"The Soul of a Woman” is an ode to feminism. Partially autobiographical, the book explores feminism from the author’s perspective. Isabel Allende has done a wonderful job in bringing out the essence of feminism, seeing it from her point of view as a girl, daughter, mother, and as a woman who actively participated in the feminist movement her entire life.

If you have read any books by Isabel Allende, there is no need for me to tell you how powerful her pen is, how passionately she writes. This book is no different! It’s filled with tenderness, passion and love. The book is well-researched. It is obvious how much effort the author has put into researching all the facts and data provided in it. Quite an eye opener on the topic of feminism! And it is entertaining too. I love Allende’s sense of humor. A very enjoyable read!

From the first pages of the book, Allende provides a clear definition of feminism. She sees it as a “philosophical posture and an uprising against male authority...; a way of understanding human relations and a way to see the world.” She compares feminism with an ocean “...fluid, powerful, deep, (that) encompasses the infinite complexity of life.”

In relation to this main theme, the author touches upon many other important social issues and the way they affect people, especially women. She talks about crime and domestic violence. “Violence against women is universal and as old as civilization.”- she writes. “When talking about human rights, in truth, we’re referring to men’s rights. If a man is beaten and deprived of his freedom, it’s called torture. When a woman endures the same, it’s called domestic violence and is still considered a private matter in most of the world.”

Immigration and social, racial and gender discrimination are also important topics that the author writes about as well as language and language barriers in that regard.

Aging and prejudice against aging in today’s society is something that especially affects women, Allende writes. She points out the fact that “the government doesn’t assign them enough resources.” Her call to the society and government is “...to find a way to care for the elderly and to help them...” and not to “warehouse them away from the public eye.”

I loved especially the powerful ending of the book. The author poses probably the most important question for everyone: ”What kind of world do we want?”
With honesty and authenticity, Isabel Allende delivers a multifaceted motivational message. More than a question, this is her message and a call to “every woman and every man with awareness.” “This is a time for reflection”, she ends.

I so enjoyed reading every word and turning every page!! I am glad I got the chance to read the book for I learned a lot about the author, too. I have been a big fan of hers from the moment I read “The House of Spirits”, some many years ago, but I didn’t know much about her life. I got to see her from a different perspective in this book.

I am very thankful to her, the publisher and #NetGalley for sharing with me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This book will be an eye-opener for many people and especially the women who will read it. It is a powerful book.

Women of the World, this book is dedicated to you and it should be a #MustRead for you and everyone!!

Five beautiful stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me!

Beautiful book that will make great gifts for all the feminists in my life. Her writing draws me in. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!

Allende does it again! What a beautiful, deep, and profound piece to read, especially in current times. Though perhaps not always optimistic, there is a deep current of hope in this book that I really need during these trying times. I felt like Allende was speaking to me and I have some friends that I definitely plan on gifting this book to during the upcoming holiday season.

I was very interested in reading The Soul of A Woman by Isabel Allende because I wanted to gain insight on feminism from the perspective of Latina of her age. I think it is important that we understand that each experience is unique and that they also evolve much like age. The hardships and struggles whether in Chile or the United States have not been easy for women.
This book is a nice guide for anyone who is new to feminism and wants an overview. I would also highly recommend this book if you would like to learn more about Isabel Allende, her life is facinating and she is a testament to having lived through adversity and struggle to get ahead. I am very happy I was able to read her book.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

What a gift to the feminist movement and women everywhere!

I’ve loved Isabel Allende for a long time, but this personal reflection may be some of her best work yet. For fans of Allende’s work, you’ll gain new insights into her beloved works. For those who have not yet read Allende’s work, you’ll be running to your nearest bookstore.

Isabel Allende is a voice of power and beauty. I am more accustomed to her fiction, but found much to appreciate about this new nonfiction book. Allende is a master of the written word and uses her talents to craft an exploration of self, the world, and identity.

So worth reading.

An amazing story of a young woman who faced many hardships and was able to empower herself by fighting for the rights of other women, to ensure more don't have to face the barriers and obstacles that she had to overcome.

A beautifully tragically honest writing of what it is like to be a woman. And specifically a woman of color. The impacts of that are encountered when growing up and moving through life. Very powerful and highly recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a short book of nonfiction, a bit like a collection of essays about Allende's opinions of and experience with feminism and life in Latin America. It's a bit of a tossed salad, not what her usual fans may be expecting.

I love Isabel Allende and was so excited to get an arc of this book. from Netgalley I appreciated Allende's perspective on feminism, especially because she grew up in Chile, where patriarchy, machismo, history, and politics differ quite a bit from the U.S. Allende discussed a number of topics, from domestic violence to healthcare to economic independence. These are all important to learn about and discuss, and I highlighted a number of passages throughout the book. That said, there were times when the book felt a bit disjointed, or where it seemed like she would explore a particular topic a bit further, but it jumped to something else. I felt like we skimmed the surface but didn't delve quite deep enough. There was a lot of information about women's struggles, and stories from Allende's life, but switching back and forth between those two formats didn't quite click with me, and I found myself wanting more. Overall, I liked this book, but didn't love it.