***Book recommendation***- La isla bajo el mar by Isabel Allende

[Marianopolita]

I have a back log of novels to read that will last me for the next ten years easily. As a book collector and enthused reader of Spanish literature, I purchase books that I am interested in reading by preferred authors or authors whose literature I would like to sample knowing that down the road, hopefully in the near future, I will have the joy of reading them. Time is always a factor but I usually read about five to seven novels per year.

I joined the Isabel Allende fan club late. I have most of her earlier novels because I bought them at a book warehouse years ago, all brand new for a $1.00. Who could resist? However, most of her newer books I purchased randomly, including her children's literature series of which one book I did read, El bosque de los pigmeos. It's interesting enough considering the target audience and I will read the other two, La ciudad de las bestias and El reino del drag?n de oro.

Her new release has me very intrigued and although I have a ton novels before this one to read and I am going start reading it this weekend. La isla bajo el mar is a novel set in Saint-Domingue (1770-1793) which is modern day Haiti. The fictional story is about a young mulata who is forced into slavery at a very young age and how she strives to free herself from her masters in order to better her life.

I think this story line is an interesting change for the author because she would have had to do plenty of research about the history of the island of Hispaniola (as referred to today) and understand the dynamics presently in order to ensure that the facts and events in the novel are correct. As well, slavery is not an easy topic and many do not understand the gravity of its nature and the suffering endured by many. Although it?s fiction, I think it will provide some interesting insight into that time period in Saint-Domingue. In our world today, has slavery really ended? This is a question that requires serious consideration.

The novels I have read by Isabel Allende thus far have been her newer releases which include: La suma de los d?as, Mi pa?s inventado and as mentioned El bosque de los pigmeos and I have to say her literature is indeed impressive especially the first two novels I read. The level of her writing is to be recognized and her Spanish is up there. It's definitely not for those with a weak command of the language. It was one of the first aspects about La suma de los d?as and Mi pa?s inventado I noticed when comparing her novels to other authors I have read. I have sampled the first few pages of this new release on Google book and the caliber of her writing is at her usual high level.

La isla bajo el mar - Google Books

Currently, the hard cover of the Spanish version is available only. It's the top novel being read currently in Latin America namely Colombia, Argentina and Chile. She still maintains as the author with the highest readership among Latin American novelists.

I am looking forward to starting the book this weekend and I definitely will provide a book report once completed. Here is a brief video clip of her book presentation in Spain last month.

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* book titles not italicized due to margins


-Marianopolita.

 

[Marianopolita]

La esclavitud del siglo XVIII

In order to read this book and enjoy it to its fullest, I quickly realized that I need to understand the characters and possibly jot them down on a piece a paper so I am aware of who is who as I read the book. Isabel Allende has created some unique characters and understanding their role and how they interact is key to understanding and appreciating the principal theme of the book which is slavery in Saint-Domingue in a specific time period in the Caribbean.

I found this interview on casamerica.es in which Isabel talks about the characters of the novel and the role that each plays. She also goes into detail about the value of a slave, what a slave was worth during that time period and what a slave is worth now. I found it very inspiring how she talks about the characters and what she desired to bring about in an important theme today via this fictional novel that required a lot of research in order to create 'realism' in the story.

After reading various summaries, commentaries by other readers, excerpts and listening to the author herself talk about the book, I am ready to start reading it.

Has anyone else read any of Isabel Allende's novels lately and will you be reading La isla bajo el mar?

Here is the interview:

-great interview. I enjoyed listening to her speak.


Isabel Allende en directo - Casa de Am?rica



-Marianopolita.

 

[Chirimoya]

I just read it, in English, and enjoyed it more than I have her last few novels which I thought were more puffy than her earlier books. I recommend it as a good read and a pretty vivid glimpse of life in St Domingue and New Orleans in the late 18th/early 19th century.
Of course, readers who enjoy reading Spanish ought to read it in Spanish - the language it was written in.

 

[Marianopolita]

a good read for those who know about the history of the island----

lanacion.cl: Isabel Allende gana Premio Nacional de Literatura

This month Allende was granted the National Literary Award of Chile which is the highest literary recognition an author can receive in that country. I think she deserves it as a testimony of her success as a Chilean writer not only from the point of view of national identity but also as a female. Spanish literature especially Latin American is dominated by male writers, granted excellent ones but for a female author to make a break through as Allende has is a gigantic step forward for future female writers in Latin America that write in this generation and the one to come. I can't emphasize this enough.

Even though all her books may not have the same caliber (not the writing, but themes etc), Allende has proven her talent and ability to capture a broad range of international readers and her name always comes up among the best of contemporary Spanish literature. In literature classes in many universities excerpts from her books are always analyzed.

As I mentioned in my opening post, I joined the bandwagon late and as result started reading her most recent novels and will work my way backwards. At the rate I am going I will not get to most of her books anytime soon but I have prioritized what I will read and chip away bit by bit. From her collection, I have read thus far:

●La suma de los d?as

●Mi pa?s inventado

●El bosque de los pigmeos (from her children's collection)

●La isla bajo el mar - I finished this book a month after the earthquake in Haiti. What a coincidence. I posted my book review in the Spanish forum. Here it is: http://www.dr1.com/forums/830719-post108.html


My goal in the near future is to read:

1/ Her latest novel. Her tradition is to start writing a new novel on 8th of January of every year. However, I have been looking for any new work for 2010 and I have not found anything. Does anyone have any info on a possible new book release soon?

2/ In?s del alma m?a - the reviews are quite good on this book

3/ La ciudad de las bestias and El reino del drag?n de oro- just to complete the children's series.

4/ La casa de los esp?ritus- this is a must read for me because it's Allende's most renowned novel and a best seller.


-the rest of her collection will depend on time... there's no rush.

I just listened to the link I posted in my second post again, the interview comments of her book by the author herself. Still the same sentiment as last year when I listened to it- fabulous!


I have had another dismal summer of reading. I have one more chapter to read of a book to close my summer reading of 2010. The grand total of books read= 2. How disappointing but the fall is here now and I will be starting a new one shortly.


-MP.


Chiri- any reason why you did not read the original version in Spanish?

 

[Chirimoya]

My excuse is that we were reading it for our English-speaking book club. The real reason is: I have read books in Spanish but as a very fast reader I find it hard to slow down - which I need to do in Spanish in order to really take it in. So basically - laziness.