ليس عندي الحماس لكتابة مراجعة مطولة.. ربما لأن أي كتابة قد تسبب حرق لأحداث الرواية.. خاصة أن التحولات المفاجئة في الروا��ة كثيرة وغير متوقعة.. أبدعت ايزابيل في السرد بأدق التفاصيل وفي استشفاف غور النفس البشرية لجميع أبطال الرواية وللكثير من فئات المجتمع الأمريكي والتشيلي والصيني في هذا الوقت بالإضافة إلى بعض ملامح من المجتمع الانجليزي.. يعيب الرواية قليلا الإسهاب في السرد ولكن أغلبه في محله.. كذلك الإفراط في وصف تفاصيل حميمية لم يكن مريحًا لي عند قراءتها.. وباستثناء هذين الأمرين.. ستقع في غرام قلم إيزابيل الرائع كما وقعت :)

شكرًا للأخت أميرة لحن على القراءة المشتركة رغم أنه من المفترض أن اكون أنهيت الرواية منذ شهر تقريبا ولكن نظرًا للانشغال والفتور تأخرت كثيرًا

This novel has flashes of brilliance and beautiful writing, but is dragged down by a meandering plot and truly terrible dialogue. At times, it feels like Allende is less interested in putting together a coherent story with compelling characters, and more interested in detailing life in various 1850s societies (Valparaiso, San Francisco, Hong Kong). There's a lot in here about how women are treated in each place, the awfulness of deep poverty, and racism across continents. It's interesting to read about the first few years of the Gold Rush in San Francisco, particularly as a former resident: Allende makes a point of the similar real estate prices in Sacramento and San Francisco in the years after the fervor dies down. And I really liked the themes of love, and loneliness, and found family. It's hard not to empathize with Eliza and the lover that she constructs to replace the reality of Joaquin.

The real problem with the book is the dialogue, which is awful in almost every single instance and is used only to deliver Allende's ideas or to bridge two pieces of the plot. No one actually talks like this. It's a disservice to the characters, and it sticks out because the descriptive passages are quite good. Later, Allende also uses Eliza's letters to Tao Chi'en to achieve the same lackluster and awkward effect. The plot is also terrible. Allende goes back and forth between Jacob Todd (a character who does not have to exist), Eliza, Tao Chi'en, and the Sommers family in Valparaiso. Over the course of the novel it becomes clear that Eliza and Tao Chi'en are meant to be together, which is hampered by Joaquin's absence and potential role as famous Californian outlaw. At the end of the book, there are two hilariously ridiculous things that happen. First, Jacob Todd recognizes Eliza after 10+ years apart when she is dressed as a boy, thousands of miles away from where he originally met her. Secondly, the love story for Joaquin and Eliza ends when Eliza MIGHT HAVE SEEN HIS SEVERED HEAD IN A JUG OF GIN. It's unclear if it's actually his head, and the book ends ON THAT PAGE. I honestly kept flipping back and forth to see if I had missed anything. This felt like a cheap way for Eliza to get closure with Joaquin so that she could move on with Tao, and it was also DUMB. I disapprove.

I can only recommend this with reservations, and only if you are interested in reading about San Francisco during the Gold Rush. The rest of it is pretty bad.

What an imaginative tale filled with adventure and those common themes that make up an irresistible storyline. I found lovable characters and a plot that made me want more. With a bit of historical fiction thrown in for good measure. Great writing/words.

The only good thing about marriage is becoming a widow.
It isn't a husband who makes a woman look good, but many suitors.

All husbands are boring, John. No woman with an ounce of sense gets married to be entertained, she marries to be maintained.

Knowledge is of little use without wisdom, and there is no wisdom without spirituality.