I love Isabel Allende's writing!

Violeta by Isabel Allende is a sweeping historical novel that spans a century, chronicling the life of its titular protagonist through immense social and personal change. Told in the form of a letter, Violeta’s story begins with her birth during the Spanish flu pandemic and follows her through wars, political upheaval, love, loss, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Allende’s lush prose brings to life a robust, resilient heroine whose journey is both intimate and expansive. Fans of multigenerational sagas and Allende’s signature storytelling will find Violeta poignant and captivating.

Isabel Allende strikes again! Per usual, she crafts a loveable protagonist in a historical fiction setting. This novel is set during Spanish influenza epidemic. From page one you are immediately hooked in the story line and transported to another place and time. I highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley and the published for the gifted ARC.

Violeta by Isabel Allende is a sweeping epic that will captivate readers who crave a rich, emotional, and reflective journey through the tumultuous 20th century, exploring themes of family, love, and resilience, and will resonate with those who appreciate historical fiction and stories of strong, determined women.

It was a dnf for me. The cover and the Synopsis drew me in right away, I mean look at that cover! Unfortunately I just couldn't get into the story, I didn't connect with the characters and I felt the story was reading a little slow.

I am late in reviewing this beautiful story. I so enjoy Isabel Allende’s writing. The story is one of Violeta at age 100 writes letters to her grandson telling the story of her life. It’s a story of the ups and downs in life and all of the historical events that she lived through.

Thank you # NetGalley, #RandomHousePublishingGroup-Ballantine, #IsabelAllende and #Violeta for the ebook for my honest review.

Mixed Feelings About Violeta
Posted on April 29, 2024


Violeta by Isabel Allende, a nominee for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction in 2022, is a bit of a mixed bag for me. It’s the life story of Violeta del Valle, a woman whose 100 years span the most tumultuous events of the twentieth century, told through letters to her grandson. This setup promises a lot—emotional depth, historical insights, and the personal touch that comes with such a narrative form. And while Allende is no slouch in the storytelling department, this journey felt uneven.

Starting off in the stormy year of 1920, during the Spanish flu pandemic, Violeta’s life is undeniably epic. I could almost see the grim reality of the flu’s toll—worse than the war itself—as Allende paints with her words. Her mother is often ill, and she is largely raised by her Irish governess. When the stock market crashes, her family loses everything and retreats to a remote farming town.

But then, her mention of COVID-19 pulled me out of the past and into what feels like a tired conversation. It’s like being stuck at a family dinner where you’re just done talking about that one big event everyone can’t stop bringing up.

Violeta herself felt a little hollow to me. I wanted more fire, more spark. I wanted her to leap off the page and pull me into her world, her struggles, and her triumphs. Instead, she sort of meandered through history. It needed more oomph, more feeling, instead of just giving a play-by-play of her life. The supporting cast will stick with me, though. They had the color and vibrance I was looking for, making me wish they had a bit more of the spotlight.

Even with its shortcomings, the novel is educational. It cleared up the whole “Spanish flu” misnomer for me—poor Spain, the neutral truth-teller of WWI, getting all the flack. And Operation Condor? That was a dark chapter of history I knew nothing about. Thanks to Allende, I’m wiser now.

Allende’s choice to go first-person was spot on. It made the storytelling feel personal. I’ll give Violeta a solid four stars because even if it didn’t set my world on fire, it shone a light on some corners I hadn’t explored.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. Isabel Allende did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

A beautifully told story that was not only entertaining, it shared so much history that too many people todat have no knowledge of. I've already shared the book with many of my reading circle of all ages. We all agree it's an easy 5 star read.

This was another amazingly beautiful release by an accomplished author. This story spans Violeta’s 100 year long life from being born during the flu outbreak of the early 1900s to the 2020 Covid pandemic. Because this covers such a wide timeframe in the tumultuous setting of South America we are treated to all of Allende’s best plot devices - surviving pandemics, the great depression, loss of familial wealth, political upheavals, marriage problems, estrangement and eventual peace.

