Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Ritos funerarios by Hannah Kent

12 reviews

samanthaleereads's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexism, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse

Minor: Vomit

fbarros's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

I have to give a lot of credit to the author on this one. This book, centered on the characters and their personal journeys, had me absolutely captivated.

I was genuinely anxious while reading it even though the plot is already fixed. It made me reflect on what it means to come to terms with death, injustice, and honestly, I couldn't put it down. 

The only minor quibble I have is that I wished for more exploration of those breathtaking Icelandic landscapes. Nevertheless, the desolation of certain places is definitely conveyed, which significantly influenced the overall atmosphere of the book. 

After another emotionally charged read, I think it's time for a break from sad books 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual content, and Grief

mollz77's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

most gripping and intriguing book i’ve read. an absolute must read

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Murder, and Death

Minor: Violence, Cursing, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Animal death, and Rape

friends2lovers's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.0

"We'll remember you, Agnes."  She presses my fingers more tightly, until I almost cry out from the pain, and then I am crying.  I don't want to be remembered, I want to be here!

This is a very slow, melancholy read with a bleak setting and a tragic ending.  I thought the historical details were interesting, but I never became very invested in the story.   While it's not a long book, it took me a long time to read because other books I was reading were far more engaging and less somber.  I've owned a paperback copy of this for years, but will probably put it in a box to donate or sell as I don't see myself ever rereading it.

In the author's note at the end, Kent says some other books written about the Illugastaðir murders "hold a common view of Agnes as 'an inhumane witch stirring up murder'.  This novel has been written to supply a more ambiguous portrayal of this woman."  Unfortunately, I think by making Agnes an ambiguous and mysterious character, Kent inadvertently made her a bit flat and uninteresting. 

The multiple points-of-view and tense in the first chapter made for a rough start to the novel.  Agnes' perspective is in 1st person, present tense.  Tóti's perspective is in 3rd person limited, past-tense.  And the Jónsdóttir family is introduced in what I think is supposed to be 3rd person omniscient, but came across more like 3rd person limited with head-hopping between each member of the family.  Luckily, after the first chapter, Kent mostly sticks to the perspective of one family member, Margrét, in 3rd person limited, past tense, like Tóti. 

Other than those POV issues, the writing was decent, so I might try another of Kent's books in the future.  Especially considering that Burial Rites was Kent's debut novel, so presumably her writing will have improved with later books.

If you're looking for another literary novel about a woman murderess in the 19th century I recommend Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, which I remember liking a lot more than this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Infidelity

Moderate: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death of parent, Rape, and Sexual content

dreamerfreak's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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 death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

sarah_speaks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Animal death, Gore, Domestic abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Pregnancy and Chronic illness

lisabee's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

4.0

I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book, given the subject matter, but actually, I did for the most part. Her characters are very human and very relatable, and mostly quite decent to one another.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

folksong's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, and Rape

amooseinwater's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

So tragic and beautifully written. Explores the complexity of life as a woman, as a worker, as a human. The power of narrative to shape our life is a strong feature.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Violence

rosebud_reading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I think this story was well written and atmospheric. Agnes is a very sympathetic character up to a point. I have some minor hang-ups over the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit