Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

95 reviews

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

aedward's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

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 This is a very hard book to rate and review, based on both the harrowing historical content and the personal feelings of those connected to the real individual.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

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

monarchkisses's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

3.5

the main character grapples with a lot of moral quandaries surrounding what they had to do to survive. the story shows them carrying that guilt while still finding ways to move forward. i think many of us carry guilt in the way cilka does. over things we can’t change and maybe we had to do them to survive but still struggle to accept. i found the story very moving because of this relationship to grief and shame, and also there is just so much love between the people in this book. it made me cry like a little baby at many a part. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, War, and Injury/Injury detail

bookshelfhannah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Rape, Hate crime, Medical content, Racism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual assault, Torture, Death, and Deportation

jesstriestoread's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, and Antisemitism