Customer Reviews

Paula

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Isabel Allende has made her name as a writer in the genre of magic realism, where fantastical events occur, often without warning. When her daughter Paula collapsed into an irreversibly coma due to a rare disease, Allende found herself desperate for a story to tell her dying daughter. This is the book that arose out of a mother's need to understand the past, the future, and the mysterious connection between the two. Allende tells of events before her birth, of Chilean politics and how it affected her famously political family, of falling in love, of becoming a writer, of motherhood, of her journey through Paula's illness - while embracing the spirituality that pervades her fiction. Surprisingly, the story of Allende's life bears remarkable resemblance, both in fact and in imagery, to her bestselling novel THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS.

While sadness frames this memoir, the core of it pulses with life and faith. Beautifully written, with moments that will make you pause with admiration, this book is startling and powerful. Every fan of Allende should read this, both for the context it provides for her writing and for the force of her storytelling.

I first read Isabel Allende when my friend's mother recommended "The House of the Spirits." Later, I told my friend's mother how much I had enjoyed the novel. On that occasion she handed me her copy of "Paula," saying, "Hear. Read this." I obliged. "Paula" is the author's autobiography, written for her daughter, as she tries to nurse her daughter through a rare illness that has left her comatose. Allende visits the events in her past as she copes with the present. "Paula" moved me on many different levels. Allende's story of her own past is captivating. Her present day struggle to heal her daughter is heartwrenching. Despite the sadnesses of the book, it is a book that affirms life. I read it whenever I feel have wallowed in self-pity for too long. It reminds me that it is I who am in charge of my destiny. After crying the many tears I cry when I read "Paula," I feel cleansed, rejuvenated, and ready to live life again.

This book will make you cry and laugh and everything in between. The first half of the book is a letter to her daughter written in the hope that she will wake from her coma. In fear that Paula will not remember her past Isabel Allende tells her the true story of their family. The second half is a farewell to Paula. It is a story of love and loss in many aspects. Love and loss of family, of country, and of life. It is gripping to read of people who have had to live in exile and find their way without the safety of being able to go "home." It is even more beautiful to find that their home is found wherever they are. This book should be read by mothers, daughters, immigrants, and anyone decending from people who have lived through persecution, exile, or political turmoil.

Isabel Allende is truly a brave woman as she shares a very personal tragedy. The thing that is so refreshing about the book is that while the imminent death of her daughter hangs over your head, Isabel is masterful at telling not only the story of her daughter but the history of a very confusing, wonderful country. I have never laughed aloud and cried by reading words on a page, but Isabel has made me do that. She is an expert story teller. I don't know how the english version stands up, but as someone who has been to her home country and someone who is very interested in literature from Latin America, this (the spanish version for those who can read it) is a must must must read.

This is such a beautiful book, a beautifully written story of Isabel Allende's life and the life of her family. I was not expecting the book to be what it was in this context - there are a lot of family stories and stories about her life in Chile. The book is fascinating, but is also quite sad as well. Indeed there are many passages about Allende's daughter Paula being in a coma and later in a vegetative state, and these passages, although well written are often times very emotionally difficult to read. My heart goes out to the author - it must have been an incredibly difficult book to write. I found the book easier to read a bit at a time, and as I was reading it in the original Spanish, this was not difficult. It is well worth reading. I waited too long to read this book because I thought that it was going to be nonstop depressing news of Paula in the hospital and for the most part, it really isn't, but it is sad and it probably will make you cry at the end, but go for it anyway - it's good to have feelings to know that you are alive, right?

"Paula" is a memoir of the author's life. It began as a letter to her daughter during her battle with the debilitating disease, porphyria. Paula slips into a coma and remains in that state for over a year. In this memoir, Allende reveals the trials of her life in Chile and her travels abroad. She writes of the political unrest in her homeland, her role in assisting political fugitives during that time and her eventual launch into the literary career she enjoys today. The book is filled with love of family, country and an unrelenting passion for life. Allende's connection with the spirits of her ancestors provides a magical and mystical backdrop for a real life experience that could not be replicated by the most imaginative of writers.

