Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

10 reviews

j_mindelan's review

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

---

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

ka_cam's review

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 Would advise folks to check the content warnings and be prepared for outdated language. 

---

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.

---

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

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

---

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

elliejane002's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Genocide, Pregnancy, Classism, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Abortion, Colonisation, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Police brutality, War, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Sexual content

chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition

lighthearted sad slow-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

3.5

Agh, such wonderful writing, I just didn't connect to the story or characters much. Can't wait to read more from this author!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Classism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Blood, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual assault, Animal death, Grief, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Abortion, Alcohol, Car accident, Chronic illness, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and War

Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy

erinwolf1997's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Abortion, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, War, Rape, and Torture

Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Murder, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Police brutality, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

chiaraaaa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Abortion, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Genocide, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Racism, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual content, and Sexism

Minor: Animal death

cozylifewithabby's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

3.5

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved the narrative style and the weaving of different perspectives. I also appreciate the threads of events that all tie together by the end. However, though I do like magical realism and the fantastic, I had a hard time stomaching all the violence (mostly domestic and sexual with some torture) that is thrown in nonchalantly. Also, although the violence comes back to wreak havoc on the next generation it is almost always the women or the good who pay for the mistakes of the men (or more "manly" men in their lives. I might have more to say later, but for now those are my thoughts. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Car accident, Death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gore, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Abandonment, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, War, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Police brutality, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia

joneva's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence