booksbydorothea: REVIEW - My Name is Emilia del Valle

My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende (eARC/eBOOK)

OVERVIEW

This was another mythical realism/historical fiction novel by Isabel Allende. It was a beautifully written book, but it didn't deliver for me and will not be one of my favorites by this incredible author.

It was about a journey of self-discovery by Emilia del Valle in Chile, her father's homeland. So much heartache, pain, and true wonderment occur while she is there.

TRIGGER WARNING: Violence, guns, murder, assassination, war, racism, sexism, xenophobia, sexual violence, and genocide

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

As always, Isabel writes in pure poetry. Her vivid descriptions of life in San Francisco and Chile are simple yet incredibly beautiful. She writes powerfully, instinctively, and from the heart and soul. No one writes like La Reina, Isabel Allende.

Character development: 3.0 stars

Unfortunately, the character development was weak. The characters were only developed on a very superficial level.

The main character is Emilia del Valle. She is vividly portrayed as a wanderer, seeker, and writer, but there is limited depth as to her motives, psyche, and innermost thoughts.

The secondary characters are Papo (Emilia's stepfather), Molly (Emilia's mother), and Eric (Emilia's best friend).

The tertiary characters were Americans in San Francisco and Chile, Chilean loyalists and rebels in the Chilean Civil War of 1891 (Civil War), various military and governmental figures, the Civil War, and the country of Chile.

Many historical figures and minor characters were mentioned in this novel, but they are too numerous to mention.

Storyline: 3.0 stars

The storyline started out slowly to set everything up. But it included some extraneous side stories, such as Emilia's trip to New York City. As I understood the premise of this novel, it was to be a story about a young woman and her self-discovery.

But once the story got moving before the Civil War in Chile, then the overwhelming detail of the Civil War took over. The violent descriptions and the visualizations of war made it all about the before, during, and after of this senseless Civil War. It was exceedingly wasteful and horrific, which all wars are, but it was not really about Emilia, period.

The main locations were San Francisco, New York City, and Chile.

Memorable/Informative: 3.0 stars

The violence of this Civil War will stay with me. It was not what I expected to read about, and at times, it felt gratuitous.

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Pretty!

Book title: 3.0 stars

It really wasn't the appropriate title.

Recommend

NetGalley ARC (eARC/eBOOK)

My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

304 pages

Ballantine Books