My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile

Isabel Allende's "My Invented Country" does not pick-up where her previous memoir "Paula" left off, instead it expands on some of the biographical details from the previous book and is more of a deep, dreamy memoir of her native country of Chile. In fascinating, poetic detail Allende describes a land rich in culture, heritage, history and passion. There are vivid descriptions of the beautiful Andes and the native indian cultures who populated the region before the Spanish conquest and those who populate it still. And yet it doesn't feel like a travelogue, "My Invented Country" is probably the best book to read about Chile because it is about Chile as a nation and not a chunk of land, it is the strip of country Pablo Neruda immortalized in his poetry. As in "Paula" Allende here shares more about the wild, romantic history of her family and their peculiar history. There are hilarious moments and sweet ones where she recounts her relationship with her grandfather through the years of her youth and adulthood. The politics of Chile are also widely discussed, which is pleasantly expected considering the author's uncle was Salvador Allende, Latin America's first elected socialist president who was tragically overthrown by a fascist CIA-backed coup lead by the general Augusto Pinochet who established a junta over the country. Allende describes a time when there was hope for change in Chile, when Allende won the presidency and even Fidel Castro visited the country for 27 days. With frightening detail she also describes the dark days of the military dictatorship when radical right-wing laws were passed, thousands disappeared and others brutally tortured and killed. As always Allende writes here with beautiful expressions, funny anecdotes and a sense of humour when it comes to attacking hypocrites and contradictions in her own opinions. "My Invented Country" is a pleasant memoir to read, it is a trip down the memory palace of Isabel Allende, and a journey through a country we know so little about in the United States. Those who term Latin America as "backward" should read Allende's book, it might change their opinion.

Un libro que en lo personal me hizo descubrir la magia que puede haber en recorrer nuestras memorias mas intensas, esas que se marcan en nuestra infancia y adolescencia, cuando la memoria esta mas fresca. Esos recuerdos y nostalgias van enlazadas a la distancia y la aceptacion de una nueva tierra que nos brinda la oportunidad de estar aqui lejos de la otra y de alguna forma seguir cosechando recuerdos. Por supuesto que estas nuevas memorias y vivencias nunca reemplazaran los recuerdos magicos de ese pais inventado... o real del cual venimos.

My Invented Country is Isabel Allende's best book after her first title The House of Spirits. I have read most of her titles always in Spanish and with this book I was engaged immediately by its beauty of language. Isabel's writing is almost poetic. She has the ability to craft sentences and produce descriptions like very few authors can. I enjoyed her descriptive narrative of both her country Chile and of her life experiences that have made her the person she is today. REading this book is a must for all Allende's fans. It will help you understand her previous books better. I have now started to read the House of Spirits again which I am enjoying even more than the first time as I do now understand where her ideas were coming from. Thanks Isabel Allende for sharing with us your amazing story.

Simply an amazing memoir that reveals more than I ever knew about Chile and Chileans. The funny thing is you start of thinking the book will be mainly about the events of Sept. 11, 1973, when Pinochet took power in a coup. It is not at all yet that event is really the one that has led Allende on this long journey as a observer of life par excellence. In reality the book is more about a woman searching for her sense of place in a world turned upside down by living a life in exile. The honesty and power of her words is just so uplifting without descending into "look at me, me, me" sort of navel gazing. If I could give it ten stars I would.

This book is delightful, humorous, and beautiful like its author. A wonderful memoir full of insights about Chile and about life in the US. This book reflects Allende's warmth and passion. A brilliant book from a brilliant writer. Highly recommended.