Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

This is the thread for the September 2024 Buddy Read of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende.

I read this one in 2019. I love Isabel Allende's writing.

Just dropping by to say that I adore this book. I'm so jealous of people who haven't read it yet. You're in for a treat!

Great to hear, Katy and Alasse! I think Cynda and I both plan to start this mid-September. Maybe there will be others Alasse can be jealous of to join us. :-)

Yes! The more the merrier. And yes, mid September. I will be reading and audioing.

Starting this book tonight. Since I want to enjoy more, I will break up the reading over several or more nights.

Great! I'll start today. I'm reading multiple books, so I'll be reading past the end of the month, I'm sure. I like to savor Allende.

Finished reading. Near the end of the book, Eva Luna says that she takes many elements of life, asserts some control over the elements, and comes up with stories. . . .That is about right don't you think?

The variety of people and places, social groups, political conflicts makes for interesting story. Because of the complexity,I found it easier to start over and read in large sections as possible so that I did not lose the thread of who was who and what was what--more or less. I sometimes write a few notes. Yet sometimes I just enjoy reading though.

Yes, I think I agree with what you say Eva Luna does with her storytelling!

I'm glad reading it through worked for you. I'm finding I need to read it slower because of that density. I couldn't believe all that she packed into just that first chapter! I'm in the middle of chapter three now, but I'll be at it awhile. I do so enjoy Allende's storytelling.

Alasse wrote: "Just dropping by to say that I adore this book. I'm so jealous of people who haven't read it yet. You're in for a treat!"

I think I'm with you, Alasse. It was certainly a treat. It was too much for me at times--I felt like she was packing in so much. Allende's flow of ideas never runs dry! In the end I decided it was just as wonderful as her other novels, but in a different way.

I'm trying to figure out which character I liked best. Maybe Mimi. But actually, I adored the beginning, and could have read a whole book about Eva's mother Consuelo.

I agree so much about Consuelo and her adoptive mother could have a novella written about them. I feel the cuaderaisma/aspects of being (female) healer and her beloved adopted daughter.

Cynda wrote: "I agree so much about Consuelo and her adoptive mother could have a novella written about them. I feel the cuaderaisma/aspects of being (female) healer and her beloved adopted daughter."

Yes! I did want more about them. If you have any recommendations for female healer stories, I'd love to hear them, Cynda. :-)

Kathleen healers are in many places in literature, particularly folktales. If you particularly want hispanic female healers, look for collections of Southwestern folk tales. Here in South Texas, I can find an occasional story tucked in a book with other stories, books not of major printing houses. When you go to San Francisco,you might find such books tucked in bookcases of a used bookstore, books that are paperbacks of low quality. If a children's book is okay, try Prietita and the Ghost Woman / Prietita y la llorona. The book is bilingual, so you can read in English from same copy.

Otherwise Kathleen, I suggest Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. She was Hungarian/Magyar. The stories are traditional, filled with strong female healers and female healing. The stories are powerful, so much so that I kept sage simmering on the stove while reading in the kitchen.

Wonderful. Thanks so much, Cynda--both sound great! I think I have a copy of Women Who Run With the Wolves that I've somehow never read. Time to get to it--I'll get the sage out. :-)

Let me know if you want to buddy read. I would be interested to reread and discuss. Let me know.

Cynda wrote: "Let me know if you want to buddy read. I would be interested to reread and discuss. Let me know."

I'd be in for that also.

Good Katy. I will propose buddy read. From there, we can settle on a date.

Kathleen also remember that there is also The Stories of Eva Luna. Wikipedia provides a list of short stories included which may give you an idea if you want to read. If you do and want buddy read, let me know.