Books in the Media: Violeta by Allende steals the show

Violeta by Isabel Allende (Bloomsbury) topped the reviews this week, picking up mentions in the Guardian, Financial Times, New Statesman, Independent and the Telegraph, while Free Love by Tessa Hadley (Jonathan Cape) and Reality+ by David J Chalmers (Allen Lane) also captured the critics’ attention.

The Scotsman’s Allan Massie described Violeta as “enjoyable and undemanding reading… I can’t imagine readers turning it aside because they are bored”. 

The New Statesman’s Christiana Bishop praised the novel for its “customary vibrant and compelling prose" adding: "Allende’s Violeta is a moving exploration of both the pain and the freedom of being an outsider." 

Boyd Tonkin at the Financial Times said Allende’s “breakneck recital of events — both private and public — has pace and verve, captured in Frances Riddle’s enjoyably fast-flowing translation”. 

Claire Allfree, for the Daily Mail, called it a “breakneck" novel while Nick Duerden at iNews hailed the author as “a literary titan”, praising her presentation of old age which “shows how adventure doesn’t have to stop once you start stooping”. 

The Telegraph’s Jake Kerridge gave the novel three out of five stars, describing it  as “fluent and very readable”. The novel also featured in the Independent’s “Books of the month" article by Martin Chilton while the Guardian’s Hephzibah Anderson conducted an interview with Allende.  

The eagerly awaited Free Love by Hadley was mentioned in the Guardian, iNews, Scotsman, Financial Times, Times, Week, Observer and Irish Times. 

Helen Cullen, writing for the Irish Times said: “Every description in this novel is dynamic, infused with storytelling.” 

The Guardian made Hadley’s novel its book of the day with Michael Donkor saying: “Hadley’s poignant drawing together of a situation that ultimately becomes “as fatally twisted as a Greek drama which shows a writer with boundless compassion". 

Fiona Sturges at iNews said Free Love “artfully delves beneath the veneer of the British middle class to tell an intimate story of generational discord, political change and sexual freedom”. Francesca Steele also interviewed the author for the publication. 

Kirsty McLuckie at the Scotsman said: “Hadley writes compellingly fascinating characters viewed from every angle, perfectly encapsulating an era of change.” 

The Financial Times’ Mia Levitin hailed Hadley as “a superb portraitist, rendering people with the tiniest of details”. James Marriott at the Times said Hadley had “mastered a kind of writing you might call the domestic sublime”. 

Over in non-fiction it was Reality+ by Chalmers that had the critics talking as it picked up mentions in the Guardian, Times and Sunday Times.  

The book was named the Guardian’s book of the day by P D Smith who said  Chalmers “tackles some frankly mindbending ideas, but does so in a lively and entertaining style, filled with references to pop culture”. 

Josh Glancy at the Sunday Times said: “Everyone should read this important book to understand where we may be heading and how it will be rationalised. Then take a red pill and join the resistance.”