Criticism about Allende's works has focused on the novels, especially on The House of the Spirits, her first novel, usually considered to be her best. Although most critics admired the magical realism and the passion of The House of the Spirits and found a new authentic voice in Allende's writing, some complained that the novel was an inferior imitation of the work of Gabriel García Márquez, the Colombian winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize for literature. The debate over García Márquez's influence and Allende's talent continued through the discussion of her next two novels, Of Love and Shadows and Eva Luna.

Another issue for critics has been Allende's feminism. She has been heralded for her strong feminine voice, but criticized for turning her male characters into stereotypes of traditional machismo and for creating women characters who desire dangerous or...