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What are readers saying about Daughter of Fortune:?
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Rafæl posted a review at 2010-10-25 11:34:41.
(Language: English)
 
Californicatio!
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-10 08:43:35.
(Language: Spanish)
Si pudieras leer un solo libro de Allende (y realmente creo que debes leerlos todos), te recomendaria este. Es una aventura de principio a fin...
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Sharon posted a review at 2011-02-07 08:34:49.
(Language: English)
good book club discussion
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alvi posted a review at 2009-12-29 06:16:39.
(Language: English)
Part exuberant girls' adventure story, part historical romance, it's the tale of a Chilean orphan who falls for an unsuitable lover as a teenager, stows away on a brigantine with the help of a Chinese cook, and pursues her quarry to California during the gold rush. Told with San Rafael-based Allende's light, deft touch, the story has enough plot twists and intriguing historical detail to keep the pages turning.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-12 12:56:32.
(Language: Spanish)
Una vez más Isabel Allende logra capturar atención desde las primeras páginas, es una novela con grata descripción de sus personajes, así como de los distintos escenarios en que se desarrolla la historia, todo esto permite dimensionar la locura colectiva que se generó por la "fiebre del oro".Sin embargo para mi gusto el final es muy abrupto, si se considera que gran parte de la historia se centra en la búsqueda de Eliza Sommers de su amor Joaquín Andieta. Como citas importantes: "En su obsesión por encontrar a ese hombre renunció a todo,incluso a su feminidad.Temía haber perdido por el camino su condición de mujer para convertirse en un raro ente asexuado.Algunas veces,cabalgando por cerros y bosques,expuesta a la inclemencia de todos los vientos...Soportaba el esfuerzo y el castigo porque no tenía alternativa" "Había inventado un amante perfecto y nutría su quimera con invencible porfía.Su imaginación compensaba los ingratos abrazos con su amnate,que la dejaban perdida en el limbo oscuro del deseo insatisfecho" "Ya dije ,el empecinamiento es un mal muy fuerte:agarra el cerebro y rompe el corazón.Empecinamientos hay muchos,pero el peor es el amor"
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-30 03:58:24.
(Language: English)
I really like Isabel Allende's writing and her books are always what i end up getting at airports, wheni can't find anythign else because i know i will like it. This book follows the life, adventures and emancipation of Eliza Sommers (who is also a character in Portrait in Sepia). The book is very colourful describing in great detail mid 1800's life in Chille, China and the gold rush years in California. The characters in her books are intertwined (but the books are stand alone), so that you end up following the history of one family and their friends and relative and this seems to be the first book (that i have read so far in the cronoloogy) followed by Portrait in Sepia and house ofthe Spirits (A Must!)
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Theresa posted a review at 2010-05-25 08:30:03.
(Language: English)
The story of an orphan, Eliza, raised in Valparaiso, Chile, by a Victorian spinster and her brothers. Eliza's story takes you to the 1849 Gold Rush of California where she runs away to search for her first love. Her search turns into a journey of self discovery and self definition. While the story held my interest, the writing was uneven: much belabored at the beginning, then rushed at the end, as if the author were getting tired of writing it and just wanted to finish. The book comes with some "surprises" at the end that I saw coming from the get go. An adequate historical adventure novel, but nothing on the order of London or Steinbeck.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-24 01:12:28.
(Language: English)
I'm sort of a sucker for historical novels and this one was wonderful. Set in the 1830s-1850s primarily, its character development is was very in-depth and the plot well maintained. The ending was a bit abrupt, but there is a sequel. It moves from Valparaiso, Chile to the mother lode of the early California gold rush. Populated with the legends of the time, Allende does an excellent job of braiding fact, legend and her own fiction for a satisfying read. You won't even stumble over the coincidences because she makes them seem real and completely believable. Protagonist is Eliza Sommers, a fondling left in a soap box in 1932, through a love affair at 16, a miscarriage in the belly of a ship headed to California, shedding of the patriarchal society from which she came, and self-realization in the California gold towns along with a growing love for a Chinese doctor. Thoroughly engaging!
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maria posted a review at 2012-01-02 04:18:16.
(Language: English)
Wonderful and adventurous.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-14 03:03:22.
(Language: English)
This is a good, sweeping story, with many interesting historical details of both 1800s Chile, China, and California. I enjoyed the grand sweep of the story and Eliza is an engaging character who goes through difficult challenges that draw out our sympathies. However, I felt that several important elements of the story strained credulity, particularly Eliza and Tao's relationship. I also wondered at Eliza's willingness to abandon everything and head to California; she did not seem to be so courageous and determined in the first part of the story. But I enjoyed reading about the excitement of gold rush-era San Francisco and some of the unique characters who built their own unusual successes.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-08 07:09:01.
(Language: English)
Isabel Allende is one of the most recognized and prolific hispanic writers in the world. She is of Peruvian parents but raised in Chile. What attracted me to this book was both of these facts. I came to read about her and familiarized myself with her by picking up this book. I like reading mostly non fiction books. But this one intrigued me because she mixed real historical events that took place such as the Gold Rush of the 1800's, where thousands flocked to California hoping to strike it rich and mixed it with a fictional account of a young woman's life and struggles. Also true in historical sense is the fact that many Europeans were relocating to South America during this period in time and therefore this is where a lot of mixing of races took effect. The young lady who is the protagonist in the story is adopted by people who have made Chile their home far far away from their own homeland. She falls in love. The gentleman who has her heart has departed for San Francisco to seek riches. He does not know she is having his baby. She must make a decision..follow her heart? pregnant? On a long long journey that awaits through choppy seas and a vast ocean on a wooden ship? It will take her most if not all her pregnancy just to reach him. Does she even make it to San Francisco? Does she find the father of her child? Not to mention all the disfunction going on back home with the people that surround her. It is such a great story. I don't want to ruin it for you. So I'll leave you wondering in suspense at what happens and hope you take the time to read it yourself. Then we can discuss it. ;)
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-09 08:12:06.
(Language: English)
Great to have some history of the gold rush from the pacific side of the world. I just wonder how factual some of it is. Nice read
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-01 08:04:21.
(Language: English)
Good, but...the ending was a tad bit lacking for me.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-09 01:03:18.
(Language: Spanish)
La historia en sí y la narrativa de Allende me han gustado mucho. No tanto como su obra maestra "La Casa de los espíritus"... pero pienso que "Hija de la Fortuna" es una obra amena y de muy fácil lectura. El único pero es que el libro termina y la historia queda a medias. O la escritora se quedó sin papel o sin ganas de continuar escribiendo porque a mí me ha faltado como mínimo 30 o 40 páginas de libro :-(
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-12 03:16:13.
(Language: Spanish)
weno, pero si no tienes el "Retrato en Sepia" no tendrás un final =P
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-11 08:27:23.
(Language: English)
ok
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Sheryl posted a review at 2009-02-27 08:31:57.
(Language: English)
Another superb entry into Allende's multi-generational trilogy (which I am reading completely out of order -- both chronologically by date written, and events occurring.) Every bit as excellent as A Portrait in Sepia, this story centers around Eliza Sommers, who leaves a life of Chilean luxury for the Gold Rush of San Francisco, searching for her first love. She finds much more, instead, learning about life in a region devoid of traditional society -- indeed, devoid of any structured society -- and about the true meaning of commitment and happiness, with the help of zhong yi extraordinaire, Tao Chi'en.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-09-25 07:35:14.
(Language: English)
Isabel Allende has this inexplicable knack of weaving a totally immersive tale that binds the reader to the characters in her novels. Set in Chile and then gold rush-era California, Allende has created a cast of intriguing characters with their own secrets. The broad range and well paced narrative leaves the reader gasping for man when the last page is turned. From the repressed characters with their respective skeletons in their closets to the grim depiction of a little told side of the gold rush, Allende has once again spun a memorable tale of passion and destiny.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-08 09:21:05.
(Language: English)
This takes place in 1840s Chile. Eliza Sommers is a young Chilean girl raised and educated by English Anglican siblings Victorian spinster Rose and strict Jeremy Sommers, and their sailor brother John Sommers, who were colonists living in the port of Valparaiso, ever since they found her on their doorstep, and taught in the art of cooking by the Mapuche Indian Mama Fresia. Over most of Part 1, we read about her origins and upbringing, and her maturity. After listening to a story Miss Rose told her about her first love, Eliza falls in love with Joaquin Andieta, a young Chilean man who was concerned about his mother, living in poverty. The young couple have an affair, ultimately resulting in Eliza getting pregnant. Soon, news of gold being discovered in California reaches Chile, and Joaquin goes out to California in search of a fortune. Wanting to follow her lover, Eliza goes to California, with the help of her Chinese zhong yi friend, Tao Chi'en, in the bowels of a ship headed by a Dutch Lutheran captain, Vincent Katz. I like this book. Not my favorite but I like the adventure in it.
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Maria Magdalena posted a review at 2012-05-06 10:49:36.
(Language: English)
Una vez más Isabel Allende logra capturar atención desde las primeras páginas, es una novela con grata descripción de sus personajes, así como de los distintos escenarios en que se desarrolla la historia, todo esto permite dimensionar la locura colectiva que se generó por la "fiebre del oro".Sin embargo para mi gusto el final es muy abrupto, si se considera que gran parte de la historia se centra en la búsqueda de Eliza Sommers de su amor Joaquín Andieta. Como citas importantes: "En su obsesión por encontrar a ese hombre renunció a todo,incluso a su feminidad.Temía haber perdido por el camino su condición de mujer para convertirse en un raro ente asexuado.Algunas veces,cabalgando por cerros y bosques,expuesta a la inclemencia de todos los vientos...Soportaba el esfuerzo y el castigo porque no tenía alternativa" "Había inventado un amante perfecto y nutría su quimera con invencible porfía.Su imaginación compensaba los ingratos abrazos con su amnate,que la dejaban perdida en el limbo oscuro del deseo insatisfecho" "Ya dije ,el empecinamiento es un mal muy fuerte:agarra el cerebro y rompe el corazón.Empecinamientos hay muchos,pero el peor es el amor".
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-28 08:41:05.
(Language: English)
As gripping as House of Spirits, but way more accessible.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-31 02:02:59.
(Language: English)
I enjoyed this book as it provided a great historical dialogue regarding the California Gold Rush in the 1840s and 50s.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-16 06:41:05.
(Language: English)
A delightful read. Written in rich exquisite language and filled with fine imagery the tale transports you to a colourful world in the 1800s. A tale that entwines adventure, romance, superstition, humaneness with one of the most exuberant pieces of history, the Californian Gold Rush. I loved every bit.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-02 06:25:11.
(Language: English)
This book is written from many perspectives, each chapter from a different voice. I think it made the characters more approachable and gave a great deal more insight into the plot, why characters do certain things, the depth of relationships, etc. The love story was beautiful. Aside from starting off a bit slowly, the plot kept me enticed and kept me coming back for more. The history and various cultures of the characters brings a new and exciting dimension to the book as well. I recommend this book if you want a 'chick' book that makes you think more than your average Harlequin romance novel.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-07 05:17:58.
(Language: English)
2nd reading for me and this book. I think I enjoyed it more the 1st time. The wordiness really slowed it down for me. A bit stilted but Isabel always writes a good yarn. She's quite the storyteller.
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