Hija de la Fortuna = Daughter of Fortune, Isabel AllendeDaughter of Fortune is a novel by Isabel Allende, It was published first in Spanish in 1998. Isabel Allende says "of her female protagonist in Daughter of Fortune, Eliza, that she might well represent who the author might have been in another life." Allende spent seven years of research on this, her fifth novel, which she says is a story of a young woman's search for self-knowledge. In Chile during the 1840's, Eliza Sommers is a young Chile...

According to Isabel Allende, the timeless tale she weaves in House of the Spirits begins with the story of Eliza Sommers in Daughter of Fortune. Eliza Sommers is found in a basket as a newborn baby at the Valparaiso, Chile home of Jeremy and Rose Sommers (brother and sister). Rose is only 20 years old but resigned to spinsterhood and immediately feels compassion for the child, takes her in, and decides to raise her like a daughter, much to the admonition of her brother.We fast forward our tale 1...

This book starts out VERY engaging and remains that way through the first 3/4. Then, very abruptly, it is as if Allende ran out of things to say, or rather, became distracted by another project. The book ends TERRIBLY! The last 1/4 is a slog to get through and, becuase the first part is so wonderful, I kept reading and thinking "surely, this will work out." But no joy. I would suggest reading it BUT don't hope for a great wrap up at the end. It is a lot like drinking a cold bottle of Coke on a h...

Rather than an objective evaluation of this novel as a work of literary fiction, this rating and review is more a reflection of how deeply it has continued to affect me over the years. Despite the differences of time and place, customs and traditions, exposure and beliefs, there is something very primitive about the bonds I share with Eliza Sommers. And to some extent, to the English colony in Valparaiso, Chile, where this story is set, in the first half of the 19th century. I am too strongly af...

This is a beautifully written, saga set in Valparaiso and San Francisco. Eliza Sommers, as an infant was found on the doorstep of Jeremey and Rose Sommers, brother and sister’s home. Eliza is brought up as an upstanding young lady. She falls in love with Joaquin Andieta. Joaquin has desires to become rich and follow his dream. He desires to go to California and discover gold.He leaves his mother and Eliza but promises to return. Eliza realizes that she is with child and decides to join Joaquin i...

3.5 stars Confession time! I was cleaning this weekend and came across this book. A book that I thought I had finished reading, but I found a bookmark where I had obviously stopped.A proper re-read for 2018 was warranted!The best way to describe Isabel Allende is that she's both poet and painter. Just like a poet, Allende wants her readers to be seduced by all five senses. Like, a painter, Allende makes sure that her readers; with their eyes open or shut are transported back to the time period

Basically this book is about a young pregnant woman from Chile in 1849 that travels to America during the gold rush to find her lover that left her in that condition. But the book is so much more and it's an epic tale of a woman's strength and so many other things. It's very atmospheric and grey novel but powerful

This is the third book in the last few months that I wish never ended. The other two were by Ann Patchett. The difference is that Isabel Allende's, "Daughter Of Fortune," has a sequel that I have already ordered."Daughter Of Fortune," is top heavy with fantastic characters and as anyone who knows me knows, I am a firm believer that characters are what drive a story, and there are many stories in this amazing book, each driven by unforgettable characters.It takes place on three continents, Europe...

This is an interesting historical fiction about a Chilean woman, Eliza Sommers, who comes to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. She is hunting for her lover, Joaquin Andiata, who left Chile for the gold fields of California.The book is well written and researched. Allende states she spent seven years researching this book. So many books have people coming from Europe to the California Gold Rush. It was great to read a story where the key people come from South America. Allende is a g...

This work is an exciting historical novel in which we find a young Chilean woman of English education, Eliza Sommers. In 1849, when gold has discovered in California, she lived in Valparaiso. Still, when her lover, Joaquin Andieta, leaves in search of fortune, she follows him and finds herself in the basement of a ship, willing to do anything to regain the love of his life. The infernal voyage and the search for the lover in a land of prostitutes and lonely men exalted by the gold fever make thi...

The story begins in Valparaiso, Chile and is focused around Eliza Sommers. An infant Eliza was abandoned on the doorstep of Rose and Jeremy Sommers (brother and sister), and Rose raised Eliza as the daughter. One day, Englishman Jacob Todd comes to Chile, supposedly as a missionary out to convert the heathen population. Many, many pages then ensue with endless bits of information about Todd's life in Chile and his socializing with the Sommers until he's finally run out of town. How exciting that...

I remember beginning to read Daughter of Fortune several years ago but for some reason put it aside and never finished it. How I was able to do that so easily, I will never know because the second time around this book ended up being difficult to put down.Isabel Allende has created a very engaging and well-rounded character in Eliza Sommers. I found the most endearing thing about Eliza was her stubborness and her imperfections. Often that is what will draw me to a character because it makes them...

My second Allende and it if this is bowling, this is her second strike.The first one was last year. "Paula", Allende's memoir of her daughter who died while in coma. I liked it so much that I told myself that I will try to read all her books. Her crystal-clear prose, told in a simple straightforward fashion, is like a breath of fresh air and her stories about Chile that go back to the times even as far back as her great-great grandparents' years are so interesting that I envy her for knowing tho...

This novel has flashes of brilliance and beautiful writing, but is dragged down by a meandering plot and truly terrible dialogue. At times, it feels like Allende is less interested in putting together a coherent story with compelling characters, and more interested in detailing life in various 1850s societies (Valparaiso, San Francisco, Hong Kong). There's a lot in here about how women are treated in each place, the awfulness of deep poverty, and racism across continents. It's interesting to rea...