Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

4 reviews

shannonkathryn's review

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Grief, Alcoholism, Rape, Violence, Genocide, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Incest, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Colonisation, and Abortion

larawade's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Rape, War, Incest, Infidelity, Violence, Abortion, Child abuse, Murder, and Suicide attempt

mariawie's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Genocide

Moderate: Incest, War, and Violence

Minor: Deportation, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Abortion, Dementia, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

carlaaysem's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

Elif Safak writes about Istanbul and its women with so much love and accuracy. I cried and laughed and cried while reading the Bastard of Istanbul. Safak also represents  history with a great deal of nuance, and highlights the importance of peace and sisterhood despite the many voices in the world urging conflict. Overall, a beautiful story about being stuck in the past while wishing to erase it, and processing generational trauma. A must read for everyone. I definitely think this book went over a lot of Westerners’ heads, so interpret the majority of reviews with this in mind. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide attempt