I always enjoy her novels and this was no exception. Her autobiographical style makes it all so real and I loved reading all their stories, set against the background of Chile's turbulent politics, which makes it all the more interesting.

Set in an unnamed South American country, Violeta is the rollercoaster story of a strong and determined woman, a woman who battles dramatic changes in destiny. Violeta endures the ruin of her family, some less-than-perfect relationships, and almost permanent worry about her children. All the time she is doing her best to ensure her own survival – physical, economic and emotional – and that of her extended family and those who have befriended her along the way.

Violeta's life is mirrored by the tangled politics of Latin America in the 20th century....

(Full review in the link below)

Beautiful writing, well formed characters and wonderful story telling which kept me interested from the first page to the last. Was my first book from this author but I will certainly be seeking more of her books in the future.

The eponymous narrator of 'Violeta' is a one hundred year old Chilean lady, telling the story of her life to a person named Camilo. Her relationship to Camilo is not immediately explained but he appears to be a younger relative. Her story thus spans a whole century, starting with her birth to a wealthy family during a flu pandemic, the youngest and only girl. She lives through the Great Depression, poverty and richness, relationships with a range of friends and lovers, a military dictatorship, family trials and triumphs.

It's a fascinating and varied read, with an endlessly interesting backdrop. Violeta is a believable and sympathetic character - she has her flaws and gets some things wrong, but its ultimately likeable. I really liked her and found her a very real character. The candid, conversational style is really easy to read and draws you in quickly. It's one of those stories that vividly conjures up the places and characters described, without being too wordy. Maybe the best thing about the book is the host of supporting characters, many of whom are loveable and all of whom are interesting.

I've not read many books set in Chile (the only other Allende novel I read was a children's book and not set there), and it's always nice to read fiction set in different places. The country isn't actually named, but it's obvious that is the location. Violeta's (fictional) life enables the novel to cover a range of ground - both the lives of the class-obsessed elite and the rural poor. There are also sojourns to the USA and Norway. It manages to cover a good amount of history without ever getting bogged down in long explanations or detail, which is sometimes a failing of this type of novel. It helps that Violeta herself doesn't care greatly about politics except for how it affects her own life and those around her (so like the majority of humanity).

If you enjoy the 'fake life story' novels of William Boyd (e.g. 'Any Human Heart', 'The New Confessions', ''Nat Tate', 'Sweet Caress') you are very likely to enjoy this book also. The style and scope are similar, although in some ways 'Violeta' is a bit more accessible and overall more optimistic in tone than some of Boyd's. Likewise if you read and enjoy this, you should definitely try the above named Boyd novels. Comparisons aside, I would recommend to readers who like general fiction. It's an absorbing, engaging read with good characters and plenty to keep it entertaining throughout. I'm left feeling like Violeta is a real person that I met and liked, and there can't be a better compliment for a book than that.

Violeta is 100 years old, when she decides to tell her grandson Camilo her life story.... she was born during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1920... and died during COVID in 2020.

Violeta was the only daughter, her father was a business man... who thought he knew how to be successful ... however he lost the lot during the Great Depression .

The book follows the history of Chile over the last century ..from corrupt governments to dictatorships

Violeta led a colourful life.... and became a very successful business woman.... a rarity in Chile during the 1940's to today ...

An interesting read

Born in 1920 during the Spanish flu epidemic, Violeta’s life spans 100 years to 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic.

I loved this book and the story of Violeta’s life, which she tells to her grandson Camilo.

Lots of characters, places, history, ups and downs of life, loves and losses.

Isabel Allende can always be relied upon for a great book.

4 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first read by Isabel Allende and I REALLY enjoyed it. I tend to find Spanish=English books translate in a way that make the pace feel really slow (i.e. long, run on sentences, lots of description) but this wasn't the case at all with Violeta. I couldn't put it down!

Violeta is born in the midst of the Spanish flu and passes away at 100 years old mid-Covid. We join Violeta in all her life stages, from little girl, to mother, to grandmother and it was beautiful to see her growth; you can really sense she is getting a bit cranky and weary towards the end!

You also get a lot of history with this book and I found myself on google numerous times getting some more context; I love when a book inspires that. So if you're interested in Latin American history, feminism through the last century or communism in the late 20th century I'd definitely recommend this.

At its heart, Violeta is a beautiful life story that really made me think about how the events that surround me have affected my own life story. I highly recommend it.

Epic and adventurous novel but I felt it read more like a (very interesting) history book rather than a novel. THose who appreciate Allende's writing will like and appreciate this more. If you are new to her writing, I would suggest that it is best to start with another one.

I am impressed with this but it's hard to write a review as what do you put ? A novel that takes in so many years, world events, time and places.....

This was an extraordinary story of an extraordinary woman - I was completely swept up in the history, the setting and the characters. I love Isabel Allende's writing and this was no exception. Many thanks.

