viccocha'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Confinement, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Slavery
s0nagiii's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence
baearles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Death and Violence
marianneb's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Racial slurs, Miscarriage, Grief, Drug use, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Classism, Slavery, Death, and Abandonment
alismcg'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
5.0
" 'Without reflecting that this is the only moment in which you can study character, ' said the count. 'On the steps of the scaffold death tears off the mask that has been worn through life, and the real face is disclosed.' "
"I know the world is a drawing-room from which we must retreat politely and honestly ; that is with a bow, and all debts of honour paid."
...............................
📍There's an especially graphic description of an execution by macing that some more sensitive readers may find upsetting.📍
Graphic: Violence and Torture
novelyon'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Pregnancy, Slavery, Suicide, and Gun violence
Minor: Kidnapping, Racial slurs, and Racism
ohlhauc'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
I thought that it might be a bit long-winded considering how many pages it is, but it was a rather fast read. The prose felt light but substantial and flowed really well. Originally this was serialized so each chapter tends to have a mini-climax or some action in it to hook you, so the pace and energy remains high throughout the book - there really isn't a lot of exposition, although there are some moments where the narrator repeats what has happened before (but that's usually done when there's been a lot of pages in between so it's actually useful because some things you will forget since it is long).
You can read this just as a spellbinding adventure story and have a great time. But you can also go at a slower pace and really dive into the philosophical ideas and social commentary. There are a lot of layers to this novel and it's no surprise that it's a well-revered classic. This is definitely a book I can see myself re-reading in the future.
Don't let it intimidate you. If it it's on your TBR, you'll want to pick it up sooner rather than later. Don't delay on this masterpiece.
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
terahreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Drug use and Violence