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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: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Lesbophobia
doradalberto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
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, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
apple_cider's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
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: Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
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: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
j_mindelan'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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
paperinfinities'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and War
a_eterno'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
4.75
definitely a must-read for any latin american, and i would recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about chile.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Pregnancy