I enjoy this author and have read numerous of her books. I found this book to be interesting and enjoyed learning about living and growing up in South America. Having written the previous statement, I felt that the book drug at the end and I had trouble finishing it.

I am a big fan of Isabel Allende and was so excited to receive an advanced reader’s copy of her latest historical fiction novel. The author once again demonstrates her amazing storytelling talent. This novel focuses on the 100 year life of Violeta Del Valle. Her story is told through a letter she writes to her grandson, Camilo. I really enjoyed this form of storytelling and definitely recommend this book.

If you love Isabel Allende’s books, you’ll love Violeta also. In this book she focuses on one character, Violeta, and the people in her life. As usual the political upheavals in Chile play an important part of the story too. Violeta’s life spans a century and this story is her “sentimental legacy”.

One thing I personally missed in this book was a touch of magical realism which is a trademark of most of Allende’s books. I also felt like the mention of the current pandemic might have been added at the last minute, but I guess you can’t have a story end in 2020 without mentioning it.

This story followed Allende’s typical motifs and structure. A bit repetitive for me having read The House of the Spirits recently. A solid read, but not great for me.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this #VioletaEnglishEdition advanced reader copy.

The life of Violeta Del Valle spans over one hundred years--from the Influenza pandemic of 1918 to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 (as an aside, it is fascinating how many similarities there are between the two as Violeta describes them). Her amazing life is as broad and varied as her unnamed South American country and the entire Western hemisphere throughout the course of the 20th Century. (In the end her country doesn't need to be named as Chile for this to be apparent--perhaps it remains unnamed to make its plight and people more universal and relatable?).
I was absolutely sucked into Violeta's world. Time is fluid. Her narrative (she directs it to her grandson, Camilo)--encompasses the past and future while the present unfolds. It is so natural and real. It is also magical, as life and death and the living and dead all flow around and among each other. In typical fashion, Allende develops her characters (even minor ones) to the perfect level--some more than others, but always enough. Violeta's struggles, successes, and humanness are completely relatable and universal.
This book is completely new, but also holds similarities to other of Allende's works: it is written in the style of Ines of my Soul (to a younger relative), but progresses more like a modern House of the Spirits. It has the same semi-autobiographical feel, same traumas, same joys and disappointments for her and her country, but from a more mature and experienced perspective. Even so, it most definitely a whole new book, original and extremely readable. Entertaining and profound, I highly recommend Allende's latest installment as translated in this English edition.
I was extremely honored to receive an advance reader's copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I just reviewed Violeta [English Edition] by Isabel Allende. #VioletaEnglishEdition #NetGalley This review will be shared on Instagram, Amazon, and BN.com

When one approaches Violeta, billed as a book about a woman’s life which stretches from one pandemic to another, i.e. a century, it is tempting to compare it to The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, a romp through the decades. This does take us through the decades, but of course the author is Isabel Allende, and the decades are framed more with feminism than with comedy, though there is definitely some humor here as well. We learn more about South American culture and politics, and how history seems to repeat itself through time and across geography. Violeta herself is a sympathetic character though an imperfect human being and she recognizes this as she ages, and tries to make amends. Many of the other characters are portrayed with a bit of exaggeration. The story line keeps one interested, though it does drag a bit at the end when she gets more philosophical and less reactive to her situations. Still, it is a good read, and should be a good book to discuss.

Violeta was born during the Spanish flu epedeic and dies in the covid pandemic. That's a life span of 100 years and this amazing woman has quite a few experiences and transitions during them. She starts out a spoiled girl in an upper middle class home in the twenties and then has to leave that environment during the depression to the rural south of Chile and meets a number of loving and indelible characters who make a huge imprint on her life. She becomes a businesswoman, marries and leaves her husband for a passionate and troubled relationship with Julian Bravo who becomes the father of her two children, Jose Martin and Nieves. She is so busy running her business that she becomes a sort of absentee mother but makes up tor this later with her grandson Camilo, Nieves's surviving son and dotes on him. The entire book is a sort of diary to him of her life and all that she went through during the overthrow of the democratic government and subsequent repression and death squads that followed with CIA assistance in the early 70's. Among the murdered is a lifelong childhood hero of hers Torino, a kind and simple giant of a man who was often teased by people who didn't know him.. Before she dies she goes to Spain and makes a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostelo an ancient pilgrimage site visited by numerous people including middle age kings throughout the centuries to make her peace with God and prepare for the afterlife. I thank Ms. Allende for her marvelous book and Ballantine Books for the pleasure of allowing me to read this epic piece of work.

