Book Club Discussion: Violeta

[ufcasey]

This month's book club discussion is for Violeta by Isabel Allende. I couldn't find any discussion questions, so feel free to just post your opinion/thoughts about the book

[ufcasey]

Tagging people who may have read the book:
meowmaps, dontlook, sju, travella

[travella]

I gave the book 2*.  It has a decent premise, but I found it frustratingly lacking. My biggest complaint was the lack of depth to the characters. This is a character driven novel, but the characters felt distant and flat IMO. The jumping in the story didn't help my ability to connect with the characters.  By the time I started to feel somewhat connected to the story it would jump forward.  I was so frustrated and bored by the last 20% of the book that I skimmed it because I was ready for the story to be over. 

There were other small frustrations. One being that she never mentions where the story takes place. It's always "our" country or "my" country. I kept thinking she would eventually say, but she never reveals her country.  I ended up having to look it up online.  Second, for being a letter to her grandson she talks about sex a lot, even discusses rating the men.  I found that a little too much information for her grandson. Third, the Ms. Tyler and Rivas relationship felt like a box check to appeal to more readers than an actual relationship.  Finally, I am really hating just about any and all politics in my free/relaxing time right now, which includes my reading time.  I understand that politics are going to seep into stories naturally at times, especially in a book set around a revolution, but her entire life story felt mired in politics.  Any other time I probably wouldn't have noticed it, but it was just a little too much for me right now.  Overall, not a book for me especially right now.

[meowmaps]

I gave it 3 stars. I’m an Allende fan but Violeta wasn’t one of my favorites. I didn’t find Violeta, the protagonist, particularly interesting so I thought she was an odd choice to be the driver of the story. I found some of the side characters more intriguing.

[sju]

In my case, this is the first Allende book I have read so I can’t compare to her previous work. I enjoyed it. I am familiar enough with what happened in Chile so I recognized Allende’s references. Pretty sure she referred to Colonia Dignidad, without using the name, for example. I felt Violeta lacked passion while narrating but overall, Allende clearly showed Violeta’s privilege even though she experienced hardships. Torito was always there for her, gave his life to save her son and yet I felt she didn’t care enough or at least until much later in life. It was when they found him that she realized that he had been like a brother.

[dontlook]

I listened to this book and I’m pretty sure it’s the only reason I kept at it. It was a good story but long and the end really dragged.

Random thoughts (I read this a few months ago and I’m blanking on names):
- Torito was one of my favorites.
- I liked the first husband too.
- Her daughter’s story was so heartbreaking.
- Violeta wasn’t very likable for much of the book but I think that was by design. She was a spoiled rich brat and the writing really carried that idea.
- I needed her to get over husband #2 much faster. I wanted to shake her.
- The nanny’s story was really interesting and I could have read much more of that.
- I wish I knew more about the politic climate the book took place in before I read this story. It was interesting and I want to read more. I also enjoyed the shady bits about the CIA and American government.

I’ll come back as others comment and it jogs my memory.

[meowmaps]

Apr 27, 2022 21:39:06 GMT -5 dontlook said:

I listened to this book and I’m pretty sure it’s the only reason I kept at it. It was a good story but long and the end really dragged.

Random thoughts (I read this a few months ago and I’m blanking on names):
- Torito was one of my favorites.
- I liked the first husband too.
- Her daughter’s story was so heartbreaking.
- Violeta wasn’t very likable for much of the book but I think that was by design. She was a spoiled rich brat and the writing really carried that idea.
- I needed her to get over husband #2 much faster. I wanted to shake her.
- The nanny’s story was really interesting and I could have read much more of that.
- I wish I knew more about the politic climate the book took place in before I read this story. It was interesting and I want to read more. I also enjoyed the shady bits about the CIA and American government.

I’ll come back as others comment and it jogs my memory.

Torito was the best. I would’ve enjoyed him as the narrator. Or just given more page-time.

[travella]

Apr 27, 2022 21:39:06 GMT -5 dontlook said:

I listened to this book and I’m pretty sure it’s the only reason I kept at it. It was a good story but long and the end really dragged.

Random thoughts (I read this a few months ago and I’m blanking on names):
- Torito was one of my favorites.
- I liked the first husband too.
- Her daughter’s story was so heartbreaking.
- Violeta wasn’t very likable for much of the book but I think that was by design. She was a spoiled rich brat and the writing really carried that idea.
- I needed her to get over husband #2 much faster. I wanted to shake her.
- The nanny’s story was really interesting and I could have read much more of that.
- I wish I knew more about the politic climate the book took place in before I read this story. It was interesting and I want to read more. I also enjoyed the shady bits about the CIA and American government.

I’ll come back as others comment and it jogs my memory.

I agree that Ms. Tyler was an interesting character. I wish she had played a larger role. I liked her so much more than Violeta.

[aurora]

I didn't realize I was so far behind! It's been a rough couple of months. Violeta is still about a week out on my holds list (but I did finally finish The Reading List!).