National Bestseller "The House of the Spirits" by author Isabel Allende is one of the best books I've ever read. This was the Chilean author's debut novel and spans 3 generations.
It was made into a movie starring Jeremy Irons (great pic). Jeff's sister, KT, is a fan of this author & I bought her books penned by Allende, so now I finally had a chance to read one of them. It's about the politics of Chile taking place from WWI - present day (early 80s when the book was published. The patriarch "El Patron" of the family is a conservative powerful senator who marries a mystical young lady, years his junior, who sees into the future. She sees spirits in the palacial home (hence the name of the book).
An epic story with heroes, lust, passion, power. This book has it all. After the conservatives lose to the socialists, there's a military coup and the country is then run by a militaristic dictatorship. All hell breaks loose and the family is torn apart. Tragedy enfolds. So many rich, engrossing, fascinating characters. It's one powerful family and the times they live through and it all leads up to a brighter future as the 3rd generation (Patron's granddaughter) relinquishes the hate of the past to find tolerance and forgiveness in the future.
I'm going to rent the movie again now that I've finished the book. Saw the film many years ago. This book is to be compared with Gone With the Wind. Kudos to Allende for her first novel. She is the niece of assassinated President Salvador Allende.
I recommend this book to all in a heartbeat and have to give it 5 stars!
