Thank you to Netgalley & Isabel Allende for my copy of Violeta, for an honest review. This story, in essence a 100 year old diary of the main character Violeta.. She came into the world in 1924 during the Spanish Flu and would pass in 2020, during the Corona Pandemic. It is true Violeta has lived a very interesting life, with many interesting twists and turns.. she is also surrounded by many people who are so different.. She is a strong minded woman who is at the forefront of woman’s rights, in an unknown Spanish Country.. She was born into a family of boys, with two parents. Right from the start her father is a shady business man & his family will suffer from his poor business deals.. The family heads to the country side and all but one boy leaves Violeta and her mom & aunts.. They do ok for themselves. Life is hard but they get through.. as time progresses Violeta gets married, has an affair becomes a mother a business woman and a grandmother.. and a feminist.. she lives a busy life and feels after 100 years she is at peace.. Her life happens to follow major events of the modern day. I felt like this book was kind of boring… Even with all the events Violeta must face… plus there is just so much sadness, throughout.. I am not a huge fan of endless sadness.. the characters were ok.. I felt like Violeta, writing this letter was a bit condescending to her grandson.. I don’t know just wasn’t my cup of tea.. I did finish it and it seems my opinion is not like most but that’s how life is.. I have read a few books by Isabel Allendale and will read more.. I am just a bit disappointed.. until the next read…

I’m such a fan of the sweeping, historical narrative fiction that Isabel Allende writes and Violeta continues in that vein.

The story follows Violeta Del Valle from the time of her birth amid the Spanish flu pandemic to her death during the Covid pandemic. These events bookend a life that is filled with family, love, and loss. We see Violeta go through the highs and lows of a long life with the backdrop of South American history unfolding. The book is written as a series of letters to Camilo, whose significance to Violeta’s life unfolds about two thirds into the story.

The book is beautifully written. At times the pacing was slow and difficult to keep track of the timelines, but generally I really enjoyed this.

Content warnings: references to physical, sexual and verbal abuse, drug addiction, death during childbirth, kidnapping

Thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

Violeta del Valle knows it’s time to tell her story. She pens a lengthy letter to her grandson, Camilo, documenting and detailing her life, spanning a century, from 1920 to 2020. Violeta is her story, in her own words. I have often thought about writing my life story and what better way than to write it as you would write a loved one. It added such a personal touch, deepening the connection between reader and character.

One unique aspect about Violeta’s story is that she was born during a pandemic, the Spanish flu outbreak, and now she is dying during another pandemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, which is remarkable, and oddly thought-provoking.

Violeta went through quite a bit in her century on this earth, but while I was reading I was so captivated by her narrative that it felt like mere moments. I was so absorbed that I seriously felt like this was a true account of a woman’s life, the writing felt that real. I even had to verify that it was in fact fiction and that I didn’t misread the synapsis, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever done before. Violeta’s story stuck with me long after I read her last words, my heart not wanting to let go.

There really wasn’t anything distinguishable about this story, but there is a magnetism that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. Violeta lives a life with experiences that are unique in some aspects, but others as old as time. Sex plays a major role in Violeta’s story, especially when she meets her second husband (a story I don’t think I will ever forget!), but the intimate details are not too descriptive, while still giving enough details, which is something I appreciated.

I was captivated by this vivacious woman, who lived life on her terms, even if it was frowned upon by others. Her tenacity was inspiring, being an empowered woman, and helping to empower other women. I loved the author’s writing style, the ebb and flow of the narrative was so natural, it felt like I was listening to a story from my own grandmother, and I felt my heart break a little when her story was over, wishing she would have lived longer, to tell another tale.

This is the first book that I’ve read by Isabell Allende, but I can guarantee it will not be my last. I fell in love with her writing style and storytelling talent, so unique, and powerful. I am grateful and thankful I had the opportunity to read this novel, and cannot recommend enough.

