Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende

131 reviews

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

lavaly_1's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Cursing, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Moderate: Torture, War, and Violence

Minor: Racism

paulathepudding's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

The amount of sexual assualt was honestly disturbing. Aside from that I didn't like the foreshadowing throughout the book but that's probably just my personal taste. Nevertheless an interesting read giving insight into the history of Chile through the life of an upperclass family. I especially loved Clara's character and the spiritual aspects. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Physical abuse, Torture, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Pedophilia and Racial slurs

jlscrombie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: War and Sexual violence

imjustannaok's review against another edition

emotional funny informative 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

4.0

Magic realism remains undefeated. The family dynamics are well-developed. The antagonists are humanized but not excessively. The women are strong and the men suffer. The genre's whimsy keeps the book from lurching too deeply into the straight-up horrors of the political atmosphere in South America at the time

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

beeancamorales's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence

Moderate: Violence

miuku's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Abortion, Animal death, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, and Torture

Minor: Grief, Alcohol, and Addiction

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

carolinaricalde's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

es un libro fuerte de leer, con personajes complejos pero bien definidos y que narra realidades latinoamericanas dolorosas pero necesarias de conocer

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

ricefun's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I had a very difficult time getting into this narrative. It has taken me several tries with several Allende books to finally finish one. I am working through the ALA Banned Books journal, and that is the motivation for completing this novel. And listening to the audiobook format made that possible. 

I can understand why Allende is well loved as an author. Her ability to invoke feelings and passion is evident. She mixes character development with plot that feels deeply rooted in real-life circumstances. I didn't come away feeling particularly warm about any characters. And this novel leaves me feeling even more concerned about how quickly government can degenerate into chaos and  totalitarianism. And still, I will look forward to reading other books by Allende in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, War, Domestic abuse, Torture, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, and Abortion