"Of Love and Shadows" is Isabel Allende's novel about life under military dictatorship in an unnamed Latin American country (the dictator is simply called "the General"). Margaret Sayers Peden has translated the Spanish original into a very readable English. Although the book was slow to grasp my close attention in the opening episodes, I ultimately found it to be a powerful and moving story of love in the midst of violence and fear.

Allende, who is Chilean, mixes a naturalistic style with several surreal touches in this novel. As the story progresses, her main characters investigate a disturbing mystery, and their ultimate discovery has a profound impact on several interconnected families. Allende uses this narrative framework to explore such issues as gender identity, philosophical conflict, religious difference, censorship, and the role of both the journalist and the soldier in the modern state. "Of Love and Shadows" is an important book for those interested in contemporary Latin American literature.

I read this book inorder to study the coup of Pinochet in Chile as part of a class in high school. Allende is such a wonderful author that I was captured by this novel and unable to put it down. The characters are so real that they wrap themselves in the sympathy of the reader. This book was both entertaining and enlightening. Allende is one of the best writers in any language.

There is no question that Allende masters the art of mixing story telling and political propaganda. We experienced that unique taste in her novel "La casa de los espiritus" and with " De amor y de sombra" she does it again. In her novel "De amor y de sombra," Allende provides the reader with a wonderful love story directly tied to the political abuse and oppression of the Latin American countries. A great narration of a young couple from different social classes and different political background united by their search for truth and justice in their country. It is in their search for that justice that they find themselves inlove and force to escape to the exile. In essence, "De amor y de sombra" is the story of thousands of Latin Americans who have been victims of the political system of the region but Allende has made of this historical fact a work of art. Great job as usual!!!

Girl gets boy, girl looses boy, girl finds another boy. Sorry but I did not find this to be an epic novel. The characters seemed very formula driven to me. However, the adventure and historical pieces I did find of interest -- 19th century Chilean society and economics, sailing from Chile to California, the California Gold Rush, the early Chinese immigrants, the birth and development of San Francisio and the state of California.

I picked up "Daughter of Fortune," by Isabel Allende, because it is an Oprah book and I have liked some of Oprah's choices. I was drawn to the story of Eliza, a foundling taken in by a British brother and sister, Jeremy and Rose Sommers, in Valparaiso, Chile. Allende describes Eliza's childhood in Chile effectively. Rose Sommers, who has never married, cares for Eliza but does not know how to nurture her effectively. Jeremy Sommers is remote and busy with business matters. Eliza learns a great deal at the feet of Mama Fresia, a loving Indian woman who is as wise as she is caring. The book takes a strange turn when Eliza falls in love and travels to California during the Gold Rush to search for her departed lover. The book meanders badly after that, with new characters constantly being introduced. Allende captures the frenzy and madness of the California Gold Rush, but Eliza gets lost in the hubbub. She meets a Chinese man, named Tao Chi'en, on her voyage to America. Tao Chi'en becomes a confidante and a close friend, but this relationship is not satisfactorily developed. Eliza also gets involved with a madam running a brothel. All these characters are shallow and uninteresting. The promise of the first part of the book is not realized, as the book meanders to its disappointing conclusion.

Isabel Allende's "Daughter of Fortune," is a beautifully rendered, impressive novel. Allende tells the tale of a young Chilean orphan, Eliza Sommers, who follows her lover to California during the Gold Rush. She travels incognito and lives in a rough world of single men and ladies of the evening. Allende's far flung canvas captures mid 19th century Chile and California. Her world is one of raw beauty and rough living.
Eliza makes both a physical and a spiritual journey as she eventually must decide what "following one's heart" really means.
I enjoyed this book though I felt at times Allende lost her way. Overall though, I commend her effort.
I would recommend this book to individuals who enjoy fiction on historical eras, particularly "woman themed." (It was an Oprah Book.) I would not recommend this book to those inviduals who need plots and settings served up quickly and neatly.
overall, it was a worthwhile read for me.

Well, I am a huge Isabel Allende fan but this was too much! And I read it in Spanish so you can stop blaming the translator... I can't even begin to explain how insulted I was (and on how many levels!) by the Omaira character. On top of that, the story is one sorry new-age cliché after another. I gave the book 3 stars because despite the omnipresent [stuff] we do get a few glimpses of Isabel Allende at her best. I don't know about the rest of you but I want the old Isabel back. PRONTO.

City of the Beast is a magnificent example of Isabel Allende at her best. This book reminds us how much mystery is still left in the world. The story begins as 15-year old Alexander Cold departs from his cancer stricken mother and family the join his adventure-loving grandmother on a trip to South America. They, along with the rest of the group, search for the legendary "Beast," that is said to roam the Amazon. During his journey Alex befriends the local guide's daughter, Nadia, who has a gift with nature and languages. One night they are captured by the People of the Mist, and shown a whole new world beyond their own. There the two put to the test of the tribe, but with their totemic animals Alex and Nadia (or Jaguar and Eagle) have the strength to survive and save the People of the Mist. City of the Beast has mystery and action all throughout the book, but it does leave the reader at the end hanging with questions unanswered. This book is complex in some instances, but still has my recommendation as a fine piece of literary work.

I do not think this book is even half as bad as the other reviewers say it is. I'm fact, I'm shocked at this lack of appreciation for such good writing. Isabel Allende did a great job writing this book, especially as it is her first young adult book. It's better than alot of other young adult books out there.
Also, from the outside the book may look daunting with all the pages, but it's really not that hard to read. And I do not think the writing is "clunky". Besides, "clunky" writing can be good too...Meg Cabot (author of The Princess Diaries, Princess in the Spotlight, Princess in Love, the new All American Girl and other books) has a writing style like that and she's one of the best and most popular young adult fiction writers currently out there. True, Ludovic Leblanc has a cartoon-like personality. I kept waiting for him to show some depth, but it never really happened, only for a page or two. Good thing this book features Alex and Nadia, not Ludovic.
I believe this is a great read. Isabel Allende's City of the Beasts is a BEAUTIFUL story. I am going to read it again for sure. I loved it from beginning to end. For me, this was one of those books that didn't have a boring page...I couldn't put it down. Also, the descriptions of the Amazon in the book are wonderful. It made me feel as if I were there with the expedition....