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Violeta by Isabel Allende tells the story of a woman’s turbulent life, through letters she’s writing her grandson. Isabel Allende is a Chilean-American novelist, is known for focusing on women’s experiences, especially in Latin America.

Violeta was born in 1920, the first daughter born to a family, who have five sons, in the midst of the Spanish Flu. Violeta was lives through extraordinary events, from World Wars, family tragedy, loves, lost, political turmoil, as well as women’s rights.

I always enjoy books by Isabel Allende, some more than others as we all do undeniably. Violeta is, generally speaking, no different than the others. The book is a well written and insightful, about a fascinating culture I know very little about.

Violeta’s grandson, a troubled teen now a Jesuit priest, is the person she tells her life story to. Violeta was born in Chile (I assume) during the Spanish Flu, and is recounting her story during the times of COVID. A life lived from one pandemic to the next. Throughout she recounts her love affairs, two world wars, military coup, dictatorship, torture and murder of friends, family, abusive partners, and lastly living in peace with the love of her life.

As in other books of Ms. Allende, the theme is that of strong women, and certainly women’s rights. Violeta has a good head on her shoulders, doesn’t leave it up to her husband, family, or partner, to support her. She always makes sure that she gets a legitimate slice of the pie, always on the lookout for opportunities, while being cognizant of the suffering of other women. Thinking she is a strong, independent woman, in the twilight of her life Violeta realizes that she, also, was a victim of abuse and manipulation, even though she didn’t realize it at the time.

Altogether, Violeta was a solid 4 star book, until the last paragraph. That one, spoiler below, certainly put the book in a whole new perspective.

I rated this book a 4.5. This was the first Isabel Allende book I've ever read but I will be 100% going back and reading her other books. There were so many times throughout this book when I forgot I was reading a fiction novel and not a Biography it was so beautifully written. The book tells the story of Violeta looking back on her life in a letter to her grandson Camillo at the age of 100. Born in the 1920s in Chile, Violeta lives through many important events like the 1918 Spanish Flu, both World Wars, military coups and so much more. This book even takes you up to 2020. Violeta not only tells the story of a woman's life but of the world changing and evolving around her. Allende's character development and writing style made me feel so immersed in the book and I just could not put it down. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

Warm and engaging story telling the historical events of Chile between 1920 and 2020 through the eyes of Violeta. An interesting look at how the lives of people are changed by shifts in the political climate. When reading history I've always asked "But what happened to the people? How did this X event change their lives?" and Violeta tells us through her experiences as a strong, determined woman.

Violeta, deep purple. Allende's twenty-first novel is embued with this hue, and the theme of death weaves continually throughout.. A sweeping work in four parts, rather than being "a tale of two cities," gives us "a tale between two pandemics." Written in the form of a memoir to her grandchild, the centenarian Violeta records her life, from its beginnings during the Spanish Flu pandemic to its end during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Allende's lyrical prose documents a woman's coming of age in an unnamed South American country influenced by world events--wars, revolutions, and foreign influence.
Part One of the novel seems most familiar in being prose similar to Allende's earlier writing. The rest of the novel is more sprawling; however, this is a piece of writing that is quite hard to put down.

Majestic, sweeping tale of Violeta Del Valle, who shares with her grandson through letter-like form her hundred years of life. I was totally riveted by this latest tale by Isabel Allende. Violeta is born in 1920 during a pandemic and died in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. She lives through WWII, civil unrest, her country going through political upheaval, and so much more. Mostly though this story is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings as she talks about her loves, including lovers and those not too kind. I got teary-eyed at the end. VIOLETA is a story filled with life's triumphs, celebrations, tragedies, and ends with hope. Loved this book so much and highly recommend.

3.5 stars

A sweeping family story of Violeta, looking back from 100 years old on her turbulent life. Her story spans the years from the Great War to present times, and includes her unconventional love life and troubled relationships with her children and grandson.

And of course the brutal history of her unnamed country, based on Allende's Chile, becomes a strong story, particularly in the second half of the book.