I just loved this book - it was superb. Beautiful writing and I was so drawn in to Violeta’s world, I was sad when it ended! I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Violeta is the story of a woman, her extended family (Del Valle and Rivas), her country (Chile), her continent (South America and the world from Violeta's birth in 1920 during the Spanish Flu pandemic to her death in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. It is also in many ways a narrative mirroring many aspects of the life of the author Isabel Allende and bears reading alongside 'Soul of a Woman' (2020), her autobiographical essay about feminism and aging.
This historical fiction novel is told in the first person by Violeta at the end of her century of her life as a series of letters to her grandson Camilo whom she has brought up since birth when his mother (Violeta's daughter Nieves) died in childbirth.
I have a lot of respect for Allende's storytelling and also for her activism and both of these are evident in Violeta, with Violeta being a chronicler of her own life and in later years an activist for feminist causes. I appreciated this book and for the most part enjoyed reading it but felt that the latter quarter or so became somewhat repetitive and almost polemic in places. It is a book for those who like Allende's writing and are interested in the history of Chile but I do not consider that it serves well as an introduction to the power of Allende's fiction.
Thank you to the publisher via Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book in return for an honest review.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I love Allendes books and was thrilled to be able to read this

Loved it

I had never read anything by Isabele Allende before but I certainly will after reading this. I loved this book and found it really hard to put down as I just wanted to know what happened next.
The book tells the story of Violeta who was born in the middle of the Spanish Flu in 1920 and dies in 2020 in the middle of the Covid Pandemic. She is born and lives in Chile but during her life travels around South America as well parts of the USA such as Miami. Her life isn’t especially earth shattering but we get involved with all aspects of it. From the fall into poverty during the Wall Street Crash and her life in the far south of the Country to her life in Miami, the reader is transported into a completely different world. As well as amazing locations, the characters in Violeta’s life are so memorable. I especially loved her maiden aunt who may or may not have fallen in love with the local farmer.
One of the loveliest aspects of the novel for me was the loyalty and love shown by so many of the characters for each other and their country. In the book, there are some beautiful examples of people loving others despite everything which has a really uplifting message.
The historical sweep of the novel is impressive but it is the small personal details and emotions that stayed with me.
This was a brilliant read and I am grateful to Net Galley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely book. Written as letters to her grandson it details her life in all its glory. The ups and downs. The amazing things that happen. So many people came in contact just at the right time.

I've always been intrigued by Isabel Allende's novels and so jumped at the chance to read this and am so pleased I did.

Violeta is a wonderful character. The book is in the form of a letter to someone she loves above all others and it is the story of her 100 years of life told in her own words and in her own way. She came into the world in 1920 in an unnamed South American country during the years of the Spanish flu, the only daughter in a house of five brothers. She talks about her childhood and we see how this independent and rebellious woman who is telling her story was formed.

In the century of her life she lived through the Great Depression and World War Two and her own country suffered political upheaval and dictators. She had passions and heartbreak. She faced financial loss. She saw all sides of humanity, goodness and abuse. In her life she was spared nothing and everything made her into this wonderful woman whose life began in one pandemic and is now fading away in another. Violeta is a woman that you wish you could have known.

A super book and thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for this advance copy. I have long been a fan of Isabel Allende, from the mesmerising and heart-breaking Paula (one of my favourite books of all time), to the enchanting House of the Spirits. Her most recent offering did not disappoint.

"I imagine some day when you are old and less busy, you might want to stop and remember me. I think you'll see that my life story is worthy of a novel, because of my sins more than my virtues."

Violeta, a centenarian, writes the story of her life to her grandson Camilo. Violeta was born during the widespread Spanish Flu epidemic, many elements of the time resonates with our current COVID pandemic. The story spans the reader back through the last 100 years of Chile's history and political landscape where freedom was limited for women. This historical fiction is full of eccentric and diverse characters - in true Allende style, and brings us through the years and places such as Cuba, Argentina, Norway, Miami and California.

Allende hasn't lost her colourful storytelling ability or wonderfully descriptive prose. The story loses momentum somewhat towards the end, but not enough to deflect from enjoying the book. Overall a charming novel.

A truly mesmerising read. Told in the first person, Violetta is telling the story of her life, and the turbulent times she witnessed. Thoroughly absorbing, you will laugh and cry with her. A true page turner. Couldn’t put it down.

Cannot describe in words how much I loved this book
Have read all of Isabel Allende books
Loved the characters in this book and was so sad when i finished it may start it again
Violeta was a wonderful character as were her lovers would give ten stars if I could

A totally absorbing story of a colourful and eventful life. As always the author provides a background rich in historical accuracy, to the extent that fictional and real characters people her work. The turbulent years of violent fascist regimes in the mid twentieth in South America, and the well documented stories of the disappeared is not ignored, or the abuses of violence in the home, but she manages to incorporate this into a warm and enthralling tale which is so obviously close to her heart.

This book tells the story of Violeta ,born in Chile during the Spanish flu epidemic and living to see the COVID pandemic of 2020. It’s told in the first person as a long narrative dedicated to Camilo ,Violeta’s grandson.She has a very long and varied life, moving around the country and around the Americas .There is tragedy and some comedy, as well as a large cast of interesting characters,and the book deals in some detail with events in the history of Chile and their repercussions.
I enjoyed the book ,although I didn’t find it as compelling as Isabel Allende’s last novel-it tends to be a bit rambling in parts and moves at a slower pace than some of her previous books.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.