Reviews tagging 'War'

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

29 reviews

nataliecoyne's review

dark emotional 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

3.75

This was probably going to be 3 stars, the kind of book where it was interesting enough and good enough but with flaws. However, Part III (the final 78 pages) saved it, as that section really captivated me, it was so emotional, and was exactly what I was hoping for out of this novel. So that brought it up to 3.75 stars.

I think, when it comes to the first two parts (the first 184 pages), I just didn't really expect the romance plot and how much that would be the focus of so much of this book. I thought the romance was nice, but it just wasn't what I was hoping for and the amount of sexual content made me uncomfortable at times. That's why I had been leaning toward 3 stars. But again, I am super grateful for Part III and Part III brought it up to 3.75 stars.

I could definitely see myself recommending this to others.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, and War

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Stalking, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Deportation

klbreyfogle's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

I loved everything about this book! The writing was amazing and I really enjoyed the character development (and of course the third act!) I know some readers didn’t like Isabel but I actually found her really sympathetic in terms of being a character with an anxiety disorder (possibly OCD) and being so insecure and uncomfortable with herself that she just assumes that everyone hates her and she hates them back. An honestly well written character. And I love Eva, of course! Especially when you get into the diary section and really get to know her as a person. And the supporting characters are also written as whole, interesting people. 

Overall, a really good study of Dutch life and character after the Holocaust in a way we don’t get a lot of in the US - we get a lot of “during” but very little of the aftermath. With the extra bonus of learning yourself and how to be a whole person, and extra extra bonus lesbian content!

With a happy ending for good luck!

what’s not to like?

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Death of parent

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

Minor: Genocide, Alcohol, and War

booksinkandpaper2's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

This was unexpectedly beautiful, even though highly recommended by a bookish podcaster and Patreon content creator that I trust. I think it was one of her top 10 of last year. So I found it at my library and opened the cover. What I found here is historical fiction mostly centering around two women. Isabel lives in a home alone, owned by an uncle. Her brothers check on her now and again and visit. Louis, who will inherit the home, brings girlfriend Eva home because he believes he is totally in love with her. Isabel sees Eva as flighty and fake. She immediately despises her and makes no secret of her distaste for Eva. What unfolds next is the rich and well developed understanding of each character from their experiences, thoughts, behaviors and preferences. It is lyrical and intense and propulsive. Also sensual and descriptive - it slowly develops into an open door relationship you hope will never end. A difficult story of past experiences. A beautiful story about falling in love in a completely unexpected journey. And the discovery of what lengths someone will go to in order to capture what they desire and make it their own. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and War

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide and War

Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content

shancraic's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Genocide, Homophobia, and Racism

Minor: Animal death and Alcohol

rhilennox's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, and War

fatfrog's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content

Moderate: Antisemitism and War

Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

keziarose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective fast-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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism and War

Minor: Homophobia

kimveach's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

While the first two sections of this book were paced slowly, it was worth the payoff at the end. It was a disturbing book, and I'm not sure the ending could have happened. Regardless, I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Classism, and Deportation

memeraryfiction's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

The Safekeep is an incredible book; I couldn't put it down and read it in two sittings. Van der Wouden's writing is excellent; she conveys tension and emotion so beautifully. Given the book's subject matter (memory, loss, echoes of the Second World War), it could easily have become maudlin but never did. I find war novels a very difficult sell these days (because there are just so many of them!), but this one is well worth reading.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment