Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

42 reviews

mollywoolven's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• 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? N/A

4.75

What a beautiful book!! 
I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz
during lockdown and reading this had the exact same feeling. Cilka is a beautiful strong woman. She is a true inspiration and I think it is captured in this book wonderfully. Although a very hard subject, there are some light hearted moments and I would recommend to anyone to continue with it just have regular breaks throughout! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Grief, War, Death of parent, Death, Infertility, Child death, Self harm, Rape, Pedophilia, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Miscarriage

junoxx's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

lottie1803's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

• 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? No

5.0

Ranking based on interpretation of events as mostly fiction. This is a very hard book to rate and review, based on both the harrowing historical content and the personal feelings of those connected to the real individual. Still, a very compelling and powerful story that does highlight the under-appreciated experiences of sexual violence in genocide. I found the writing style and characters a significant improvement on the first book. Cecilia does suffer from a bit of Main Character Syndrome, but in the context of her world and trauma, it’s understandable. The stories are linked, but not completely necessary to read them together. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child death, Confinement, Death, Deportation, Drug abuse, Slavery, Violence, War, Antisemitism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Grief, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Murder, Sexual harassment, Torture, Bullying, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence

tarahmanning's review against another edition

inspiring 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? No

4.0

 The moment I finished The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I knew I had to get my hands on Cilka’s Journey. This book is like a secret diary that reveals the next chapter of Cilka's life after her liberation from Auschwitz. What should have been a time of giving thanks has turned into the next chapter of her nightmare.

The author's note gives us a sneak peek into the making of this masterpiece - a beautiful patchwork quilt of stories woven from various sources. Heather Morris spoke to people who knew Cilka, read diaries and journals of people who were in Vorkuta gulag in Siberia at the same time she was, and even studied photographs to capture the essence of that time.

Heather Morris is a magician, weaving stories that let us experience the hardships that these people faced, the inhumane conditions they lived in, and how they persevered through it all. Cilka's story is a testament to the human spirit, her unselfishness, and her passion for helping others, even when she had nothing to give. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Violence, Genocide, Rape, and Emotional abuse

bookshelfhannah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Rape, Hate crime, Medical content, Racism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual assault, Torture, Death, and Deportation

julieaimebienlire's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Deportation, Sexual assault, Death, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Self harm, Sexual violence, Antisemitism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, and Torture

noomlum's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, War, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt

chey46's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, and Physical abuse

thiamoorhouse's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Physical abuse

Moderate: Genocide

elisalasater's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Genocide, Antisemitism, Physical abuse, and Death

Moderate: Pregnancy