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linblythe_pub22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Murder, Classism, Torture, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Homophobia, and Hate crime
satansluckycigarette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Torture, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Genocide
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
First, though, I have to praise the novel for its politics and references, far more complicated and layered than anything seen in the McTeigue film scripted by the Wachowskis. Moore's world--a mix of 1930s noir and post-apocalyptic totalitarian fantasy--is fairly thick in its home-front power relationships. This is really enjoyable for a dark immersion, if at times a bit bewildering. And while Portman made a fair Evey in the film, she is little like the much-challenged Evey of this work.
Where the story grew ever weaker for me was in the growing omniscience and omnipotence of the title character. Without spoilers, V has more control over these complex comings and goings than seems possible. He is ever-present at the right moments, ever-predicting the choices others will make, and somehow prepared for it all with an arsenal of resources. This is, unfortunately, too quickly explained away through a conspiratorial cliche. Ah, well. In this area, the scripting by the Wachowskis made a more satisfying tension of story, an improvement through film I rarely admit to.
Moore, as he was writing, confessed he was inspired by a bevy of classic writers, from Orwell to Bradbury to and from Harlan Ellison to Shakespeare. A worthy undertaking. But what each of these other writers accomplishes, along with their oppressive power structures resisted by citizenry, is the fallibility, the internal conflicts which center the drama around the characters themselves. Moore's symbolism for V--often clever and widely connected to history--is, unfortunately, too abstract for us to connect to in these ways. Evey, then, is a likely substitute for our empathy, and she works in this way, though she appears far too seldom to be as effective as she might be.
"V for Vendetta" is a great introduction to themes of resistance and totalitarianism for readers unfamiliar with other literature. But I've seen other graphic works accomplish far more in less space. Likely--though I haven't yet read them--Moore develops into a stronger writer in his later works. If anyone has a suggestion what I might read next, let me know.
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexism
While one might expect violence and brutality from a totalitarian state based on 1930s noir, the sexist tropes in the work have aged particularly badly.xenia_li's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Police brutality, Violence, Torture, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Genocide
Moderate: Mental illness, Infidelity, Rape, War, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Murder, Gun violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Incest, Medical trauma, Antisemitism, Drug abuse, Violence, Grief, and Religious bigotry
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Torture, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Racism and Lesbophobia
emilo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Torture, Sexism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Antisemitism, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Rape, Hate crime, Genocide, Confinement, War, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Deportation and Racial slurs
samferree's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Sexism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Genocide, Hate crime, Police brutality, Suicide, Blood, Drug use, Murder, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, War, and Xenophobia
sup_demons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Murder, Xenophobia, Torture, and Homophobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
mzulli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Rape
booksdogsandcoffee'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? It's complicated
4.0
As humans we continue to make the same mistakes over and over again and I think that is why V for Vendetta remains so timeless and relatable even 40 years after publication.
Cw
Genocide
Racism
Homophobia
Eugenics
Hate crime
Sexism
Rape
Death
Murder
Torture
Pedophilia
Antisemitism
Xenophobia
Graphic: Genocide, Homophobia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Blood, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Violence, War, and Religious bigotry