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Violeta by Isabel Allende - 4 stars - My Review

Protagonist Violeta tells her life story in the form of a letter to her grandson. It is set in what is obviously Chile and covers the economic, social, and political history of the country. It covers a period of time from the 1920 “Spanish flu,” when it arrived in South America, to the 2020 COVID pandemic.

I really like the premise of this book, spanning one hundred years between pandemics – what a great idea for framing a story. Violeta’s life is eventful, full of passion, change, and heartbreak. Violeta’s personal life serves as a mirror for the ups and downs of the historical drama. Other themes include women’s rights and what it is like to live under an oppressive regime.

The only part that did not work quite as well is the epistolary choice. I was not convinced that a grandmother would share details of her love life with her grandson. But this is a minor quibble. The characters are well developed, and the descriptions of the region are stunning.

I am a fan of Allende’s writing. I have now read ten of her books, and her work is consistently strong. I received an advanced copy from the publisher, Ballantine, via NetGalley.

Oh good. A new book by one of my favorite authors! Sounds like she's done her usual masterful storytelling. Will have to get it when it comes to my library. Thanks for your review.

Susan wrote: "Oh good. A new book by one of my favorite authors! Sounds like she's done her usual masterful storytelling. Will have to get it when it comes to my library. Thanks for your review."
Yes, I was lucky to get an arc from Netgalley. It comes out in January.