Reviews tagging 'Violence'

La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende

139 reviews

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 Would advise folks to check the content warnings and be prepared for outdated language.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

mhelmick28's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Rape

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

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

lottiegasp's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-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

This novel follows 4 generations of the Del Valle and Trueba family, led by compassionate matriarch Clara the clairvoyant and brutal conservative patriarch Esteban. It explores the politics of the unspecified Latin American country in which it is set, including conservative rule, a blip of Socialism, followed by a military coup. I thought it was overall well-written but not in a way where I was taken in by the aesthetics of the writing. It was quite bleak in how it portrayed both conservative and Socialist governance, as well as the horrible behaviours of Trueba, which he could completely get away with as the patriarch. There was a feminist message throughout of showing the women as strong, compassionate characters, but I disliked how much they forgave Trueba - I guess this reflects reality that you still might love your family members who do shitty things, but I found that the effect of this was that it watered down the messages of what is right and wrong. I didn't totally engage with the characters, and for quite a lot of the book I didn't find the plot particularly engaging because it was so focussed on the minute details of the household and each member of the family. I don't really feel compelled to read more of Allende's works after finishing this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Pedophilia, Police brutality, Violence, Incest, and War

dorkira's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Classism

Moderate: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Police brutality

april_liebt_libros123's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.0

This story is LONG but not without intention. As a multi-generational tale, I was often left wondering what was the point of it all. There is a rather extended climax of the end of the book, but it ties all the experiences of the many varied characters together in a way the mirrors the story telling of its protagonists. I finished it feeling an appreciation for the journey it took me on, even if it took me a minute to get there. While I won't say I ENJOYED this book, I do definitely feel like I learned from it and have a good representation of this style of writing and what the author is known for. I'm grateful for the read, even if I had to force myself through some of it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Violence, Grief, Racial slurs, Rape, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Sexism

amandadasso's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Sexual violence, Violence, Pedophilia, and Domestic abuse

mightyoscura's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Police brutality, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Body horror, Self harm, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Medical content, Gaslighting, Deportation, Classism, Child death, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, War, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Colonisation, Abortion, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, Physical abuse, and Mental illness

amgarrido's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence