The House of the Spirits

I first read this book over ten years. I read during high school, and fell instantly in love with the story, its characters, the setting and the author's way of telling this beautiful and poignant story.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende is an epic story of the Trueba family. Esteban, the patriach, a proud and violent man who rules his estate with an iron fist. He has an almost tyrannical love for his wife, who he doesn't understand, but who wants to possess at any cost. Clara, the matriach of the family. She is able to see the future and also manipulate objects around her. Blanca, their eldest daughter. She is kind and soft spoken but also rebelious. She's in love with a worker at her father's country home. And then there's Alba, Blanca and Pedro's daughter. She's the apple of her grandfather's eye (considering he detests her father). It's through both Estaban and Alba's narration that we hear the story of the Truebas.

Esentially this is a story about change. The change is happening in the country, the country is never mentioned but I'm pretty sure it's Chile. The author tells us about this change through the Trueba family. Despite having different views they love each other and are willing to fight for their cause.

I highly recommend this book! It is one of the those books that once you start reading it, you travel into a magical world and you do not want to leave.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (5/5) General Fiction; Published: Plaza & Janes, S.A. (1982); Published: Alfred A. Knopf (1985); Translated from the Spanish by Magda Bogin; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (1); 2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge (1);