This book has it all. It makes a great bookclub read and is definitely a favorite in the library.

A captivating page turner about strong empowered driven women. I love the way Allende wove and told the story of Violeta's life through a letter to her grandson. The book's timeline spans from the Spanish Flu through the most recent Corona pandemic, so you have a front row seat to a lot of historical events occurring throughout those 100 years. Reading this book reminded me a lot of how I feel when I read many of Kristen Hannah's books... and I'm not one bit angry about that.

Another book that I absolutely remember leaving feedback for but somehow disappeared. It’s been so long since I’ve read this, I don’t remember many details. However I do remember that I really enjoyed it. Any book that’s pans decades and generations is good in my book!

This is a story of Violeta del Valle, who has witnessed everything from the effects of the Great War, the Spanish Flu, and the Great Depression in her long life (and that was just the beginning!). Through letter-form, Violeta recounts the ups and downs of her life.

The format of the book created a bit of distance between the reader and Violeta, a sense of not knowing all the details to be fully immersed. However, as I read, I found myself not minding that distance and thinking about how much we can learn from one another's stories and life lessons -- but often, don't take the time or don't get the chance. This had a profound impact on me and has continued to stick with me since I finished reading it.

Violeta is almost 100 years old and is writing a letter to her grandson about her life.

It's immersive, emotional and reflective and spans decades and the whole life that Violeta lived.

Allende's writing is beautiful and I absolutely loved this epic story.

Love when a book can make me laugh and cry at the same time, and Violeta did that! Loved reading about a character brave enough to be bold in a time when women were encouraged to be silent. Bravo!

Isabel Allende's writing has always been poetic. The writing in the book is not different - It reminds me of talking with my grandma or my aunt - women in my family who have lived life and can tell their stories while imparting wisdom,

This is the first book that I’ve read by Isabelle Allende but it’s not going to be the last. She writes so descriptively that you just jump right into the book and you don’t want to put it down. Be sure to pick it up and read it, you won’t be sorry! Thank you for writing such a great book!

I thought that this book was a very insightful and thought-provoking read. I typically don't like historical fiction, but this was a job well done.

On a personal scale, Violeta by Isabel Allende is about love, betrayal, loss, joy, and every emotion that encompasses a woman’s life. One a broader scale, Violeta is about a hundred years of Chilean history. What makes this book work is the main character. The first person narration, even in letters looking back, places me as the reader in the heart of the story with all the emotion that entails.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/violeta.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Stunning. Beguiling. Beautiful. Haunting. Extraordinary book about an extraordinary woman living in extraordinary times.

While I've never been to South America, this novel made me feel as if I was experiencing something of that time and place. Probably Chile is the country and I've read that the main character is based upon--or inspired by--Allende's own mother. The plot, broad in scope, defies any kind of quick synopsis, but the story maintains its intensity throughout.

Excellent worldbuilding. The descriptive passages are often lyrical and with specific, telling details. The characters are fully formed and compelling. The pace moves the story forward and kept my attention at all times. The tone is set perfectly in the opening sentences with that sense of foreboding after being born "in 1920, the year of the scourge." There's also a storm that knocks the power out. Thus, from that first page, readers know Violeta is not destined to be ordinary, but as if ordained by nature, will be someone extraordinary.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys literary historical fiction--or anyone who enjoys a great read.

My copy was from Netgalley but these are my own, honest opinions.

Just, really, a great book.

As usual Isabel Allende completely immerses the reader into her historical fiction as shown through the eyes of the protagonist. This is a beautiful and sweeping character tale that is set initially during the Spanish Influenza pandemic. The writing is gorgeous and the story is gripping. The reader really develops a connection with the characters and you want to know what happens to them.
Highly recommend.

#VioletaEnglishEdition #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup #Ballantine