Emma's Reviews > A Long Petal of the Sea

I love Allende's writing, but some of her books are a bit lacklustre. I'm guessing this is one. : (

Kevin wrote: "I love Allende's writing, but some of her books are a bit lacklustre. I'm guessing this is one. : ("

I was so surprised. I expected something lyrical and impactful, but it was so paired down it just felt like such hard work.

Which of hers should I read instead??

Emma wrote: "Which of hers should I read instead?? ..."

Well, I really enjoyed
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...
but I have others of hers that I didn't finish.

For female magical realism authors (and lyrical prose), I prefer Jess Kidd. : )

I love this magical realism novel: wry humour meshed into a dark storyline, backed up with lyrical prose and playful dialogue.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Kevin wrote: "Emma wrote: "Which of hers should I read instead?? ..."

Well, I really enjoyed
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...
but I have others of hers tha..."


Ah I thought out might be that. The House of the Spirits was the one we used to sell the most of when I worked at Waterstones, but I haven't tried it yet. Jess Kidd is a name I've seen, The Hoarder especially, but again not read it yet...

Emma wrote: " Jess Kidd is a name I've seen, The Hoarder especially, but again not read it yet... "

I heartily recommend both books (Himself and The Hoarder)
I've just remembered you like Rushdie.
His latest is out today (I think). You've jogged my memory to buy it!!
Can't wait.

Kevin wrote: "Emma wrote: " Jess Kidd is a name I've seen, The Hoarder especially, but again not read it yet... "

I heartily recommend both books (Himself and The Hoarder)
I've just remembered you like Rushdie...."

Thanks! And I'd completely forgotten about the new Rushdie until I saw a review earlier... I'm looking forward to it too.

Ah, too bad, Emma. I appreciate your helpful review.

Christine wrote: "Ah, too bad, Emma. I appreciate your helpful review."

I really struggled with this one. Have you read her before, Christine??

Ah shame. I've read a few of her books and always enjoyed them. But not for years.

Emma, try Island Beneath the Sea for some great historical fiction.

Louise wrote: "Ah shame. I've read a few of her books and always enjoyed them. But not for years."

The writing in this let it down completely, didn’t it?!

Natalee wrote: "Emma, try Island Beneath the Sea for some great historical fiction."

Oh I do like the sound of that one, is it your favourite of hers? Thanks for the recommendation.

I am also trying hard to get into this book, I think this is my third try. I get what you mean, too much detail, I want more of the characters hearts :(

Dorie - Cats&Books :) wrote: "I am also trying hard to get into this book, I think this is my third try. I get what you mean, too much detail, I want more of the characters hearts :("

That’s totally it! Lists of what’s happening, not enough reason for us to care...

Yep

I’m reading this now and completely agree with your review. I’m going to stick with it but it’s boring me

Jess (bibliophilly_) wrote: "I’m reading this now and completely agree with your review. I’m going to stick with it but it’s boring me"

I hope you manage to find something in it...

Emma, I feel the same way. The characters never really came to life, and it was one event or thought after another.

Sharon wrote: "Emma, I feel the same way. The characters never really came to life, and it was one event or thought after another."

I really wanted to get a real sense of the time but there was no emotion in it. It's a shame! Sorry it didn't work for you either.

Thank you for putting into words what I experienced as well.

My review is very similar. I felt the same way. This book just didn’t work for me. I’m glad I’m not alone.

April wrote: "My review is very similar. I felt the same way. This book just didn’t work for me. I’m glad I’m not alone."

Definitely not! You did well to get all the way through, I think.

Deb wrote: "Thank you for putting into words what I experienced as well."

I love history and historical fiction, but this is definitely the wrong way to do both...

Agreed. This happened, then that happened. I finally did liked the characters but not until the end of the book.

This is exactly my take on this book.

Diane wrote: "Agreed. This happened, then that happened. I finally did liked the characters but not until the end of the book."

That’s a looooonnggg time to start feeling something, isn’t it?? I didn’t make it that far so you did better than me.

Rita wrote: "This is exactly my take on this book."

I’ve heard her earlier work is much better so I’m going to give that a go.

I have to agree. It's mainly a list of events, all telling, little showing. People and places are a bit 2 dimensional. It's a tragic story, dully told. It lacks passion. Brenda

Brenda wrote: "I have to agree. It's mainly a list of events, all telling, little showing. People and places are a bit 2 dimensional. It's a tragic story, dully told. It lacks passion. Brenda"

That's precisely what I felt Brenda!

I stopped reading it for the same reason. I was disappointed because I have loved so many of her books! I thought maybe it was me, my mood at first, but after seeing your review I thought ok - it’s not just me!

