Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Cantoras by Caro De Robertis

56 reviews

kelly93's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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: Sexual violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Outing, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, and Torture

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Violence, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

mayacolclazier's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, and Homophobia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Suicide

very triggering account of conversation therapy

aliciarosales's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Violence, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Infidelity, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol

Minor: Death of parent, Antisemitism, and Transphobia

booksillremember's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad 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? No

4.0

The meandering writing style wasn't for me, the dialogue was mostly flat and the metaphors were too tired to match the intensity of the story. There was an attempt to link the story to Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse, but it felt a bit too constructed. Usually, writing is the most important aspect for me, but I still couldn't put this book down. The queer 'found family' trope was done really well and I learnt a lot about the history of a small country I didn't know much about before. It took a while for the characters to develop beyond "she is the quiet on" etc, but I ended up caring about the characters and the later chapters made me cry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Torture, Homophobia, and Rape

ldyb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

Falls in the category of lesbian trauma 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Rape, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, and Police brutality

Minor: Antisemitism, Suicide, and Adult/minor relationship

jrow's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the tone and pace felt like it changed drastically during the second half and it was hard to keep my attention with the repetition of the reflections. Otherwise, it was very beautifully written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Police brutality

Moderate: Outing, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Torture

Minor: Death of parent and Adult/minor relationship

aftereliza's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Torture, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Forced institutionalization, Biphobia, Rape, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Sexual assault

breanneporter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely incredible novel. Cantoras follows 5 sapphic Uruguayan women from 1973 to 2013, who come together, become family to each other, and build a refuge for themselves in a beach town called Cabo Pollonia, down the coast from their home in Montevideo, which was under a military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985. I knew next to nothing about Uruguayan political history before reading this novel, and following these fierce, lovable, brave Uruguayan gay women as they fell in and out of love and friendship was such a beautiful way to learn about this piece of history. I love that the novel covers decades in these women’s lives, but never felt rushed, and the characters all felt so supremely real. I cried often, from horror and sadness and also happiness and relief. I desperately want to see the mini series version of this novel; for now I’ll settle for rereading it again soon. Brb, recommending it to everyone I know (though please check content warnings, as this is not a lighthearted journey). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Police brutality, and Torture

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Adult/minor relationship

jordanrisa's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

A really beautiful novel. One with so much important history and a celebration of female friendship, queer love and chosen family. I loved getting to know each character and shed tears of both sadness and joy while reading this book. I think it would make such a good movie or tv show adaptation — we need more stories like this to be read and watched. Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Torture

hannahmartian's review against another edition

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, and Suicide

Moderate: Torture and Police brutality

Minor: Pedophilia