Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Drachenläufer by Khaled Hosseini

128 reviews

themrshedrick816's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense slow-paced

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

4.0

 I wanted to read this book because I knew it had a lot of cultural aspects to it as well as being considered a “banned” book. It’s not my usual style/genre of reading, but with that being said, it was good. I did struggle some with the concepts and cultural differences and fully understanding them as I read but also enjoy that I feel more educated on them after reading this book. Overall, there were a lot of difficult, sad, and frustrating parts to read, but I do think the story was told well.  While not based on a true story, I did feel that all the aspects and hardships faced by the characters are real things that happen to Afghans and I feel that after reading this book I have an even deeper sympathy for what people of this origin faced during this time period. I do recommend this book, not necessarily as a “pleasure” read but as an expand your knowledge read, if that makes sense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Death, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Genocide, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Suicide attempt, Grief, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

ienbdri's review

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Child death, Child abuse, Grief, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, War, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, and Violence

theemster's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Watch the trigger warnings, this one is heavy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, War, Sexual content, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Cancer, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Genocide, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Torture

shiftycow1313's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, War, Religious bigotry, Cancer, Police brutality, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Grief, Animal death, Racism, Child abuse, Self harm, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Rape, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Infertility, Ableism, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Genocide, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

habibaa20's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment, Xenophobia, War, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Suicide attempt, and Grief

marieh_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Antisemitism and War

Minor: Cancer, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, and Infertility

_fathimanourin1234_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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? N/A

5.0

This book gave me trauma. This book was very sad. I am madly mad with Amir. The world is filled with people like Amir. I loved and cried for hassan. Hassan deserves better.
"For you a thousand times over" - Hassan.
This line breaks my heart everytime I hear it or read it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Rape, Grief, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

b3ttysbooks33's review against another edition

informative reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

This book is not only a relatable, emotional story about regret, but also a haunting and impactful insight into the tragic historical and ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.

note: some people criticize the depictions of religion and politics, but I feel that because most of these controversial opinions come from characters who is clearly deeply flawed, the author leaves room for such issues to be discussed rather than dictating a specific narrative.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, War, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Genocide, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Infertility, Islamophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, and Suicide attempt

hedyharper's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Cancer, Racism, Infertility, Death of parent, Medical content, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Violence, Vomit, and War

Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Infertility, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Ableism

Minor: Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Miscarriage, Confinement, Vomit, and Pregnancy

quinn24's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative 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

5.0

This was a painful read, and I mean that as big compliment. I really don’t know much at all about Afghanistan’s history or culture and I think I learnt a lot from this, and am interested in learning more, which I really love when a book does that for me. The characters all feel very human, and complex. Amir is an interesting protagonist, he makes some really bad decisions that hurt people in a terrible way but I also feel the need to defend him, and I think his arc was very well done. This novel is imbued with a deep sense of grief. Grief of a childhood, of innocence, of loved ones, and of a homeland. It’s emotional whiplash tied up in beautiful writing and narrative structure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death, Sexual assault, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Classism, Murder, and Pedophilia

Minor: Genocide, Alcohol, Cursing, Suicide, and War