أول عمل أقرأه للكاتبة ايزابيلا الليندي
رواية فنتازية مثيرة ومشوقة
مغامرة في الأدغال استمتعت جدا بقرائتها

n  "The longer I live, the more uninformed I feel. Only the young have an explanation for everything."n

I saw this book lurking in my bookshelf the other day and a sense of nostalgia swept over me as I remembered how this might have been one of the first Young Adult books I've ever read, all the way back when I wasn't even one myself. I picked this up again, wondering how well I remembered things and how I perceived them now.



In this Amazonian adventure, fifteen year old Alexander Cold is sent out to his grandmother Kate, as his mother is struggling with cancer at home, too weak to look after him. Kate is a fearless reporter about to embark on an International Geographic expedition to the dangerous, remote world of the Amazon rainforest, on which Alexander now has to join her. The mission to document the legendary beast of the Amazon turns out to be a hard one, with many hidden secrets and dangers lurking, as Alex and his new friend Nadia soon discover.

The fact that this has been describes as an ecological romance makes me cringe, as this is definitely neither a flattering nor an accurate way to describe this. In fact, part of why I enjoyed reading this was because it wasn't a romance story - it's an adventure.



Isabel Allende created some wonderful characters here - the participants of the expedition all got their unique character traits, they're dynamic feels real and believable and I particularly liked how tough the females in this story were. They're definitely victims to men who think themselves as authoritarian, but at the same time they're in no way afraid to stand their ground. Our main characters are young adults - we've got the 15 year old Alexander and the 13 year old Nadia and both of them felt believable as well. They're hitting puberty, where you might feel in charge and in control of everything, but at the same time you're clearly not. Still, they're never annoying, but ultimately good-natured and brave kids.

In terms of themes, they were a lot of messages conveyed that I certainly didn't pick up on as a kid. Allende explores the contrast between our civilisation and nature as well as the exploitation of native cultures and does both in a elegantly subtle way. I feel like elegant is a good word to describe her writing in general, it's vivid, gentle and descriptive and I could so clearly visualise everything that was happening.

In general, I am absolutely aware that age-wise this book is not targeted at me, which makes me put it in a different context and influences my expectations, but it's still an enjoyable tale!

Isabel Allende's Eagle and Jaguar series is a young adult-oriented fantasy series that takes us through several adventures in different regions of the world. City of the Beasts focuses on the Amazon rainforest, introducing us to a variety of different, partly ancient cultures and their secrets and treasures outlined through Allende's skillful application of elements of magical realism.

Allende knows how to insert more complex thematic issues and questions into a less sophisticated setting in comparison to some of her more adult-oriented works. It's clearly written for teenagers, but the social and cultural aspects that become a central part of the story's development are suitable for adults and more demanding readers as well.

A minor weakness of City of the Beasts might be Allende's struggles to characterize her cast ensemble. Everyone feels mostly one-dimensional; we have lots of Mary Sues and John Does, and the scope of the cast caused me to lose my overview on questions of who is who several times. However, that did not harm my enjoyment of the audiobook on any level, as Allende's substantially note-worthy attempt to speak to a younger audience is full of charm, wit and allure, exploiting the Indiana Jones-like adventure style for her full benefit.

Getting to the end of this book was very difficult, simply because it was so boring. It was one of the worst books I read for quite some time.
Everything in the book was over-simplified and childish, from the setting to the characters to the plot. I especially didn't like the pseudo-fantasy, bordering on new-age elements.
I'm not sure what demographic it is aimed to, but I would probably not have liked it at any age. It seemed like the author got a very wrong idea about what YA books should be like. One star out of five.

Alexander Cold va al Amazonas con su abuela Kate, periodista especializada en viajes, en busca de una extraña bestia gigantesca, junto con Nadia Santos y un chamán.

El viaje es una gran aventura.

i would have been obsessed with this book if i read it like 8 years ago

#TheCityoftheBeasts by #IsabelAllende. I read it when I was in elementary school and felt I hadn't appreciated it enough, so I decided to reread it a few days ago, and what a lovely surprise I had.

