This is being offered as a bookring to coincide with Isabel Allende's visit to Australia (she'll be talking about this book as well as Kingdom of the Golden Dragon at an Out of Season event at the Sydney Writers' Festival - more info at www.swf.org.au).

It's a good read, I found her descriptions of Chile to be really fascinating, and some of it paralleled what I feel us Australians say/do when we're talking about Australia to people overseas.

Told with great humour and affection.

From the back of the book (all typos mine):

"'At my age, you begin to remember things that have been erased from your mind for half a century. I haven't thought about my childhood or adolesence for decades. In truth those periods of my remote past matter so little to me that when I look at my mother's photograph albums I don't recognise anyone except a bulldog with the improbable name of Pelvina Lopez-Pun, and the only reason she is etched in my mind is because we were very much alike. There is a snapshot of the two of us when I was a few months old, in which my mother had to indicate with an arrow which of us was which.'

"My Invented Country is a memoir in which truth is most definitely stranger than fiction. Exploring the events of her life and those of the country in which she lived until the assassination of her cousin, the president Salvador Allende in Pinochet's military coup, Allende takes us on a highly personal tour through her homeland, bringing it to life. This is where her grandfather saw the devil on a bus, recognising him because of his 'green cloven hooves like a billygoat' and her great aunt sprouted wings, a place of love charms, ghosts and continual family feuds.

"In this charming book, portraits of her family and friends jostle with vivid descriptions of local customs and beliefs but through it all strides the indomitable figure of the young Isabel. Rebellious and passionate, a feminist long before she knew what feminism was, her love for (sometimes exasperation with) Chile informs every line. And her experiences make for unforgettable, often hilarious, reading that no admirer of Allende's writing will want to miss."

PM me if you want to join!

On it's way now! Recipient list is:

Fire-Dragon
FuShMuSh
veracity
bookfrog
tantie
starflw5
dophin-au
boreal
meganh
twinmaker
crystalclear
itsmejudy
michyj

Then back to me (tqd).

ENJOY!!

I love Isabel Allende's writing and found her earlier memoir Paula quite fascinating. Looking forward to reading this ahead of her visit later this month.

Classic Isabel Allende - witty, nostalgic, intelligent and easy to read. My Invented Country follows in the tradition of Paula and in truth, covers much of the same ground with maybe less emphasis on the family and more on trying to pinpoint the Chilean national character. I enjoyed it immensely but would probably rate Paula higher. Still an 8 because Allende is so far above the pack.

I've booked my ticket to see Allende at the end of the month and I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't read Kingdom of the Golden Dragon or City of God but I shall try to do so.

On to FushMush!

Received tonight at our monthly Cocktail evening. Mmmmmmm, the Devil in disguise is definitely my favourite Kuletos cocktail.

This is my first ever Isabel Allende novel and I really enjoyed it. I particularly liked her unique sense of humour. More than a few times I actually laughed out loud. I then had to reread the amusing passage to my curious boyfriend.

I've got a few Isabel Allende novels on my mountainous TBR pile. I'm looking forward to reading them... well, when I get through the millions of bookrays I currently have in my possession *g*.

"But that's how nostalgia is: a slow dance in a large circle. Memories don't organize themselves chronologically, they're like smoke, changing, ephemeral, and if they're not written down they fade into oblivion."

found in my mailbox today.

Allende brings a wistful, fanciful quality to everything she writes, and no less so with her memoir of life in Chile. It bursts with ultural insight, amusing annecdotes and wry observations, tempered with a large degree of nostalgia and self-awareness. Enjoy!

Released on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at Postal Release in Sydney, Australia Controlled Releases.

mailed to bookfrog today

Received this yesterday, looking forward to reading it.

On to Tantie next... I have not read her autobiographies before.

I found it quite well subtitled as a memoir for it is more a stream of conciousness than a biography. Snippets here and there of her life and Chile's effect on her and her writing.

I think I am more "meh" about this book, I read it, I finished it but I don't think this would get a reread from me.

Got this in the mail today - thanks Bookfrog!! Shall put it at the top of Mount TBR!!

I quite liked this, although not a compelling read. I kinda wish I knew her other works better, as it seemed to be an interesting insight into what makes her tick.

Got this in the mail and had forgotten that I had put my name down for this bookring. I have since bought my own copy so will send this one on to dophin-au

Received today. Thank you starflw5! Looking forward to reading this.

I have The House of Spirits on mount TBR somewhere and will move that up to a place closer to the top.

I did enjoy this book. I haven't read anything by Isabel Allende before, and I was pleasantly surprised.
I recognise the feeling she describes of being a stranger in the country you have grown up in when you return after having been away for a while and of having to adjust to a new country.

20/8/04: Sent of to Boreal in NZ

Arrived today, I think I have had a book in the mail everyday for the past 4 days, the poor postman will be getting sick of me!
The parcel by the way has a large sticker courtesy of Austrailia post saying "Delayed for Compliance with Aviation Security Regulations" -perhaps because the customs form was missing.
Anyway the book looks interesting and I will get started on it soon.

Although this wasn't a "gripping" book to read it was beautifully written and very interesting. I have only read one of the authors other books, but have several more on my TBR mountain, and the book has given me more of an insight on where she gets her inspiration from.
Incidentally I tried her fish recipe mentioned in the book the other night and it was lovely and so simple. I will write it here for my own reference and just in case someone else wants to try it. You lay the fish on a bed of minced/finely chopped onion in a baking dish, sprinkle it salt and pepper and dot with butter, and put a generous amount of lemon juice over the top and then bake till done, but don't overcook it.

I have Meganh's new address and will get it posted to her today with luck.

Received in my mailbox from across the Tasman on Friday 10th September. Looking forward to another Allende novel - I do enjoy her style of writing (House of Spirits being among my favourites).
Thanks tqd for starting the ring, and boreal for sending it on to me - we are starting to share a few of the same books on our shelves!

I mistakenly expected this to be a novel. I enjoyed the snippets of life and history of Chile from Allende's expat. perspective. It was worthwhile reading to discover where her novels came from, and I was particularly interested to learn that her life as a writer arose from her time in exile in Venezuala - out of a great nostalgia for her country and family.
Like Bookfrog I enjoyed it, but would not re-read the book. On it's way to twinmaker next.

rec'd today, just the one ahead of it - will get to this as soon as I can.

I enjoyed this for what it was, a look into where Allende bases her books and their characters. Off to crystalclear next.

Sorry had received a while ago but huge problems with computer and only now was able to spend time to register.
Will read ASAP and pass on.

Sorry this is another book that got put on my pile to read and got forgotten about. Can not apolgise enough for having it so long.

Found the book to be interesting but would not hurry again to read.

Thanks for sharing. Have sent to ItsmeJudy this afternoon.

Sorry again but thanks

RELEASE NOTES:

I received this book in today's mail. I have just started another bookring book and shall get to this one asap, hopefully within the next week. Thank you for sharing.

Started reading this book last night, am hoping to have it finished by the end of the week.

I have had a gentle reminder from someone that I have stalled this ring. I have to admit that yes I have, along with a couple of others. I won't try to make excuses, there are none really, but rest assured that I am making amends and have sent a message to the next on the list and hopefully I shall hear from her soon and be able to pass this book on. Thank you for your patience and I do apologise sincerely.