Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

2 reviews

laura_huey's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This beautiful translation by Pevear & Volokhonsky was superbly read by Juliet Stevenson. I sometimes found it hard to keep track of the vast array of characters because of the use of first name & patronymic, surname only, and a wide range of nicknames for each person. It’s slow moving and the characters are very complex, but well worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Deportation

kimveach's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I've wanted to read this book for a long time, and I finally did.  It was a long slog.  While parts of the book were fascinating, there was too much war and philosophy for me to truly enjoy it.  The translation was excellent.  It had lots of notes that helped explain the references Pasternak was using.  Without these, it would have been difficult for me to comprehend.  I can appreciate this book, primarily since it was written against the government's wishes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Dementia, Death of parent, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Deportation