Book: Ines of My Soul, Isabel Allende
Publication date: 2006
WCRG meeting: 31 October 2018
Rating: 7.3
Thank you to all who meet, or submitted their observations, to our meeting this Wednesday, where we discussed our latest choice, Isabel Allende's Ines of my soul.
Our regular member Olga, from Peru, had recommended this book to the group, and introduced it at our meeting. It was wonderful to have someone who knows the country and culture to give the book extra vitality and poignancy.
Historically correct the style is a good mix of real and imaginary characters. The group noted the development and growth of Ines through the book, as she leaves home and Spain, innocent and naïve, to travel to the New World accompanied by her niece, at the time, this was a hugely brave thing to do. She goes in search of her husband, but finds so much more…….adventure, war and love.
The descriptions of the battles between the Conquistadors’ and the Mapuche, the indigenous people, were graphic and some members found these passages difficult to get through. These was a sense of guilt by some of the group around these acts of European domination.
The romantic story that runs alongside these acts of aggression helped keep some readers attention. The everyday lives and the struggle to survive was evident in the natives needing to protect their land and animals, as this meant they were feed and had a level of freedom. Several other female characters played an important role in the story, including Catalina, a native servant with a great knowledge of herbs and their healing powers, and who became Ines best friend.
The structure of the language was sometimes confusing; written only from Ines' perspective/views, her speech would periodically shift to talking to Isabel, her daughter.
One reader summed the book up as: “Powerful. Gruesome. Compelling.”
The group gave this book a well deserved 7.3 out of 10
