Story Circle Network
Austin Chapter
Reader's Guide

March 2000
Paula

Paula
by Isabel Allende

  1. There was a felicitous gift for storytelling in the Allende family. Where does it begin?

  2. What happened in her early home life that made her decide early to be strong like Tata? How did she see her mother in this regard?

  3. Vivid imagery and frequent references to ghosts and other spiritual entities characterize Allende's style. Do you think she really believes in these apparitions?

  4. The author characterizes herself as being rebellious dating from a time (at a wrestling match) when her grandfather Tata failed to live up to her previous image of him as an Olympian God. Can you give a few instances she uses in her story that illustrate her rebelliousness?

  5. Where do you find early in the book a hint that tells us Allende knows this is not just a letter for Paula, but will be a book?

  6. Do you agree or disagree with her statements on "the female condition" (as in her mother's remarks on Pg 72)? Does the author refer to this "condition" again?

  7. Various references in the memoir might lead us to believe Isabel is no longer an adherent to the Christian faith. Can you cite any, and what if anything does she substitute for this lost faith?

  8. What are her motives for writing the book?

  9. Especially during her accounts of the military Coup in Chile and its harrowing aftermath, Isabel relieves the tension by returning to her day-by-day accounts of Paula's illness. Do you find this device effective or disconcerting?

  10. Isabel herself characterizes her writing as "sensual". Pick out your favorite passage illustrating this quality.