Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses

... that works well on several different levels. Starting with the presentation. I recently reviewed another book on the evolution of the cuisine in France, and the book's "presentation" was truly dreadful, and I docked one star simply for that; there were way too many errors that were easy to correct with just a bit more time. What a startling contrast this book is. There is the quality of the paper, for a book carrying a normal paperback price. The art work, and there are 43 pictures and photographs identified in the appendix, is simply arresting. As is suitable for an author originally from Chile, there is a heavy Latin American influence in the selections. You sense that hours may have been spent on the selection of just one of the paintings. The display technique for the pictures is appealing; with a small portion of the painting on an earlier page foreshadowing what will follow (no doubt there is an obscure Latin phrase for such a technique). Almost half the book is recipes, from "dear mom," Panchita's, and no, we won't complain to her. We are thereby given meaningful instructions so that we can go to the "laboratory" and test the efficacy of various aphrodisiacs.Like many aphrodisiacs, there is some unique trigger that connected two synapses in my brain, between Isabel Allende, and Andrea Dworkin. Surely a unique coupling. No question Dworkin had a tough life, how much was self-inflicted is beside the point. Dworkin though focused on all the unpleasantness in male and female relationships, was light-years away from any eroticism, and died early. Allende could have focused on the unpleasant aspects of her life--being the niece who the Salvador Allende, who died in the CIA coup against the democratically elected government of Chile in 1973, on September 11th even. She was forced into exile, to Venezuela initially, carrying a small bag of dirt from her garden, her homeland, that she knew she might never see again. Yet she chose to celebrate the aspects that make life worth living, good food, and love.And it is her writing that is the ultimate strength of this book. She is playful and witty, and certainly suggestive, coquettish even, and you feel confident she would not lead you down a path unrequited. In preparation for the book, she has read broadly from the world's literature, on the nexus between food and eroticism, and has spun some marvelous vignettes. It seems inappropriate to highlight a few, at the expense of the rest, but nonetheless, I particularly liked "A Night in Egypt," "Creatures of the Sea," and "Colomba in Nature."There are so many numerous "takeaways," as those harried will say, including her quote of Oscar Wilde, that "love is a mutual misunderstanding." And how can one ever eat almonds again without thinking about Cybele?A rich magnum of kudos to Allende. She wrote this book when she was 50, which she said was the beginning of the reflective age. Now she is 60, or a bit more, an age that the ancient Greeks considered appropriate for putting aside the matters of the flesh, and for concentrating on the philosophical problems of life. I suspect it will be one aspect of Greek wisdom that Allende will not assimilate, and that garlic, asparagus, eggplant, and so much more will continue to pass her lips.Thanks for a most inspirational book.

John Updike once said that there are three great mysteries in life: sex, art, and religion. Isabel Allende has added food to that mysterious mix in a delightful way --- food is sexy and erotic and enticing in her book and is explored in a way that reminds one of lacy lingerie, seductive but mysterious at the same time. Allende, over fifty and still recovering from the painful loss of her daughter, writes boldly and bravely of how loss and all its pain is still concurrent with life's joys.As a writer myself who has written both a cookbook and about the erotic lives of people over fifty, I found Allende's honesty, sensuality, and joy utterly luscious and also comforting in that even as we grow older we have our senses and can celebrate them as long as we allow ourselves to. This is a beautiful book with wonderful illustrations including the sexiest peaches you will ever see. The recipes are intriguing. But more than anything it is an affirmation that our senses have the power to heal us and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Allende doesn't shy away from using personal experiences in the kitchen and in the bedroom to educate and entertain. I laughed and added the book to my kitchen collection with the intention of trying many of the included recipes. I learned many ways to make the most of culinary skills to prepare for a glorious finale in the bedroom and anywhere else that is convenient once the ball gets rolling. So much fun and yet very practical as well. Another Allende triumph and a book worth keeping.

The book is slow going, easy to pick up and put down but always a joy to read in short bursts.

the recipes are very good but really the authors stories and information about aphrodisiacs are the best. its written almost in a love affair kind of way; very fitting considering the topic. she keeps an old world sense of romance and light-hearted quality to her story experiences. very good cookbook!

I love all Isabel Allende books but this one didn't grab my interest. I had been wanting to purchase it for awhile and am a bit disappointed. I love the theme and recipes included. Storyline just gets a bit boring.

Read this book on my honeymoon, which was a GREAT idea, except for the fact that I wanted to rush out and make about a dozen of the recipes in the back and had no access to a kitchen! Since we've been home, I've cooked several recipes from the book and THEY WORK!!! Beware of the Rochefort Sauce however, which's since effects can have anti-aphrodisiac effects. :/

I love the writing, but have not tried out the recipes yet. Recipes seem complicated, and the ingredients are not available in my part of the world.

3 of the most exquisite pleasures in life: sex,food and wine (May be in disorder!!!)

Estoy muy feliz con este libro! El libro esta en perfecto estado, el envió rápido y todo muy bien. Muy recomendado!!

I love love. I love food. For me, love and food are two things can be separated but why would you when the combination of both is so utterly fulfilling (in every way)? This book is full of sensual sensations - stories from Isabel Allende's life that revolve about food, stories revolving about love and finally showing how to perfectly combine the two to get the most out of them.A wonderful book that is best enjoyed with a glass of wine and not too far away from the kitchen in case you will want to try some of the delicious recipes she is sharing.Enjoy.

This lady, as the niece of the late freely first democratically elected Marxist leader of any country in the world (Chile), whom was a medical physician and also in my book, a thoroughly decent man, never fails to surprise me! Her Doctor/Chilean Leader uncle sadly was killed as the US backed coup, by General Pinochet led Chile into very dark times indeed. So here we have an Allende, whom I have followed religiously since her first novel, pretty well throughout her mind boggling career, and again, writing about the erotic and sensuous applications of 'food' to human sexuality, leaves me in no doubt whatsoever that I am in the presence of the 'genius' that is Isabelle Allende! I could wax lyrical about so much in this book that my view would be synonymous with a 'treatise' on 'Aphrodite' by Isabelle Allende'! I don't intend to 'wax lyrical' or bore the pants of readers with my not to 'smart' critical review. All I can say is this. You got a marriage that needs a little pepping up? You got an excellent marriage and sec life already? Whatever, it is irrelevant! UPGRADE! Whether you are new lovers, old lovers, or in-between lovers, again that is irrelevant because, take it from me, what this woman can teach us all, (gender is irrelevant,) is that what she identifies in food as an 'aphrodisiac', across so many different 'types' and 'varieties' will leave you in no doubt, that if you have ever prepared a 'meal' for your lover, in the hope of 'kindling' the passion within, then this book is for you! Not only is it 'sensuous' and beautifully written, the prose in itself describing foods and their erotic potential, is 'majestic,' but having read this book in conjunction with my partner, to say our 'outlook' on the 'delights' that is food have changed, is an understatement' A 'tour-de-force' of wonderful 'stories' and delightful 'witty' and dare I say it, 'erotic' culinary delight! Highly highly recommended. Sumptuously, gorgeous, tasteful to the max, and wonderfully imaginative delight to read. Can't get enough of it. Isabelle Allende at her very best!

This is an awesome experiment in literature. I read this book before and bought it again to read. It's Allende's personal journey on which she takes you along - scouting through food recipes from her family and homeland and tying it with physical sensations. The book sends a sensation through your brain and body.