Reader's Corner
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Isabel Allende is probably most famously known for her book, The House of the Spirits, however, she’s written a number of other works that are also quite interesting. We usually read her essay “Writing as an Act of Hope” in class, so when I saw Daughter of Fortune on a shelf at one of my favorite Durham bookshops (shout out Letters Bookshop!), I decided to grab it. It has the Allende staple of magical realism that we see in many Latin American works, but it also tells a truly beautiful story of friendship and love.
The story begins in Chile, and follows the life of Eliza Sommers, who is left on the doorstep of a wealthy English merchant and his spinster sister. Eliza is raised in the lap of luxury, having her every wish and desire fulfilled, until she meets her first love and follows him to San Francisco at the height of the California Gold Rush in 1849. The people she meets and trials she faces along her journey end up shaping her in a way that she never would have imagined. I’ll admit, a lot of what I read is for pure entertainment purposes and doesn’t necessarily fall into the “good literature” category, but this book definitely does. Allende’s writing is truly beautiful. Take this line: “Joaquin Andieta lived the torment of a political romanticism that had no echo in that country of practical and prudent people (Allende, 112). There is SO MUCH to unpack in that sentence and it just flows so beautifully off the tongue that I literally just want to read it out loud over and over again. First, what is political romanticism? Let’s really think about that. So Joaquin (also a name that is really fun to say...pronounced wa-KEEN) is this kind of lost soul that has “romanticized” politics, meaning he believes that politics is the solution to all of his country’s (or really his) problems. He approaches politics in a pure, almost childlike way. But he’s tormented by this. So this beautifully pure thing that he believes in is also the proverbial Achilles Heel of his existence. And then Allende describes this country that Joaquin is so invested in fixing as one that has neither “practical” nor “prudent people.” Oh my alliteration. And the IRONY of it. You have a guy who is passionate about the world that surrounds him, he thinks deeply about it, he romanticizes politics, he thinks it will solve all problems - and yet, not a single person around him could care. The injustice apparent in that one line! And her novel is full of these types of lines and scenarios that are both beautifully crafted and also break your heart or move you emotionally in some kind of way...have I geeked out too much? Ok, I have. Time to come back to reality. If, like me, you appreciate some truly beautiful writing, then this is certainly one to put on your list. I mentioned earlier that this book tells a beautiful story of love and friendship, and I truly mean that. The plot is engaging, the magical realism is present, the writing is beautiful. What’s not to love?
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