Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Violeta by Isabel Allende

16 reviews

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.

---

Content Warnings

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

fireinherveinzz's review

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.75

Violeta was very unlikable to me but she was relatable . Also just wow . This really reminds of wild swans but instead of a 3 generation story it’s just hers . 
Everything from the depression , to genocide, to domestic and financial abuse to addiction . And learning how to really live again at a mature age. Just wow.

if would’ve been interesting to see her grandsons reaction to reading this letter .

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Child death, Suicide, Death of parent, Genocide, and Grief

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

---

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

jamieclower's review

dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death, Genocide, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Police brutality, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Child death, Sexual assault, Pandemic/Epidemic, Infertility, Drug use, Grief, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Addiction, Violence, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Cancer

kwahl's review

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Dementia, War, Domestic abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative reflective 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? Yes

4.0

This was my book club's choice for March.  I love historical fiction, and this didn't disappoint.  I was also happy to read another Allende book that held my interest.  After reading The Long Petal of the Sea, I wasn't too sure about the author's work.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Cancer, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Bullying, Infertility, Infidelity, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Torture, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Child death, Genocide, Pregnancy, and Sexism

jennazim's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Child death, Murder, and Torture

beyreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.0

There’s a time to live and a time to die. In between there’s time to remember.

All I can think about is, it must be tiring to live that long.

I would recommend this book to hisfic enjoyers because in no way it is bad, but I can’t say I actually enjoyed reading this. I suspect it was because it is written in first person, but it can also be the writing.

I was not looking forward to what will happen next in the story because I am… afraid??? An understatement. Terrified??? Of what things will a character do to escalate the story because boy, do they escalated quickly.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Child death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, and Addiction

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Sexual content, Cancer, Suicide, Police brutality, and Infidelity

sofipitch's review

reflective slow-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

3.0

This book holds a lot of similarities to The House of the Spirits, and a lot of Allende's other books tbh. She doesn't name the country the MC is in but it is very clearly Chile, so we get the history of Childe in the 20th century from a european descendended once wealthy family. The book even suggests that Violeta is related to the family from Allende's first book. But the characters aren't well developed, the story isn't as interesting, it's overall a mediocre book from an author who I know has written better and more interesting works. Additionally while I could tolerate the occasional socially unconcious phrase or word or sentiment in her older works, in a book published in 2022 I feel like Allende should know better, or that at least her editor or publisher would have said something, since Allende is considered to be liberal and willing to learn/update her beliefs (Although maybe not, I read the synopsis of Ines of my soul and went 😬 and put it back)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Police brutality

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, War, Violence, and Sexual violence

maevebm's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

My first Isabel Allende novel was every bit human and authentic as I had hoped for. You see Violeta change, make mistakes, learn from mistakes, feel anger and loss yet she never loses her unique voice. Although I wish there was more dialogue, Allende developed her characters through Violeta’s experiences and wisdom. There is also an incredible amount of history sprinkled throughout, which adds depth but also serves as a reminder that the world can shape us in unimaginable ways.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, War, Grief, and Drug use

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Classism, Suicide, Child death, and Physical abuse

Minor: Colonisation and Rape