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The House of the Spirits: A Novel [Paperback]

Isabel Allende , Magda Bogin
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (330 customer reviews)

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Book Description

August 30, 2005

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

In one of the most important and beloved Latin American works of the twentieth century, Isabel Allende weaves a luminous tapestry of three generations of the Trueba family, revealing both triumphs and tragedies. Here is patriarch Esteban, whose wild desires and political machinations are tempered only by his love for his ethereal wife, Clara, a woman touched by an otherworldly hand. Their daughter, Blanca, whose forbidden love for a man Esteban has deemed unworthy infuriates her father, yet will produce his greatest joy: his granddaughter Alba, a beautiful, ambitious girl who will lead the family and their country into a revolutionary future.

The House of the Spirits is an enthralling saga that spans decades and lives, twining the personal and the political into an epic novel of love, magic, and fate.


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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Spectacular.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Nothing short of astonishing . . . In The House of the Spirits Isabel Allende has indeed shown us the relationships between past and present, family and nation, city and country, spiritual and political values. She has done so with enormous imagination, sensitivity, and compassion.”—San Francisco Chronicle
  
“A vivid, absorbing work of art . . . [Allende’s] characters are fascinatingly detailed and human.”—People
 
“Extraordinary . . . powerful . . . sharply observant, witty and eloquent.”—The New York Times
 
“Mesmerizing . . . a novel of force and charm.”—The Washington Post

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish (translation) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 433 pages
  • Publisher: Dial Press Trade Paperback (August 30, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553383809
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553383805
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (330 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Peru and raised in Chile, Isabel Allende is the author of eight novels, including, most recently, Zorro, Portrait in Sepia, and Daughter of Fortune. She has also written a collection of stories; three memoirs, including My Invented Country and Paula; and a trilogy of children's novels. Her books have been translated into more than twenty-seven languages and have become bestsellers across four continents. In 2004 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Isabel Allende lives in California.

My thoughts on Kindle en Español:

"El impacto de los libros electrónicos es formidable y está remeciendo a la industria del libro tanto como a los lectores. Aunque todavía la idea es relativamente nueva en español, ya se ha extendido en otras lenguas tan dramáticamente, que muchos autores nuevos publican en versión digital, saltándose a las editoriales. Confieso que soy adicta a mis Kindle y mi IPad, donde leo con letra grande y clara, en una pantalla liviana. Antes viajaba con una maleta de libros, ahora llevo mi biblioteca en la cartera y puedo adquirir nuevos libros en cualquier parte del mundo en pocos segundos. Dicen que los jóvenes le tienen miedo al papel y no tienen el hábito de leer - lo cual no es totalmente cierto - pero ahora pueden leer en sus pantallas. También dicen que la ficción desaparecerá, pero eso jamás ocurrirá, porque la humanidad necesita historias tanto como necesita oxígeno. Tal vez en el futuro el libro, ese compañero maravilloso, será un objeto de coleccionistas y de bibliotecas y nosotros, simples mortales, leeremos en pantallas. Pero seguiremos leyendo, de eso no tengo dudas." Isabel Allende

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
143 of 149 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The House of Spirits is probably Allende's most famous and important book. In it, she chronicles the life of a family, as the patriarch grows from a child to an elder, with the world changing all around him while he tries to keep it the same. Through the lenses of the Trueba family, we follow the portion of Chilean history that eventually leads to the 1973 coup. Of course, the author is niece of Salvador Allende, the socialist president democratically elected that was removed from power and killed by Pinochet.

The book is based on clashes; old versus young, communists vs conservatives, landlords vs tenants. As the story unfolds, we view the extremist positions that each side takes: landlords attacking tenants, conservatives attacking communists, and vice versa. From the polarization of positions emerges a military dictatorship that no one wanted, but that was a product of the system setup by polarization.

In the end, the distinctions that originally separated young from old, conservatives from communists, are removed, as both sides realize the futility of their disputes in the face on an authoritarian regime.

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78 of 80 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Adventure of a Lifetime October 18, 1999
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I watched a young student the other day on the subway reading the House of the Spirits. He slowly rose from his seat when he reached his destination and almost walked into the subway doors as they were closing. I then followed him as he walked down the platfom bumping into people all the way. He could not take his eyes from the pages, even as he walked. I was excited for him because I knew he was in for the ride of his life but I was also jealous because he was experiencing for the first time one of the most dynamic and complex books I have ever read. The incredible Ms. Allende created some of the most remarklable relationships between people in any book; husband and wife, brother and sister, mentor and student -- but the most beautiful and complete relationships are among the phenomenal women in this breathtaking novel. As soon as I finished the novel, I gave a copy to everyone I know who cares about literature. I then read everything that Allende has put between two covers and called a book. I have never been disappointed.
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50 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Now I understand February 20, 2002
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
"The House of the Spirits" gives the reader an extraordinary view of 20th century Chilean history. Through the Trueba family and the myriad characters that drift in and out of their lives, we see so many of the elements of the political and class struggle that continues until this day. Beginning with the landowner vs. tenant worker conflict and culminating with the left-wing vs. right-wing political/social conflict, we are given a glimpse into the inner workings of a country in turmoil. We see the horror of the Conservatives when a Marxist government is democratically elected, and their terror when the coup they so finely crafted becomes a dictatorship as terrible as they expected the Communists to be. Neither the left nor the right were winners--only the military.

I lived for several years in Chile during the 1990's. Even though Chile is emerging as a stable, fairly democratic economy, the political struggle remains. I could never grasp the true essence of my Chilean friends' passionate hatred for or passionate support of the Pinochet regime until I read this book. I always marveled that there was no middle ground. Now I understand why.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 star!
Beautiful book! I haven't read a good book in a while since Lolita. This book does have extreme visual scenes, but I would recommend this book to anyone my age (20s). Read more
Published 19 days ago by Angelita Rea Wylie
4.0 out of 5 stars fantastic
Fantastic book with an amazing narrative, extremely well written and a real pleasure to read. The story flows and is one of those books difficult to stop reading.
Published 2 months ago by Alice
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece
A masterpiece. It is a fresh and non sexist take on the stereotypically masculine South American epic novel. Her writing appears at times to parody 100 years of solitude. Read more
Published 2 months ago by garibaldi
4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for those who like South American historical fiction
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I read other reviews and many people were disgusted by the mention of certain events in characters' lives, but given the setting and time... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Brinkley Abercrombie
2.0 out of 5 stars Markings too distracting
It was difficult to read because every page was heavily underlined, with inane comments in the margins. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Louise Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent reading.
Just about everything I have read by Isabel Allende is of the highest quality. The book was in good condition.
Published 5 months ago by Penelope F. Mcginnis
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Story with a bit of History Lesson
The book follows the history of the Trueba family. Each member of the family plays a unique role in the story.

The story was fun and interesting. Read more
Published 5 months ago by krisman
2.0 out of 5 stars Bored of the Spirits
House of the Spirits...sigh. I don't understand all the rave reviews. To be honest, I'm a little jealous that so many people had amazing experiences with this book. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Goupil
4.0 out of 5 stars Why is this not for kindle!?!?
I love this book, but honestly, WHY IS THIS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE KINDLE APP!! The only one available was the original Spanish version, which I can't read. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Althea D. Spence
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Mystic Story
Though kind of confusing at the beginning, The House of the Spirits nevertheless carried me once again into the story with Allende's rich prose and wonderful storytelling. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Black Plum
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