Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

185 reviews

hellokaley's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

2.5

I had much different expectations for this novel. There were quite a few different storylines and I found it a little hard to follow. The political storyline was the least interesting to me and probably the most prevalent throughout the story. I don’t have a ton of context or understanding around the history and current state of politics in Puerto Rico, but I also can’t say I learned a lot with this read because it wasn’t easy to separate fact from fiction. 

Shoutout to the excellent narrators though- I thought the audiobook was really well done!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia

sachachi's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Homophobia

Moderate: War and Rape

Minor: Sexual violence

rexpostfacto's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Xenophobia, and Abandonment

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

lrystarr's review

emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Rape

emily_koopmann's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Violence, Abandonment, and Death

humblej's review against another edition

dark informative reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

I couldn’t have gotten through this if not for the audiobook. Some of the writing was beautiful and it was nice to see how different generations interacted. Aunt Lola was my favorite. 

But it was difficult to connect with the characters. The disdain Olga had for everyone did not make her likable, and Pietro’s crisis was boring. Matteo is not 3D, and neither is Blanca. The

rape

was completely unnecessary. It added nothing to the story. She could have easily had the same

breakdown after failing her mission and being disregarded again by her mother

. The ending also brings into focus the selfishness of both leads. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Abortion

renharms's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia and Rape

Minor: Abortion and Violence

berrypatch's review

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

This book was absolutely incredible. Underscored by events in Puerto Rico and the deep sociological tension between a neglectful and manipulate mother and her pining children, Olga Dies Dreaming gives an impactful and informative insight into the impact of community, corruption of power, and pull between expectations and personal fulfillment. I cried many times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Addiction

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Outing, and Colonisation

Minor: Alcoholism, Xenophobia, Abortion, Rape, and Infertility

starlily's review

emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Colonisation, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Abortion, and Drug use

cass_ward's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia, Addiction, Colonisation, and Rape

Minor: Racism, Abortion, Death of parent, and Misogyny