Isabel Allende
1982
Around 450 pages
Continuing our run of exceptional novels, we come to The House of Spirits. I have always had to space out my Isabel Allende reads, because she breaks this fragile heart in twain. It's hard to believe this is her debut novel. For my own mental wellbeing, I have to believe that she wrote a lot of rough, unpublished work before this.
The House of the Spirits spans four generations of the Trueba family, and although she never explicitly says where the novel takes place, it's easy to connect the allusions she makes to Chilean history. The family has many memorable characters, including my favorites Clara, who has paranormal powers and is shocked into muteness, and her fiery sister-in-law Ferula.
Of course, I am unsurprised that the movie adaptation white-washed the cast and bombed. This would be a hard story to adapt though even with the right cast. She has the same style of slow build as Marquez, and the same unfortunate inclination to include sexual violence. It's heart-breaking to go through so much trauma with these characters.
Could definitely use a lighter read as a chaser, but I'm not sure the next entry qualifies.
RATING: *****
Interesting Facts:
The book was first conceived by Allende when she received news that her 100-year-old grandfather was dying. She began to write him a letter that ultimately became the manuscript of The House of the Spirits.
Allende starts all her books on January 8.
UP NEXT: Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
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