Violeta
By Isabel Allende

This is the story of a life – but also the story of a country. It is written as a memoir that Violeta is writing for her grandson, Camilo, a Catholic priest. Violeta was born in 1920 during the worldwide pandemic, and ironically, she is dying in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.

Violeta's life is a long and interesting one. She has lived through all the major upheavals in Chile – has watched societies and governments rise and fall. She has been involved with men of all sorts; rogues, scoundrels, simple men, good-hearted men. And with her longevity comes the gift of having a bird's eye view of history.

As with all Allende's writings, she once again paints a clear picture of her homeland and allows us to share it with her.

I’m shocked by how this book covered so much history in such a readable format. If someone told me that I would read a story that spans 100 years in about 5 countries I would have assumed it was over 1,000 pages long. However this book expertly dives into the lives of many characters and pivotal historical touchstones without feeling drawn out. I loved many of these characters mentioned throughout. I also enjoyed how people introduced early on are later discovered to play important roles much later in the narrative. I typically don’t read historical fiction but this book was a welcomed surprise.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. I loved this incredible, century-long story set in Argentina, the U.S. and Norway. The characters literally leap from the page and are filled with flaws. The main character, Violeta, introduces the historical background as she bravely leads her family and handles the never-ending drama. I totally recommend this story to readers who enjoy historical fiction surrounded by the true adventure of the period.

I love reading books by Isabel Allende. The characters are always interesting and the issues facing them are often universal. She did not disappoint me with this book. I was drawn into the story immediately and it kept my attention until the end.

What a compelling read. I love the multi-generational storyline and their ability to survive. I highly recommend Violeta.

Another masterpiece from Isabel Allende! This book will make you laugh, cry and renew your hope in humanity. The way the author mixes fiction and historically accurate events is masterful. The stories of a wealthy family in South America after they lose it all after a coup, is told from the point of view of the youngest member, the baby of the family. As tragedy and good fortune enter and exit and enter again the life of Violeta Del Valle, we get to meet a wide arrange of people who will play important parts in her life and the lives of the people around her. Beautifully written, it is another must read from one of the best writers in the world. Thanks go to Random House and NetGalley for this advance copy for review.

Violeta is a coming of age story written in an epistolary style in a very long manuscript she sends to her grandson, Camilo. Violeta Del Valle came into the world with the Spanish influenza pandemic in 1920, and, now 100, faces the Coronavirus pandemic. There is a lot of “telling” here as Violeta packs a century’s worth of her incredible life as well as the salient world and Chilean events into 336 pages. After the world economy crashes with the Great Depression, her family is “exiled” to a farm in Nahuel in southern Chile. She finds herself while living a very modest life. As time passes, she also writes of her loves including her love affair with an abusive man (and Camilo’s grandfather). Allende firmly places Violeta’s life within changes women’s rights, religion, and politics as Chile moves from a fascist to a democratic government. The cover is lovely as well, matching the contents of the book.

This is the first Allende book I've read and there was a lot about this book I really enjoyed. Allende created a strong female character, the namesake of the book, who drives this sprawling story. I loved learning more about the span of her life- from the flu pandemic in 1919 to the COVID-19 pandemic today. Violeta is a passionate, brave and engaging heroine. What I didn't love about the book was it felt very surface-level. Because it spans 100 years, I felt like you never get too deep in any moment. This is also true for Violeta's retelling of her life- it never gets too deep or complex. This may be a result of the retelling of an entire life by a 100+ year old woman, so it may be an intentional format for this story, but it kept me wanting more- more understanding of the emotions and understandings that drove the action of the story. It was a great story, though.

I am a long time fan of Ms. Allende. I have seen her on book tours and have read a good many of her books. She is proficient in telling a beautiful historical tale infused with elements of truth, fiction and magical realism. This story is told through letters written to her grandson over a time span of 100 years-1920 to the present, taking us through the last 100 years of Chile's history and political theater. I am not a fan of this writing format but she has a lot to say. We see her life story through an honest and harsh lens which is something she excels at. She is sincere and apologetic with her story as we travel from the Spanish Flu up to the present pandemic. Themes that run through it are political persecution, domestic abuse, drugs, corruption, friendship, love and family. I will admit that at times it became a tedious read and I do attribute most of that to the format. I felt like I was outside of the story as opposed to being emotionally connected. Thus my 3.75 rating. I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and author for the ARC.
3.7+ rounded up