Despite all the dramatic elements present here, what should have been a powerful book never came alive for me. Partly that is because I found Violeta to be a pretty unsympathetic character. She was a terrible wife and in many ways a toxic mother. Her childhood was unusual and in later years she did redeem some of her personal relationships. But repeatedly in the book, the achievement that brought her the most pride was her business acumen. She often described her passion for various people, but I never felt it.

An uneven tale. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

From The Historical Novels Review, February 2022:
One-hundred-year-old Violeta writes her story beginning with her birth in 1920 during the Spanish flu pandemic up to her 2020 death during the current pandemic. Violeta was born into a family of wealth and lives in an unnamed South American country, assumed to be Chile. She has lived through the life and world events of a century: the fight for women’s rights, the world stock market crash and Great Depression, her country’s political upheaval and a military coup, her family’s financial demise, World War II, death of friends and family, a failed marriage, lovers, domestic abuse, and more. Her family’s wealth comes from her father’s sawmill, vineyards, and construction projects, but it is built on a foundation of fraud, tax evasion, and risky investments. When it all collapses, they are left penniless. Their father’s actions destroy him and his reputation, leaving the family shamed in their community, and prompt them to leave with their possessions to take shelter with the kind-hearted Rivas family at their farm in the cold South.

Violeta writes her story as a letter to her grandson, Camilo, to leave him “a testimony of [her] life”. Unfortunately, her telling Camilo of sexually intimate details of her relationships and describing details to him of his own life are incongruous within this narrative format. Nevertheless, getting to know the characters is a pleasure: Violeta’s childhood governess Miss Taylor and her love for Teresa Rivas, a feminist and political activist; Torito, the family’s servant whose “almost beastly appearance… and childlike innocence elicited cruelty from others”; Violeta’s brother José Antonio, who warns his father that his shady and illegal activities will be his downfall and the only one who takes responsibility for the family; and her elderly spinster aunts, Pía and Pilar. This is a satisfying story of a woman who lived a remarkable life.
Janice Ottersberg

Violeta is an historical novel spanning the 100-year life of fictional Violeta Del Valle. Born in 1920 during one pandemic, she lives to face another in 2020. During her life, she experiences the financial ruin of her family, the change in her South American country’s government to a dictatorship, the rise of feminism, marriage, divorce, raising two children, abuse and love. She is a strong, resilient woman, who, although never wanting to be dependent on a man, allows herself to lean on others and be inspired by them throughout her life, and even to find love. The novel is written as a letter to her grandson, telling him the story of her long life. Allende’s inclusion of diverse and well-developed characters and her descriptive writing bring South America to life in yet another unforgettable novel by this author.

4.5 stars

Violeta’s story took me on quite a journey! From the Spanish Flu to Covid-19, her life was filled with extraordinary events. But even so, it was far from perfect. While many would view her as quite a successful, especially for a woman in the mid-20th century, she did not achieve all that she had without an immense drive and determination. She dealt with her fair share of love and loss and pain, but she never let it keep her from living a life dreamed of.

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic, emotionally-driven book. Written as a letter to her grandson, the story was jam-packed with a lot of history, both from the different time periods and from Violeta’s own family, but it all flowed surprisingly well; not once did I grow bored it.

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4502313583

This book encapsulates all of the language and writing that audiences have come to love from Isabel Allende. Her depictions of generational stories is a footprint on literature that will always be a part of her legacy, and "Violeta" was no different. There were a few times where I felt like the construction of the plot was somewhat similar to other stories that she had written in the past, but it was no less gripping and magical in its storytelling than any of her previous works. For fans of Allende, it will be another true classic, for those are might be new to her writing, I would recommend starting with her earlier works.

Violeta was nothing like what I was expecting, but I found its unique slice of history to be utterly engaging. Written in the form of a letter, Violeta swept through decades and decades of history with a relatively progressive mindset and a passive narrative voice. The history was mostly new information, or old information presented with a fresh perspective, and the storytelling was lovely. It felt like staring out the window of a moving train while listening to a melodic voice in my ear, except rather than scenery, it was a life that was passing me by.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! I am thrilled to be able to share this translation with my community.

