An emotional and epic read that spans the incredible 100year life of Violeta and bears witness to some of the most extraordinary events of recent history: The Spanish Flu; the Great War; the Great Depression; the fight for women's rights and the vote; the rise to power and subsequent fall of tyrant leaders; a second pandemic,etc, all penned in the form of a letter to the person she has loved above all others. The story recounts love and heartache, riches and poverty, moments of joy and horror. It is a life exquisitely and richly captured, an intricately woven and absorbing tale of a life incredibly lived. Characterisation and setting are powerfully depicted. An intriguing book. #violeta #isabelallende #netgalley

I absolutely adored this book. I did not want it to end. The descriptions were mesmerising, the characters unforgettable. I never want to forget Violets. Isabel Allende is such a talented writer, she can do no wrong.

Isobel Allende is magnificent, and this book is no exception. I've always been amazed at people from her lifetime, at all the upheaval they lived through. Even though this is fiction, there were very real stakes to this drama. I was hooked. Thank you so much for this ARC!

Firstly I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for my free ARC.

Told by a narrator that is anonymous to the reader , about a place that is described but remains in-named, this memoir is a meandering review of a past long ago. Less of a letter and more documentary, the events are disappointingly told without emotion and seem to just be a recollection of pictures rather than passion.

That said, the writing is good, description powerful and it is definitely a documentary of the past. I didn’t find it compelling however it is a slow and steady read, something to be enjoyed on a rainy Sunday.

Isabel Allende has written another effortlessly readable historical novel with Violeta. It takes in a century of turbulent Chilean history through the life story of the 100 year old Violeta, as she writes to her grandson Camilo.

I found myself completely caught up in Violeta, and the events of her life. She's a fabulous, flawed, honest heroine and the novel has a wonderful sweep with a cast of interesting supporting characters. Truthfully, the tide of Chilean history is treated somewhat superficially - in times it reads like a children's history book, However it remains a skilful piece of storytelling and one which I thoroughly enjoyed.

This was my first Allende book and I came to it with no pre-conceptions. So I am delighted that on the whole I found this a very satisfying, beautifully written novel. My only caveat is that after the first most enjoyable section of the book, it then became (to me unexpectedly) intensely political and rather confusing because, while I gradually realised that “the country” was Chile and “the capital” Santiago, it would have been helpful to this novice reader to have a clearer reference and thus understanding from the beginning. My fault for not researching this author before reading!
I was certainly immersed in the intensity of the writing and the passions of the protagonists. The tragedy of the “disappeared” of Chile is a terrible theme that runs through the political core of the book and it left me numbed and saddened for their plight.

An epic, sprawling tale about one woman’s life in an unnamed (presumably Chile) South American country. Born one stormy night in 1920 during the Spanish flu epidemic and dying 100 years later during Covid, Violeta's life, bookended by these two cataclysmic global events, is one of personal and political turmoil and upheaval, difficult personal relationships and economic ups and downs – never a dull moment for our Violeta. Loss, grief, pain, death, betrayal – and, admittedly, the odd bit of fun – are the themes that run through the narrative, told in a letter she writes to her grandson. So where does all this angst and drama leave us? Well, for me, nowhere at all really. I found the narrative style detached, flat – even bland – with no urgency or passion and with even the most dreadful happenings all told with a curious lack of affect. I was interested in the historical aspects of the novel but never became immersed in Violeta’s life and she never truly came alive for me. Thus I remained unmoved throughout. I don’t understand the acclaim the novel has garnered but it has obviously touched a chord with many readers so I must be content with being in a very small minority.

This was such a great read with brilliant emotional vulnerability and a lovely cover. This is the type of book that everyone needs to read at least once.

Isabel Allende has done it again - a story of such exceptional quality that I felt quite sad to finish it.

Violeta is born to a well off family, but her father faces financial ruin and kills himself - leaving a young Violeta to move to the countryside with her mother, aunts, brother, governess and the handyman. Each of these individuals are such well formed characters in their own right - my favourite being Miss Taylor, the governess, a formidable young lady who has travelled over to South America from England, well-mannered, independent, and who herself undergoes a great journey of personal discovery.

Throughout Violeta's life, there are many incidents, traumas, relationships and everything that goes into a full packed life. The whole of Violeta's life is laid bare, and her story is her legacy to her grandson - which creates the narrative structure.

Quite beautiful.

Another wonderful novel from Isabel Allende. our narrator is Violeta and she takes us through her long life in an unidentified South American country. Born, in 1920 into a relatively wealthy family she has 5 brothers and, as a result, is somewhat spoilt. Her stroppy behaviour leads her father to hire a governess from the UK to apply discipline and structure to his daughter's day. And so Miss Taylor joins the Del Valle household. Gradually, after a difficult start, she wins her pupil over and indeed the friendship they establish proves to last a lifetime.
Largely due to the global financial collapse that happened in 1929, but not helped by somewhat dodgy business dealings, Violeta's father loses everything and sinks into unmanageable debt. Unhinged by this he commits suicide so forcing his family to flee his creditors and the city. Violeta, her mother, two aunts, her oldest brother Antonio, Miss Taylor and their loyal gardener/handyman Torito opt to make the difficult train journey to a remote community in the mountainous Southern region. There, in Nahuel, they are taken in by a local family. At first everything seems truly primitive and strange but gradually they all adapt to, and fall in love with, this simple life. The decade spent there shapes the character of Violeta. She develops into a strong capable, but opinionated, young woman and is soon taking impulsive decisions that shall shape her entire life. She gets married, she moves to the city where she takes up a career in Antonio's business -a role in which she excels. Over the next 70 years there are numerous twists and turns in the story where, although she is financially successful, her chaotic personal life causes no end of emotional trauma.
Allende has given us a truly believable character in Violeta and it is fascinating to have revealed how her upbringing shapes both her character and her life. In her later years she is sustained by her love for her grandchild Camilo and it is to him that she is telling the story of her life that we read in this novel.
Allende's sensitivity in creating her characters allied to her love of South America combine here to produce a truly memorable book. Anyone who reads it shall remember Violeta for many a long day.

