La suma de los dias (Spanish Edition)

In La suma de Los Días (The sum of Days) - Hardcover, Isabel Allende admits: "I had called my muse without results. Even the most horrendous muse had abandoned me." (p. 143). Later she tells us that she: remembered her career as a newspaperwoman: if she receives a subject and enough time to do research, she can write just about anything." (Page 144).


This is the birth of "La suma de los Días," where Ms. Allende narrates her recent history, particularly the one that deals with her family in California, full of people and literary friends. Unfortunately for the reader, this is a terrible discourse of an author singing her praises, even insulting other writers--when her husband Willie decides to write a novel her comment is: "Anyone could say that writing a novel is like plating geraniums. I spend ten hours a day stuck on my chair trying to find the right phrase to be able to tell a more effective story. I suffer with my plot, I get involved with the characters, I do research, edit over and over and then I have to travel half the world promoting my books like a frustrated salesperson." (P. 281).


Supposedly a sequel to Paula, Her technique is terrible, she changes from the second person to the third at will, confusing the reader. We don't know whhen she's talking to Paula or narrating her story. She also goes back and forth in time and several times she starts a story and tells you she'll finish it later.

It is sad to see the author of "The House of Spirits--La casa de los espíritus" and "Paula" perform so poorly. She has lost all her ability to narrate and her prose has lost any magical realism it ever had.

En la Suma de los Dias, Isabel Allende cuenta su historia y la de su familia. Uno se identifica con ella y yo me senti muy cercana a ella. Del principio al final queremos saber lo que pasa en las vidas de cada uno de los personajes y como sale todo al final. Senti que estaba leyendo una carta de una amiga cercana!!

I had read all the books written by Isabel Allende is my favorite author. This book is wonderful. You will wonder be part of her "tribu" !
I can't wait for the next one!
Thank you Isabel

I love all of her books. I love her! If you read PAULA, you would like La Suma de los Días, since it is about the life and family as well. However, this is not her best book by far.

Me gusto mucho el libro al punto que no queria que se me acabara y no lo podia soltar