Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende

39 reviews

flowerwineandbooks's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I expected and wanted to enjoy this more than I did... It's a family saga, and I can't tell what it did that makes it so widely beloved? It's made me question if I just don't like family sagas or it it was simply this book..

People praise the poetic descriptions in this novel, and maybe it's the fault of translation but I didn't find the prose all the beautiful. There were a few stunning lines, but these were more from Nivea, Clara, and Alba about the importance of justice and resilience of women.
<blockquote> "this is to assuage our conscience, darling," she would explain to Blanca. "but it doesn't help the poor. They don't need charity, they need justice." </blockquote>
<blockquote> It was then I understood that the days of [character name] and all those like him are numbered, because they have not been able to destroy the spirit of these women. </blockquote>
This book has virtually no plot, it's all characters. And that would be fine, except most of the characters were not ones I was able to root for very easily. Additionally, I HATED HATED HATED reading from Esteban's point of view. I think this is the sole reason it took me so long to finish this book. If one of the themes of the novel is the spirit of women, I don't think this writing choice was the best... I understand that he was necessary as the patriarch to counterbalance the narrative being told about the spirits of the women throughout the family, but I feel like just seeing his actions would have been enough for the same to have been accomplished.

The historical context in the last few chapters of the book I found to be the most intriguing! Since the passing of Clara, I struggled to maintain interest in the story with no more characters I really cared for. The wider story of Chilean politics was fascinating to me, and I came to care more for some of the younger characters FINALLY at this point. However, the big reveal/twist wasn't as shocking as I would have liked because of the overused and blatant amount of foreshadowing throughout the ENTIRETY of the novel from the first chapters. (Which I know is not a translation issue, because I've read some reviews from those who read it in Spanish and said similar things here)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Rape, and Misogyny

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Animal death, and Ableism

Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Animal cruelty

lief_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Classism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, War, Torture, Sexual content, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Death, Blood, Rape, Animal death, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Abortion, Violence, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Homophobia

Moderate: Miscarriage, Mass/school shootings, and Medical content

Minor: Incest and Addiction

rhi_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Torture, Blood, Child abuse, Excrement, Animal death, Classism, Abortion, Infidelity, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Medical content, Death of parent, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Incest

Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

j_mindelan's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcohol, Excrement, Grief, Incest, Blood, Body shaming, Police brutality, Pregnancy, War, Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Slavery, Torture, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Abortion, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Rape, Religious bigotry, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Classism, and Pedophilia

knenigans's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, War, Abortion, Pregnancy, Rape, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Car accident, and Adult/minor relationship

manasvini's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

An expansive story of violence, injustice, the pursuit of justice and its consequences. This story is as wide as it is deep, spanning decades with a multitude of characters and storylines, intertwined with a family and a nation's history of revolution. The density of the writing and the sheer amount of trauma described in these pages make it a challenging read, but a worthwhile one. I leave feeling both sorrow and hope simultaneously, with an immense appreciation for the importance of recording our histories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Murder, Police brutality, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Grief, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Stalking, Classism, Child abuse, Colonisation, and War

dommymartinez's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Police brutality, Blood, Cursing, Mass/school shootings, Classism, Violence, Abortion, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction and Drug use

Minor: Racism and Racial slurs

laedyred's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I cannot figure out if I like this book or not. On one hand, I admire the attempt to show the strongest side of women and fully explain how we have to be better than men in society. Every male character in this book is disgusting, often making me want to put the book down for good. The nastiest things about men are told with no detail skirted around. The women in the story are complex enough to show their weaknesses to men while still being strong, but I couldn't help but be disappointed in them for allowing these men in their lives that act like living trash. Too much of the story is spent in this weird arc of "redemption" of the grandfather, who is a serial rapist, misogynist, and horrible human being. It made me sick to read about his acts and then somehow be expected to...forgive him? Like him? Just because he becomes "oh woe is me, my country fell apart". Guess what, you're part of the reason, you made people's lives awful. I don't know, maybe my rating will change after I ruminate on the book. But for now, I'm conflicted.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Misogyny, Rape, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

april_liebt_libros123's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This story is LONG but not without intention. As a multi-generational tale, I was often left wondering what was the point of it all. There is a rather extended climax of the end of the book, but it ties all the experiences of the many varied characters together in a way the mirrors the story telling of its protagonists. I finished it feeling an appreciation for the journey it took me on, even if it took me a minute to get there. While I won't say I ENJOYED this book, I do definitely feel like I learned from it and have a good representation of this style of writing and what the author is known for. I'm grateful for the read, even if I had to force myself through some of it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Violence, Grief, Racial slurs, Rape, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Sexism

mightyoscura's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Police brutality, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Body horror, Self harm, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Medical content, Gaslighting, Deportation, Classism, Child death, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, War, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Colonisation, Abortion, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, Physical abuse, and Mental illness