Ines of my Soul
Isabel Allende
313 pages



This work of historical fiction tells the story of the Spaniards' conquest of Chile in the mid-1500s.  Allende attempts to bring a unique perspective to this time period by telling the story in a woman's voice.  Ines Suarez left Spain for South America in search of her lover, and ended up the life partner of Pedro de Valdivia, a conquistador responsible for the "discovery" of Chile and suppression of the native people.

I enjoyed Allende's previous novels, including House of the Spirits and Daughter of Fortune.  Allende's writing can be positively magical.  Unfortunately, this book does not live up to Allende's potential.  I never fully identified -- or even liked -- the characters and couldn't get excited about the violence wrought against native people in the pursuit of gold and riches for the white man.  ( )