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francescabooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Rape, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Vomit, and Murder
elfsteel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Death, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual content, Rape, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual violence
jocularjacob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
lucimolri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Ha sido durillo y tenso, no es para todo el mundo
Graphic: Misogyny, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Infidelity, Vomit, Gun violence, Confinement, Chronic illness, Animal death, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Rape
christinahill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Death, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence, Infidelity, Police brutality, Murder, Vomit, and Sexual content
malustedile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
petitemass15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Death, Excrement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Violence and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
csteidl93's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Physical abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
carolab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Vomit, Death, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Blindness by José Saramago is a fiction novel translated from Portuguese to English. I won't lie, this was a rough read for me. The author doesn't use any dialogue tags nor does he even have any of differentiating dialogue from prose other than a comma (of which there are a lot, so good luck) and a capitalized letter. This was a slower read for me, because I often had to reread passages the be sure I understood the dialogue. The story itself was interesting, and I might have enjoyed it more as a movie.
Out of nowhere people are being struck blind, seeing only white instead of darkness. No one knows why or how this occuring, but it seems contagious, so they start some pretty extreme quarantine measures. The first people to go blind are rounded up and placed in an abandoned mental institution without help, doctors, or guidance. They are even barred from leaving by the military, who uses force when they feel threatened.
We follow a core group of people whose names we never learn. We witness the atrocities they witness and experienced when their time in quartile turned to chaos and robbed them of their dignity. Only one person hasn't gone blind, a woman referred to only as the doctor's wife. She alone carries the burden of sight for so many people.
This book was ultimately a story of loss. Loss of sight, loss of dignity, loss of life, loss of civilization, and the futility of it all. I'm glad I read this, but I'm good on reading another book formatted in this way. It might have been alright as an audiobook, if you do those.
Graphic: Rape, Blood, Excrement, and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment