Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

41 reviews

rei_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide and Antisemitism

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Child death, Terminal illness, and Car accident

achubb's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, and Deportation

Minor: Pedophilia, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

bendercath's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

I have read several of Isabel Allende’s books and I always finish having learned something new — often about humans’ capacity for violence and humans’ capacity for healing. This did not disappoint. Before reading this, I did not recognize the parallels between the Kindertransport and children separated from their parents at the US border. I was aware of both. But this novel has intertwined the two in the form of Samuel and Anita … and I will not forget them. While overwhelming at times, this book presents people whose courage and compassion help to heal “the holes in the hearts” of Samuel and Anita. There is hope in this book. 
I was very grateful for a little magical realism sprinkled in with Anita’s narration to her younger sister and the world she created to cope with unimaginable pain. This book will stay in my heart for a long time.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence

kathyovalle01's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Violence, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

mvanslam_2001's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Genocide, and Pedophilia

creativerunnings's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? Yes

4.0

I read this book in Spanish and found it to be a page turner at the same time as it feeling tedious in parts. 

I think the issue could be that somewhere between 60 and 80 percent it feels very drawn out, followed by a hastier end.

It feels a little odd to draw parallels between the holocaust and the situation at the Mexican border, but this may be because I'm Austrian and pretty traumatized by what happened in my country of birth (I have lived in North America for decades now.). The way these two stories met at the end just didn't seem important enough to base a whole book on its premise.

Overall, the book is very engaging, and I'd recommend it - I enjoyed the character driven approach. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, and Alcohol

marla_arguelles's review against another edition

dark emotional informative tense slow-paced

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

1.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Deportation

soupqueen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.25

Isabel tells more than shows, but the characters are engaging and the story is heart-wrenching. Could be a quick read if you wanted, or you can sit with it for a while.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Deportation

lyssylyssy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Deportation

Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Murder

tmidge22's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and War

Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic