Reviews tagging 'Violence'

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak

45 reviews

rarasreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

This was a vividly, sensorial story about Leila who experiences a heightened state of awareness following her death in the streets of Istanbul. For 10 minutes and 38 seconds, readers become privy to Leila’s past memories beginning with her birth to the beautiful friendships she developed along the way that showcase water can be thicker than blood. 

The book is broken into two main parts, with the former focusing on Leila’s life trajectory and the latter on her friends’ grieving her death. I found Part One a bit more captivating while Part Two had more melodrama and elements of absurdity. However, both offer thought provoking scenes and discourse on a variety of topics like class, religion, gender & identity, family, and even the city of Istanbul itself and what it represents over time. 
 
While this may appear like a dark and tense tale at first, it still manages to utilize humor and exude hope. I certainly recommend giving this a read if you’re a fan of contemporary fiction and magical realism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault

alyssatuininga's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? No

5.0

What an absolutely beautiful book! I picked this book up as part of my read around the world challenge.  The writing in this book is absolutely gorgeous and the characters are so deep and rich. I will definitely read more of her books. Not many books draw me in from the first line but this one did. I was sad it was over. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Violence

alex_wordweaver's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-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

5.0

This book was wonderful. So, so, so, soooo good. Beautiful book, wonderful cast of characters. Loved this book so much.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Transphobia, and Death

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Violence, and Pedophilia

carolinebl's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

I love how Elif Shafak writes of Istanbul, honestly and brutally whilst also lovingly. This is another complex, dark, funny and deeply human novel. The story of Tequila Leila deserves to be told, though in many ways this was the story of the people that formed her life. Some aspects of characterisation were too much for me, such as the names (Sabotage, Zaynab122 etc.) but it was overall a beautifully written story of friendship and struggle.

I still have questions about D/Ali. And did Leila know that Sabotage was in love with her? I’m glad he didn’t die with her body, but was forced to confront his divided life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Grief, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Death

Moderate: Transphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Murder, Violence, and Trafficking

Minor: Mental illness, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Infertility, and Miscarriage

kaleighbleu's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence

Minor: Transphobia, Ableism, and Gun violence

cyden's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, Transphobia, Incest, and Misogyny

Moderate: Self harm, Trafficking, Gun violence, Racism, Child death, Death, Ableism, and Grief

Minor: Pregnancy and Police brutality

lynnersk's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative sad 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

4.5

I wish I hadn’t read this book so that I can ho back and read it again for the first time. 
It’s beautifully sad. A fictional story but with truths that anyone and everyone should be aware of.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Abandonment, Violence, Suicide, and Self harm

daisyfont's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Transphobia, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Vomit, Violence, Rape, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Grief, Racism, Child death, Death, and Self harm

bunnuluvr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and Sexual assault

mariaminthebooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Rape, and Transphobia