Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

32 reviews

delvesinshelves's review against another edition

I spent quite a while weighing the merits of this book and my own interest in the material against the gratuitous rape scenes and obscene misogynistic perspectives. 
I don’t shy away from challenging books, but there has to be a strong why when it comes to this degree of sexual violence. 
The most recent series  I read with content of this sort is the Poppy War trilogy, which deliberately covers a parallel to the rape of nanking. 
This book is not covering real historical events, and not all of the rape/attempted rape seems to be serving a purpose of any kind in the story. 
I was really excited to read about the building of a historical cathedral over the decades, but I think this book may be harmful without sufficient redeeming qualities for me to push through. DNF. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Gore, Death of parent, Death, Rape, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Grief, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage

siniandi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I understand that this is one of Follett's most beloved works. It is a densely packed work spanning several decades; the plot is nicely interwoven with historical elements and makes one reflect on power structures and injustices that in some form persist to this day. I honestly loved most of the characters and the way the flaws of even the "good" characters reflect in the story. Follett makes sure to create a strong female protagonist, which I love. She seems believable and strong and wields power in ways realistic for the era.

The description of women and sex scenes are a quite male gaze-y though (as is usually the case in Follett's work) and the ending comes a little abrupt and too neatly, as if he really wanted to finish after 1000 pages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, and Gore

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Bullying, War, Confinement, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Classism, and Cursing

snd1101's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Gore, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

merisavale's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

I loved this book. It reminded me of game of thrones a lot. It was filled with complex politics, old rivalries, and had a surprising amount of gore and violence for a book principally concerning the building of a cathedral. The only think keeping me from giving it a full 5/5 stars is the few times when I rolled my eyes at the way female characters were written. BUT on the whole the author did a spectacular job including a variety of interesting female characters who were powerful while still staying true to the realities of life in the 1000’s. You also learn so much about how cathedrals are built which I also loved. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, War, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

joey1914's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Blood, Cursing, Miscarriage, and Rape

Moderate: Abandonment

alexhaydon's review against another edition

dark sad tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Gore, and Violence

turtlebucket's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Amazing read (twice) but I cannot give a 5 with the gratuitous and constant violence and sexual assault of women and the overt ways all male characters describe women. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Islamophobia, Miscarriage, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Xenophobia, Classism, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, War, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, and Rape

sapphirelain's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Blood, Infidelity, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Violence, War, Gore, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

abie_baby's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Sexual content

worm_book's review against another edition

adventurous informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Bullying, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Antisemitism, Colonisation, Misogyny, Ableism, and Religious bigotry