Memoir by Chilean author Isabel Allende focused on feminism— her thoughts, actions and information about the treatment of women around the world. Very interesting and informative on women’s issues, and I also enjoyed getting to know more about Allende. Love her passion and hutzpah!

I've been meaning to read Isabel Allende's books for years, but this is my first! It is a book about feminism within the context of Allende's life. Perhaps it was just the timing of my reading, but I really enjoyed reading this collection of the author's thoughts and experiences. I highlighted so many passages that resonated with me or were interesting.

One of the things that stood out was about the difficulty, as a woman in Chile, she had getting her books published. I minored in Spanish, Latin American studies, in college in the 90s, and I don't recall having read ANY female authors. Allende's most popular book, House of Spirits, was published in 1982, so that's...disappointing.

This is not a book on how to be feminist, just her experiences, so some may not find it as intriguing as I did, but I think it has value for many younger readers who don't have an understanding of the obstacles women have overcome--not that long ago--so that we have it a little easier today. I would definitely read this again.

Such an odd book from one of my favorite authors. Basically, ruminating and thinking about her history. It is rather superficial. I admire her doing this during our difficult period, but not something I loved.

Looking forward to her next novel.

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.

As soon as I saw that Isabel Allende had written a new book, I requested this one. She is one of my favorite writers. Her writing is always beautiful and passionate. This book was a little different in that it is not fiction. It is a reflection/meditation on women - what it means to be a woman and the hardships they have faced under a civilization ruled by patriarchy. She brings to light the plight of women, especially those in third-world countries, and the fate they suffer in life in a world where all the rules are made by men. Things are getting better for women in some countries, but there is still a long way to go. Allende discusses what feminism means to her and how being a feminist has a role in her life's decisions and choices. She says she has been a feminist since early childhood. I laughed when she talked about being expelled from Catholic school when she was six! Allende discusses some of the things she has seen in her extensive travels throughout the world, and these were interesting. Good things about women coming together in groups for a communal purpose, but also some terrible ways women are looked upon in different cultures.

In her advanced years, she has married Roger. He is her third husband and she says that she is happy. I am glad she is happy because she deserves to be. She has spent her life writing beautiful books that portray strong and courageous women. She also has established a foundation to help women - I didn't know that - and invests much of her income towards it.

Kudos to Allende for another great book! I hope she will be writing for many, many more years.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy!

These series of personal essays are a window into Isabel Allende’s life, including her thoughts and experiences. She focuses on feminism and what it means to be a woman, but she provides insight into so much more. She talks of passion, possessions, aging, connection, independence, loss, and even happiness. Although I prefer her fiction, it was a delight to read.

I absolutely loved this memoir written by Isabel Allende while she and her husband, Roger, quarantined in their home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been a fan of Allende since reading Daughter of Fortune over a decade ago. In this memoir, Allende shares how her life was shaped living in Chile, a patriarchal country, and with her family during childhood; and explains her passionate opinions on equality, aging, and relationships/love. Her ideas on continuing to nurture the soul while aging, and banding together through female friendships to fight for change were thought-provoking and motivating to me. A Must-Read!

Thank you very much NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Soul of a Woman is an intimate memoir of a feminist writer, from her childhood years to her prominent career. It's a true gem of a book.

Although short, this memoir is absolutely packed with poetic and inspiring reflection from this world-renowned Chilean novelist. I couldn't help but highlight lines on almost every page of it. Allende has a gift for gripping the reader and not letting go until the end of the book - but now we know her gift is not just for fiction.

Isabel Allende inspired me to become more self-confident in my body and competency, more powerful in who I am, and more unapologetically more me. If you haven't read much of her previous writing, it will still speak to you as much as the writing of Rebecca Solnit, Roxanne Gay or Angela Davis - it's simply memorable.

Rather, unforgettable.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was able to review The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende for free from Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is unfiltered, political and covers topics of being a powerful woman, feminism. This book was not the usual books I have read from Isabelle Allende. Overall, I liked this book, but didn't love it.

Some interesting insights here, but it didn’t feel particularly original or riveting. I found myself wishing for more depth.

Isabel Allende is brilliant and this memoir is no exception. This story covers topics of being a powerful woman & feminism. It is a beautiful read!

I read excerpts of Allende’s work with my high school English students and feel as if this book is so important for girls and woman everywhere.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

". . . the era of the emboldened grandmothers, and we are the fastest growing group . . ."

Isabel Allende unfiltered, political as hell, channeling her full on feminista. This book is her, fully and joyously. Allende.

I loved it and recommend it wholeheartedly to her fans and new readers.

Thanks, NetGalley.

Isabel Allende is the older woman that every younger woman should meet: outspoken, experienced, and wise. She tells of her life, her choices (both good and bad), her sorrows, and her joys. She speaks of women who are abused and women victimized by a patriarchal society—so much food for thought in such a slim volume. Her words really resonated with me, and I’m grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

This book felt like a call to action for Global equality for all women. The author especially highlighted that feminism is not just a concept that benefits women you could benefit society as a whole. She intertwined her personal and professional experiences along with historical experiences of women across the world. She also went in depth about the aging process and what that means for her or other women. This was a great read.

I’ve read every adult book Allende has written and I love them. So, I saw this one and was intrigued. The topics are not unfamiliar to me as someone who reads all the things she writes but I really loved and enjoyed learning how it came about, how she seen the feminist movement grow and change. It’s a great book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book it out March 2, 2021

This is a book that could easily be read in one sitting. It is superb.

I pretty much highlighted the entire book. It is definitely one I will buy when it is released. I may even carry it around with me.

This is Isabel Allende so you already know the writing is excellent. At times you are mad, at times you are crying, and at times you are laughing. 

This little book is about Allende's feminist journey but it's also packed with important information facing women throughout the world.

Pre-order this book. Buy copies for all the women in your life. Continue to demand change.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE SOUL OF A WOMAN by Isabel Allende in exchange for my honest review.***

4.5 STARS

“When I say that I was a feminist in kindergarten, I am not exaggerating.”

Reminded of the ERA button I wore when I was eight years old, that first sentence made me want to read THE SOUL OF A WOMAN immediately. Great memoirs don’t just tell an individual story for me, they help increase my knowledge of myself and the world.

Isabel Allende, raised with her siblings by a single mother, grew up in Chile, a country years behind the United States in terms of a patriarchal society. Though my childhood was difficult, I never recognized the privilege of growing up middle class in America and that even in the 1970s, I was more equal to males than were many girls throughout the world. Before reading THE SOUL OF A WOMAN, I’d have never used the word privileged to describe my childhood. Even the fact that I could openly declare that girls and boys were equal was a privileged compared to girls my age throughout the world.

THE SOUL OF A WOMAN is filled with all kinds of nuggets of brilliance as Allende uses her life to illustrate feminism. She packs a lot of insights into this short memoir. At times I wanted more focus on Allende’s story, but for the most part I loved THE SOUL OF A WOMAN and recommend it highly.

“The Soul of A Woman”....did many of the same things to me as
....”Becoming” by Michelle Obama...
And “
....”Paula”, ( non-fiction by Isabelle Allende)...
And
....”The Sum of our Days”: ( non-fiction by Isabel Allende)...
I melted with pleasure!!!

Isabel Allende’s writing is intimate....brittle....sharp....pulsing with depth....breadth...life....and love.

“The Soul of a Woman”.... [a tribute to feminism]....is intimate, pulsing with depth, breadth, life, and love.....even great moments of humor.
It’s filled luminous stories, and wisdom. Isabel’s writing is PASSIONATE!

“The Soul of A Woman” feels like LOVE MESSAGE to fans like me.
I’m swirling with joyful intoxication...and appreciation. This book was just what I needed.
If there is an audiobook with Isabel reading...I’ll purchase it —listen to her words bath me while hiking on the trail.

A few things I was already familiar with from other books...which added to my enjoyment.

I absolutely love Allende’s fiction books...not a single one I’ve not enjoyed....but her non-fiction books ( all three of them)... are something very special to me.

Inside this slim non fiction gem...Isabel covers a lot of ground:
early childhood and adolescent years, family, ( mother, father, stepfather, motherhood, marriage ( I love reading about her marriage to Roger), friends, mentors, her ‘Paula Magazine, business relationships, taboos, authors who inspired her, thoughts about Allende’s past books, sensuality, divorces, loss, death, weddings, men, women, children, revolutionary days, societies, driving, exercise, food, letter writing with her mother, personal values, grandchildren, husbands, the pleasure of home with her husband Roger, reading, writing, TV, her dog, her creative growth, discipline, goofing off a little, aging, social issues, ( rape, violence, victims, cruelty, covid, freedoms, etc.),....and MORE.

A few excerpts I love and relate with ....( I love the entire book)....wanting to read it again.

“There were hundreds of taboos directly related to women that we wanted to challenge—
sex, money, discriminatory laws, drugs, virginity, menopause, contraception, alcoholism, abortion, prostitution, jealousy... to name a few”.

“I have been training for years to be a passionate old woman, just as others train to climb mountains or play chess”.

“While my body deteriorates, my soul rejuvenates. I suppose my defects and virtues are also more visible. I spend and waste too much and I am more distracted than before, but I have also become less angry; my character has softened a little. My passion for the causes I have always embraced and for those few people I love has increased”.

“Nowadays, agism is politically incorrect, as sexism and racism have been for decades, but nobody pays any attention. There’s a monumental anti-aging Industry, as if aging were a character flaw”.

“This is the era of emboldened grandmothers, and we are the population’s fastest growing group. We are women who have lived long lives; we have nothing to lose and therefore are not easily scared; we can speak up because we don’t care to compete, to please, or to be popular; and we know de immense value our friendship and collaboration. We are anxious about the situation of humanity and the planet. Now it’s a matter of agreeing to give the world a formidable shake”.

“The most joyful moments of my life were holding my newborn babies to my breast.
And the most painful moment with holding my dying daughter in my arms”.

What do women want?
“To be safe, to be valued, to live in peace, to have their own resources, to be connected, to have control over their bodies and lives, and above all, to be loved”.


I was drawn in from the start...( great opening paragraph)....
Whether Isabel was examining the inner world of her personal experiences, recounting her own inspiring journey...or offering wisdom and insights - teachings to pass on to the younger generation of women ....
“The Soul of A Woman” is smart, enthralling, powerful, and wonderful.
My FAVORITE Chilean writer. I’m thrilled to know she is living in the Bay Area. I’m SUCH A FAN....I went to listen to Isabel speak 3 different times at book readings. Love everything about this tiny spitfire talented woman.

Huge thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Netgalley, and Isabel Allende.

The Soul of a Woman is my first exposure to Isabel Allende. I have heard her speak and found her very captivating. In this short work, her voice is strong and engaging, much as it is in person. However, the message of the book felt unfocused and scattered, covering many topics about being a woman, but none in a way that shed new light on the topic of feminism. Her perspective of feminism in Chile was interesting, but that was not the focus of the book. I found the work disjointed and her messaged suffered as a result. There were nuggets of interest within the pages and she shined most when speaking personally about her own life experiences rather than commenting on feminism in general.

"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!