Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Violeta by Isabel Allende

111 reviews

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 .

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Content Warnings

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

bits12's review

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug abuse, and Domestic 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

nreyno's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Torture, Body shaming, Violence, Infertility, Grief, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abortion

albaface's review

emotional hopeful reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Addiction, and Suicide

Moderate: Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Homophobia

bmpicc's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I do love a solid family saga. Spanning decades, Violeta had quite the story to share. I liked the writing and the storytelling. Some sections moved faster than others, but it was overall enjoyable.

What really got me though was near the end. I think a lot of us can understand the fear of losing a partner. This paragraph says it all...

"I loved that man so much! I can't forgive him for abandoning me. He was so healthy that I was totally unprepared for his heart to suddenly burst. He had the lack of courtesy to die before me, even though he was thirteen years younger."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Abortion

megb64's review

adventurous challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, and Addiction

kanorve's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Cancer, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Murder, Death, Torture, and Infidelity

jodiebielenberg's review

emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder