If you like historical fiction, then you’ll probably like The House of The Spirits by Isabel
Allende. My mom has read almost all of
her books in Spanish, so I was very curious about the author. Learning about Allende’s life, listening to her speak on TED.com, and
learning about “magical realism” as a genre of literature was almost as
interesting as the novel itself.
The story of a Latin-American family saga, intermixed with the
political and social issues that affected their lives, drew me into their
world. Perhaps those of us familiar with
“machismo” and who have witnessed the class distinctions in Latin American countries
can identify more with the story. The characters
were so distinct---i.e. Esteban Trueba, Pedro Tercero, Clara, Blanca, Alma, &
Jaime —and so passionate about their causes (and their loves), that they will
forever remain in my mind. The ending
leaves us with a hope for Latin America—that despite all the violence, the history,
and instability, it will endure and find strength for its future.
It was a pleasure to have a discussion with friends, although there were only six of us present. If you want more information on the author, you can easily find it on the internet. She has written many books for adults as well as children. One of the main ideas she projects is that history needs to be recorded. Isabel writes her mother a letter every day, so that the day counts and is remembered. I think the blogging of our book club meetings serve the same purpose. This book club means so much to me. Thank you friends, for including me. This book club means so much to me.
Happy reading --
Lourdes
