The House of the Spirits: A Novel Paperback – December 15, 2015

I had a phase of obsession with Isabel Allende’s books back in my teens and thought I had read them all. Reading this, part of me felt like I had read this before, but the way it “hit” me, I also felt like perhaps I hadn’t. Of course, it could simply be that I didn’t have the emotional maturity back then to read it as I just did. In short, this novel is EVERYTHING! If you’re a fan of magical realism, this novel has that in spades. If you like domestic fiction with messy family drama, it’s there. If you like historical fiction, it’s there. If you like romance, star-crossed love stories galore! If you like political intrigue, lots of that is in here. The lyrical memoir style of writing in this amazing novel is absolutely captivating and yet immensely accessible to any reader.This novel tells the story of Esteban Trueba and his beloved otherworldly wife Clara del Valle and the way life, patriarchal decisions and the changing political face of their country affects three generations of Truebas. This is a love story, a political history, a family saga, and a story of black sheep and magic that is underpinned by the descent into fascism of a country. It is so pertinent for the world right now and is a familiar tale for anyone who’s ever lived under a dictatorship.Admittedly, this novel felt long. It never felt TOOO long but it IS telling the story of 3-4 generations, so there’s a lot of story. The writing is beautifully descriptive with lots of gorgeously-phrases sentences and quotes that are as creatively crafted as they are useful and pertinent. The novel is long but not a clause is casual, not a moment is wasted to move the story forward. The narrators are varied- from del Valle grandparents to family patriarch Esteban Trueba, to beloved granddaughter, Alba, to the author herself- there’s a lot of unlabeled jumps in the voice, but yet all the voices are distinct and you’re never confused or adrift as to what’s happening or who is doing what. This book is nearly 40 years old and it’s written in a way that isn’t politically-correct now or before. The heroes and villains aren’t straightforward, the character development is beyond amazing- you swing between love, hate, annoyance, pity, sympathy, anger, frustration, empathy, with the same characters. Equally, the story development is on point and this family packs a lot of experience and pain and life into 3 generations.Beware of potential triggers of which there are numerous from rape (including of minors), to physical assault to the abuses to persons living under a dictatorship and this feels very real and true to life because there isn’t an easy answer of justice. Even though this is a very heavy book and not a particularly uplifting one, it is incredibly meaningful and readable and you’re not left crushed. You’re left feeling like you’ve lived 3 generations of life with these people and have been through their ups and downs and you’re better for knowing them and learning from the pitfalls of their imperfect lives. This is a full circle novel so in that respect, this is a satisfying read even if not a joyous one. It is only because it is IA that I can believe this was her debut because honestly... What. A. Debut!

Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits blends history, politics, and love into a wonderful magical realism novel with political and historical fiction aspects. This novel follows many generations of the Trueba family. It gives insight into how cycles of oppression begin but most importantly how storytelling and connecting with history break these seemingly endless cycles of violence. Through its characters and story, the book causes you to reflect on how understanding the past can help create a better future.This novel is set in Latin America in a country that resembles Chile but is ultimately unknown. Its main characters Esteban Trueba, Clara del Valle, their daughter Blanca, and granddaughter Alba all play a crucial role in the outcome of this story. Esteban Trueba is a very conservative and power-hungry landowner. Although they have nothing in common, he marries Clara, a very mysterious character with magical powers and supernatural abilities that serve as this novel's magical realism aspect. Blanca and Alba are the generations that follow. Blanca is the first Trueba to stand up for herself against tradition, while Alba demonstrates resilience even through suffering, ultimately breaking the cycles of violence that plagued previous generations.The novel begins by following Esteban Trueba’s rise to power but shifts to show how his actions impact his family and everyone around him. As political tensions grow, themes of love, revenge, and oppression become the main focus of the novel. In the end, Alba’s resilience and storytelling show how remembering the past can help break cycles of violence. Although there are aspects of magic through the story, it mirrors the real history of Chile. Mixing supernatural elements such as Clara's visions with real historical events sets the novel apart from all others. The novel has a sense of both magic and reality. One of the most powerful parts of the novel is the way that women are portrayed. Clara, Blanca, and Alba all are extremely strong but all in very different ways. Clara’s wisdom, Blanca’s defiance, and Alba’s resilience all show the impact women make in history.I loved the storytelling aspect of this book and its deep characters. Being told through multiple perspectives and over generations added depth to the story and provided a better understanding of Latin American culture and history. While some people may find the political sections hard to read, I loved the added history because it gave insight into the reality of life during times of political turmoil. I did find Esteban Trueba's character frustrating at times because it was hard to understand his harsh and controlling personality. I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, Latin American literature, or magical realism. Through the struggles of the Trueba family, Isabel Allende uses magical realism to cover themes of love, loss, and resilience keeping readers engaged throughout the story.