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kelsiepixler's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Infidelity, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide, Homophobia, Alcoholism, and Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage, Outing, Kidnapping, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, and Misogyny
horizonous's review against another edition
- 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
It's heartbreaking, hopeful and beautiful with characters and found family dynamics that will stay with me for a while. The writing, especially the descriptions of the ocean, are also very impactful.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Suicide, and Homophobia
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Confinement, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Racism, Torture, Antisemitism, and Alcoholism
◦ Forced institutionalization = Conversion therapy◦ Mental illness = Depression, PTSD
ktrain3900's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual content, Infidelity, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide
arieloley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: War, Violence, Colonisation, Classism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Racism, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Outing, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Antisemitism
istmiajuppe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Rape, Police brutality, Torture, War, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage and Alcoholism
rachelmansmckenny's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Suicide
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Miscarriage
linguaphile412's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Torture, Miscarriage, and Antisemitism
cardigans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Miscarriage
annreadsabook's review against another edition
- 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
CANTORAS tells the story of five queer women living in 1970s Uruguay, a period during which many were disappeared, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed. In the midst of this immense suffering, they struggle to find a place of their own in the world away from the dangers and routines of their home city of Montevideo. Each of the five women comes to the sleepy seaside town of Cabo Polonio with their respective emotional turmoil and personal crises, but find within each other the steadfast community they deeply needed. Over the subsequent years, we watch each of these women find and lose love, navigate the violent military regime in Uruguay, and fall in and out of friendship within their small group of “cantoras” in a society where homosexuality is outlawed with life-threatening consequences.
I was thoroughly transported to Cabo Polonio during the women’s excursions, and could feel a marked shift from the claustrophobia and terror within Montevideo to the more freeing air of the seascape. You grow a deep fondness for each of the characters as they themselves grow more into themselves; this is the kind of novel that leaves you with the simultaneously dreaded and beloved Book Hangover.
I think this is an excellent read for those who are wary of historical fiction, as there was never a time at which I felt I was bogged down in dense blocks of historical exposition. I read this book in only two sittings—it’s just that good. I truly can’t wait to get my hands on another De Robertis book.
Please be sure to check out the content warnings for this book, as it addresses some extremely heavy topics, some in more detail than others.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, and Suicide
Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual assault
rubycb's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Antisemitism, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, and Torture