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katelynaceae's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Violence, Child death, Alcoholism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Car accident and Trafficking
bendercath's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Certainly many of the images and situations the characters experience will not soon leave my mind … and I feel this is Ms. Allende’s intention: to deepen our understanding of people who face unimaginable challenges due to forces beyond their control: governments, economic structures, and pure evil in others. It’s dark and Ms. Allende makes it real.
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Violence, and Trafficking
a_alves00's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Gore, Grief, Abandonment, Death, Deportation, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Alcoholism, Child death, Rape, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Slavery, and Trafficking
gabster21's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Cancer, Rape, Trafficking, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence
puffin_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Mental illness, Murder, Trafficking, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Grief
spinesinaline'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have to say, I went into this book expecting a much lighter story. This is not that and while I did enjoy the book, it took some time to adjust my expectations.
I’ve heard a lot about Allende and I would really like to read more of her work, even if this one wasn’t stellar for me. That said, I learned a lot about Chile and Guatemala’s history and I appreciated this first-person perspective on the experience of refugees and immigrants coming to America. There’s a lot of trauma in these pages, mostly reflective as this cast of characters share their histories with each other, but it can get quite graphic.
I really liked each of the three characters we get to spend time with and though it’s a traumatic recollection in part, the mystery and intrigue was a humorous addition to the story. By the latter half, it becomes clear that the book is aiming to be a love story but that felt like an odd addition, sticking out from the tone we’d had thus far, so the ending was a bit awkward for me.
I listened to this one on audio and while I enjoyed each narrator, one for the three characters, it was a bit difficult to follow dialogue. Each chapter is from the perspective of one of these characters and so for example the ‘Lucia’ narrator would read the Lucia chapter. However, the Richard and Evelyn’s dialogue within that chapter would also be read by the ‘Lucia’ narrator. I would’ve preferred if the character’s narrator for each could’ve stepped in for their respective dialogue to make it clear who was speaking.
Graphic: Child death, Violence, War, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Death, Suicide, Trafficking, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Racism, Miscarriage, and Rape
mmonteverde's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Discovering each of their pasts was so beautiful. I always wanted to know more.
Minor: Domestic abuse, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Death, Child death, Rape, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
labyrinthpeach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Cancer and Trafficking
thealyssa_ann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
franciscamichelle's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Minor: Rape, Trafficking, and Violence