Reviews tagging 'War'

Bolla by Pajtim Statovci

29 reviews

dianahincureads's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The main character is vile. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Racism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Incest and Rape

menomica's review

I… do not want to read a book with an abuser as a protagonist 😕.

The book is interesting and cool, i was excited to learn about albanian-serbian relations but Arsim is not only a bad partner but actively physically assaults his wife. I get his whole thing is being forced in the closet, but I feel like you can be a closet case without abusing your wife because she got pregnant because you can’t keep your hands off her (you’re also an f slur who hates her btw.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse

mariberries's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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: Domestic abuse and War

internationalreads's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, War, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Incest, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Confinement, Excrement, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

krobart's review

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

 This novel is beautifully written and ultimately haunting. However, I so disliked Arsim that it was hard for me to read. He is absolutely vile in his behavior to almost everyone in the book but especially to his wife and children, whom he periodically deserts and beats when he is there. When he thinks later that he did his best by them, he defines this as financial support. Really, he deserts anyone who poses any difficulties. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Hate crime, Racism, Religious bigotry, Genocide, War, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

james1star's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I have thoughts but I don’t know what them thoughts are… it had lots of good parts but also a fare few bad bits too so Yhh. I think I’ll give this a reread and then update this review. Probs a 4 star but things can change. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia

Minor: Homophobia, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Rape, Pedophilia, Racism, Genocide, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

loganmedrano's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, War, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Incest, Medical content, Rape, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Homophobia, Racism, War, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Violence

Minor: Racial slurs

princessmaia's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Deportation, War, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual content

hughesie's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, War, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Genocide