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josefineisreading'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
4.75
Through this book you learn so much about the political landscape of Chile through the escapades of the characters through the generations. The horrors of the military junta are more towards the end of the book and seen through the eyes of an upper class family but nonetheless horrifying. I did enjoy learning the history through the Trueba family and all the others surrounding the household. I did think there was going to be more magical realism but maybe I’ve not read enough to solidify my understanding of the genre.
My final thoughts are that I would recommend it but I don’t think I would reread it.
Graphic: Sexual assault, War, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Medical content, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Slavery, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Abortion, Addiction, Car accident, Classism, Confinement, Death, Pregnancy, Rape, Torture, Blood, and Gun violence
Moderate: Pedophilia, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, Incest, Animal death, Racism, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Excrement, Alcohol, and Cursing
Minor: Homophobia
enchanteddroppings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Abandonment, Abortion, Death, Classism, Drug use, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Torture
dommymartinez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Police brutality, Blood, Cursing, Mass/school shootings, Classism, Violence, Abortion, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
Minor: Racism and Racial slurs
mightyoscura's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Police brutality, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Body horror, Self harm, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Medical content, Gaslighting, Deportation, Classism, Child death, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, War, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Colonisation, Abortion, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
notyourhana's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: War, Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Sexual assault, Medical content, Abortion, Colonisation, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Car accident
emmagiverny'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
Graphic: Death of parent, Torture, Death, War, Animal death, Rape, and Addiction
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug use, Pregnancy, Violence, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
anahisa'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
2.75
now, I experienced such a disconnect with this book largely in part because of its characters. they were flawed and real, true! also true is that I did not care for a single one of them!! for a family drama spanning multiple generations, very few of the emotional beats landed for me (🤨😐😔) sadly.
in a shocking turn of events, I was drawn more towards the politics + history that informed the background of this saga. the novel’s attention to women’s rights, unionization, revolution, and the west’s presence in foreign governments were its saving grace for me.
and one thing this book tackles brilliantly is the violence of men + power. so so so many terrible ways in which these individuals + institutions possess, demean, and violate others. while earlier I mentioned that many of the story’s emotional beats were a miss for me, it never failed to make me absolutely livid! the anger I felt when reading some of these scenes! every man in my line of sight should be afraid! rage enough to burn the world I think!!!
Graphic: Death and Rape
Moderate: Incest, Car accident, War, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Classism, Sexual assault, Torture, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abortion, Xenophobia, and Drug use
smuds2's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: War, Torture, Murder, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Death, Sexism, Self harm, Miscarriage, Incest, Child death, Child abuse, Addiction, Violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Racism, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Medical content, Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Classism, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Animal death, and Abortion
notallbooks_mp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Colonisation, Death, Animal death, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Ableism, Classism, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Incest, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
peggychecksitout's review
- 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 as magical as it is absolutely devastating. Allende's writing is mesmerising, imaginative and gut-wrenching at different turns. There’s a real juxtaposition between the magical elements presented to us—Clara’s clairvoyance, the kooky characters of her spiritualist salon, the house filled with spirits—and the incredible violence enacted both at personal and political levels (I highly recommend looking up the content warnings for this book, so you know what to expect going in).
The personal and the political are very closely entwined in this story; it’s a multi-generational family saga for sure, but as much as it is about the Trueba family, it’s about the history of the country that they’re a part of too (though never directly addressed, through context and historical clues, it is a fictionalised depiction of Chilean history).
It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down, and the end absolutely wrecked me—you know a book is good if it leaves you sobbing—and I think this is a book that is going to stick with me for a long time. There’s a reason that this was an instant bestseller, and has gone onto become a classic. It was my first Allende, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Rape, Torture, Violence, Domestic abuse, War, Abortion, Physical abuse, Sexism, Death, Racism, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Abortion, Homophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Addiction, and Car accident