The blurb
“As a girl, Clara del Valle can read fortunes, make objects move as if they had lives of their own and predict the future. Following the mysterious death of her sister, Rosa the Beautiful, Clara is mute for nine years. When she breaks her silence, it is to announce that she will be married soon to the stern and volatile landowner Esteban Trueba.
Set in an unnamed Latin American country over three generations, The House of the Spirits is a magnificent tale of a proud and passionate family, secret loves, and violent revolution.”
Overall review and recommendation
I am more than late in reading The House of the Spirits, which was published in 1982. It was one of those books that I thought I’d read until I realised I hadn’t.
But I am glad I finally got around to reading it. It was a joy to spend time with it, even though the story is brutal in many ways and for most of the pages.
The House of the Spirits is astonishing. I deeply connected with the characters, even those I hated. It’s a family saga that, effortlessly, becomes a compelling cultural and political story.
I highly recommend The House of the Spirits to anyone who is interested in looking into Latin American literature, culture, and history (while still understanding that the story is fiction).
About the author
Isabel Allende is a Chilean author with 21 novels and 5 non-fiction books to her name. The House of the Spirits was her debut novel, and it was adapted into a film in 1993 with Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Antonio Banderas, Glenn Close, and Winona Ryder in the cast.
Her father was a first cousin of Salvador Allende, Chile’s 28th president who was overthrown in the military coup led by Augusto Pinochet in the 1970s. She eventually fled to Venezuela, where she stayed in exile for 13 years. There, she wrote The House of the Spirits, which is loosely based on her personal experiences. She currently lives in the United States.
Isabel Allende’s books have received many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the hands of former U.S. President Barack Obama.
What I liked the most
– The protagonists’ names and arc – Nivea, Clara, Blanca, and Alba are all names whose meaning is somehow related to “white”. It makes me think that they are one person, a single multigenerational character arc in a relay race to improve themselves and achieve their dreams.
– Esteban Trueba – I loved him, I hated him, I loathed him, and I felt sorry for him, I hated him again. I didn’t expect to find such a remarkable male character in a female-led novel.
– The writing – The House of the Spirits comes with outstanding prose while it’s still easy to read.
– The storyline – What seems to be the average literary story featuring female protagonists turns into an in-depth testimonial of a country’s politics and culture.
– All of the characters – None of them is poorly developed; they all get their time under the spotlight.
What I disliked
I don’t think I would change a thing about this book. It’s a true masterpiece.
What I learned
More about Chile’s recent history and culture. It has many similarities with Brazil’s, especially concerning what happened both before and during the military coup in both countries.
What I missed
Nothing at all.
What to be aware of
– Despite this book being inspired by Isabell Allende’s memories, this isn’t historical fiction. It’s neither a memoir nor an autobiography.
– The genre of this book is magic realism, meaning that it is set in our world but with touches of fantasy. In The House of the Spirits, mermaids, vampires, mediumship, shamanism, and other supernatural and fantastic elements play a role in the story.
But if you don’t enjoy fantasy, don’t let this put you off reading it. The supernatural elements aren’t as relevant or prominent as you might think.
Some book scenes involve sensitive subjects, such as rape, paedophilia, domestic violence, torture, and abortion. You will also find some graphic sex scenes within the story.
Favourite Quotes
“I think she’s decided to die, and science has no cure for that.”
“In almost every family there’s a fool or a crazy person (…) You can’t always see them because they are kept out of sight as if they were something to be ashamed of. They’re locked up in the back room, so visitors won’t see them. But actually, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. They’re God’s creatures too.”
“‘Why did she have to live like this when she had more than enough money?’
‘Because she didn’t have anything else.'”
