Daughter of Fortune: A Novel by Isabel Allende

Daughter of Fortune tells the story of Eliza Sommers, a young orphan who is raised in Valparaiso, Chile, by Jeremy Sommers and his spinster sister Rose. Eliza is cared for by Rose, and the family's cook, Mama Fresia, who is a bit of a medicine woman.

Although Eliza is raised as a proper Victorian young lady by Rose, she falls in love with a young Chilean named Joaquin Andieta, and when Joaquin leaves for California to try to find gold, Eliza follows him. She is helped along her way by Tao Chi'en, a young Chinese doctor who worked for Captain John Sommers, her uncle.

I liked that this book, although mostly about Eliza, also delved into the past history of other characters, particularly Miss Rose Sommers and Tao Chi'en, plus a host of minor characters. These detailed characterizations lent validity to the plot, which was admittedly farfetched, but didn't actually seem so. It seemed quite believable that a spunky orphan could meet the challenges that Eliza had to face in Chile and California, and not be fazed.

Allende vividly portrays life in mid-nineteenth century Chile and gold rush California. She paints a picture of a very rigid and stratified society in Valparaiso, and a wild, lawless society of men and prostitutes in California.

My two caveats are: there are a few love scenes, which was awkward since I was listening to this on audio book in my office. I should've learned my lesson with the last Isabel Allende book I listened too, but I kind of forgot till the 'awkward bits' rolled around! So I'd recommend just reading the hard copy, or listening to the audiobook in your car! Secondly, the book ended a bit anticlimactically for me. I felt like a story that I was so invested in should have finished with more of a bang.

But the very likeable characters and interesting (if sometimes predictable) plot made up for my two small complaints. I would definitely recommend this, and I think I'll give some more Isabel Allende a try.