My one regret about this book is the fact that I took so long to read it.

I loved this. I loved Violeta and her story and just the sheer scope of everything in her 100-year life that this story covered (1920-2020). It reads like someone you love is telling you a story, and you cannot stop listening. Violeta went through a lot in her life, but all of the experiences ultimately shape her into who she is at the end of her life.

She made mistakes and acknowledged them. She did everything she could to improve the lives of those she loved, and learned how to admit that she was wrong. I really appreciated this in her character and in the story as a whole, because sometimes I feel like books just gloss over the consequences of its main character's actions.

The supporting cast of characters is vibrant, and I could remember every little detail about them throughout the story. This story is memorable, and should be given much more love. A favorite of the year, for sure.

CW: Domestic abuse, drug abuse, war, addiction, death of a parent, death of a child, murder, government-incited violence, infidelity, toxic relationships, suicide, genocide

Another beautifully written Isabel Allende novel! This one started a bit slow for me but ultimately sucked me in with beautiful characters and a wonderful story!

What a beautiful story, this author has a way of transporting you into a different world! Will recommend

This book took me through every emotion. ALL of them. I’m still reeling from it. This isn’t a book I normally pick up, but I’m glad I took a chance on. It was incredibly moving and deserves accolades on accolades. I will be writing a more thorough review of this on my blog soon.

Isabel Allende is a proven storyteller. I have enjoyed everyone of her books. She never disappoints. They are always sweeping adventures, great family ties, and unforgettable characters.

At first I really liked the style, story and characters. I wanted to know more, I loved the development of the characters and couldn't wait to find out more about the history of this unnamed South American country. However, around the half way mark the style started to seem tedious to me. There was too much bouncing around in time periods. The characters would described in disconnected ways, in one chapter it would talk about their death and then reference them again in a later chapter. There was also an excessive amount of foreshadowing. In the end I enjoyed the story, but it wasn't also as exciting as the first half.

This story was exceptionally captivating. Violetta tells her life's story from her being born at the beginning of the Spanish flu, and all through out her life at her death at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic. This book kept me interested from beginning to the end and is full of drama, mystery, love and pain. I did not want to put this book down and was able to read it in one setting. The author did such a great job with this story.

I received a copy of the book via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions

You know that feeling when you love an author but you just can’t get into one of her books? I have that feeling now with this book. I gave it two tries and I just can’t go on. This story just doesn’t draw me in. I have been reading this author for at least thirty years and have loved most of them but occasionally one just doesn’t do it for me. This is one of those. Had to DNF, reluctantly.

Isabel Allende's novel "Violeta" has a fascinating premise of a 100 year old narrator, Violeta del Valle, telling her life story to Camilo, who the reader discovers is her grandson. Violeta was born in 1920 when the Spanish Flu was ravaging the world. The setting is a bit mysterious but if one has knowledge of Isabel Allende's background and South American history, then it can be assumed that the novel is set in Chile. Violeta is an honest protagonist but tells her story in a disconnected manner that sometimes seems disingenuous or distant. She shares her greatest loves and her greatest losses and voices her regrets. Violeta shows that a woman is more than capable to be a mother, a business partner, an investor, a word traveler, etc.

I have to say that this was not one of my favorite of Allende's works because of the occasional glossing over of decades/years/world events, which made the storytelling seem artificial or hurried. With that being said, I would still recommend my students in AP English Composition and Literature classes to pick up this book because of the weaving of world events with an individual tale. It has a complex plot and demands the reader to use inferences.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine books for the ARC.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

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 during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020. 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.

I didn't know what to expect going into this read - first time ready any work by the author - but very much enjoyed it!

Loved the first half of the book but the second half was a little too political for my taste. If you are a fan of Isabel Allende (and I am!), I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.

This was my first Isabel Allende book and she did a lovely job of showcasing a multigenerational story. The characters are vibrant and expansive. Definitely recommend.

Considering I'm a huge historical fiction fan, I'm a bit surprised that this is my first book by Isabel Allende.

I'm not sure how her other books are formatted/told, but this one reads almost like a memoir. Violeta was born during one global pandemic in the 1920's and was succumbing to old age in our most recent. Retelling the trials and tribulations of her historic life to her grandson in a letter, we learn all about her and what it took to survive.

I enjoyed this one for the most part, but at times I felt like it read a little flat when there should have been quite a bit more emotion, but that's just my two cents on it.

What will you see when you look back on your life?

Violetta was born during the Spanish Flu pandemic on a stormy day 1920 and at 100 years old during the coronavirus pandemic she is writing to her grandson as her life winds down.

This is an epic story about a woman who overcame obstacles and has an inner strength, intelligence and find a way to live life on her terms. I enjoyed following her through her life of love and loss.

Thank you to Netgalley, Isabelle Allende and Ballantine Books for this ARC (I am sorry for the late review. I immensely enjoyed the story and needed time to savor it before I could put into words my thoughts)

A saga that looks back on the eventful 100 year life of Violeta. This book was hard to put down. Just when you thought that you were to a stopping point, something new would happen that would keep you reading.

The premise of this book sounded so intriguing, but the plot felt two-dimensional to me. The scope of the book was wide, but the depth of the events felt shallow. I cannot really say the importance of the plot or the narrator’s story; it could have been anyone’s story. Her writing can be very beautiful at times.

I loved this book, I found myself so invested in Violeta's story. The book reads like a memoir of the life of a fascinating woman. If you enjoy female centralized memoirs, epic family tales, character-driven plots about life, love, family, and what it is like to be a woman.

Parts of it like her upbringing on a farm in rural Chile felt so exotic and foreign but fascinating to watch, this formerly wealthy young girl and her family adapt to this life. How easily she does while older family members struggle.
In the middle chunk of the book, we see Violeta fall in and out of love, multiple times, get married and divorced, and struggle with an abusive relationship and motherhood. In this part of the book I found myself relating so strongly to Violeta (partly I am sure because this is the part of life I am in) her experiences and feeling are so universal. She experiences love and heartbreak and makes decisions both good and bad, repeatedly sometimes, but this I what makes her character feel so real.
The last part is of course focused on her later years, Struggling with what she feels is having failed as a mother, while also finally being happy and healthy, independent, finding healthy relationships, we see her take in her grandson and try to redeem her failed motherhood in caring of him.
In the background of all this is a country in turmoil with governments being built and collapsing and hard times for many, but these events definitely are very much in the background to Violeta's life.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book, it is not my usual read, but I found myself quickly drawn in, and though at times the pace could be a little slow, I still wanted to keep reading more about Violeta and her life..

This book was only ok for me. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and I felt like I wanted to read more about Violeta’s emotions. Rather than a letter to someone she loves, this may have been more successful as diary entries so she could be more candid. I think if you like novels about the changes someone sees in their lifetime, especially in South America, you may enjoy this book. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first foray into Isabel Allende, but I am not sure it was indicative of her larger body of work. The written letters format started to feel very clinical toward the end, and something about the story lacked heart for me. That said, there were still moments of beauty and I'm intrigued enough to want to try something else of hers.

A beautiful book! Main character writes a letter to her grandson and just explains the things that had happened to her when growing up. She also explains what has happened to her mother. Overall this was a good descriptive book with what happened to her. There’s a lot of memories and historic event she came to witness. Definitely worth reading.