Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

163 reviews

laedyred's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I cannot figure out if I like this book or not. On one hand, I admire the attempt to show the strongest side of women and fully explain how we have to be better than men in society. Every male character in this book is disgusting, often making me want to put the book down for good. The nastiest things about men are told with no detail skirted around. The women in the story are complex enough to show their weaknesses to men while still being strong, but I couldn't help but be disappointed in them for allowing these men in their lives that act like living trash. Too much of the story is spent in this weird arc of "redemption" of the grandfather, who is a serial rapist, misogynist, and horrible human being. It made me sick to read about his acts and then somehow be expected to...forgive him? Like him? Just because he becomes "oh woe is me, my country fell apart". Guess what, you're part of the reason, you made people's lives awful. I don't know, maybe my rating will change after I ruminate on the book. But for now, I'm conflicted.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

amandadasso's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Sexual harassment

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

amgarrido's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism

mclaravlm's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Abortion

katsmedialibrary's review against another edition

Too many triggers rn

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Ableism and Racism

nimeneth's review against another edition

Probably a minority here, but I just didn't like it.

The book is a tale of misery and bizarre characters, and that would be fine if the writing was engaging. Unfortunately it's not - it's a lot of summary, very minimal dialogue, and the changes in the characters are superficial and revert relatively quickly. I wound up skimming the last 40 pages I "read" because it just wasn't engaging.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Classism

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

cami1107's review against another edition

emotional inspiring slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

emily_madcharo's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad slow-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: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Police brutality

mandamae's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence