A wonderfully vibrant and colorful new novel for Isabel Allende and historical fiction fans. I enjoyed learning about Chile and its culture and history through this story but I wasn't as emotionally invested or attached to the characters as I would have liked. I feel like that is a trait of historical fiction though. This novel covers a large breadth of time and history so it's certainly eventful and interesting, but it would have been nice to know a bit more about the characters' motivations and reflections on what was happening at the time. Regardless, it's still a good and worthwhile read.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital eARC. This book was SO GOOD! OMG I have not read a book this in a very long time. This is one great author. The details. The history involved. The characters. So true to life and so vividly detailed! The story lines were just wonderful. It was a really wonderful book. The end had me in tears.

This book provides quirky characters, nods to the present through the telling of history, dramatic turns of events, and passion galore. Although there are plenty of heavy moments, the overall tone of the story still manages to be fairly positive. Overall, an enjoyable read by a wonderful author.

Gorgeous, this novel traces a family through one woman’s voice. Allende’s magical realism is here, yet subtle. It’s in the ways her characters interact. This novel is lushly presented. Readers are on this journey with our main character through major life events.

My take: 4 out of 5. I was very excited to get an ARC copy to check out Isabel Allende's new book, and found it interesting to check her out in English as Ive only previously read her in spanish. This An epic tale expanding the life of a woman that is 100 years old, it falls very much in line of Isabel Allendes Books, lots of family and historical drama intertwined and with the Chilean political system at a lamplight. However, unlike long petal of the sea, which tended to drag on and be a bit tedious, this book was a breeze to read and the characters very engaging. I also loved the pandemic bookmarks of the storytelling, between two pandemics, which made it relevant and telling of the time, without digging to much into it (which has become a PTSD thing for me in book). Definitely recommend it for fans of Isabel Allende and of Historical Fiction.

This book is a look at the last 100 years from the lens of a 100 year old woman who has spent her life in an unnamed South American country as well as the USA. It’s Allende so the prose is fantastic, and overall I really liked it. The ending got a bit cliche for me, but I would definitely recommend

Epic. Spectacular. Compelling. Allende at her best!

From the first pages, Violeta drew me in. The writing is captivating and the story is so engaging. I wanted to know 'what's next' and had trouble putting it down!

This is a story of Violeta's life... it is one very long and loving letter written to someone she deeply loves. The story includes Chilean history (which I knew very little about) and bookends the life of Violeta tucked between two pandemics. It is brilliant and I found that bit of irony so perfect and gave an incredible glimpse into the unique life Violeta lived. If you think a person cannot change, this book will show you that change is absolutely possible... you just have to want it with everything in your being.

I want to thank NetGalley, Ballantine, and Random House for this ARC and this is my unbiased review of this book.

I highly recommend it! Really... this is a must read book!

Interesting historical fiction told from the perspective of Violeta Del Valle, a Chilean woman nearing the end of her life and sharing her story with a beloved relative. Violeta's life is bookend by two pandemics--influenza in 1920, and COVID in 2020. In between, she shares her experience of the Great Depression, wars, military coups and dictatorships, natural disasters, personal loves and tragedies, and social justice movements.

I wish this history came with a bit more self-reflection from Violeta. While I feel like I learned a lot about Chilean history, which was presented as the driving action for certain developments in her life, when it came to her (fictional) life, I don't know what lessons I was meant to take away because I was limited by what she did (or more often, did not) learn. Without that, it sometimes felt like a series of "and then this happened, and then this happened."

That said, it was generally entertaining and a colorful, detailed narrative that will appeal to Allende fans and those who love stories set against compelling historical backdrops.

Violeta is another Allende tour de force. While you are reading, you ARE Violeta. You see everything through her eyes, and she is a keen observer, as is Allende herself. There is no soft-pedal of the difficult situations that populate Violeta’s life, but this is by no means a depressing novel. For me, rather than depressed, I found myself intrigued, wanting to know what happens next. Isabel Allende is, above all things, a wonderful writer. Violeta is worth reading for the writing alone. But read it also for the story of an engrossing life. You won’t regret it.

VIoleta narrates the story of her life , and it’s a long life !
It's written to a specific person and you’ll spend at least half the book figuring out who it is. It is very detailed and I’ll admit that at times I grew a bit weary but never to the point of wanting to stop reading it.
As years go by she experiences so many different trials , tribulations, friendships, lovers family issues and just life in general during her long lifespan.
Allende’s books paint a complex picture of people, places and world events , and she is quite the artist of literature !
Great character development and the scenes are nuanced to the perfection of every detail.
I think this is a great book many would love, maybe not my “cup of tea” 100% though.
I did enjoy the book overall and it is certainly worth consideration for most readers.
Thanks to @NetGalley @ballantine @randomhouse for the ARC , this is my unbiased review.

NOTE: I received early access to this book through netgalley.com in exchange for writing an impartial review. Thank you Ballantine Books. Scheduled Publication: January 25, 2022.

I should acknowledge up front that author Isabel Allende is a favorite of mine and I have loved nearly all of her books. This one is no exception.

I find some books tend to be more plot driven, others propelled by character evolution, and a few full of rich, lyrical language that can read like poetry. In this historical novel, Allende manages to blend all three. As she so often does. Her descriptions of seemingly small moments include such touching detail that they often made me feel I was sitting in the room as a witness. This book is not just a well-crafted novel. It's literature.

VIOLETA is a first person narrative, a woman writing down the story of her life as she approaches death. It's written to a specific person -- but you will need to discover who that is on your own. The book is also a story that closely follows the history of a century.

Born during the Spanish Flu Epidemic (1920), Violeta begins her life in a large extended family with great wealth, largely because her father believes economic success grows naturally out of a willingness to take great risk. Not surprisingly, the 1930s Depression hits the family hard. A dramatic change in circumstance propels Violeta into a much wider, and far less protected world.

As years pass, she experiences poverty, violence, marriage, passion, children, love affairs, tragedy, and successes and failures. All against the unfolding history of a South American country enduring repeated political repression and revolution. World War II, gangsters, drugs and hippies, addiction, abuse, and more reach into Violeta's orbit. Her priorities shift multiple times as she comes in contact with a wider variety of perspectives (Spanish-speaking elite, indigenous people, and ex-pats) and understands more about other realities surrounding her. Violeta's story is as challenging as the profound historical events impacting her loved ones, but also as dramatic and universal as the day-to-day experiences impacting EVERY woman's life (i.e. love, friendship, family).

VIOLETA is a beautiful novel from the very first page, full of three-dimensional characters exhibiting all the foibles we recognize as simply part of human nature. Don't miss VIOLETA.

I have a hard time describing Isabel Allende’s books to anyone other than saying that her writing is masterful, beautiful and transcending and Violeta doesn’t disappoint and does the same. Violeta is a beautifully written story about a woman who has lived a long life and is now telling that story to her grandson. This story spans generations and the character development is wonderful. Another 5 star rating for Isabel Allende!

The past 100 years as told through the voice of one woman whose life bears similarities to that of the author, the iconic Isabel Allende. The only reason I don't award it a full five stars is the lagging in the latter half, which tested my patience a bit. But as with all of Allende's heroines, Violeta is emblematic of her time and her history, drawing parallels between the Spanish flu and the current Covid pandemic, among other things.

I am gutted to have finished Allende’s latest, and the book was easiest the best of the year so far, and intoxicating. Violeta is so marvelous in all of her adventurous soul, and epic in her 100 year life. If only she were real, but as always, the author gives us a romantic, exotic tale, while also illustrating the darkness of the time. This book is a gem

A beautifully written book about one women’s life from 1920 to 2020. Told ta beloved grandson the story unfolds through the lens of a changing world over a century. A remarkable woman and a wonderful story.

Mixed feelings on this historical fiction novel, I liked the story and the narrative style but struggled to connect with Violeta as a main character. I did however enjoy seeing the events of that time period through her eyes as she tells her life story.

did not like book did not hold my interest would not recommend much too wordy some may like it,just not me

🌸Violeta🌸
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Cayla 3.5⭐️.
Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse & @ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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Violeta was born in 1920 in the middle of the Spanish flu outbreak in South America and died in 2020 in the middle of the COVID 19 pandemic. In a letter to her grandson as she lays dying, she writes her whole history, and with it the history of a whole century. Pandemics, exile, government revolutions, heartbreak, death, are all mixed in with births, marriages, love, and happiness. A lifetime of memories.
💭Thoughts💭
Author @isabelallende did such a great job of communicating the thoughts of an older woman telling a story. She sticks to a basic 20 year span per section, but sometimes it’s sidetracked which makes it very believable. I loved the first half of this book but felt that the last half dragged a bit. It also was very heavily factual about the government regimes and revolutions. Over all, such a beautiful story of a hundred years of life.
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⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
My favorite section of this book was Violeta’s first twenty years of life. It was so interesting to see the parallels between the Spanish flu and COVID. It’s crazy that history repeats itself, yet we never learn.
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🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
When Violeta went to exile and lived with the Rivas family, Facunda made hand pies and homemade bread. Eat some empanadas and do some research about the history of South America’s government!

Epic story telling as Violeta, a centurion, tells her life story in a letter to Camilo, her grandson. It is a story bearing testament to amazing events in history from the Spanish Flu to the Coronovirus that helped shape her life.

Born during the Pandemic of the Spanish Flu in 1920, Violeta Del Valle is the only girl in a prominent South American family. She is deeply spoiled until Miss Taylor, her governess comes to teach her and also becomes her great friend. Following the death of her father in the aftermath of the great financial collapse, her older brother takes her under his wing as the family flees to the rural countryside in Exile. Violeta blossoms and marries a German man, whom she becomes bored with and soon leaves to become the lover of an adventurous pilot, Julian Bravo. She and Julian, although they had two children, had a tumultuous and violent relationship and never married. This drove Violeta to survive on her own, in business with her brother, and became financially independent. However, financial success led to consequential loss of her children. Violeta learns to survive and finds passion for what really matters. During the political upheaval in her country, as she raises her grandson, she shifts her priorities and focuses on women’s rights and civil rights.

Violeta’s story is one of courage, determination, and passion. I believe that Violeta had to experience all the heartbreak and joy to finally find peace in her life. What a great story to read. The plentiful details and expansive development of the characters kept me reading this, not wanting to put it down. The turmoil that Violeta experienced and yet survived and thrived through gives us hope for the strength of the human spirit. Isabel Allende has written another great epic historical novel.

Many thanks to #isabelallende #violeta #netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

There is no doubt that Allende is one of our greatest living authors. Violeta is the story of a women, on the brink of death, who has decided to reveal her life story to her grandson Camilo.

Allende so fully inhabits the character of her narrator that is hard for me to believe it is fiction rather than a memoir. The story of her life takes place during the exceedingly tumultuous years in South America between the two Pandemics. Her life swung from wealth to poverty. She had relationships with men who ran the gamut from civilized kindness to criminal recklessness. Her children did not live lives within the conventual expectations of society. Violeta has led a life so rich in the history of this century that this novel can be utilized as a tool for gaining an insight into the troubled years in South America. Her experiences and those of her grandson span 5 continents, each filled with lush descriptions.

It was a pleasure to read this extraordinary book. I thank Netgalley and highly recommend this to anyone anxious to learn about South America, or simply read a book that is so extraordinary.