This story is told in the form of a letter written to Camilo, who we don’t find out their connection until towards the end of the book. Violeta tells her life story, spanning 100 years. Her narrative includes things such as the suicide of her father and her finding his body, to her passionate affairs and attempts to leave an abusive relationship. It tells of wars and disease, of the rise of feminism to the political unrest in her country.

I enjoyed the character or Violeta, she was one brave woman despite some of the challenges she faced. She knew it was important to be able to fend for herself, and created better opportunities for herself. I think we could all learn from her.

A highly character driven novel, while it kept my attention I’m not used to a narrative like this. I have always found it fascinating to think of a persons life spanning a century and all the progress, heartbreak, and changes they’ve seen through that time.

Wow! Try is is the second Allende book I have read, the first being “The House of the Spirits” which I read in 2007 to great delight! This book has so many qualities that I love in a novel: long sweeping timeline, beloved supporting characters, interesting setting and history embedded in the story. I did find Violeta to be insufferable at times, particularly in her motherhood choices, which made me frustrated as a reader, but ultimately made the story seem realistic and more interesting.

Isabel Allende is a masterful storyteller, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book. It was rich in detail, dramatic, and set in an interesting time and place. However, the second half of the book dragged, in my humble opinion. I just read the author's previous book, and I found it similar - great at the beginning, but draggy towards the end.

With that said, the first half of the book is well worth reading, and I enjoyed it very much. A young girl grows up in the early twentieth century in Chile, during a time of pandemic. Her family is destroyed and exiled to a rural area, and she grows up to marry, fall in love and lust, and watch as her country is torn apart by a dictatorship. The second half of the book deals with her children, grandchildren, and subsequent loves, though all this comes across as information, not story.

I love this author's work, but I wish she would focus on shorter time periods and not try to cover decades in her novels.

VIOLETTA
BY: ISABEL ALLENDE

Isabel Allende has written another sweeping saga called, "Violetta." The writing easily flowed as it started out with Violetta's birth and meandered with first the suicide of her father for being reckless with the family money which he lost everything with the stock market crash. She had a young women who taught her reading named Miss Taylor. Miss Taylor rebuffs Violetta's brother's marriage proposals while she secretly takes up with Teresa whom they have a secret affair. While Violetta had many brothers she is eerily born around the time of the Spanish Influenza which reminded me of the early days of COVID19 during 2020, before the vaccines.

After a five year engagement with veterinarian Fabian, Violeta enters her first marriage approximately twenty-five years old. The Second World War is ended. The saga continues. I feel as though this could have been even better if there were more dialogue between the characters. There is some but it is at a bare minimum as it is Violetta's story and it is mostly narrative of Violetta long life and it is being told to Camilo. As usual this is very much like Isabel Allende that I have read before. I would rate this 3.5 stars at best.

Camilo is Violetta's greatest love of all. From one pandemic a century ago the novel is sweeping and epic but it is signature Isabel Allende. The writing is engaging and I was never bored, but I feel it isn't unique and I was on the fence about requesting this. I feel like I have read this kind of protagonist before in Allende's typical signature style.

Publication Date: January 25, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Isabel Allende and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Ballantine Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#Violetta #IsabelAllende #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBallantineBooks #NetGalley

Lose yourself in this sprawling novel filled with memorable characters and a good dose of Latin American history. Only Isabel Allende could cover a hundred years and not have it drag. Enjoy!

Isabel Allende is great great author, she will be always one of my favorites, this is such an inspiring and beautiful story, this feels like a memoir, I know it’s not a memoir and the author explains that pretty well. But this so we’ll writing that I can’t fine the right word for my feelings about this gorgeous book, first of all the story of a 100 years old writing about his life is so memorable, her thoughts through life, her changes, her growth, it’s just fascinating!