It's sad, really, as Allende does obviously care about what she has written about, but it just doesn't come over this time. I don't know a lot about Chile and it's recent history, but I do know a lot about Spain and the Civil War, and as anyone will know, almost everything about that has been written by outsiders, mainly because of the censorship that went on for years. The bit about the internment camp is fairly new to me, though, and is one bit that does hit home.

Zoe wrote: "I stopped reading it for the same reason. I was disappointed because I have loved so many of her books! I thought maybe it was me, my mood at first, but after seeing your review I thought ok - it’s..."

It's becoming clear to me that I should try her others since so many of the people agreeing with me on this one have liked past books of hers. Obviously this one was a rare fail.

Brenda wrote: "It's sad, really, as Allende does obviously care about what she has written about, but it just doesn't come over this time. I don't know a lot about Chile and it's recent history, but I do know a l..."

I don't know much about the Civil War and I was hoping to use this as a way in before picking up something more historical. You're right that she seems to care, she's obviously done lots of research, but it seemed so soulless, didn't it?

One of the very best novels about the Spanish Civil War is The Armed Rehearsal by Peter Elstob, who was a British Volunteer. It was pub. in 1964 by Secker & Warburg & will be out of print by now, but there may still be 2nd hand copies around. I got one last year. If you want to read a memoir, Jason Gurney's Crusade in Spain is brilliant & so well written. There's also The Shallow Grave by Walter Gregory(from Nottingham) which Five Leaves republished recently. They were both volunteers. I can give anyone a list of memoirs, if interested. Otherwise Paul Preston and Anthony Beevor's histories are excellent, if heavy reading! There's loads more, of course, but all written by non-Spaniards.

Brenda wrote: "One of the very best novels about the Spanish Civil War is The Armed Rehearsal by Peter Elstob, who was a British Volunteer. It was pub. in 1964 by Secker & Warburg & will be out of print by now, b..."

Thank you so much! You know as soon as I posted my first reply I kicked myself for not asking for recommendations and I promised myself I would if you replied. You preempted me! I have the Beevor but none of the others so I’ll see if I can find them.

Really appreciate your suggestions!

Emma wrote: "Zoe wrote: "I stopped reading it for the same reason. I was disappointed because I have loved so many of her books! I thought maybe it was me, my mood at first, but after seeing your review I thoug..."
Eva Luna is one of my all time favourite books. That's real magic and a wonderful piece of writing. I guess magical realism is Allende's true forte. Eva Luna really takes you with it. A Long Petal just leaves you sitting there. Brenda

Brenda wrote: "Emma wrote: "Zoe wrote: "I stopped reading it for the same reason. I was disappointed because I have loved so many of her books! I thought maybe it was me, my mood at first, but after seeing your r..."

Now that one sounds amazing! Once my library opens again I’ll grab it.

Emma wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Emma wrote: "Zoe wrote: "I stopped reading it for the same reason. I was disappointed because I have loved so many of her books! I thought maybe it was me, my mood at first, but afte..."
It didn't occur to me before('cos I'm not the pushy type)that you might like the two Spanish Civil War stories that are in my own book THE SIREN OF SALAMANCA ISBN 978-1-527210-67-7 . They aren't awfully long, but they are very heartfelt, and I really did make the journey in Return Journey in 1993, but someone nicked our bag of maps and it was almost impossible to tell exactly where the sites were, as people still weren't talking about the war. They are a bit more, now. We went back in 2015 and did a Civil War tour around the Ebro Front. I used to read Return Journey aloud at reading sessions and people were always very moved by it. You can get copies direct from me or via Amazon. I had to republish it myself in 2017 as my original publisher went bust. There's some other good stuff in there - I'm sure you'd like it! The title story is Spanish too, though contemporary, and is magical realism. It won an award in 2005.

Brenda wrote: "Emma wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Emma wrote: "Zoe wrote: "I stopped reading it for the same reason. I was disappointed because I have loved so many of her books! I thought maybe it was me, my mood at fi..."

Thank you Brenda!! I’ll search for this on amazon. I really appreciate your recommendations.

Exactly my thoughts

Well said Emma, I felt the same.

Cathy wrote: "Exactly my thoughts"

It’s a shame, isn’t it??

Christine wrote: "Well said Emma, I felt the same."

Hope you for something more *you* next time !

I stopped reading for the same reason.

Terry wrote: "I stopped reading for the same reason."

There’s nothing to get hold of, is there? On to the next...!

Exactly.

Nina wrote: "Exactly."

A disappointing read, that’s for sure!

DMC wrote: "Yes, it is very researched and exponential. While I like a good setting, this feels more like a history book than story. It is more about the time and place than the characters. Add the slow burn t..."

It's too much information, too little emotion I think.

I'm only reading this for my book group. The history is informative but if I never read another Allende novel, it will be too soon.