About this title: This autobiography from best-selling writer Isabel Allende begins in December 1991, during a period when Allende's daughter Paula became gravely ill and fell into a coma. The author began her account during the long hours at the hospital and decided to record the story of her family for her unconscious daughter in an attempt to "bring [her] back ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780060927219ISBN:0060927216
Description: Fair. No dust jacket as issued. Cover and back few pages creased at bottom corner, pages are clean and unmarked. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 336 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780060927219ISBN:0060927216
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Clean pages no marks or tears, cover has very little wear, 20%off sticker on front. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 336 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Harpercollins
Date Published: 1996
ISBN-13:9780060927219ISBN:0060927216
Description: Good. 3rd printing, 1996. paperback. pages are yellowing. front cover and one page have corner bent. clear text. tight binding. no writing. read more
Edition: Stated First Edition
Binding: Cloth
Publisher: Harpercollins, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1995
ISBN-13:9780060172534ISBN:0060172533
Description: Very Good + in Very Good jacket. Hard Cover. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" First printing. Light wear, light soiling, no remainder marks. PO inscription on FEP. (Bio) read more
""Listen Paula, I'm going to tell you a story, so that when you wake up you will not feel so lost". I love the way Allende starts this book. One of the most heartbreaking and fascinating books that I have read. It is such a personal story for Allende and I admire her courage as a writer to share such personal stories, not only during Paula's struggle and death but also stories from her childhood in Chile and beyond. Allende has an unbelievable way to make the reader part of her story.
"I write feeling my way in silence, and along the way discover particles of truth, small crystals that fit in the palm of one hand and justify my passage through this world""
"Fantastic book! Great stories. I was thinking after I bought the book, "oh shoot! why didn't I get this in Spanish!" However, Allende's writing is so elevated with lots of extensive vocabulary that I find it hard to digest it all at times...even though it is in English. I read slowly and pause so that I can get it all in. It is a refreshing challenge. I am not complaining, on the contrary, it is fabulous the way she writes, her style, language, story telling skills, the jumping around from one story to another, great details about each character so that you really feel like you get to know them. This is a very personal book filled with emotion. You can feel Allende's pain and distress as she describes life in the hospital. After awhile I must have gotten used to her style & language because I devoured the pages in a matter of days. I really enjoy Allende and am sad that I have not read anything of hers prior.
I find it interesting that the story is mostly nonfiction. For me, the fact that everything is real, makes her story and her as an author more interesting! I really enjoy how Allende talks about "authorism" or the art of writing as she describes her act of writing and her process from her perspective. I enjoyed getting the inside scoop on her career & prior books & characters. The way she writes about writing stirs that childhood dream of mine to be a writer!
"I actually listened to an audio book of this title, but hey, that still counts, right?
The book is a letter that Allende is writing to her 28-year-old daughter, Paula, who lingered in a coma for a while, and later died. Allende wants her to know what has happened, and what people have come into the family's life, so that, as she says, "when you wake up, you won't feel lost."
I thought this book was pretty amazing. Never maudlin, it is written in a very conversational, very honest way. It is clear from the beginning that Allende is still trying to understand Paula's death, without perfect success, but also that she knows that the entire family has to continue their lives. There are happy times as well as difficult times described, all taking place in the year since Paula has died.
I think that everyone talks to those recently lost, at first because you are used to being able to talk to them, and later maybe just when you think of them related to some experience or thought. The book is written in the way people think of things. She will start with one story, get sidetracked into another, and then remember that she needs to finish the first one!
The audio book I had was read by Blair Brown, who I must admit has never been a favorite of mine. But she did an excellent job with this book, and brought the characters and the emotions alive in a very immediate sense."
"Isabelle Allende won me over with her family history. With a slightly fanciful twist this historical novel is interwoven with the drama of her current life. It is an interesting method, but the story of her family is an amazing one. Isabelle Allende happened to be present for some of the most formative events/moments of Argentina's history. Even those of us with no former knowledge can recognize some of the names and events she throws out. Great book. Decide for yourself how you feel about the ending though..."
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