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4.0 

Paula

By Isabel Allende
Paula by Isabel Allende digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Newly Reissued

New York Times Bestselling Author
“Beautiful and heartrending. . . . Memoir, autobiography, epicedium, perhaps even some fiction: they are all here, and they are all quite wonderful.”
Los Angeles Times

When Isabel Allende’s daughter, Paula, became gravely ill and fell into a coma, the author began to write the story of her family for her unconscious child. In the telling, bizarre ancestors appear before our eyes; we hear both delightful and bitter childhood memories, amazing anecdotes of youthful years, the most intimate secrets passed along in whispers. With Paula, Allende has written a powerful autobiography whose straightforward acceptance of the magical and spiritual worlds will remind readers of her first book, The House of the Spirits.

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Paula Reviews

4.0
“Paula is a unique and deeply moving memoir. Initially begun with the hope that Allende's daughter would recover from her devastating illness, it transformed into a letter of love and letting go. It speaks to the power of writing, both for the author and the reader; how it can serve as a way to navigate grief and struggle, and how writing can connect us with others. I loved how this memoir was structured. It was written through every stage of Paula's care, interweaving the present with Allende's past. It began with Allende documenting what had happened since Paula slipped into a coma and injecting the narrative with the past in case Paula's own memories were inaccessible. Though the months make clear that her daughter will not regain consciousness, Allende continues recounting the past. It was almost like a goodbye to Allende's own past, recognizing that losing her daughter would clearly demarcate her life with "Before Paula's death" and "After Paula's death." I want to note that though this memoir deals with the utmosts depths of grief, loss, and death, it also rallies for life and love. We cannot know the extreme negatives of life unless we also experience its great positives. I think Paula is an encouragement of living, touching others' lives, and embracing love in all its forms. As the eighth book that I've read from Isabel Allende, I'm really happy that I saved it after reading several of her fiction books. It was so lovely to see how the threads of history, her family, and her life have shaped and influenced her novels (both before and after Paula's publication). It helped to deepen my appreciation for her other works, and I think it would be worthwhile to wait to read this until you've consumed more of her catalogue.”
““No quiero seguir viva y morir por dentro…”🥹🥹 La frase que resume un libro que me rompió, pero me sanó a su vez.🪽”
“Uno de los libros que sí o sí tienes que leer en la vida para que puedas entender el amor maternal. Es el verdadero "Hasta que la muerte nos separe" entre una hija y su madre.”

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