Alexander Cold is sent to spend time with his grandmother Kate while his mom undergoes treatment for a very aggressive cancer. Kate is a reporter and writer for the International Geographic magazine, and she takes Alex to the Amazon to document "The Beast" - a kind of Yeti that lives in the jungle. During the expedition, Alex meets Nadia, the guide's daughter, and they form a beautiful friendship, becoming an unstoppable team. Together, they face mysteries and magical discoveries in the jungle.

I consider the most beautiful aspects of the book to be 1) seeing Alex's character growth and 2) the way Isabel Allende describes the indigenous cultures that the children encounter as the story progresses.

____________________________
#LaCiudaddelasBestias de #IsabelAllende lo leí cuando iba en primaria y consideraba que no lo había apreciado lo suficiente, entonces volví a leerlo hace unos días y qué bonita sorpresa me lleve
a Alexander Cold lo envían a pasar una temporada con su abuela Kate mientras que a su mamá la tratan de un cáncer muy agresivo. Kate es reportera y escritora de la revista International Geographic, y se lleva a Alex al Amazonas porque tiene documentar sobre "La Bestia" -una especie de Yeti pero que vive en la selva. Dentro del grupo que va a la expedición, Alex conoce a Nadia, la hija del guía, y entre los dos forman una amistad muy bonita y se vuelven un equipo imparable; juntos se enfrentan a misterios y a descubrimientos mágicos dentro de la selva. 
Considero que lo más bonito del libro es 1) ver como crece el personaje de Alex y 2) la forma en la que Isabel Allende describe las culturas indígenas que los niños van conociendo conforme avanza la historia

La ciudad de las bestias = City of the Beasts (Memories of the Eagle and the Jaguar #1), Isabel Allende

City of the Beasts is the first young adult novel by Chilean-American writer Isabel Allende. Published in 2002.

City of the Beasts begins with the story of Alexander Cold, who is 15 years old and going through a family crisis. While his parents leave for Texas to try to treat his mother's cancer, Alex and his sisters are sent to live with their grandmothers. Despite his desperate pleading, Alex is sent off to New York City to stay with his eccentric grandmother Kate Cold, a reporter for International Geographic Magazine. His sisters, however are sent to live with their Grandmother Carla. Meanwhile, Kate announces that she will be taking Alex with her to the Amazon rain-forest during his visit.

Once Alex arrives in New York City, and finds out that his grandmother had no intentions of collecting him at the airport and is forced to walk to her apartment, several blocks away. In the process he meets a girl named Morgana, a homeless girl in her mid-20's. She offers him pot and steals his backpack that contained his clothes, his money and his flute. He is greatly saddened by the loss of his precious flute, but Kate gives him the flute belonging to his grandfather, Joseph Cold. Soon, they pack off to go to the Amazon with some professors and photographers. The reason Kate goes is to write an article about the Beast. ...

عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «اشباح مه کتاب دوم از سه گانه عقاب و جاگوار»؛ «شهر جانوران کتاب دوم از سه گانه عقاب و جاگوار»؛ نویسنده: ایزابل آلنده؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز ششم ماه آگوست سال2011میلادی

عنوان: اشباح مه کتاب دوم از سه گانه عقاب و جاگوار؛ نویسنده: ایزابل آلنده؛ مترجم آسیه عزیزی؛ پروانه عزیزی؛ تهران، اندیشه سازان، سال1389؛ در331ص؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان شیلی - سده20م

عنوان: شهر جانوران کتاب دوم از سه گانه عقاب و جاگوار؛ نویسنده: ایزابل آلنده؛ مترجم: اسدالله امرایی؛ تهران، تندیس، سال1383؛ در332ص؛ شابک9789645757838؛ چاپ دوم سال1389؛

ایزابل آلنده، در رمان «شهر جانوران»؛ داستان نوجوانی به نام «آلکساندر کولد» را، بازگو می‌کند، که به علت بیماری مادر خویش، نزد مادربزرگ پدری‌ خویش می‌رود، اما در «نیویورک»، و پیش از رسیدن به خانه ی مادربزرگ، پول و وسایل او را می‌دزدند؛ مادربزرگ، زنی مهربان، و در عین حال یک‌دنده است، که روش تعلیم و تربیت ویژه ی خود را دارد؛ مادر «آلکس» سرطان دارد، و زیر شیمی‌ درمانی قرار گرفته، مادربزرگ نویسنده است، و ماموریت گرفته، برای پژوهش و نوشتن مقاله‌ ای درباره «جانورانی عظیم‌ الجثه»، به «امریکای جنوبی» برود، و در مورد علت مرگ و میر بومیان پژوهش کند ...؛

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 19/01/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ 25/12/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

Isabel Allende fue la autora que me hizo conocer el mundo de las trilogías, de la pasión por la lectura. He leído la historia de Jaguar y Águila a mis 15 años. La estoy volviendo a releer y no me arrepiento por nada. Una le ve otras cosas, aprecia otras que quizás, que a los quince no las veías. Me llenó de alegría este libro, lo disfruté muchísimo y lo volví amar.

"Al pie del tepui, se dio cuenta de que la vida estaba llena de sorpresas. Antes no creía en el destino, le parecía un concepto fatalista, creía que cada uno es libre de hacer su vida como se le antoja y él estaba decidido a hacer algo muy bueno de la suya, a triunfar y ser feliz. Ahora todo le parecía absurdo. Ya no podía confiar sólo en la razón, había entrado al territorio incierto de los sueños, la intuición y la magia. "

Pequeñas cositas:
- Me agrada mucho que los tres protagonistas son totalmente diferentes entre ellos.
- El personaje de Alex se ve que va creciendo a través de todo el libro y es hermoso ver ese progreso que va haciendo. Llega con una cabeza y se va con otra totalmente distinta.
- Amé más de lo que recordaba, el duo de que hacen Nadia y Alex. Los amo.
- ¡Los capítulos tienen títulos! Hace mucho que no leía algún libro con este detalle. Es una belleza.
- Las dos pruebas que pasan Nadia y Alex, están basados en sus miedos más fuertes junto a esa frase tan significativa: “Da algo para poder recibir”. Este libro te demuestra que hay que ir por el buen camino y no tentarse, como les pasaba a ellos en las pruebas para lograr ser “ÁGUILA Y JAGUAR”.

Si tienen la oportunidad de leer la trilogía háganlo gente. Sé que hay una edición que venden los 3 en uno y en edición de bolsilo. ¡Un golazo!

4,25 stars - Dutch paperback - I have dyslexia -
Aldo this is a young adult novel for teenagers from 14 years and up, this book is a literair thriller witch only Isabel Allende could put down on to paper.
A young boy/man travels with his grandmother (who wants to be called Kate) to the Amazon. Their part of a group travelling for National Georaphic. They meet up with Nadia the daughter of the guide of the group. Not all attendees of the group have the best intrest for the forest and its inhabitants. And Alex and Nadia discover the deep secrets of themselfs and this forest inhabitants. Who is friend or are the all enemy's?

I gave this book 5 stars because it had history and many action(which is a thing i love in books). Both things were great mixed together because Miss Allende made the book have action with history(from which you could learn from)without making it boring to read. This book has characters who probably could connect with you and very read to read about,because this book has characters of every kind.

The City of Beasts is about an American kid called Alex who has to go visit his grandmother. While visiting her he learns that she is going on a expedition to find the Beast, in the Amazon. The Beast is claimed to been seen by Indians and outsiders and it paralyses it’s victim with a horrid scent and then devours them. Alex doesn’t like spending time with her eloquent grandmother but it’s only choice because his others sisters are with his other grandmother, and his dad went to Texas to treat his ill mother. Alex soon learns that friendship is a great thing to him. When Alex goes on this thrilling adventure he will learn world-important things and a power of his which is very amazing. Alex shouldn’t put trust on all of the mischievous characters he´ll meet or his going to have a bad ending. He embarks on a life time expedition were he'll meet his nemesis or his allies.Alex will never be the same after this trip.

There is nothing better than a sassy grandmother, and this book certainly provides such a character. Kate's sarcasm alone is enough to make this book a real treat, but there are so many other things to enjoy as well (even for adults who generally avoid stories written for younger audiences). There's the social commentary, the lush and terrifying descriptions of the rainforest, the fun and uncanny mystery, the propulsive plot, the way Isabel Allende plays with fluid notions of self and personal identity as her characters journey deeper into the wilderness, and the narrative's blurry boundaries between humans, beasts, and their environments. Telling the story of a Conradian quest through the Amazon to find a mysterious creature, The City of the Beasts is an epic and promising start to a young adult trilogy, great for fans of nature, geography, monsters, and mysticism.