Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Chocolat by Joanne Harris

14 reviews

this_works_now's review against another edition

hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

mollymareep's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing 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

I haven't read a book in a long time where I would be happy to read it again. Soon.
What a beautifully written book! I have never seen the movie so decided to read the book first and gosh is it goregous. The variations of characters are so rich and the contrast in POVs in the writing gives the story complimentary commentary rather than drastically contrasting and abrupt tonality which can really put me off (especially if I don't like one character's voice or perspective). I cannot wait to read the next installment in the series!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse

unablelemon's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Animal death

tea_at_mole_end's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Violence, Suicide, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Car accident, Cancer, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

mal8181's review against another edition

reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Domestic abuse

vezreads's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

It was a beautiful story. Not sure why its been categorised as a romance though because it is not that at all. Its more a story of clashing ideals. Conservative Catholics vs progressive athiests fighting over the soul of a small town. I enjoyed it a lot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Ableism and Suicide

Minor: Kidnapping and Misogyny

ashtheaudiomancer's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

I read this because it's creeping up on Easter and it's a family tradition to rewatch the film adaptation every year. There are several differences between the book and the movie, including a lot of events that take place either in a different order or were cobbled together into one scene in the movie where they were two separate events in the novel, and of course some characters were left out. Others were added in who weren't in the book, which I did not expect, but honestly most of the characters were perfectly cast.

I'm not sure what else to say without getting into spoilers. The ending is VERY different in the book, and I don't often say this, but I preferred the ending in the movie. I can see why the ending as written wouldn't have played well with test audiences. I don't know if that's what happened, but I found the ending abrupt and unsatisfying, as if the author couldn't quite decide where to go next. I don't always have a problem with ambiguous endings, but it felt out of place here.

Otherwise, this was thoroughly delightful, and--apart from the ending--I feel like if you're a fan of the movie, you will definitely enjoy this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racism, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death

All the graphic-to-moderate details mentioned are major themes, and also included in the film adaptation, so if you've seen the movie that's a good indicator for what to expect. The one animal death is NOT included in the movie, and it's of an old and deeply loved pet dying of natural causes, and happens off-page.

jessthanthree's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

thingslucyreads's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

Very very different from the movie, though the core characters and events are the same. A rare occasion where both pieces of work stand together, complimenting each other without being diminished by their differences. Ultimately I think I prefer the film, if only because I really enjoyed the Reynaud/Caroline romance, which is wholly absent from the novel, and I liked Caroline’s characterisation in the film better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Racism

Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Violence

Minor: Suicide

Use of the g-slur for travelling people, racist sentiments and stereotypes about them expressed during Reynaud’s POV chapters and encouraged among the other residents by him. I’ve tagged for suicide also but it’s less that and more voluntary, self-inflicted euthanasia. This character has an illness that she purposely ignores in favour of enjoying the last years of her life - I do not share this illness so can’t say if it’s a negative or positive portrayal.

cheye13's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Xenophobia

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Classism, and Chronic illness

Minor: Murder, Sexual content, and Pregnancy