Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

62 reviews

emissaryorca's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

On an Island of World Peace, shouldn't those who inflicted terrible harm on others be forced to confess and atone, and not make widows and mothers pay for stone monuments?

Brutal prose, and by brutal I mean matter-of-fact; no beating around the bush here. Mixed feelings on the ending, but I don't think "rushed" is the right word. Maybe "convenient"? We would all be so lucky to be reminded of how we can move on, of what "home" or "true friendship" could have looked like and be at peace. There's something to be said about the power of a story of people, passing through time. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Grief, Rape, and Xenophobia

galexy_brain's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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? Yes

4.5

Sheesh. I've never read a book that's made me cry this much before. This book was an eye-opening look into a world that I'd heard very little about before and left me floored and humbled.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Grief, Death, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Gore, Physical abuse, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Torture, and War

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Abandonment, Infertility, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Excrement, Cancer, Child death, Classism, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

naomi_k's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Violence, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, and Torture

Moderate: Pregnancy, War, Classism, Colonisation, Medical content, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Vomit, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexism

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

wow this book is heavy. i did not expect this book to make me so devastated and upset. please check the content warnings!!!! my only issue with this book is the ending. i felt the ending was a bit rushed and anti-climactic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Blood, Death, Gore, Sexism, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

annaclaire18's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

This book… is so dark… There are not enough trigger warnings in the world to cover this novel, but it is such an important story. I learned so much from this book about Korea, the Korean War, and a hidden genocide I knew nothing about.

The characters are convincing and complex, and the plot drags you under and doesn’t let you up for air.

I was less fond of the modern timeline that wove in and out of the story, but it did serve to help break up the heavy topic of the novel.

Warning: this is not a light read. Prepare for graphic descriptions of violence.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Genocide, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape

abrdoodle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Racism, Sexism, Torture, and War

Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Sexual violence, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

ilana_pop's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

THIS is why i love books. One of the best book I have ever read, no exaggeration. Lisa See is incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, War, Colonisation, Mass/school shootings, Child death, Grief, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

rhijane's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Sexism, War, Murder, and Rape

claired01's review against another edition

5.0

This book will stick with me for a long time. I fell in love with the characters, the story, and the island! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, War, Grief, and Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

ludivinev's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Grief

Minor: Rape