Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

6 reviews

ratnix's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.25

 

I'm so conflicted as to how I should rate this but for now I'll give it a 3,25. I feel like as much as this story had a great premise, it felt unfinished. I really enjoyed Banu's character and she was probably one of the very few characters in this book that had a closure and an arc but everything else felt floating at the end.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Rape, Incest, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Genocide

Minor: Suicide attempt

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

lagaialettrice's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Incest

Moderate: Genocide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Deportation, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, and Racism

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

kelpie91's review

emotional tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Suicide attempt

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