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theknitpick's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
I am astounded by the details and the intricacy of this story. Allende's writing is masterful and it's shocking to know this was her debut novel. I wish I loved the characters more, but sadly most of them were just so out there that it was hard for me to connect with them. I was continually disturbed by how easily the women of this story forgave the violence and horrors that male characters (specifically one character) continued to wreak on them when they are so often portrayed as strong women with conviction. It was also hard to digest that the one character I dislike above all continued to live throughout the story and, despite his despicableness, gets a peaceful, somewhat happy ending.
I've also been learning that family sagas are just not my thing. Occasionally I can get into it, but overall it's hard for me to get excited about generation after generation of one family. I'm also not the biggest fan of magical realism, but this story was alright. I accepted it because it was embraced fully and Allende committed to it. I just wish that I cared more about the characters themselves so that I could rate this book higher.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Abortion
Minor: Pedophilia
brooke_burns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
thelibraryofalexandra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia
mischka's review against another edition
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Excrement, and Abortion
amallard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I understand that, in a way, it had to happen. The androcentric culture of the time created natural limitations for Allende's women. Setting aside their magical influences for the ugly, political landscape was deliberate. But I wanted. I wanted strong women, even if their spheres of influence must be small. I wanted to see the magic do something.
I didn't hate the book, though. The scale tips in favour of like over dislike. It was incredibly readable, the lines slipping away under the eye; I could put away a hundred pages in one sitting. It was fascinating to read such a well-informed depiction of Chilean culture and heritage. There were some really funny scenes. But I'm disappointed my affection for it couldn't grow into love, when it had such potential.
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia and Pedophilia
lowkeymarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, and Abortion
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racism, and Car accident
qingyibenshu's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, and Grief
kdowli01's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Rape
monse's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief
coinmanatee's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I liked this book right up until the moment Esteban Trueba opened his mouth. It's very very difficult to like a book that makes a rapist it's hero. A rapist, conservative, abusive, asshole of a man who never learns his lesson and dies without ever once realising that his actions are the reason that the rest of his family suffers such horrendous atrocities.
In any other book this man would have been the villain, and the point would have been to get away from him. In this book another man is introduced who is even more monstrous.
It's also just, really horrifically violently sexual in a lot of other ways that I got sick of very quickly. It's hard to like books that are sexual like that when you're Ace.
The one shining character in this book is Clara. I liked reading about her.
Unfortunately she was surrounded by idiots who treated her as a child, or an object, which did ruin her a bit. If you have a woman in your family who regularly performs magic, and makes prophecies, why aren't you listening to her every word? Idiots. There were tons of things that could have been prevented or at least the danger of lessened if anyone had thought "hey, maybe the earthquake the medium is predicting IS going to be horrific. We should take precautions!"
Ugh.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Classism