Reviews tagging 'Pandemic/Epidemic'

Violeta by Isabel Allende

12 reviews

chingona_solo's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

"With time we only remember events, emotions fade" sums up the book well. An interesting story but it felt like there were no emotions attached to the events, which was an odd choice. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Abortion, Alcoholism, Rape, Trafficking, Sexism, War, Addiction, Colonisation, Alcohol, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Genocide, Medical trauma, and Misogyny

Minor: Incest and Cancer

bits12's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse

ayaminerva's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

"I chose not to see, hear, or speak up during the most critical years. I'd surely have continued on in the same way straight through the dictatorship if the iron fist of oppression hadn't dealt me a direct blow."
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Structured like a memoir, the book takes us through generations and across countries as Violeta grows from a child to a centenarian and becomes witness to changes in political and sociocultural landscapes. These are captured as letters to her grandson, Camilo.  The upheavals and unrest are framed from an upper class perspective but the progression allows for development and a shift of stance and beliefs.

Offhand, I once wondered why historical fiction are almost always told in a middle-upper income lens. I know now that if it is the voice of the poor, the pages may end under 50 as they are most often the first targets of violence.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Minor: War and Pandemic/Epidemic

bmpicc's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I do love a solid family saga. Spanning decades, Violeta had quite the story to share. I liked the writing and the storytelling. Some sections moved faster than others, but it was overall enjoyable.

What really got me though was near the end. I think a lot of us can understand the fear of losing a partner. This paragraph says it all...

"I loved that man so much! I can't forgive him for abandoning me. He was so healthy that I was totally unprepared for his heart to suddenly burst. He had the lack of courtesy to die before me, even though he was thirteen years younger."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Abortion

jamieclower's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death, Genocide, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Police brutality, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Child death, Sexual assault, Pandemic/Epidemic, Infertility, Drug use, Grief, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Addiction, Violence, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Cancer

amandamuchmoreparker's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, Abortion, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Drug use, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Infidelity, and War

jravelar's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, and Sexism

kryskross's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Police brutality, and Infidelity

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic and Terminal illness

chb's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Torture, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, War, Dementia, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization

kwahl's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Dementia, War, Domestic abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Toxic relationship