Reviews tagging 'War'

Violeta by Isabel Allende

57 reviews

bonnie9595's review

adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Murder, and War

melps1611's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Suicide, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse

dfram's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

i loved this book. the writing was incredible, i felt for the characters, i cried and i laughed. i love the format for this book

it reads like letters to an undisclosed person until well into half of the book probably!

i loved the full circle moments where all of my questions are answered. i was inspired by violeta's candid storytelling, i appreciate the historical background of that period of time. violeta sharing and honoring people she loved by sharing their stories is so powerful and moving and captivating. slow start, once i got into it i really liked it! i will be reading more isabel allende books in the future<3 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, War, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Pregnancy, and Suicide

madeline_p4's review

adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault and Drug abuse

Minor: Alcoholism

annamay1021's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, War, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

eveningreverie's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective 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

4.0

Expansive and thematically strong, though there are certain aspects to the frame that—at least for me—make some of Violeta’s inclusions a bit confusingly placed. I’m not saying we don’t need to hear

about her getting some good good

, but does her grandson? The choice to leave the country of residence unnamed was strong. 

Will update review after book club discussion.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Child death, and War

moon_peach's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.0

The novel is a confessional of sorts to the main character's grandson. Violeta is not an easy character to like. She does a lot of bad even when she seems aware of it but she also experiences a lot of pain. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, War, and Drug abuse

jnorwood's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, War, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Child death, Genocide, and Forced institutionalization

ayaminerva's review

adventurous dark inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

"I chose not to see, hear, or speak up during the most critical years. I'd surely have continued on in the same way straight through the dictatorship if the iron fist of oppression hadn't dealt me a direct blow."
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Structured like a memoir, the book takes us through generations and across countries as Violeta grows from a child to a centenarian and becomes witness to changes in political and sociocultural landscapes. These are captured as letters to her grandson, Camilo.  The upheavals and unrest are framed from an upper class perspective but the progression allows for development and a shift of stance and beliefs.

Offhand, I once wondered why historical fiction are almost always told in a middle-upper income lens. I know now that if it is the voice of the poor, the pages may end under 50 as they are most often the first targets of violence.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Minor: War and Pandemic/Epidemic

megshrews's review

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Murder

Moderate: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death and Drug use