I enjoyed reading “A long petal of the sea” previously and was delighted to be given the opportunity to read another novel from this brilliant author and I haven’t been disappointed! This epic story stretching one hundred years from one pandemic to another charts a life over a century of massive changes, including several wars but documented from one person’s perspective. The writing style is a poetic, beautiful prose that needs to be savoured and read at a time when full attention can be given to the experience, this is not for rushing through but experiencing in a very readerly way. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been a long term fan of Allende since reading The House of Spirits as a teenager, and Violeta does not disappoint. Be aware that this is written slightly differently to Allende’s other work. It charts the life of 100 yr old Violeta as an account written for her grandson and in that respect it’s a love letter from the past and a portrait of someone’s internal life. The narrative purposely holds you at an objective distance, which I can understand some readers finding off putting. However the prose is gorgeous and I think the point is less to experience things in Violeta’s skin, than to see the tableau of the whole of her life. Not for everyone but a lovely book all the same.

This is a gripping book which covers 100 years in a woman's life. It grabbed me right from the start as it launched off with the flu post world war 1 and how it came to the South America country where this is set.
The book follows Violeta in her own words as she retells her story to a loved one. Her life is gritty, full of ups and downs as she grows up, falls in love, falls in love again and breaks down many of the rules for girls and women of her class and time. She continues her path as she ages, making a great contribution in the end. So worth reading.

Currently my favourite author. Violeta is an epic tale of the loves, lives, economics and politics of the peoples in a (semi-fictitious) South American country. It spans two pandemics and one hundred years. I loved this book and I love Isabel Allende’s way with words. Recommended a hundred times over.

Wow, this is a truly gorgeous story which is written beautifully. You can taste see and smell as you read, this is one book that will stay with me for a very long time and I will be purchasing a copy for my personal collection and a few others for friends and family. Everyone needs to read this!!!!

i am a fan of Isabel Allende and this book did not disappoint either. following Violeta's life over almost 100 years. Violeta is an amazing woman and lived a fantastic life. I would highly recommend this book.

Violeta is a tour de force of a novel, an epic tale of one amazing woman's life.

Born in 1920 in South America, Violeta was the only girl in a family of five boys. She survived Spanish flu, and now, at the end of her life, she is in the midst of another pandemic. Having time to reflect, she recounts her life story to her beloved Camilo.

It's a fascinating life. Stock market collapse leading to the ruin of her family. A loveless marriage, followed by a passionate and destructive love affair.
An introspective and fearful son, a rebellious and resentful daughter.

Violeta is a successful businesswoman at a time when women couldn't even open their own bank accounts.

She lives through military coups, and in her later years funds essential work in raising awareness of domestic violence in a country that denies its existence.

A truly absorbing story of a woman who encompasses all it is to be human. Flawed, but quietly heroic, Violeta is a stunning portrait of an amazing woman.

Historical fiction set in Chile, spanning 1920 until 2020, so an epic written as an epistolary novel. This novel takes the character, Violeta, born at the time of the Spanish flue epidemic in 1920 through some of the most difficult times of history through to 2020 and the Covid period. Recounting both her development, her feelings and her experiences for her grandson, this is a very well-written, well constructed narrative, and one that because of its epic nature, is totally compelling. The movement through time is handled well and the descriptions of life in Chile are brilliantly formed. There is a musical quality, always, to Allende's writing, and here, I'd go so far as to say operatic. It's literary, for sure, but highly readable and utterly compelling.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the pre-read.

3.5 stars. Having had a glance at other reviews, many echo my thoughts. This was well-written, interesting from a social history perspective examining events at different stages of the 100 years, and interest as the family/personal relations evolved. However I found it difficult at many points to engage with the main character or many others, perhaps the style of 'notebook' narration but it felt more like a study of life/lives rather than something more affecting.

The story of Violeta's life.
And what an intriguing, exiting, heartbreaking life it was.
The story is passed down to Violeta's Grandson Camilo, it starts in the proper way with her birth and ridiculously indulged childhood, that is altered by the arrival of her English Nanny Josephine Taylor, a formidable but kindly character who endears herself to the whole family. Violetta has five brothers, the oldest Jose is her confident and friend, he is in love with Josephine and nurses that passion for the rest of his life. Violetta marries Fabian, a boring German, but has an affair with cruel, self centered but charming Julian Bravo resulting in two children, Juan and Nieves but no marriage.
Violeta's children go through trauma and hardship against the backdrop of military rule, revolution and mass murder. What horrific details and heartbreaking stories, including the murder of her childhood friend and protector Torito a giant, simple man.
Sexual adventures abound with her finding happiness in an unlikely source.
Magnificent larger than life characters, situations and kindness abound.