Historical fiction set in Chile, spanning 1920 until 2020, so an epic written as an epistolary novel. This novel takes the character, Violeta, born at the time of the Spanish flue epidemic in 1920 through some of the most difficult times of history through to 2020 and the Covid period. Recounting both her development, her feelings and her experiences for her grandson, this is a very well-written, well constructed narrative, and one that because of its epic nature, is totally compelling. The movement through time is handled well and the descriptions of life in Chile are brilliantly formed. There is a musical quality, always, to Allende's writing, and here, I'd go so far as to say operatic. It's literary, for sure, but highly readable and utterly compelling.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the pre-read.

3.5 stars. Having had a glance at other reviews, many echo my thoughts. This was well-written, interesting from a social history perspective examining events at different stages of the 100 years, and interest as the family/personal relations evolved. However I found it difficult at many points to engage with the main character or many others, perhaps the style of 'notebook' narration but it felt more like a study of life/lives rather than something more affecting.

The story of Violeta's life.
And what an intriguing, exiting, heartbreaking life it was.
The story is passed down to Violeta's Grandson Camilo, it starts in the proper way with her birth and ridiculously indulged childhood, that is altered by the arrival of her English Nanny Josephine Taylor, a formidable but kindly character who endears herself to the whole family. Violetta has five brothers, the oldest Jose is her confident and friend, he is in love with Josephine and nurses that passion for the rest of his life. Violetta marries Fabian, a boring German, but has an affair with cruel, self centered but charming Julian Bravo resulting in two children, Juan and Nieves but no marriage.
Violeta's children go through trauma and hardship against the backdrop of military rule, revolution and mass murder. What horrific details and heartbreaking stories, including the murder of her childhood friend and protector Torito a giant, simple man.
Sexual adventures abound with her finding happiness in an unlikely source.
Magnificent larger than life characters, situations and kindness abound.

Another brilliant story from Isabel Allende. Violeta is beautifully written, you travel through the decades of Violeta's amazing life with her and the book is so well researched I had to check if it was a true story.

I was given a copy of Violeta by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbaised review.

It's another solid novel by Allende. As ever the story of a woman through the events of the past century with motifs around family writ large. Enjoyable but predictable

A story spanning a hundred years, Violeta is telling her history to her grandson in the form of a letter. Its a fascinating insight into a history of South America that I did not know too much about. Beautifully written, moving and educational. A lovely read.

A gorgeous read by the brilliant Isabel Allende. Perfect for fans of her past work, or for those who love losing themselves in rich, sweeping generational tales. The letter style gives it an air of authenticity which makes it easy to get caught up in the story too.

Started the book but unfortunately it didn’t grip me so I didn’t end up finishing it. I’m grateful to the publisher for the chance to read the Arc in exchange for an honest review,

3.5 stars

A fascinating story of love, family and history. The telling of Violeta's life through a conversation gave depth to such a long and varied journey through her 100 years which were certainly colourful and full. At times though it felt as if too much was crammed in to the story and so we maybe missed getting to know her in any detail.
I loved her relationship with her daughter - such warmth shown in their interactions at the time of need for both women.

Compelling and beautifully written, this novel traces the history of the 20th century through the life of a woman born in 1920 through to the present day. The story is set in an unnamed South American country that might be Chile and is written from the viewpoint of Violeta herself, who is addressing a close loved one as through a letter. Violeta is a strong heroine, who is beautiful and resourceful and relates her story with honesty and grace. The reader engages with her from the start and the detailed account of the ups and downs of her life feel authentic and believable.

With thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy to review.

I wanted to love this book. She is my namesake after all and Isabel Allende's writing is so superb. But I didn't love it. It was good, but not great for me.

Let's start with what I enjoyed: I loved going through the historical events that someone who is 100 years old would live through. Because it is set in Chile and it is my family's country, I loved the learn more about the events of its modern history. Some events hit close to home and were very touching. I also loved the way the book was bookended with pandemics, it really brought things around.

The writing was okay, but it was missing something for me but I think it relates to the form of the book.

That leads me to what I didn't enjoy so much: The long epistolary form (this novel is one long letter) didn't do it for me. Throughout the book, it felt like someone was recounting events without really living through them. The past look at events made them so distant it was difficult to feel for them. Also always bizarre when people write letters to their family and they mention their sex life a lot, but maybe that's just me.

**may contain spoilers**
I also didn't love that this was the life of a privileged woman. It's good to get all kinds of perspectives, but ...she was born into money, she basically marries a Nazi-supporter, she goes off to live in the US at a whim, and doesn't really stand against the Chilean dictatorship until it personally affects her. It's good to see someone change their mind and their ways along their life, we must all learn after all, but it was frustrating at times. I wanted some of the other characters' perspectives sometimes as they sounded more interesting to me.
**spoilers end**

All that said, I think it was an important historical novel, especially about the actual historical events that happened and you get a perspective on that. Definitely not my favourite Allende novel.

Violeta by Isabel Allende was published on January 25th with Bloomsbury and is described as ‘an epic that is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional.’

Violeta is the story of Violeta del Valle, written as a letter from grandmother to grandson, although this is only made clear further on in the chapters. She is recalling her life over the previous one hundred years, a life that bore witness to many major events in the nation’s history. Born in South America during the Spanish Flu in 1920, she is now cocooning during the current Covid crisis, a life bookended by pandemics. With her mortality very much to the fore, Violeta wants her grandson to know all the finer details of her life, one that saw much suffering and experienced many hardships.

Violeta was part of a wealthy family but when the financial tide turned her father buckled under the strain, leaving Violeta’s mother with no alternative but to move the family away from the city. Her mother was a sickly lady and it was under the guidance of others amidst a more rural setting that Violeta learned the basics of survival, providing her with a coping mechanism that stood to her all her life.

Violeta del Valle was a restless and passionate soul, always driven to succeed in our own indomitable way. Her relationships were constantly fraught as Violeta always challenged society’s expectations and walked her own path.

Presented in the format of a letter, Violeta encompasses the history of a century incorporating wars, revolution and feminism, from the viewpoint of this strong and wilful centenarian. She writes of her fears, her grief, her loves and her regrets.

The country in question is Chile but there is a vagueness throughout about this fact, an almost lack of commitment from Allende to mention it specifically. As a reader I did wonder about this and checked back on more than one occasion in case I had missed something. Dictatorships are referred to but no names, singular events are referred to but, again, with limited specific details.

Violeta reads like an educational history book in many ways, with events almost listed off as Violeta tries to cram everything she has experienced into this long letter to her grandson. I did find that my attention drifted at times, as it felt quite impersonal. Violeta’s character was difficult to imagine. I couldn’t visualise her, creating a fuller image of her in my mind as it just all felt too remote, lacking in any warmth. I think the best word I could use is detached…

Violeta is a definitely an epic read but I would have much preferred if scant reference were given to some events and more depth was given to a few of the more personal struggles that Violeta and her family encountered. I wanted some events more fleshed out and the wonderful characters further developed. A trilogy would have been just marvellous, each book in the series recounting a specific period of Violeta’s extraordinary life.

Violeta is a sweeping and ambitious novel but unfortunately one that just didn’t pull any of my emotional heartstrings.

I honestly thought I was reading a memoir it was so well done. I have heard about Isabel Allende as an author so I am very glad that I have finally had the opportunity to read one of her books.

It is not a book that you can read in one sitting, you really have take time ponder it and then go back. It was however so well done.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

The story of Violeta is told through her letters to her grandson, as she approaches the end of her 100-year life. She was born in South America in 1920 to a wealthy family who already had five sons. Spanish Flu has hit the world hard, but her father soon takes control of the home, ensuring everyone follows his strict hygiene routines. He keeps his family isolated as much as he can while running his business.

The family have no money problems. Her father houses most of the family free, where they live good lives, not having to work to keep themselves. But when the recession hits, he won’t listen to his son and still takes high risks in investing, eventually losing everything they have. The family move to a poorer area and have to fend for themselves. Violeta’s life is transformed as she is thrown into a new way of life.

Violetta is a clever woman and knows what will make money. The only drawback is being a woman, as they have no rights whatsoever. She is cunning but cold with it, determined that she will not face poverty again. One thing that comes across in the story well is that money doesn’t prevent tragedy.

