Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

47 reviews

chicngeek's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, and Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Rape

galexy_brain's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Sheesh. I've never read a book that's made me cry this much before. This book was an eye-opening look into a world that I'd heard very little about before and left me floored and humbled.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism

naomi_k's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

wow this book is heavy. i did not expect this book to make me so devastated and upset. please check the content warnings!!!! my only issue with this book is the ending. i felt the ending was a bit rushed and anti-climactic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

annaclaire18's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

This book… is so dark… There are not enough trigger warnings in the world to cover this novel, but it is such an important story. I learned so much from this book about Korea, the Korean War, and a hidden genocide I knew nothing about.

The characters are convincing and complex, and the plot drags you under and doesn’t let you up for air.

I was less fond of the modern timeline that wove in and out of the story, but it did serve to help break up the heavy topic of the novel.

Warning: this is not a light read. Prepare for graphic descriptions of violence.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ilana_pop's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

THIS is why i love books. One of the best book I have ever read, no exaggeration. Lisa See is incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Pregnancy

swordsandstacks's review against another edition

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

i learned so much from this book. it's told from such an unique perspective, and chock-full of information regarding japanese colonialism in korea, american colonialism in korea, and how that trauma travels through generations. i love love love anything with a multi-generational structure, but this just changed the game for me. it's absolutely devastating to the point of it making me ill at some parts, but i think that just speaks to the power of the story. i don't know if i would necessarily recommend this to anyone given how upsetting it is, but it's definitely a new favourite for me! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Colonisation, and War

wellreadmegs's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-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? No

3.75

This was a slow burn but also a really interesting read. This is the second book I have read about the haenyeo women and I find them fascinating. This strong, independent matriarchal society in the 1900s. This book was a slow burn and it took a little bit for the story to fully develop but I found Mi-ja and Young-Sook's relationship to be so interesting and tumultuous. 

This book helped me learn more about the Japanese colonization of Korea and what happened to Korean before and after World War II. This book brought to light to atrocities that happened in Korea and Jeju and I really appreciated the perspective. I definitely want to keep learning more. This book spanned a large timeframe and did jump back and forth which is one thing I love about historical fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Murder, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Torture

anna_dunn's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is absolutely heart wrenching. But also beautiful. It covers some very heavy material and I learned so much about jeju and the haenyeo. I love the sisterhood and matriarchal values. I would absolutely recommend this book, but just make sure you’re in the right headspace before getting into it because it is incredibly sad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Torture

cammack1022's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and War

Minor: Child death and Colonisation