A swashbuckling retelling

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	• Zorro: A Novel Isabel Allende, 2005 - 400 pages average customer review:based on 125 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A swashbuckling retelling

In the case of "Zorro," by Isabel Allende, fluff and fantasy in the hands of a great writer equals a rollicking good read. Diego is the child of a Spanish gentleman and an Indian woman who captures his heart, and although the marriage is a failure the child goes on to become Zorro, not a bad outcome at all! Diego sits astride two worlds, that of the Catholic, Spanish settlers in California, and the world of his Indian mother and "blood brother" Bernardo, the son of his Indian nurse. Diego enjoys the education of a Spanish gentleman, the spirituality of his mother's people, and a keen desire to right the wrongs he sees around him. His exploits as a young man, the disguise he adopts, and the origin of the name "Zorro" are very entertaining!

Extensive end notes reveal that Allende undertook this project as a purely commercial venture, at the request of the owners of the character "Zorro," much to the horror of her friends. But how daring of a serious novelist--to do something that's just fun! I whipped through the almost 400 pages on a flight home from Spain--how appropriate!--and I couldn't put it down. A great airplane book or summer read.

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Fantástico

I found this book a fantastic summer read. It's different than some of Allende's other work (which I also like) because it's not lacking in action. For example, I remember reading My Invented Country by the same author and loving it at the time, but there was little action for me to remember it by. In Zorro, some people may not like that the content is fairly stereotypical. If you have any idea of how things go in the classic epics, you'll have a feel for this book immediately. This doesn't make the book exactly predictable -- there are some surprises, and exciting action scenes sprinkled throughout. You've got the classic formula here: some oppressive Spaniards, swashbuckling pirates, dainty beauties, a tribe of Indians, a dashing rival, and an incredible hero. However, this is not a cookie-cutter copy of all the other stories out there. One thing that makes this novel unique is the unmistakable personalities of the characters. You are endeared to Diego and his milk-brother Indian Bernardo because of what you can see of their unique personalities, along with their idiosyncrasies. Diego, although the hero of the novel, is less than perfect and suffers his share of problems with his love interest and rivals. Bernardo is a strong and gentle, selective mute with a peaceful spirit to balance Diego's fiery temper. Another thing that makes the novel interesting is the way it is narrated -- in first person by a character not revealed to us until the end. Lastly and most importantly, it was written by Isabel Allende, a talented writer who doesn't sell short no matter what kind of story she's telling. Her style shines through on every page, ensuring that "Zorro" will sweep you off your feet.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, page 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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