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Daughter of Fortune: A Novel
 

Daughter of Fortune: A Novel

by Isabel Allende

An orphan raised in Valparaíso, Chile, by a Victorian spinster and her rigid brother, young, vivacious Eliza Sommers follows her lover to California during the Gold Rush of 1849 -- a danger-filled quest that will become a momentous journey of transformation. In this rough-and-tumble world of panhandlers and prostitutes, immigrants and aristocrats, Eliza will discover a new life of freedom,... (read more)

Top tags: historical fiction,  fiction,  south america,  latin america,  romance (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
sthurner
  • Rated 4 stars

“It has been years since I read Daughter of Fortune, but I have no problem based on my fond memories in recommending it to other readers. The novel has two parts. The first part is about Eliza, a Chilean girl, growing up and falling in love with Joaquin. Before they can marry they have an affair and she carries his child. He leaves for California when gold is discovered. Eliza follows her sweetie, disguised, to California. The second half is what she finds there. Sure, it's a little...”

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Didn’t Like It

DiePittsburghDie
  • Rated 2 stars

“Fans of House of Spirits will be disappointed by this uneven, unsatisfying book, which starts strong and then loses its way. The first half feels fresh and original but the second half devolves into banal, formulaic story telling. DoF is, sadly, another example of fiction as an intellectual wasteland. I gave it two stars only because there was at least the possibility the DoF could be much better.”

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Community:
  • Rated 3.868593 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 3.566667 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Sonja P

    sonja p said:

    “I liked this book well enough (not as much as Allende's Zorro), but I was a little disappointed in the ending. I've been told there are other books using the same characters that fill in more details ... but, that doesn't fix it for me. I felt like the end was wrapped up too hastily. It felt like I was reading the cheesy ending to a movie instead of getting all the good details from a book. Maybe I'll change my mind if I ever get time to read one of the companion books.

    In all, I was a bit disappointed since I really loved Allende's Zorro. (As in: if you've never picked up Allende, Zorro is the better way to go.)”

    posted Friday, April 25 2008
  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    “umm, in case somebody couldnt figure it out that is a typo, it should read "cant stand steinbeck"”

    posted Friday, April 18 2008
  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    “not anybody's best work, couldnt even finish it, dont care how it ends”

    posted Sunday, November 4 2007 ( | view 2 replies )
  • quinn

    quinn said:

    “a wonderful novel, always wondered if they could make a film of it, but its sad and uplifting and joy to read”

    posted Sunday, October 7 2007
  • maggiejessup

    maggiejessup said:

    “I read this a few years ago. A good summer read.”

    posted Friday, July 13 2007
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