Status
Disponible
Call number
Genres
Publication
Litográfica Ingramex
Description
In this memoir, Isabel Allende reconstructs the painful reality of her own life in the wake of tragic loss--the death of her daughter, Paula. Recalling the past thirteen years from the daily letters the author and her mother, who lives in Chile, wrote to each other, Allende ... recounts the stories of the wildly eccentric, strong-minded, and eclectic tribe she gathers around her that becomes a new kind of family. Throughout, Allende shares her thoughts on love, marriage, motherhood, spirituality and religion, infidelity, addiction, and memory. Here, too, are the amazing stories behind Allende's books, the superstitions that guide her writing process, and her adventurous travels.--From amazon.com.
User reviews
LibraryThing member JGoto
Isabel Allende’s memoir, The Sum of our Days, is written in an intimate, casual style that is very readable. That said, it is hard to believe that so much drama could really exist in one family. After awhile, even shocking events had the effect of being just more of the same. Still, the writing
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was good and I recommend this book for fans of Allende’s novels. It lends insights into her family life, her spirituality and the books she wrote. Show Less
LibraryThing member itadakimasu
This book is a sequel of sorts (for lack of a better word) to Allende's earlier memoir, Paula. I found the writing style in this book to be far less intense, precise, evocative, and engaging. Yes, her "tribe" and their various different trials and issues are still mostly interesting, and I found
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some wisdom in her words and perspectives. However, I felt a distance in her words and emotions that were not present in Paula. Of course, she is covering a much longer span of time in Sum of Our Days (1993 - 2006) without the anchor point of Paula's illness, so perhaps I am seeing the difficulty of writing across a large expanse of memories with the same focus and presence as was found in Paula, which only encompassed the span of one very difficult year - even though so much of the book discussed her entire family history. By the end of the book, I almost got the impression that maybe, she is done with writing for a while. I sensed a kind of a weariness with the process. I certainly don't feel that she has another memoir in her - I got a feeling that she cameto a point where she was even boring herself while writing it, and eager to be done with it! Show Less
LibraryThing member noodlejet22
Allende shares her views on motherhood, love, and writing in what at times seems to be an extension of her work Paula. Through the book she talks to Paula and recounts her family's histories and her inspirations for her stories.
LibraryThing member chosler
Covering the year following the death of her daughter Paula {1992} through the present, Allende speaks briefly about each of her books from the period, but focuses more on the trials she and all of the members of her “tribe” have faced, including divorce and marriage, infertility, and
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everywhere how humans relate to death. The tone is open and frank, and the book is interesting even if one has not read any of Allende’s books. Mild language, some discussions of violence and torture, discussions of homosexuality {positively} and organized religion {in a negative light}, drug use and sexual discussions. Show Less
LibraryThing member tibobi
I really enjoyed reading about Allende's family. She talks of many challenges and doesn't hold back when it comes to giving her opinion. She's frank and honest and I admire that. Writing about your own family cannot be easy. One thing that really moved me is that she addresses Paula, her daughter
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the family members and how they called themselves a "tribe". Their strength and loyalties came through for me. Reading this book was like visiting a very close-knit family at dinner time. Warm and inviting. I'm also glad that she shared some of the writing process with her readers. I am always fascinated with the creation process. Overall, it was a satisfying memoir and memoirs are not usually my thing.
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that passed away, as if she is still there. As if she is just filling her in on what has happened since her illness. I was so touched by this.I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the family members and how they called themselves a "tribe". Their strength and loyalties came through for me. Reading this book was like visiting a very close-knit family at dinner time. Warm and inviting. I'm also glad that she shared some of the writing process with her readers. I am always fascinated with the creation process. Overall, it was a satisfying memoir and memoirs are not usually my thing.
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LibraryThing member beckmears
This memoir is the most self reflective of Isabelle Allende's 3 memoirs. I really enjoyed how it gave me much more of a insight into both Isabelle herself and the writing behind some of my much loved novels of hers. I want to re read house of the spirits ( again!) and the infinite plan now I know a
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bit more about the writing of them. It was also heart warming to see that the author I so admire is probably a most lovable nightmare to live with! she reminded me of my mother some what: small in stature but fierce in heart and with family the greatest thing of all. Show Less
LibraryThing member natalie.reynolds
A meandering, slower-paced memoir that shows Allende's love for her family in every sentence. I enjoyed the family anecdotes and her vivid descriptions of daily life.
LibraryThing member purplehena
Who knew Isabel Allende had such a sense of humor? I saw her read excerpts from this at a book reading in Chicago, and she had us all cracking up. Of course, this was not as gripping as Paula by any means, but it provided neat insight into the author's more recent life/influences for her stories.
LibraryThing member brigitte64
A wonderful book quirky and full of life, what a story :-)
LibraryThing member klburnside
It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I really enjoyed it. I have liked most of Isabel Allende's novels that I have read and it is so interesting to hear what is going on in someone's life as they are creating such beautiful works of fiction. Her writing is just so beautiful. I
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agree with Mom, I give tons of credit to the translator. Show Less
LibraryThing member SonoranDreamer
I enjoyed the style of this memoir, as well as the exposure to a different way of living. It seems to me that she wrote this for her readers, and it probably wasn't the best book of hers to read first since I'm not familiar with any of her books.
LibraryThing member uffigirl
extraordinary
LibraryThing member ElizabethCromb
Didn't enjoy this as much as all her other books. She seemed to be gathering and dispersing information about family members and friends rather than engaging in a narrative of interest to her readers.
LibraryThing member vdt_melbourne
Nice easy read. Isabel knows and is an interesting person
Original publication date
2008
ISBN
9789707802162