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My invented country [sound recording] : [a nostalgic journey through Chile]
Allende, Isabel.
Adult Fiction 921 AL575
From Publishers' Weekly:
Allende's novels-The House of the Spirits; Eva Luna; Daughter of Fortune; etc.-are of the sweeping epic variety, often historical and romantic, weaving in elements of North and South American culture. As with most fiction writers, Allende's work is inspired by personal experiences, and in this memoir-cum-study of her "home ground," the author delves into the history, social mores and idiosyncrasies of Chile, where she was raised, showing, in the process, how that land has served as her muse. Allende was born in Peru in 1942, but spent much of her childhood-and a significant portion of her adulthood-in Santiago (she now lives in California). She ruminates on Chilean women (their "attraction lies in a blend of strength and flirtatiousness that few men can resist"); the country's class system ("our society is like a phyllo pastry, a thousand layers, each person in his place"); and Chile's turbulent history ("the political pendulum has swung from one extreme to another; we have tested every system of government that exists, and we have suffered the consequences"). She readily admits her view is subjective-to be sure, she is not the average Chilean (her stepfather was a diplomat; her uncle, Salvador Allende, was Chile's president from 1970 until his assassination in 1973). And at times, her assessments transcend Chile, especially when it comes to comments on memory and nostalgia. This is a reflective book, lacking the pull of Allende's fiction but unearthing intriguing elements of the author's captivating history. Agents, Carmen Balcells and Gloria Gutierrez. (June) Forecast: Despite a six-city author tour and advertising in the Miami Herald, New York Times Book Review and San Francisco Chronicle, this book probably won't attract as much attention as Allende's fiction does. Still, after having written 10 other books, Allende's developed a strong fan base, and her loyal readers will undoubtedly clamor for this. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
From Library Journal:
Allende, the best-selling author of The House of Spirits and Portraits in Sepia, here offers a moving portrait of her native Chile and, by looking back on her youth, family, and country's history, considers how Chile has shaped her writing. Focusing on the unique characteristics of the country and its people, she reveals incidents and individuals-both friends and family-who figure in her semiautobiographical novels. She also talks briefly about Pinochet's 1973 coup, but more information about the author's experience and opinions on that topic can be found in her memoir Paula, which is the story of her life written during the illness and death of her daughter. Her current memoir is entertaining and provides a fuller understanding of her works. Recommended for academic libraries and any public library where her work is popular. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/03.]-Sheila Kasperek, North Hall Lib., Mansfield, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Allende, Isabel.
Adult Fiction 921 AL575
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From Publishers' Weekly:
Allende's novels-The House of the Spirits; Eva Luna; Daughter of Fortune; etc.-are of the sweeping epic variety, often historical and romantic, weaving in elements of North and South American culture. As with most fiction writers, Allende's work is inspired by personal experiences, and in this memoir-cum-study of her "home ground," the author delves into the history, social mores and idiosyncrasies of Chile, where she was raised, showing, in the process, how that land has served as her muse. Allende was born in Peru in 1942, but spent much of her childhood-and a significant portion of her adulthood-in Santiago (she now lives in California). She ruminates on Chilean women (their "attraction lies in a blend of strength and flirtatiousness that few men can resist"); the country's class system ("our society is like a phyllo pastry, a thousand layers, each person in his place"); and Chile's turbulent history ("the political pendulum has swung from one extreme to another; we have tested every system of government that exists, and we have suffered the consequences"). She readily admits her view is subjective-to be sure, she is not the average Chilean (her stepfather was a diplomat; her uncle, Salvador Allende, was Chile's president from 1970 until his assassination in 1973). And at times, her assessments transcend Chile, especially when it comes to comments on memory and nostalgia. This is a reflective book, lacking the pull of Allende's fiction but unearthing intriguing elements of the author's captivating history. Agents, Carmen Balcells and Gloria Gutierrez. (June) Forecast: Despite a six-city author tour and advertising in the Miami Herald, New York Times Book Review and San Francisco Chronicle, this book probably won't attract as much attention as Allende's fiction does. Still, after having written 10 other books, Allende's developed a strong fan base, and her loyal readers will undoubtedly clamor for this. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
From Library Journal:
Allende, the best-selling author of The House of Spirits and Portraits in Sepia, here offers a moving portrait of her native Chile and, by looking back on her youth, family, and country's history, considers how Chile has shaped her writing. Focusing on the unique characteristics of the country and its people, she reveals incidents and individuals-both friends and family-who figure in her semiautobiographical novels. She also talks briefly about Pinochet's 1973 coup, but more information about the author's experience and opinions on that topic can be found in her memoir Paula, which is the story of her life written during the illness and death of her daughter. Her current memoir is entertaining and provides a fuller understanding of her works. Recommended for academic libraries and any public library where her work is popular. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/03.]-Sheila Kasperek, North Hall Lib., Mansfield, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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