Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Violeta by Isabel Allende

45 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

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

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

jnorwood's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, War, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Child death, Genocide, and Forced institutionalization

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

nreyno's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Torture, Body shaming, Violence, Infertility, Grief, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abortion

albaface's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Addiction, and Suicide

Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Homophobia

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