Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Cantoras by Caro De Robertis

60 reviews

linzomatic's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

mmccombs's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Phenomenal writing complimenting a compelling story, an unexpected gem of a novel! The characters were wonderful and I really enjoyed the strong sense of place throughout the novel. I think my only complaint was how Malena’s character/story was handled, I understand why we didn’t get her POV until the end of the book, but I just don’t think that did her character or the larger story justice. Beyond that, this was probably one of the best works of historical fiction I’ve read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Suicide, Rape, Sexual harassment, Lesbophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual violence

horizonous's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I would love to write an eloquent review for this book but I can't even find a beginning.

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

myqueerbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Suicide, and Sexual violence

ktrain3900's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• 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

I'm not sure I have much (if anything) to say that hasn't already been said: it's beautiful, hopeful, heartbreaking, layered, powerful, yearning, joyous, mournful, sexy, difficult, triumphant. It's a celebration of resistance and hard work, as well as escape and survival. Most of all, it's a paean for queer love among women and female friendship. If you can't be moved by this book, consider your heart made of stone. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual content, Infidelity, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide

lottieroe's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, and Misogyny

pkledgrape's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

fleursreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

4.75

such an incredible capsule of what it was like to be queer during uruguay's dictatorship

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Grief, Infidelity, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Outing, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Rape

umbellule's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Torture, Suicide, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Animal death and Transphobia

there are mentions of sea lions being hunted and killed, but this happens 'offscreen' and is not graphically described. one of the main characters is a butcher, and their work is described, but no animals are killed on the page. there are a couple of brief mentions of 'crossdressers', who are described as men who like to dress as women; they are described without any malice, but are gendered only with he/him, which may sound transphobic depending on one's own cultural context. there are two mentions of sexual encounters involving underage people, which the now-grown people still describe as consensual. this is, however, not glamorised or fetishised. there is a flashback scene involving forced institutionalisation and torture. there are multiple flashbacks involving rape, including underaged rape and marital rape, though these are not graphic.

there is a graphic suicide scene, by falling, from the point of view of the one dying.

ryanlee's review against another edition

slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Rape, and Suicide