Ripper by Isabel Allende

Ripper, Isabel Allende. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2014. e-book, 426 pps.

     Having read Maya's Notebook, I looked forward to reading Ripper and I was not disappointed. Ripper is set in San Francisco, an area of the country that I am quite fond of and know well enough. A teenager and her internet cohorts who play an online game called Ripper use the game to figure out who is leaving a trail of bodies in San Francisco.

sapphoq reviews says: Isabel Allende did an excellent job penning this serial killer novel. There was a twist at the end that was unanticipated. The scenery was spot-on. The characters were believable, especially Amanda the teen, her leftover hippie mom with poor taste in men, and her grandfather. And Save the Tuna was especially endearing. I like abandoned buildings in real life and in the novels I read. Highly recommended.

Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende

Maya's Notebook: A Novel, Isabel Allende.  New York:  HarperCollins Publishers, 2013.  e-book, 315 pps.


Maya Vidal is a teen who got into big trouble after the death of a beloved family member.  The bad guys-- along with the F.B.I.-- were after her and this necessitated her escape to a small island off of the coast of Chile.  While there, she discovers a different way of being.  The title refers to a notebook or a journal that Maya is keeping while she is on the small island.  Maya's entries at first are much like those that I would expect from a recently traumatized victim-- detached with evidence of hyper-vigilence peeking through.  As Maya heals, her entries reflect this healing and become more colorful and emotional.


sapphoq reviews says:  I found Maya's character to be likeable and the novel to be accurate in its' depiction of island life within a somewhat insulated yet deeply caring society of residents.  The writing is lyrical and this is a book not to be rushed through.  I relished every word of Maya's Notebook.  Highly recommended.