There are deep and dark places in this book, not a pick you up kind of story. But no matter what happens in her life, she works literally to the end. The story takes you through all the changes in attitude, law and women’s rights. The choices she makes and the ones that she doesn’t get a second chance at putting right.

I am still sitting on the fence with this one a little. I didn’t find her a character that I could warm to very much. She was calculating and seemed like she had to be better than the men around her. After saying that I believe that this is the character the author wanted to give her readers.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book that I have reviewed honestly.

The book feels like a memoir, as I’m sure a lot of people have already commented and it’s in a form of a letter to her grandson.

Through Violeta’s memories, we not only learn about her life, her hardships and the events that marked her memory. But we learn about the political, economical issues that South America faces at the time, along with social class issues and women rights.

Nevertheless, the book doesn’t lack in sentiment. Throughout the book, we learn about the net of bonds between family, friends and partners that appeared in Violeta’s long life. We see her attitude towards loss and new relationships.

It’s a remarkable book that made me admire the power of human beings and their will to live and love.

Violeta del Valle is 100 years of age and is writing to her grandson Camilo detailing her long and eventful life in Chile. Born in 1920 during the Spanish Flu epidemic her wealthy upper middle-class family experience exile and tragedy following the Wall Street Crash in 1929. Following those years the country experiences brutal political change as well as economic and positive sociological advancements. Violeta’s relationship with her friends and family provides plenty of scope to cover women’s rights, drug and alcohol abuse, poverty and corruption and the inhumanity of Pinochet’s dictatorship (though he is not named in the novel). As with all of Allende’s books it is the relationships which provide the heart and warmth in the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for an advance copy.

My thanks to NetGally and Random House publishing for the opportunity to review this inspirational book.
What an amazing life lived, what a truly incredible woman.
Her story is narrated in letter form from 1920 to 2020. It’s hard to believe it’s a novel because the details are so authentic and interwoven that it takes on an memoir feel..
I was truly sorry to turn the last page. I would highly recommend this book.

I loved this tale, written as a letter to her grandson, telling him all about her fascinating 100 years on earth, going through history, this is a brilliant story of love, hope, evil and everything in between.

Violeta is the sweeping story of a Chilean woman’s long and eventful life spanning a whole century. Coming towards the end of her life, Violeta looks back on her past with wisdom and calm, recording her memories in a long letter addressed to her beloved grandson, Camillo.

She was born amidst the Spanish Flu in 1920, and passed away during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. In between, she witnessed the Great Depression, the surge of postwar socialism, military coup and dictatorship, civil resistance and the restoration of democracy, and feminist developments in the final decades of her life.

There’s a strong focus on the many challenges faced by women. A few male characters are total scumbags exactly to show what women had to put up with. A wife would bring shame to her husband if she had a job, but he would have no problem living off her income. A woman was to blame for ‘tying down’ a man when she got pregnant, even though only men had access to contraception.

Intelligent and brave, Violeta defied the norm, made money when women were not supposed to work, followed her passion and left her husband when divorce was socially unacceptable. Even so, she was physically and emotionally abused by her lover and eventually forced to get sterilised. Stopping domestic violence and obtaining the basic right to say no (or yes) to pregnancy, these are the things Violeta would fight for later on in her life and, sadly, still problems that afflict women in many parts of the world.

Overall I am really impressed by this book. The scope is so wide. The plot is compelling, the voice is convincing, and I can genuinely empathise with many characters. I am also surprised by how readable it is. This was my first time reading Allende and I expected to make some serious effort, but the story just pulled me in, carried me along, and left me a lot to think about afterwards.

There was a lot about this story that I really enjoyed. Violeta was a force to be reckoned with and her story was full of heart break, sorrow and hope. I found the relationships with her children very interesting and couldn't believe how she let their father treat them both. I was pleased that she had managed to gain some sort of relationship with her daughter but I was also heart broken at how that chapter ended.

The only downside to me was that I found the story quite heavy on the politics. I understand that politics played a huge role in when the story was set but I also found the level of detail included at this point made for a slower read overall.