Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

11 reviews

jennaweston's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I have never seen The Godfather, so when I found out it was book, I was intrigued. I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up liking this book way more than I thought. 

What I Liked 

• Loved the pace of this book. Right as you think we’re getting too comfortable, something crazy happens.
• the characters were all really interesting and had faults of their own. Right as you thought someone was good, they turned and did something awful. 
  • you wanted to root for them but also were disappointed in them
• Each character got their moment, their backstory, which made the story much more in-depth and interesting.

What I didn’t like

• the women in this book are very sexualized and everything is tied around how the men in the family can satisfy them sexually. 
  • Johnny was a real piece of shit — getting mad at his wife for the divorce
  • Kay is an interesting character
• It was an older book, but the racist outlook on people of color isn’t great

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

what_karla_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Murder, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Cursing

talia1353'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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Murder, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Death, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

kate_has_book_thoughts's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Sexism, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Death, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Xenophobia, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Antisemitism, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Rape, Terminal illness, Animal death, Abortion, and Blood

Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Grief, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, War, Deportation, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

tiernanhunter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Death of parent, Deportation, Racism, Trafficking, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Blood, Violence, Classism, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Terminal illness

Moderate: War, Abortion, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Body shaming, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Excrement, and Ableism

Minor: Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Hate crime

blue_reader's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Racial slurs

emily_koopmann's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Pedophilia

jessgreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Title: The Godfather

Author: Mario Puzo

Genre: Fiction / Crime Fiction

Setting: NYC, NY / Las Vegas, NV / Sicily, Italy / Los Angeles, CA

Month Read: February 2022

Book Type: Paperback (50th Anniversary Edition)

Publication: 1969

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 435

*A PBS Great American Read book.

TRIGGER WARNING- 

Abuse / Murder / Drugs / Abortion / Sex / Rape / Alcohol (these are the big ones)

"You cannot say 'no' to the people you love, not often. That's the secret. And then when you do, it has to sound like a 'yes'. Or you have to make them say 'no.' You have to take time and trouble."

No Spoiler Summary:

The Godfather is a book about a mafia crime family in New York, and brings you straight into the criminal heart of New York City in the 1940s. You learn about everyone in the Corleone family, as well as a motley crew of side characters who work for and against The Don. 

Review:

I'm not one who generally reads a lot of 'crime fiction', but this book was incredibly hard to put down. I thought the characters were interesting, and the entire book kept you just knowing enough where you wanted to read more to know where the story went next. I loved that you got into the heads of so many different characters, and was actually surprised by how many women you got to know during the story (since this book is super patriarchal, because 1940's Italians. 

I've never seen the movie (much like with Gone With the Wind) so again went into this novel knowing a few parts that have invaded pop culture, but not much else, and I think this was so helpful. I gave myself the entire month of February to read this book, and then finished it in a week. 

I went into this assuming I wouldn't have a favorite character, but as the book went on I really fell for Michael, much like everyone else in the book seems to. I think his character arc was so interesting, and honestly follows in his father's footsteps more than anyone seems to know (including Michael, and maybe even his Dad.)

I'd highly recommend giving this a read, even if you think it's not your thing. The entire book reads like a movie, and now I'm really excited to watch it. It'll be really nice putting faces to names, because with a cast as large as this book had, I did get lost a few times trying to figure out who everyone was. I really enjoyed myself for this one, and am hoping this trend continues with the classics I have to read this year to work on the Great American Read PBS list.

"He should be careful. It's dangerous to be an honest man."


See more reviews at:  https://jessgreads.wixsite.com

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Violence, Murder, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Abortion, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Racism

Minor: Sexual harassment, Antisemitism, and Sexism

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Animal death, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Body shaming, Excrement, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Abortion

bookishnina's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Murder, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Abortion