Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

44 reviews

emilkaek's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Violence

Minor: Antisemitism and Xenophobia

authorjenn's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

After borrowing book 1 from my aunt and reading it. I HAD to read book 2 in this series. I enjoyed book 2 more than book 1. Due to some of the violence ( we will call it) in the book, I did have to take breaks from reading it at times. It overwhelmed me emotionally, especially being a woman! It made my heart so happy for the ending after all the violence. It's amazing that this fiction story is based on a real person and her heroic story. I'm really looking forward to book 3!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, and Rape

Moderate: Violence, Rape, and War

junoxx's review against another edition

dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

bmhafelein78's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Torture, Medical content, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Antisemitism, and Rape

mightyfrenchbookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.75

Je me sentirais mal de dénigrer un roman FICTIF inspiré d'un personnage réel sur le terrible vécu des gens ayant été emprisonnés dans les gulags. La trame de fond était intéressante. Ceci dit, l'écriture de l'autrice était très mid. En écriture on entend souvent parler de "show, don't tell". À mon avis, l'autrice, bien qu'elle ait parlé de désespoir, n'a pas su me faire ressentir ce désespoir dans ses écrits. Certains éléments étaient "garochés" et aurait pu être nettement mieux développés. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Rape, Blood, Deportation, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Infertility

lottie1803's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

• 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? No

5.0

Ranking based on interpretation of events as mostly fiction. This is a very hard book to rate and review, based on both the harrowing historical content and the personal feelings of those connected to the real individual. Still, a very compelling and powerful story that does highlight the under-appreciated experiences of sexual violence in genocide. I found the writing style and characters a significant improvement on the first book. Cecilia does suffer from a bit of Main Character Syndrome, but in the context of her world and trauma, it’s understandable. The stories are linked, but not completely necessary to read them together. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child death, Confinement, Death, Deportation, Drug abuse, Slavery, Violence, War, Antisemitism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Grief, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Murder, Sexual harassment, Torture, Bullying, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence

tarahmanning's review against another edition

inspiring 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

 The moment I finished The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I knew I had to get my hands on Cilka’s Journey. This book is like a secret diary that reveals the next chapter of Cilka's life after her liberation from Auschwitz. What should have been a time of giving thanks has turned into the next chapter of her nightmare.

The author's note gives us a sneak peek into the making of this masterpiece - a beautiful patchwork quilt of stories woven from various sources. Heather Morris spoke to people who knew Cilka, read diaries and journals of people who were in Vorkuta gulag in Siberia at the same time she was, and even studied photographs to capture the essence of that time.

Heather Morris is a magician, weaving stories that let us experience the hardships that these people faced, the inhumane conditions they lived in, and how they persevered through it all. Cilka's story is a testament to the human spirit, her unselfishness, and her passion for helping others, even when she had nothing to give. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Violence, Genocide, Rape, and Emotional abuse

walskishere's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

I'm choosing to not rate this. After finishing the book, I looked up the real Cilka. It seems that the family has severe issue with how Heather Morris portrayed her. Out of respect, I won't be rating this, but I did enjoy the writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Torture

kconnorz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Rape, Violence, and Death

bellagasparro's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism

Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Sexual assault