This is a new book by a talented author that I’ve read before. This novel is historical fiction about the Civil War in Chile in 1897, which is a historical topic rarely covered, and which I previously knew very little about. It felt particularly interesting and relevant, because that gruesome Civil War– with catastrophic losses on both sides– was fought over political and ideological differences no more divisive than the ones we have going on in my country today.
This story begins in San Francisco in 1866, with Emilia’s backstory, and how she became a reporter that was surprisingly sent to cover the Chilean war. Emilia goes to Chile, not just as a reporter, but also in search of her father, whom she has never met. There are graphic battle scenes, as well as descriptions of amputations and firing squads, so be warned that the text gets into more horrific detail than you may want to deal with. Interspersed throughout all this is a love story that gives a bit of a respite from the history of the moment.
My Name is Emilia Del Valle is an immersive tale of an unusually plucky young woman’s courage, her search for her heritage, and ultimately, her resilience. I give it four stars.
And an additional note, I recommend NOT listening to the audio book. The narrator is jerky and her phrasing is very off, which I found to be annoying. So if you are interested in reading this, I recommend doing so with your eyeballs, and not your ears.
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4 Comments
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Thank you Polly. ❤️
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It sounds like one I may enjoy. Thanks x
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I’ve enjoyed books by Allende before, but thanks for the heads up about the audio version. A poor narration can spoil the best book. And a great narrator, like Meryl Streep reading Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake, can make an audiobook a treasure!
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Author
Totally agree!
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