Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

91 reviews

elisavaz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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

Livro excepcional, muito bom. Ele passa por várias gerações e não é um livro particularmente longo, mas há caracterização de grande parte dos personagens e suas peculiaridades. Eu acho isso muito rico. Cada personagem é tão único, tão excêntrico. O livro foi muito bem escrito, com uma mistura de romance histórico com realismo mágico.
A autora conta uma história que já se encerrou, então ela sabe tudo o que já aconteceu. Por isso, ela dá spoilers dos acontecidos durante o livro (quando alguém vai morrer ou se um casal vai terminar junto...). Eu, particularmente gosto disso e, quando bem feito, não tira o suspense e a curiosidade (e foi muito bem feito).

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexism, Abortion, and Rape

Moderate: Pregnancy and Car accident

knenigans's review against another edition

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, War, Abortion, Pregnancy, Rape, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Car accident, and Adult/minor relationship

ricefun's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I had a very difficult time getting into this narrative. It has taken me several tries with several Allende books to finally finish one. I am working through the ALA Banned Books journal, and that is the motivation for completing this novel. And listening to the audiobook format made that possible. 

I can understand why Allende is well loved as an author. Her ability to invoke feelings and passion is evident. She mixes character development with plot that feels deeply rooted in real-life circumstances. I didn't come away feeling particularly warm about any characters. And this novel leaves me feeling even more concerned about how quickly government can degenerate into chaos and  totalitarianism. And still, I will look forward to reading other books by Allende in the future. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, War, Domestic abuse, Torture, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, and Abortion

ka_cam's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad tense 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

4.25

Beautifully written and still timely multigenerational saga set in chili in the generations up to the election of Allende (‘the President’) and the subsequent coup and descent into authoritarian violence. The named first person narrator was so unlikable and casually violent I disliked parts of his narration. The characters are interesting and I see how it was hugely significant for the time, for me it read as good but not exceptional. Would advise folks to check the content warnings and be prepared for outdated language. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Rape, Sexism, Homophobia, Abortion, Child death, Police brutality, Animal death, Car accident, Classism, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Racism, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Violence, Death of parent, Medical content, Alcohol, Murder, Sexual content, Grief, Torture, and War

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Addiction

manasvini's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.25

An expansive story of violence, injustice, the pursuit of justice and its consequences. This story is as wide as it is deep, spanning decades with a multitude of characters and storylines, intertwined with a family and a nation's history of revolution. The density of the writing and the sheer amount of trauma described in these pages make it a challenging read, but a worthwhile one. I leave feeling both sorrow and hope simultaneously, with an immense appreciation for the importance of recording our histories.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Murder, Police brutality, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Grief, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Stalking, Classism, Child abuse, Colonisation, and War

enchanteddroppings's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

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

challenging funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

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

april_liebt_libros123's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.0

This story is LONG but not without intention. As a multi-generational tale, I was often left wondering what was the point of it all. There is a rather extended climax of the end of the book, but it ties all the experiences of the many varied characters together in a way the mirrors the story telling of its protagonists. I finished it feeling an appreciation for the journey it took me on, even if it took me a minute to get there. While I won't say I ENJOYED this book, I do definitely feel like I learned from it and have a good representation of this style of writing and what the author is known for. I'm grateful for the read, even if I had to force myself through some of it.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Violence, Grief, Racial slurs, Rape, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Sexism

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

---

Content Warnings

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

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

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual content