Reviews tagging 'Torture'

La Maison aux esprits by Isabel Allende

170 reviews

lipsmovetheysay's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

3.5

i know it feels a bit sacrilegious but i juuuust feel like a lot of the classics could stand an editor/to lose 100 pages? the last 90 or so pages of this are breathtaking and incredibly impactful, but it felt like a slog at times to get there. but i also need to know myself and that sweeping family epics over generations are just not really my jam. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, and War

funkyyicken's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Classism

shonaberu's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Classism

Minor: Car accident

mirireads's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Torture

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

edulaia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Torture

missjonesreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I did not like this book most of the time. There were some parts/characters I enjoyed more than others and I will never agree with the idea to have part of the book in the perspective of Esteban Trueba. 

However, somehow, in the last portion of the book that focuses on Alba, I began to understand more and began to like it. I see why it has been so popular and I see why it a must read. I don’t think I’ll ever read it again. But I am glad that I finally did. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Pedophilia

pogue's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism

marenvgl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Car accident, Abortion, and War

bookicornia's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, Abortion, and Murder

mengzhenreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

Read for school

This was just a strange, flavorful, and at times horrifying read that I wasn't expecting at all.  The characters are all so interesting in their own way and the generational saga worked extremely well for me. It was funny, it was sad, it was horrifying, and it was super weird and it's definitely a book I'll be thinking about a lot more in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Abortion, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Ableism, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Car accident