Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Violeta by Isabel Allende

82 reviews

bookellys's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Violeta and join her on her journey of reflection as she recounts her 100 year life.

Written as letters to her Grandson, Violeta’s life is bookended with scary similarities having been born in 1920 when the Spanish Flu ravaged her home country (Mexico) with the book ending during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Across her life time we hear about her great loves, tragedies, as well as getting an insight into the political history of Mexico (though I don’t think the book ever actually says she is Mexican, I just googled the places she mentions).

I loved the prominence of family in her story, be that those related by blood, or the family that is chosen as was so often the case in Violeta’s life.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Drug abuse, and Death

Minor: Rape

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

lexcellent's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Lesbophobia, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Murder, Sexism, War, Cancer, Infidelity, Death, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Rape, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Suicide

itsaas_r's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Violence, Death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault

bonnie9595's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Murder, and War

melps1611's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Suicide, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse

ncghammo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Torture, and Addiction

madeline_p4's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault and Drug abuse

Minor: Alcoholism

eddalyd's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

Der flotte Erzählstil lässt die Erzählungen oft oberflächlich erscheinen. Interessant waren sie historischen Streifzüge. Weniger gefallen hat mir, dass immer wieder betont wurde wie wohlhabend Violeta sei bzw. dass sie auch durch ihre Beziehungen viele Vorteile genießen konnte. Sie kam oft stark privilegiert rüber, was die Geschichte teilweise unrealistisch wirken und mich kaum mit Violeta sympathisieren lassen hat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Violence, Drug abuse, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Cancer, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Grief, Infertility, and Pregnancy

Minor: Abortion and Dementia

moon_peach's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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

4.0

The novel is a confessional of sorts to the main character's grandson. Violeta is not an easy character to like. She does a lot of bad even when she seems aware of it but she also experiences a lot of pain. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, War, and Drug abuse