Isabel Allende – Mi país inventado (06-042)

[gerbie]

I try to read a Spanish book every year. The last few years I visit Spain once a year, so that is a good occasion to read as well. Isabel Allende has been a favourite author of mine since quite a few books. This is her latest book, different from most of her novels I read.

Some of her books have autobiographical elements (Paula!), but none of them is like this one. While she was writing this book, it seems that she had her mind split. Am I writing about my country or am I writing about me growing up? In the end, she had to admit that she can’t talk about one without the other.

Result is a book that is very easy to read. The title (My invented country) refers to the country she remembers. Chile in the days she lived there. Having talked about that country so often, her grandchildren gave Chile that nickname. She realised it is true. She doesn’t talk about Chile anymore, she is referring to a country that only exists in her head.

I like reading about Chile. I travelled there for a bit, it is a very nice country. I have read a few books as well, most have in some way or another something to do with the coupe in Santiago, September 11, 1973. Isabel Allende’s uncle had been elected president only a few years beforehand. He died (suicide? murder?) during that coupe d’etat. Not much afterwards Isabel fled the country.

That event obviously plays an important role in her life. Her story is the story of a Chilean woman who had to flee her country and managed to find a life in California. Ironic, living in the USA, since the CIA had played such an important role in the events that killed her uncle and installed Pinochet, a dictator in her beloved Chile.

The book was a pleasure to read, it gave me insight into a country I hope to visit again some day, but also into the mind of an author I hope to read more in the future. The only critical point is that it is impossible to talk about a whole population without resorting to stereotypes. It was impossible to avoid. But even then; stereotypes haven’t become stereotypes for nothing.

Number: 06-042
Title: Mi país inventado
Author: Isabel Allende
Language: Spanish
Year: 2003
# Pages: 221 (7439)
Category: Literature
ISBN: 84-9793-143-2

Comments

Re: Kiribati?

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

Nope, I am Dutch, but changing the name of the country I live in gives me a chance to pretend I live in a nice place for a while. Until I get bored and find another tropical destination like the Cocos Island, Pitcairn or Vanuatu.

Oh ok

[ishmaelmuscat.livejournal.com]

Where do u live in NL?

I visit it often. My favourite is Zeeland :-)

Re: Oh ok

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

I have never even been to Zeeland. New Zeeland yes, but the province that gave the country its name, never.

I live in the East, Twente is the region, near the German border.

Re: Oh ok

[ishmaelmuscat.livejournal.com]

I doubt it that New Zealand is like Zeeland, right? Or are they quite similar land-wise?

Re: Oh ok

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't dare comparing them, as I have never visited Zeeland. But I doubt it, I've seen so much in that country (7 times my country), from glaciers to rainforests, penguins and sealions, volcanoes and beaches, no province can compete with that.