Isabel Allende is a consummate storyteller. Her narrator in this novel is Violeta, born in an unnamed South American country in 1920 during the flu pandemic, who tells her story at age 100. Violeta tells us of her spoiled childhood, her English nanny (who also has a fascinating back story), her marriage, separation, affairs, and children. Of course, there are also the politics which dominate much of South America's history of the 20th century. Violeta acknowledges her many mistakes in judgement, but throughout her narrative, her strength and resilience shine through. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Violeta by Isabel Allende
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book I’ve read from this author and just like the others, this didn’t disappoint. Violeta was born in 1920 during the Spanish flu pandemic and died 100 years later during the corona virus pandemic. She writes about her long life to her beloved grandson, Camilo. The novel takes place mostly in a South American country, where Violeta lived most of her life. The country is never mentioned by name, and the capital is also just mentioned as the “ capital”, never by name. The author was born in Peru and raised in Chile. According to my research, the events mentioned in the book, political upheaval, regime changes, a major earthquake definitely follows Chile history in those years. It would make an interesting book club discussion why the country and historical figures were never mentioned by name.
I loved this novel, read it in 4 days, spending hours reading. The many characters were real, believable, you loved or hated them, you laughed and cried with them. So many issues raised, feminism, homosexuality, abortion, social ills, domestic violence, drug cartels just to name a few.
As Violeta is aging, slowly the people who she shared her long life with are dying. As I am getting older, this is such a sad part of aging, losing your parents, relatives and friends.
Overall, a beautifully written 5 star book, and I don’t often give 5 stars.
Thanks NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Isabel Allende for the advanced copy.

In 1920, Violeta Del Valle was born in a South American country during the Spanish flu. Her upper class family consisted of five older brothers, a mother exhausted from multiple births and miscarriages, a father who considered it his duty to populate the world with children, a grandmother who sat silently, and two spinster aunts. Her father spent his time making the most money he could in ways that weren’t always legal while she grew up spoiled by her mother and aunts, and became a terror to the household. Violeta’s bad behavior was finally addressed when her family hired Miss Taylor to become her governess. They expected a prim governess from England, but expectations are not always reality. Though she wasn’t what the family expected, Miss Taylor would go on to become one of the most important influences in Violeta’s long life.

Violeta would live for 100 years (passing on during the 2020 COVID pandemic). Allende’s lyrical narrative of Violeta’s life is told through letters written to Carmelo, her grandson. Readers are drawn into realistic explanations of loves won and lost, the fight for women’s rights, political turmoil, mass murders, dictatorships, the United States’ involvement in foreign affairs, as well as the heartbreak and joy that occurs during a 100 year lifespan. The saga of Violeta Del Valle’s life should not be missed.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have read and enjoyed several books by Isabel Allende, and this one is no exception. Told as the (fictional) autobiography of a 100 year old woman on her deathbed, this book nonetheless has a large cast of characters and settings. As usual, Allende deals with the topics of revolution and politics in South America, and I was interested enough to do some searching to determine what nations she referenced.

Violeta was born in 1920 during the influenza pandemic, and is now living in our current time of the coronavirus pandemic. These two events bookend her life, which is also touched by revolution, war, natural disasters, and personal/family tragedies. This book reads like hearing someone reminisce about their life, which could be boring but in this case I found it to be entertaining and thought-provoking. Because we only hear Violeta’s point of view, it is interesting to consider if the other characters would tell their parts of the story consistently or not.

I found myself wishing a bit for some of Allende’s magical realism, but aside from that, I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it for fans of Allende.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Why would anyone want to read a book made up entirely of a letter written to a loved one? Well, because it's Isabel Allende who's doing the writing, for one thing. This could be classified as Violeta's memoirs, but it certainly does not read like a memoir. I had a hard time putting this book down at the end of the day.

Don't be put off by early references to the C19 pandemic. That's not the focus.

Violeta experiences events and relationships that for the most part are not at all relatable to the average reader. But - we all go through challenges in life, and we have the choice of surviving and moving on, or plunging into despair and turning into miserable curmudgeons. Violeta doesn't just survive, she flourishes. She doesn't do it alone of course, and there are tears shed over her losses, hardships, and bad decisions, but she spends 100 years growing. And isn't that sort of the point of living?

Thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Allende, and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for an ARC of this book.