Status
Available
Publication
Ballantine Books (2021), 192 pages
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Sociology. Nonfiction. HTML:From the New York Times bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea comes â??a bold exploration of womanhood, feminism, parenting, aging, love and moreâ?ť (Associated Press). â??The Soul of a Woman is Isabel Allendeâ??s most liberating book yet.â?ťâ??Elle â??When I say that I was a feminist in kindergarten, I am not exaggerating,â?ť begins Isabel Allende. As a child, she watched her mother, abandoned by her husband, provide for her three small children without â??resources or voice.â?ť Isabel became a fierce and defiant little girl, determined to fight for the life her mother couldnâ??t have. As a young woman coming of age in the late 1960s, she rode the second wave of feminism. Among a tribe of like-minded female journalists, Allende for the first time felt comfortable in her own skin, as they wrote â??with a knife between our teethâ?ť about womenâ??s issues. She has seen what the movement has accomplished in the course of her lifetime. And over the course of three passionate marriages, she has learned how to grow as a woman while having a partner, when to step away, and the rewards of embracing oneâ??s sexuality. So what feeds the soul of feministsâ??and all womenâ??today? To be safe, to be valued, to live in peace, to have their own resources, to be connected, to have control over our bodies and lives, and above all, to be loved. On all these fronts, there is much work yet to be done, and this book, Allende hopes, will â??light the torches of our daughters and granddaughters with mine. They will have to live for us, as we lived for our mothers, and… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Beamis12
I can't think of a better book to review on this very special day. A new administration, but also a woman, a black, Asian woman will be sworn in as Vice-President of the United States. The first woman to rise to the upper ecehlon of our government. May there be many more.
Allende's own feminism
She goes on to give us glimpses of her life, her early and developing personality, thoughts. Her writing career, mocked as a woman writer in her home country, she eventually with the help of an intrepid publisher, became successful. Her books have sold in many countries and she has become an author of much renown. She talk about her passionate nature and love, something that she has never given up on.
She goes on to describe her views on feminism, the struggles of so many women in cultures, countries where men dominated and women have little recourse. The fight for women everywhere to claim tiny portions of their own lives. A fight that continues, must not end.
A very special book, a look into the character of an author who is a very unique and talented individual. It spoke to me on many levels. I love glimpses such as this, into the life of a individual, author I admire.
"But there's no feminism without noise, as we would ascertain later."
"Every year I have lived and every wrinkle I have tell my story."
"Objectification of women is so predominant that we don't even perceive it, and in our youth it enslaves us. Feminism has not saved us from that servitude."
ARC from Edelweiss.
Allende's own feminism
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appeared early, a time when her mother was left alone to raise three young children. Seeing her mother struggle, she was determined to never in her life give total control to a man. In South america, a male oriented country, this was not a popular stance.She goes on to give us glimpses of her life, her early and developing personality, thoughts. Her writing career, mocked as a woman writer in her home country, she eventually with the help of an intrepid publisher, became successful. Her books have sold in many countries and she has become an author of much renown. She talk about her passionate nature and love, something that she has never given up on.
She goes on to describe her views on feminism, the struggles of so many women in cultures, countries where men dominated and women have little recourse. The fight for women everywhere to claim tiny portions of their own lives. A fight that continues, must not end.
A very special book, a look into the character of an author who is a very unique and talented individual. It spoke to me on many levels. I love glimpses such as this, into the life of a individual, author I admire.
"But there's no feminism without noise, as we would ascertain later."
"Every year I have lived and every wrinkle I have tell my story."
"Objectification of women is so predominant that we don't even perceive it, and in our youth it enslaves us. Feminism has not saved us from that servitude."
ARC from Edelweiss.
Show Less
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Yes, it is a memoir, but not a linear memoir. Not only does Allende look at her own life and how she’s been a feminist even as a child, but she also looks at atrocities committed attains women around the world. She grew up with a single mom. After Allende’s dad disappeared, her mother was
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forced to move in with Allende’s grandfather. Allende watch women being victimized from an early age and was determined to create her world rather than submit to what others felt she should do. While the story rambles at time, Allende accomplished her goal of defending feminists around the world. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecataldi
Allende, Isabel. The Soul of a Woman. digital. 2021. Books on Tape.
Bestselling author, Isabel Allende, offers up an intimate memoir on the impact feminism has had in her unique and fulfilling life. As a child and later as a young woman in the sixties; Isabel realized that women were often seen and
Bestselling author, Isabel Allende, offers up an intimate memoir on the impact feminism has had in her unique and fulfilling life. As a child and later as a young woman in the sixties; Isabel realized that women were often seen and
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not heard. Her mother's circumstance and that of many other women in Chile inspired her to a life of action - she is nothing, if not passionate in all her undertakings. Three marriages, two children, one heartbreaking loss, and travels around the globe have brought her closer to the human condition and the hearts of women everywhere. Women want not just love, but safety, bodily autonomy, value, respect, and connectedness. The Soul of a Woman is a quilt of stories, poetry, anecdotes, and truths that women carry - in every culture and continent. Passionately narrated by Gisela Chipe; filled with warmth, feeling, and emotion. The book concludes with the hope that Allende will "light the torch of our daughters and granddaughters with mine. They will have to live for us, as we lived for our mothers, and carry on with the work still left to be finished." Beautiful and fulfilling; a must read for women everywhere. Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN Show Less
LibraryThing member SocProf9740
I'm woman. Hear me roar. Isabel Allende is an unabashed feminist. Proud and loud. This book is meditation weaving together her personal experience with a parade of the harm done to women, macro and micro. And she's reached the age where she DGAF. Good for her.
I would have preferred more personal
I would have preferred more personal
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stories than general stuff about the female condition, but it's still a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member ElizabethCromb
A book written at the start of the Covid 19 pandemic when Isabel was at the start of her 3rd marriage and in her 70's. She reflects on her past achievements, challenges and efforts in life, love and the advancement of women's rights and equality. This book is her effort to pass the batton on to
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other women for future generations. Show Less
LibraryThing member overthemoon
A precious little book written during the early weeks of lockdown in 2020, about feminism, about age, asking the question, what do women want. Now in her seventies, still experiencing passion - in a calm way - Allende is at peace with herself, "bien dans sa peau", determined and happy. She
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sometimes made me laugh, and occasionally, cry, though she is not sentimental. I like to think that if we knew each other, we would be good friends. Show Less
LibraryThing member JudyCroome
Even at 78 years of age, Allende's writing has page turning quality. Once I started this short book, I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. The writing aside, I'm left with ambivalent feelings about the content.
Her passion for her cause (feminism and women's rights) is clear: her writing is
However, there was an element of confusion and disorder in the book; very much a rambling narrative that kept circling round to the favourite passion of her youth: patriarchy and how to destroy - if not annihilate - it.
Ultimately, its a pity Allende appears to be struggling with accepting that, like the old brand of feminism itself, her time is past. When talking about her grandchildren, she remarks, “I hate it when they talk of “your time.” This is my time!”
While in a way I can agree with that cry from the heart, that cry for relevance and meaning in one's life no matter what our age, in another way, no-one can fight the passage of time and the changing social mores of each generation.
Allende served her time with great distinction and courage: but the feminism of today needs adjustments, it needs checks and balances to make sure the suffering of the true victims of a malignant patriarchy (those women who still today are subjected to genital mutilation or who, like Malala Yousafzai, are refused education because they are women) is not appropriated for less noble purposes by modern women who have merely been taught that they are victims of an evil patriarchy without actually having experienced the real suffering. I live in a country where people - both male and female - go to bed night after night having had NO food; yet someone like the "feminist activist" Meghan Markle claims poverty because "eating out was something special". [Note 1]
Allende raises the rallying battle cry of “Enough of euphemisms. Enough of partial solutions. Profound changes are needed in society and it’s us, women, who can impose them. Remember that no one gives us anything. We have to seize what we want. We need to create global awareness and get organized. Now, more than ever before, this is possible because we have information, communication, and the ability to mobilize.”
Yet, a few pages later she says, “We want a world of beauty, not only that which the senses appreciate, but also the beauty perceived by an open heart and a clear mind. We want a pristine planet protected from all forms of aggression. We want a balanced and sustainable civilization based on mutual respect, and respect for other species and for nature. We want an inclusive and egalitarian civilization free of gender, race, class, and age discrimination, and any other classification that separates us. We want the kind of world where peace, empathy, decency, truth, and compassion prevail. Above all, we want a joyful world. That is what we, the good witches, want. It’s not a fantasy, it’s a project. Together we can achieve it.”
I couldn't help asking myself if Allende's vision of joyful world - birthed from her defiant battle cry to "end the patriarchy, an ancient institution that exalts masculine values (and flaws) and represses the female half of humanity" has only the potential to be another Animal Farm rather than a world that, irrespective of gender, has learnt to respect and embrace individual differences. In today's world, gender based violence is not only male-on-female; sadly statistics show that women are increasingly capable of domestic violence against men [Note 2] and, even more worryingly, that the % of girl bullies is on the increase [Note 3].
If Allende could have left 21st century feminism to the new feminists and focused only on a new passion (such as ageism, on which she wrote a few snippets with poignant eloquence) "THE SOUL OF A WOMAN" would have been deeply inspiring rather than sad.
Despite many powerful moments in the text, I felt as if I'd watched a prize fighter, a world champion, past her best, struggling to cling to her glory days, yet not quite making it.
Note 1: Meghan Markle "Paid Leave for All"
Note 2: Domestic Violence Against Men
Note 3: Girl Bullies on the Increase
Her passion for her cause (feminism and women's rights) is clear: her writing is
Show More
never more alive than when she's expounding on the dreadful sufferings of many women across the globe in countries with little or no rights. Even though it can't save every oppressed woman, her foundation makes a real difference to thousands of individual women and that is a noteworthy achievement few people can lay claim to.However, there was an element of confusion and disorder in the book; very much a rambling narrative that kept circling round to the favourite passion of her youth: patriarchy and how to destroy - if not annihilate - it.
Ultimately, its a pity Allende appears to be struggling with accepting that, like the old brand of feminism itself, her time is past. When talking about her grandchildren, she remarks, “I hate it when they talk of “your time.” This is my time!”
While in a way I can agree with that cry from the heart, that cry for relevance and meaning in one's life no matter what our age, in another way, no-one can fight the passage of time and the changing social mores of each generation.
Allende served her time with great distinction and courage: but the feminism of today needs adjustments, it needs checks and balances to make sure the suffering of the true victims of a malignant patriarchy (those women who still today are subjected to genital mutilation or who, like Malala Yousafzai, are refused education because they are women) is not appropriated for less noble purposes by modern women who have merely been taught that they are victims of an evil patriarchy without actually having experienced the real suffering. I live in a country where people - both male and female - go to bed night after night having had NO food; yet someone like the "feminist activist" Meghan Markle claims poverty because "eating out was something special". [Note 1]
Allende raises the rallying battle cry of “Enough of euphemisms. Enough of partial solutions. Profound changes are needed in society and it’s us, women, who can impose them. Remember that no one gives us anything. We have to seize what we want. We need to create global awareness and get organized. Now, more than ever before, this is possible because we have information, communication, and the ability to mobilize.”
Yet, a few pages later she says, “We want a world of beauty, not only that which the senses appreciate, but also the beauty perceived by an open heart and a clear mind. We want a pristine planet protected from all forms of aggression. We want a balanced and sustainable civilization based on mutual respect, and respect for other species and for nature. We want an inclusive and egalitarian civilization free of gender, race, class, and age discrimination, and any other classification that separates us. We want the kind of world where peace, empathy, decency, truth, and compassion prevail. Above all, we want a joyful world. That is what we, the good witches, want. It’s not a fantasy, it’s a project. Together we can achieve it.”
I couldn't help asking myself if Allende's vision of joyful world - birthed from her defiant battle cry to "end the patriarchy, an ancient institution that exalts masculine values (and flaws) and represses the female half of humanity" has only the potential to be another Animal Farm rather than a world that, irrespective of gender, has learnt to respect and embrace individual differences. In today's world, gender based violence is not only male-on-female; sadly statistics show that women are increasingly capable of domestic violence against men [Note 2] and, even more worryingly, that the % of girl bullies is on the increase [Note 3].
If Allende could have left 21st century feminism to the new feminists and focused only on a new passion (such as ageism, on which she wrote a few snippets with poignant eloquence) "THE SOUL OF A WOMAN" would have been deeply inspiring rather than sad.
Despite many powerful moments in the text, I felt as if I'd watched a prize fighter, a world champion, past her best, struggling to cling to her glory days, yet not quite making it.
Note 1: Meghan Markle "Paid Leave for All"
Note 2: Domestic Violence Against Men
Note 3: Girl Bullies on the Increase
Show Less
LibraryThing member thewestwing
I randomly picked this book on my library app. I didn’t recognise the author and have never read anything else written by Allende. This book was an interesting quick read.
LibraryThing member terran
Gave me insight into life experiences and philosophy of a favorite author.
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
7.79 inches
ISBN
0593355628 / 9780593355626