Paula [B1608]

2002 PB reissue of the 1996 original, in nice clean condition. "Beautiful and heartrending. . . . Memoir, autobiography, epicedium, perhaps even some fiction: they are all here, and they are all quite wonderful."-Los Angeles Times. In this literary classic, New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende recalls the story of her beloved daughter and her remarkable family's past.

When her daughter, Paula, became gravely ill and fell into a coma, Isabel Allende began to write the story of her family for her unconscious child. Bizarre ancestors are introduced; delightful and bitter childhood memories are shared; amazing anecdotes of youthful years are relived, and the most intimate secrets are quietly passed along. Like Allende's first novel, The House of the Spirits, this powerful memoir is infused with the real, the magical, and the spiritual, creating a haunting, sad, and beautiful tale.

From the many recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews, most of which are written in Spanish: "It's quite a heartbreaking story. Throughout Allende's days by her daughter's side, she recounts her own memories and adventures of her life as a mother, daughter, wife and writer. It's a difficult read because of the subject matter, but Allende is a master storyteller and it is worth reading."; "I don't give 5 stars to books unless I truly believe they deserve it, and this is one of the few books that earns that honor. It's an extremely honest and vulnerable novel where Allende sheds all her prejudices and fear of judgment, writing from the heart, even if she sometimes says uncomfortable things. It's incredibly moving and beautiful. I'm speechless after finishing it."; "Stunning. A vivid description of life, love and loss"; "I cried, laughed, and worried so much while reading these pages. It was a truly wonderful experience to get to know the author through this personal book. I find it astonishing how honest and vulnerable Isabel Allende reveals herself. Paula's fate completely captivated me. I think it's really fascinating to learn how certain life experiences, such as interesting family members and the dictatorship in Chile, inspired the author to write her books. Paula is a book that unexpectedly fell into my hands and will keep me thinking for a long time."; ""