Unfortunately this skill is used so deftly that it left me clamoring for me but there wasn't any. That was my only disappointment with the book. Buy it, an excellent resource for teaching short story form (which is what I used it for) or for studying how to do it well. Or even to read on a short trip, the subway perhaps....?