Eva Luna is the fiesty narrator of Isabel Allende's sumptuous, picaresque third novel—a tale that spans 40 years and moves from a surreal jungle to a modern-day urban capital where even the most apolitical are driven to risky antigovernment activities. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. The … . Eva is a naturally gifted and imaginative storyteller who meets people from all stations and walks of life. Although 'Eva Luna' contains many of the tropes associated with magic realism; political dissidence and violence, a cast of eccentric characters in. In my defense, this book is dedicated to Allende's mother. [Was anyone else unsettled by Eva sleeping with her father figure? There is something otherworldly about magical realism, something surreal, whereby the reader is transported into a parallel universe, a universe where, despite the stories ostensibly being set in our world, the colours, sights and sounds are richer and vibrate with the vivacity of the writer's imagination and the sensuality engendered by their prose. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Perhaps it is merely a reflection of my feebleness as a reader that I assume the basic conceit of any first person novel is for the author to be the narrator, more or less. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2014. She has written novels based in part on her own experiences, often focusing on the experiences of women, weaving myth and realism together. We had to chop the pages from the center binding loose, leaving a clump of chopped paper in the center. Overall I enjoyed it every bit as much as I did back then. I had the feeling that Eva and Rolf would end up together because their family lines were followed in the beginning of the book...but it took a lot of situations and adventures to get them together. I can see this woman becoming a firm favourite author of mine. . Giving plot details would detract from the reading experience, so I won't give any. When I write, I describe life as I would like it to be.". We did our best cutting it, but we don't have the proper equipment to trim book pages. Something about it rubs me the wrong way. Yes! **The remarkable novel from the multi-million-bestselling author of The House of the Spirits and The Japanese Lover**
Meet the unforgettable Eva Luna: a lover, a writer, a revolutionary and above all, a storyteller. The characters are very varied. What a captivating little treasure this is! "A remarkable novel" (The Washington Post) from New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende's introducing her most enchanting creation, Eva Luna: a lover, a writer, a … I think I was deeply moved and inspired by the novel because of the formative time period in my life when I read it. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2015. Her descriptions make it easy to put oneself in the settings. The pages that were bent and creased were printed wrong. It mostly means Allende is an excellent writer, and there are many of her books to make the list. Both this novel and The Stories of Eva Luna are preceded with an epigraph from "A Thousand and One Tales of the Arabian Nights." It's the only book by Allende I have read and I really liked the story. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. it is, thus, more tragic than surprising that i grew up to be such a skeptic. It provides her with a way to survive in an extremely tough world. Allende, who writes in the "magic realism" tradition, is considered one of the first successful women novelists in Latin America. It is hard for me to recapture the innocence I once had with books, where the words were so real it was like being in a super reality. Her writing contains a touch of the magical realism of Marquez but with a very female (and sexually active female at that) perspective. Set in an unnamed, South American country Eva Luna is a poetic, modern day Latina flavored version of 1001 Arabian nights. Please try again. About The Book “A remarkable novel” (The Washington Post) from New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende’s introducing her most enchanting creation, Eva Luna: a lover, a writer, a revolutionary, and above all a storyteller. :), Isabel Allende Llona is a Chilean-American novelist. Born to a servant in a South American country, Eva lives a varied life, sometimes exciting, sometimes, frightening, however she never lets adversity keep her down. books; eva luna; excerpt; eva luna. Teen read this? Isabel of course will always mourn the assassination of her father Salvador Allende by Pinochet's henchmen (and backed by the CIA) and some of this intrigue is woven into the story line. I think I was deeply moved and inspired by the novel because of the formative time period in my life when I read it. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Though she has no wealth, she trades her stories like currency with people who are kind to her. When little Eva Luna's mother dies, the imaginative child is hired out to a string of eccentric families. The original novel, Eva Luna, was published in 1987. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 307 pages and is available in Paperback format. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2020. We find humour even in dark situations. There's a problem loading this menu right now. “There is no death, daughter. “She sowed in my mind the idea that reality is not only what we see on the surface; it has a magical … We’d love your help. EVA LUNA: A NOVEL is a wild and inventive ride that lures the reader, much like a moth to a flame. After Eva's born, her mother dies and she has … ", “Perhaps we had the good fortune to stumble into an exceptional love, a love I did not have to invent, only clothe in all it’s glory so it could endure in memory—in keeping with the principle that we can construct reality in the image of our desires.”. What is most impressive about the novel though, is how all of those smaller, strange stories are wound together neatly at climax of the novel in a believable fashion. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Eva Luna is a literary triumph, a novel brimming with battles and passions, rebellions and reunions—and some of the most exquisite characters Isabel Allende has ever created. It is hard for me to recapture the innocence I once had with books, where the words were so real it was like being in a super reality. Events a bit predictable. Eva Luna is the daughter of a professor's assistant and a snake-bitten gardener--born poor, orphaned at an early age, and working as a servant. The story opens in the early twentieth century with Eva’s mother’s tragic life story, including Eva’s birth. With the pages being longer on the bottom, the book didn't even sit on the book shelf correctly. Yet another beautifully crafted novel from Allende. But, believe it, this is book is a great experience. Don't get me wrong, I do love this book, but I am IN love with Stories of Eva Luna. "She sowed in my mind the idea that reality is not only what we see on the surface; it has a magical dimension as well and, if we so desire, it is legitimate to enhance it and color it to make our journey through life less trying. A collection of over twenty short stories, each tale unabashedly vies for the reader's attention like the glittering gifts of competing suitors. To see what your friends thought of this book. The new cover illustrations are pretty bland but Allende is a highly imaginative and almost lyrical writer. Eva Luna is a storyteller. Let's remember the extravagant owner of a brothel, the transexual Mimi,the inventor of embalming fluid who keeps his beloved mummies at home, the Turkish merchant with a harelip and his wife who has a lot of valuable jewellery but keeps it buried in the garden stealing only short glimpses on them while reburying them at a new place, the lunatic and cruel teacher who likes to stare at nak, It's a witty, ironic, humorous, magic and unusual story containing many unconventional characters and events. People close to her die or get sick on a regular basis. The novel let me taste again the wonderful mystery of the literary art. I had to quit halfway through, which I absolutely hate to do. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. She currently resides in California with her husband. I read this book over 2 decades ago but I recall it being a wonderful read full of love and adventure. Allende, who writes in the "magic realism" tradition, is considered one of the first successful women novelists in Latin America. But the very very ending is nice :) It leaves us to choose the way we want to finish the love story of Eva and Rolf. But Allende gets me pretty close. A love story set in Los Angeles, Eva Luna revolves around the life of Eva González (Blanca Soto), a young woman of extraordinary beauty, humble and hardworking. Award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa’s highly anticipated new book, Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America, arrives... Meet New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende’s most enchanting creation. A beautifully written celebration of the senses, this historical fiction is set in an unnamed South American country and recounts the life of Eva Luna. Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2016. She is an excellent writer. This book arrived defective. Refresh and try again. Total emersion in the place and characters. The first edition of the novel was published in 1987, and was written by Isabel Allende. For me, it's about a woman who has had a difficult early life and who develops resilience and forbearance in the face of adversity. Read this before Stories of Eva Luna... or don't. She encounters an assortment of diverse and colorful characters from many socioeconomic and political backgrounds. We settled on Isabel Allende, and she selected Eva Luna. For me, it's about a woman who has had a difficult early life and who develops resilience and forbearance in the face of adversity. Let's remember the extravagant owner of a brothel, the transexual Mimi,the inventor of embalming fluid who keeps his beloved mummies at home, the Turkish merchant with a harelip and his wife who has a lot of valuable jewellery but keeps it buried in the garden stealing only short glimpses on them while reburying them at a new place, the lunatic and cruel teacher who likes to stare at naked women with red high-heeled shoes moving in front of him but not touching them, the passionate leader of the guerilla war, Rolf's aunt and uncle preparing special food for arousing sexual feelings and Rolf's cousins both having so much love-making-related interest in Rolf, the godmother of Eva who gives birth to a beast, the grandma who keeps a coffin in her room and sometimes sleeps in it... :) Bits of history of the unspecified place in South America and a bit of Europe's war time period are here as well. One of these characters, Rolf, is the subject of a significant sub-plot, which details his childhood and emigration to South America. I think I need to go back and read this one again. Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017. Would highly recommend if you like a very human and spiritual story. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Eva Luna A Novel (Book) : Allende, Isabel : "Meet New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende's most enchanting creation, Eva Luna: a lover, a writer, a revolutionary, and above all a storyteller. Dial Press Trade Paperback (August 30, 2005), A Spellbinding Story Written in Prose That Is Almost Poetical, Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2018. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. As one of the characters says about Eva Luna's stories, "the script did not even remotely fit in the usual patterns," but he would produce it, "because he could not resist the temptation to scandalize the country." Fans of Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez (R.I.P) and Paulo Coelho may like this author. She weaves her story describing the extraordinary events in the lives of people who have touched each other's existence. Age, a better understanding of the world, and my new education to psychotherapy has made literature more understandable and a little less mystical. This is a reread for me, although the first time around was decades ago. For now, I'm sharing some of the highlights of my thoughts. The story is narrated by the title character, who first tells the tale of Consuelo, her mother, and then proceeds through the rest of her own adventurous and sometimes bizarre life. i vaguely remember my childhood memories playing games that could only exist in imagination and living inside stories that required all the belief someone is capable of holding. I mean that in a good way. Allende adopted U.S. citizenship in 2003. The child growing up in an unnamed South American country is blessed with the ability to weave compelling tales which enchant her audience - children and adults alike. What we learn about her is only through the stories she tells of those in her life. Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2020. And so rich, emotional and visual that it becomes a real pleasure to read the audio... 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