Cheri's Reviews > The Soul of a Woman

Allende, born in 1942, begins this memoir by saying ’When I say that I was a feminist in kindergarten, even before the concept was known in my family, I am not exaggerating.’ It’s very rare that a book grabs my attention from the first sentence on, but Allende did just that. As Dorothy says to Jerry Maguire, “You had me at hello.”

Being labelled a feminist has had different connotations through the ages, and different labels have been applied as years have passed, but it’s safe to say that none of us were around during the abolitionist movement that ended up allowing women the right to vote in America - 27 years after New Zealand, 18 years after Australia, 14 years after Finland and and 12 years after the UK.

In the U.S., feminists like Gloria Steinem began to be seen and heard from, as well as seen on television in the 1970’s after NOW, the National Organization for Women, was formed, and the Equal Rights Amendment, originally introduced in 1923 was finally passed in 1972. For many, at the time, feminism was considered not only unnecessary because women were, supposedly, elevated to some sort of pedestal where they were considered to have an advantaged station in life.

Embracing all of the positives of being a woman, Allende shares her life story while sharing her beliefs on what it means to be a feminist in a variety of ways, incorporating some of the women she’s met and felt deeply inspired by, the love and assistance they’ve offered to others. The grace and reverence that must be given to who and what we are, as we are, always learning more. She also shares some of the ways that being a woman of any and all ages has brought her not only wisdom through her years, but has shaped her views on life, as well as her writing - especially in her early writing years when the majority of writers were men.

There is also love - love of the men she’s shared her life with, her children, the love she’s found in friendships through her life. Along with her many life experiences over the years, she shares her grief over loss. And yet, a woman who has loved her life, is loving her life as her journey hopefully still has years to come, she shares her frustrations - but also the joys - of aging, and what she’s learned along the way. It all feels like a personal conversation, a sharing of her soul.

'Every year I have lived and every wrinkle I have tell my story.'

And what an impressive, lovely, positively hopeful and inspiring story. A joy to read.


Published: 02 Mar 2021

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing - Ballantine / Ballantine Books