Whispers Summary

Men's sexual impulses are triggered by sight, while women's impulses are triggered by sound and by the imagination. Many of the most famous lovers are those who wooed women with poems and songs rather than by their appearance or exploits. Allende proves her point with examples of the female baboon's enlarged, red genitalia necessary to attract the males of the species, the lack of popularity of erotic magazines among women, and Cyrano de Bergerac's success in wooing a woman for his friend through the use of his poetry.

In addition to the sense of sound itself, passion is controlled and aroused by the quality of the sound as it appeals to the listener. What is appealing to one person may have a different effect on others.

Allende cautions readers to be careful with words and use them wisely, both spoken and written. She...