The Stories of Eva Luna

By: Isabel Allende

Narrated by: Elizabeth Pena

Length: 2 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Immerse yourself in a world of love, vengeance, compassion, and irony with the evocative stories of Eva Luna. Author Isabel Allende introduced this well-loved character to audiences in her earlier novel, Eva Luna, which describes the adventurous life of a poor Latin-American woman who finds happiness and success through her masterful storytelling skills. Now Eva returns, this time in a treasure trove of opulent and stirring stories that speak to every emotion.

©1991 Isabel Allende (P)1991 Dove Audio, Inc.

I like books

What made the experience of listening to The Stories of Eva Luna the most enjoyable?

Her soothing phone sex voice.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Most interesting aspect were the stories... least interesting aspect were the stories I didn't like.

What about Elizabeth Pena’s performance did you like?

She has a future in phone sex.

Who was the most memorable character of The Stories of Eva Luna and why?

Eva Luna.

Any additional comments?

No additional comments.

Eva Luna stories are still poignant

I read Eva Luna many years ago and wanted to revisit it again. The narrator was wonderful and I appreciated her interpretation of the stories. Isabel Allende is such a fantastic storyteller there were moments when I was amazed by the story. A few times I had to turn it off and think about how perfectly her words are crafted.

Better some Allende than no Allende

I live in Canada, and am consequently cursed to a poverty of Allende's work in audio form, perhaps because the Audible powers-that-be assume that our comparative lack of Latin American listeners means a lack of interest in Latin American works. Worse yet, the Stories of Eva Luna, one of my favourite works by Allende, is this abridged version. Lamentable as these situations may be I decided that some Allende was better than no Allende, and was only mildly disappointed at the odd choices the audiobook producers made when selecting which short stories to include. Of the 24 original stories, only 8 are found here. I was struck most by the absence of "And of Clay Are We Created," widely considered Allende's best work of short fiction, and "The Judge's Wife," which has been anthologized a number of times. Nevertheless, the stories found here are still a delight to revisit, especially when read by Elizabeth Pena, who is very easy on the ears, and reads the stories with the requisite sultry tone Allende's work demands. That said, I had to listen at speeds between 1.5 and 3 times the recorded speed, as Pena takes some extremely pregnant pauses.

Allende's prose is poetic and her stories are filled with meaningful magic, where miracles are beautiful or terrible epiphanies. The stories range from whimsically touching to heartbreakingly tragic. I'll definitely revisit this audiobook, despite most of my favourite stories being left out.

I was unable to find a table of contents for this audiobook, and one of my motivations in purchasing and listening to it was to provide one to other prospective listeners. Here are the story titles with their relative starting times, since, as noted below, the chapter breaks are haphazard:

1. Prologue
2. Two Words 5:36
3. Wicked Girl 28:50
4. Our Secret 1:02:55
5. The Little Heidelberg 1:15:37
6. The Proper Respect 1:34:48
7. Interminable Life 1:52:14
8. Revenge 2:22:24

EXCELLENT!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I heard about this author but with doubt listened to this particular book!!!! Loved all the stories and narraratiion by elizabeth pena was excellently executed!!! Well done!!!

Incomplete

I wish this recording had included the complete work. Otherwise delightfully read with passion. Recommended.

Book too old

What disappointed you about The Stories of Eva Luna?

I would of rather had a choice of her newer books.

Has The Stories of Eva Luna turned you off from other books in this genre?

yes

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment

Any additional comments?

Like I said, I would rather have had the choice of her most recent work. So I don't intend to continue it. Wish I could get reimbursed for it.

Great Book, TERRIBLE VERSION

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

This is good for anyone who doesn't give a crap about knowing when a story starts or ends, and doesn't ever want to easily find any short story, because there's NO TABLE OF CONTENTS AND THE STORIES ARE NOT THE CHAPTERS.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Stories of Eva Luna?

The writing and performance are incredible, but whomever prepared these digital chapters should be fired, then shot and killed.

Which scene was your favorite?

Two Words. Amazingly cool story.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Stories of Eva Luna?

None of them. I just would've given them a GOOD TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Any additional comments?

Seriously, there's like 25 stories in this book. How hard would it be to tell people what stories are IN the book and make the 'chapters' each a single story, named for the listener's convenience?

Savages.

Allende never disappointed me before...

What disappointed you about The Stories of Eva Luna?

The characters didn't grab me quickly enough to want to keep listening, not typical of Allende

Has The Stories of Eva Luna turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Elizabeth Pena?

Anyone with a more neutral voice, Pena's voice was a little too naisley for hours of listening in the car.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment, just couldn't get into the characters, although I didn't listen to the entire book

Any additional comments?

Had to keep finding my place everytime I started the story again....frustrating!

No "And of Clay Are We Created"

I think it should be more explicitly stated that this audible does not contain all of the stories in the collection. I read "And of Clay Are We Created" with 12th graders as an English teacher and I was excited to have an audio recording of it...but the story is not even included.

not my choice

This book wasn???t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

First of all I must say, I didn't chose this book. It was chosen by a book club member. As I got into it I was glad it was abridged (aside, I never buy abridged books.) I am not a particular fan of Isabel Allende or short stories in general, so this book was doomed from the beginning. I took a book of Anais Nin's erotica to the meeting and told the group it was much better written.

Would you ever listen to anything by Isabel Allende again?

no

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was fine

You didn???t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not unless you like Isabel Allende