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laurenw's review against another edition
3.75
A multi-generational story about an intriguing family who appears to have drawn in every kind of trauma possible, the book is not bad, but it is chaotic. For all the claims of this focusing on a matriarchal line, and we do follow 4/5 generations of daughters, all the events in the book are framed through the perspective of 1 man, who is not a pleasant character. Obviously books can be enjoyable and still center a problematic character, but the role of Esteban (plural) throughout the story detracts from the spirit of the women this story should have been about.
Ultimately, fell flat for me, but the political background and its rich cultural depictions were its shining grace.
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Outing, Toxic relationship, Sexism, War, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Vomit, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, Torture, Classism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Abortion, Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Animal death, and Miscarriage
eve_kadou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Car accident, Misogyny, Violence, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Child death, Cursing, Incest, Torture, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual content
coleanne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Classism, Death, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Rape, Confinement, Excrement, Kidnapping, Cursing, Pregnancy, Sexism, Misogyny, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual violence, War, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content
lief_'s review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Classism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, War, Torture, Sexual content, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Death, Blood, Rape, Animal death, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Abortion, Violence, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Homophobia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Mass/school shootings, and Medical content
Minor: Incest and Addiction
taracloudclark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a long book. At times I had difficulty maintaining attention, but I think overall it was worth it. It was definitely outside my personal or familiar experience, and I feel I’m better for reading it.
Narrators were excellent.
This was part of the StoryGraph read around the world challenge.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Torture, Medical trauma, Classism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Murder, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Police brutality, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Rape, Xenophobia, Violence, War, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
not_another_ana's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
El pasado y el futuro eran parte de la misma cosa y la realidad del presente era un caleidoscopio de espejos desordenados, donde todo podía ocurrir.
No se qué escribir sobre este libro que nadie haya escrito antes, ni idea de cómo afrontar un libro de esta magnitud. Creo que empezaré por decir que ahora que lo leí entiendo perfectamente por qué es un clásico de la literatura latinoamericana. Este es un libro desgarrador, informativo, cercano, que todavía es relevante en este siglo.
Isabel Allende nos da un paseo por tres generaciones de una familia al mismo tiempo que nos muestra cómo se llega a una dictadura. Es rudo, es un libro que trata temas sensibles y pesados. En esta narración hay una aproximación a asuntos como la justicia, la desigualdad social, el machismo, el paternalismo político, la violencia, etc. La autora no se cohibió, plasmó claramente todo lo que había sentido y observado. Es un libro que necesita ser degustado y digerido, requiere múltiples lecturas.
Hubo cosas que no me gustaron. Uno de los puntos de vista es increíblemente violento y repugnante, y aunque entiendo el por qué de su existencia se me hizo pesado vivir en la mente de este personaje. Otra crítica de mi parte es que los párrafos son gigantes y no hay espacio para tomar un descanso, recomiendo bastante el audiolibro, me agradaron mucho los narradores y me pareció que es la mejor manera de consumir esta historia. En general lo disfruté más de lo que pensé.
Graphic: Death of parent, Rape, Animal death, Torture, Sexual assault, Violence, Car accident, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Blood, Grief, and Sexual violence
sarafandino_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, War, Abortion, Sexual violence, Body horror, Death, Blood, Hate crime, Classism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Murder, Police brutality, and Physical abuse
rhi_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racism, Torture, Blood, Child abuse, Excrement, Animal death, Classism, Abortion, Infidelity, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Medical content, Death of parent, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Incest
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
knenigans's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, War, Abortion, Pregnancy, Rape, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Car accident, and Adult/minor relationship
marigoldgem's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Sexual violence, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, War, Racism, Medical content, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gun violence, Rape, Sexism, Confinement, Grief, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault