Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende

57 reviews

taracloudclark's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

The House of the Spirits is a family saga following Clara, a unique woman who, at an early age, reveals a mystical inclination, and her family through the Chilean tumult in mid-20th century. 

This is a long book. At times I had difficulty maintaining attention, but I think overall it was worth it. It was definitely outside my personal or familiar experience, and I feel I’m better for reading it.

Narrators were excellent.  

This was part of the StoryGraph read around the world challenge. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Torture, Medical trauma, Classism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Murder, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Police brutality, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Rape, Xenophobia, Violence, War, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

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

josefineisreading's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative slow-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

4.75

A very good read I think. I didn’t necessarily enjoy it but it was interesting enough that I was able to continue reading without getting bored or wanting to give up. My favourite chapter was definitely the epilogue. 

Through this book you learn so much about the political landscape of Chile through the escapades of the characters through the generations. The horrors of the military junta are more towards the end of the book and seen through the eyes of an upper class family but nonetheless horrifying. I did enjoy learning the history through the Trueba family and all the others surrounding the household. I did think there was going to be more magical realism but maybe I’ve not read enough to solidify my understanding of the genre. 

My final thoughts are that I would recommend it but I don’t think I would reread it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, War, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Medical content, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Slavery, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Abortion, Addiction, Car accident, Classism, Confinement, Death, Pregnancy, Rape, Torture, Blood, and Gun violence

Moderate: Pedophilia, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, Incest, Animal death, Racism, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Excrement, Alcohol, and Cursing

Minor: Homophobia

elisavaz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-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

5.0

Livro excepcional, muito bom. Ele passa por várias gerações e não é um livro particularmente longo, mas há caracterização de grande parte dos personagens e suas peculiaridades. Eu acho isso muito rico. Cada personagem é tão único, tão excêntrico. O livro foi muito bem escrito, com uma mistura de romance histórico com realismo mágico.
A autora conta uma história que já se encerrou, então ela sabe tudo o que já aconteceu. Por isso, ela dá spoilers dos acontecidos durante o livro (quando alguém vai morrer ou se um casal vai terminar junto...). Eu, particularmente gosto disso e, quando bem feito, não tira o suspense e a curiosidade (e foi muito bem feito).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexism, Abortion, and Rape

Moderate: Pregnancy and Car accident

marigoldgem's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Sexual violence, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, War, Racism, Medical content, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gun violence, Rape, Sexism, Confinement, Grief, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

ka_cam's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.25

Beautifully written and still timely multigenerational saga set in chili in the generations up to the election of Allende (‘the President’) and the subsequent coup and descent into authoritarian violence. The named first person narrator was so unlikable and casually violent I disliked parts of his narration. The characters are interesting and I see how it was hugely significant for the time, for me it read as good but not exceptional. Would advise folks to check the content warnings and be prepared for outdated language. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Rape, Sexism, Homophobia, Abortion, Child death, Police brutality, Animal death, Car accident, Classism, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Racism, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Violence, Death of parent, Medical content, Alcohol, Murder, Sexual content, Grief, Torture, and War

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Addiction

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

enchanteddroppings's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Abandonment, Abortion, Death, Classism, Drug use, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Torture

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