Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

77 reviews

j_mindelan's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

paperinfinities's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and War

a_eterno's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

different and more beloved than other classics of realismo mágico due to the strength of the female characters. the book is about them, and for them. 
definitely a must-read for any latin american, and i would recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about chile. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Pregnancy

paulathepudding's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-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

3.25

The amount of sexual assualt was honestly disturbing. Aside from that I didn't like the foreshadowing throughout the book but that's probably just my personal taste. Nevertheless an interesting read giving insight into the history of Chile through the life of an upperclass family. I especially loved Clara's character and the spiritual aspects. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia and Racial slurs

marigoldgem's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

laedyred's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I cannot figure out if I like this book or not. On one hand, I admire the attempt to show the strongest side of women and fully explain how we have to be better than men in society. Every male character in this book is disgusting, often making me want to put the book down for good. The nastiest things about men are told with no detail skirted around. The women in the story are complex enough to show their weaknesses to men while still being strong, but I couldn't help but be disappointed in them for allowing these men in their lives that act like living trash. Too much of the story is spent in this weird arc of "redemption" of the grandfather, who is a serial rapist, misogynist, and horrible human being. It made me sick to read about his acts and then somehow be expected to...forgive him? Like him? Just because he becomes "oh woe is me, my country fell apart". Guess what, you're part of the reason, you made people's lives awful. I don't know, maybe my rating will change after I ruminate on the book. But for now, I'm conflicted.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

amandadasso's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Sexual harassment

mightyoscura's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

elliejane002's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual content

melindacraig87's review against another edition

Sad and heavy. It's very emotional, with a ton to process. Definitely well written, but not the type of escapism I seek when reading. I do think the story shows hard truths and creates provocative thoughts on class, politics, and historical patterns. All of those issues should be thought about, and this book does that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Violence