Every life of a character is within a context. If I write detached from a social and political background, my story looks like a soap opera where everybody is indoors, not working and living off their emotions. Isabel Allende backgroundcharactercontext share on social
You couldn't find two people more different than my mother and I. There are a thousand things about me that she fought against. Isabel Allende fightfindmother Change image and share on social
My writing comes not from the happy moments, but from struggle and grief. Isabel Allende griefhappymoment Change image and share on social
I want to have an epic life. I want to tell my life with big adjectives. I want to forget all the grays in between, and remember the highlights and the dark moments. Isabel Allende adjectivebigdark Change image and share on social
The fact that you own a gun and shoot to defend your life is a very American way of thinking. Isabel Allende americandefendfact Change image and share on social
I was a lousy journalist. I could never be objective. Sometimes I invented the whole story. Isabel Allende inventjournalistlousy Change image and share on social
Feminism is not dead, by no means. It has evolved. If you don't like the term, change it, for Goddess' sake. Call it Aphrodite, or Venus, or bimbo, or whatever you want; the name doesn't matter, as long as we understand what it is about, and we support it. Isabel Allende aphroditebimbocall share on social
I like historical fiction. I fell in love with New Orleans the first time I visited it. And I wanted to place a story in New Orleans. Isabel Allende fallfictionhistorical Change image and share on social
One of the things that always comes up in my writing is the search for freedom, especially in women. I always write about women who are marginalized, who have no means or resources and somehow manage to get out of those situations with incredible strength - and that is more important than anything. Isabel Allende freedomimportantincredible share on social
A memoir forces me to stop and remember carefully. It is an exercise in truth. In a memoir, I look at myself, my life, and the people I love the most in the mirror of the blank screen. In a memoir, feelings are more important than facts, and to write honestly, I have to confront my demons. Isabel Allende blankcarefullyconfront share on social