The Soul of a Woman: Rebel Girls, Impatient Love, and Long Life

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For centuries, it was debated whether or not women had souls," and here Isabel Allende shares a look into the souls of women and the women who helped paved her life. Isabel Allende is a favorite author of countless numbers of us. We wait with vigilance for her next offering. The Soul of a Woman leans from her usual fare to more of an outright memoir. It touches on the depth of womanhood and the breadth of feminism in today's world.

As a young woman coming of age in the late 1960s, she rode the second wave of feminism. Among a tribe of like-minded female journalists, Allende for the first time felt comfortable in her own skin, as they wrote “with a knife between our teeth” about women’s issues. She has seen what the movement has accomplished in the course of her lifetime. And over the course of three passionate marriages, she has learned how to grow as a woman while having a partner, when to step away, and the rewards of embracing one’s sexuality. Allende feels proud of her gender. Most women seem to share that sentiment though Allende knows she is one of the fortunate few to have experienced both the joys of motherhood and professional success. For a woman to feel valued in other ways than through youth and beauty has been for ages a herculean, if not impossible, task. For the longest time, even Allende was convinced that her average looks were detrimental. Because of Chilean prudery, Panchita never knew her own beauty and though she also created beauty, it was never praised by others. Allende is convinced that beauty inside and out goes hand in hand with sensuality and passion. Leading to purpose, these vital human qualities are the key to youthfulness. Overall, "The Soul of a Woman" is a powerful and inspiring book that will resonate with women of all ages. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities and richness of being a woman in the 21st century. It was an honor to read this book and gain so much wisdom from reading about a woman who has lived many years. It makes her more valuable to me. She has seen much, learned from life, and has a lot of wisdom to share.There is also love - love of the men she’s shared her life with, her children, the love she’s found in friendships through her life. Along with her many life experiences over the years, she shares her grief over loss. And yet, a woman who has loved her life, is loving her life as her journey hopefully still has years to come, she shares her frustrations - but also the joys - of aging, and what she’s learned along the way. It all feels like a personal conversation, a sharing of her soul. As a young female journalist in the 1960's when feminism brought the strength of woman together, she felt comfortable in her own skin fighting for woman's issues and confirming how rising together can push boundaries towards change.

This isn’t just about a literary prize however, but about the way that women still feel oppressed throughout the world. Where women should cover themselves from head to foot, so the weak men wouldn't be tempted. Where you are called a whore if you put a little make up on your face; where your worth is measured by the covering on your head, by your child-bearing ability, by your self-denial, docility and becoming resigned to being owned by someone else. Objectification of women is so predominant that we don't even perceive it, and in our youth it enslaves us. Feminism has not saved us from that servitude."This was a short read and as the author herself says, it's more of "an informal chat" than any other label one might put against it. The couple were living in Peru with three children when Panchita’s husband abandoned her. Divorce was illegal at the time, so they decided to annul the marriage. The husband only agreed to do so on the condition that he would never have to take care of his children again. One of those children was Isabel. Allende] executes this epistolary memoir with the same authenticity and poetry that grace her fiction. . . . Allende is a survivor worth reading and emulating.” — The Dallas Morning News Isabel Allende’s The Soul of a Woman spends some time considering the body’s failings in relation to ageing, but this memoir is mostly focused on and informed by rage about the patriarchy – a rage sparked when Allende’s mother was abandoned by her husband. Divorce not being allowed in Chile at the time, Allende’s father agreed to an annulment on the proviso that he never have anything to do with his three small children. Her brothers were allowed to vent their anger, but when Allende did the same thing, her mother consulted doctors to find out what was wrong with her daughter, suspecting colic or a tapeworm. Allende retrospectively diagnoses herself as an early bloomer: “I was a feminist in kindergarten.”

In the U.S., feminists like Gloria Steinem began to be seen and heard from, as well as seen on television in the 1970’s after NOW, the National Organization for Women, was formed, and the Equal Rights Amendment, originally introduced in 1923 was finally passed in 1972. For many, at the time, feminism was considered not only unnecessary because women were, supposedly, elevated to some sort of pedestal where they were considered to have an advantaged station in life. Growing up in a patriarchal country, where women are considered second-rate items rather than human beings, Isabel Allende's book resonates with me to the fullest. Isabel Allende has led quite the life. Born in Peru, she later resided in Chile, Argentina, and even Lebanon. Her outward personality was apparent in her kindergarten days. We smile as she reflects upon being expelled from school at the tender age of six because of insubordination. She verbally rebelled at the discipline that surrounded her from the threatening figures of the nuns at school. Home schooling was the next option. Feminism, like the ocean is fluid, powerful, deep, and encompasses the infinite complexity of life; it moves in waves, currents, tides, and sometimes in storms. Like the ocean, feminism never stays quiet." ~ Isabel Allende, The Soul of a Woman I had my blood pressure taken recently, something that happens more frequently when you reach middle age. I normally have low blood pressure – to the extent that I sometimes have problems with light-headedness – so my GP was surprised by a reading of 120/90. She took two more measurements to be sure. Each time it went higher.For example, Isabel walked away from the church at fifteen not because she didn’t believe in God but because she couldn’t be part of something that limited the feminine role. She struggled with the inherent machismo of religious organisations and openly disagreed with the way that females were treated as second-class members of the congregation. The fact that men were always going to remain as figures of authority without women ever truly being seen as equal was something she felt she could not be a part of. He views were so strong and unmoveable on this matter that she simply couldn’t stay. Women in the developed countries fight for their rights, while women in poor, third world countries fight for their lives and often lose; countries where, if a woman dares reject her forced suitor or father or brother, they are entitled to kill her, or worse, pour acid on her face and disfigure her for life.

To be safe, to be valued, to live in peace, to have their own resources, to be connected, to have control over their bodies and lives, and above all, to be loved”. Fictional female characters that boast bravado in storylines from the Middle Ages is one thing. Real flesh and blood, fire-breathing females in real life is another. And that compels us to look over our shoulders in gratitude for those who came before us and the realization to take on a willingness to forge ahead for today's little girls who will become tomorrow's stoic women. What part will we play?

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For all the depressing statistics and anecdotes, Allende provides an equal number of stories of women who are making a difference, so that the effect of this memoir is overwhelmingly motivating and uplifting. If I returned to the GP, my blood pressure would probably be lower. The patriarchy is stony, Feminism, like the ocean, is fluid, powerful, deep, and encompasses the infinite complexity of life; it moves in waves, currents, tides and sometimes in storms. Like the ocean, feminism never stays quiet. The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende is a memoir which focuses on topics of Justice, Social Movements, Politics, etc. This is my first book by the author. I have always wanted to read 'A Long Petal Of Sea', but haven't got a chance to read it yet, but after reading this book I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by the author. I really loved Isabel Allende’s latest book, Long Petal of the Sea, so I was very interested in learning about the author herself. She certainly has much to say. She has lived through many difficult times and happy days and describes these so well. The seven decades she has lived have given her this perspective. If I was to sum her life up in one word it would be passion. That comes from having a purpose in life, letting go of things that are not really important, and loving those she cherishes.