This memoir allowed Allende to come to terms with her daughter's death and to appreciate her life more fully. Translated in flawless English, this memoir takes the reader on a spiritual and historical journey of discovery. Paula will remain a central figure (spirit) in the life of her family, and this story ensures that she will maintain a place in the memory of readers as well.

The sadness in my eyes/ the power of love I felt by reading each and every word.I have read the book in my own language which is Persian(Farsi)and since I have experienced similar things, reading this book made me conected with the author.I have recommended Poula to every one I know since it is one of the best books I have ever read. Allende knows how to paint real picturs of life with her fingers. As Omar Khayyam of Iran(Persia) says: Up from Earth's centre through the Seventh Gate I rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate. And many Knots unravel'd by the Road; But not the Knot of Human Death and Fate. There was a Door to which I found no Key: There was a Veil past which I coild not see; Some little Talk awhile Of me and Thee there seemed and then no more of thee and me. Then to the rolling Heav'n itself I cried, Asking "what Lamp had.Destiny to guid" Her Little Children stumbling in the dark?" And -"A blind Understanding!"Heav'n replied. Then to this earthen Bowl I did I adjourn My lip the secret Well of Life to learn: And Lip To Lip it Murmure'd-"While you live "Drink!- For once dead you never shall return." Eventhough ot is not a poem of mine, I write it to houner your beautiful work and the pain you went trough and to all the mothers-and my mother-and all the mothers who choosed to live in exile or have lost their children.

I can't see how anyone who reads Paula can be unaffected by theexperience. It may break your heart, make you laugh and cry or upsetyou, but it can't leave you untouched. Allende has an amazing talent, not just her writing style but her bravery in being herself and not worrying about what others think. She writes about her reactions to Paula's medical problems, then switches over to thoughts about her own past. While this might bother some, it made perfect sense to me. Her daughter lay in a coma and everyone told her she was as good as dead, so Allende's thoughts were understandably out of control. One of the best things that Allende accomplished with this book was to bring out into the open the often overlooked fact that we need to think about what we'll do when faced with a long drawn-out illness of a loved one. Then we have to be prepared to just "go with the flow" and listen to more than just our common sense to get through it. A very thought-provoking book on many levels.

Isabel Allende's usual style of thickly descriptive, almost surreal, writing doesn't generally appeal to me. I read Eva Luna, then House of Spirits; after that, I was over it. But this book is different. Paula is the straightforward telling of Allende's colorful family history interwoven with the account of her daughter Paula's death from a rare disease. The economical writing instantly won me over, and Allende's gift for storytelling comes to the fore in the many anecdotes she shares.
While Death is the book's key element, it doesn't overwhelm with pity or sorrow. As Allende distracts herself by writing this book as a long letter to Paula, who lies in a coma for months, the author distracts us as well. Absolutely superb.

Escucha Paula... te voy a contar una historia.

I read this book a few years ago, and many passages are still with me over the years. It is extremelly well written, simple yet very profound and manages to take you through a very sad and painful road we will all eventually go through, in a very loving way, the loss of a loved one.

It sometimes made me laugh, most of the time I had to remove tears from my face to keep on reading, but I am very thankful to Isabel Allende for sharing with me the most difficult time of her life, her story, and her suffering. I had never felt so identified with an author, and never had a book given me the chance to enter the author's mind, heart and soul.

What is trully remarkable about this book is that it wasn't inteded for us to read, it was only meant for Paula, so she wouldn't feel lost when she woke up, and yet you can immediatly identify with what goes on, and sense the everlasting, unmeasurable love of Isabel for her daughter.

It covers many subjects... history, family, war, illness, success, failures, but most of all, this is a book that celebrates life and LOVE.