Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

24 reviews

bmhafelein78's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Torture, Medical content, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Antisemitism, and Rape

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 This is a very hard book to rate and review, based on both the harrowing historical content and the personal feelings of those connected to the real individual.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

walskishere's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

I'm choosing to not rate this. After finishing the book, I looked up the real Cilka. It seems that the family has severe issue with how Heather Morris portrayed her. Out of respect, I won't be rating this, but I did enjoy the writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Torture

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

condimentsqueen's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

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

abbyarm's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, War, and Torture

teigancollins's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Antisemitism, Confinement, Death, Genocide, War, Slavery, and Torture

tcfoster's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, Torture, and War

crystalmartillo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.25

This is a great book that shows the strength it took for Cilka to endure Auschwitz, and imprisonment after being released from Auschwitz. It’s very emotional and hard to image what it must have been like to go through such traumatic life events. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Death, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Infertility, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, and Torture