Reviews tagging 'War'

Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

3 reviews

decembermagpie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Death, and Sexual content

Minor: War

calandra_hudson's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and War

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicide

beanjoles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

I first listened to this story as an audiobook several years ago. This was my first time reading the book. It was a truly moving experience. This story is an exploration of one family and its secrets, and of how trauma is passed down from one generation to the next. It is a love letter to Cape Breton—to Nova Scotia—in all its potential and difficulty and beauty. To say more would be to spoil the journey for those yet to embark. And this book is certainly a journey worth embarking upon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Suicide, War, and Death

Pedophilia (general theme):

James, the family patriarch, is shown to be a pedophile with a sexual interest in his daughters. There is one scene where he molests one of them.

(HEAVY late book spoilers):

One of the protagonists is raped and impregnated by a parent.

Injury/injury detail:

A pregnant woman is given a home-made Caesarean section. It is about as gruesome as you would expect. There is also a scene where someone is shot in the abdomen with a gun.

Suicide:

Someone commits suicide by sticking their head in an oven. The scene is described but I would not characterize it as something likely to be triggering, and it is not gory.