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Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, War
I was so relieved when I finished this book. I wouldn't have finished this if I hadn't been reading it for a book club.
Let's start with the positive: Isabel Allende obviously knows how to write. I also really enjoyed the historical context that we got. That's about it.
The book is very graphic. I don't mind that in general, in fact I enjoy it sometimes. But not when we have to listen to the thoughts of pedophiles, rapists, racists and killers and also get the very details of their actions described to us.
We have 3 female main characters but never get their perspective. Instead, we hear from men that are the literal worst.
People tend to love Clara because "omg she's so dreamy and quirky" when really, she just enables her husband to do the worst things to the women around them both including his sister even though Clara supposedly loves here. I mean, what's that about?
Also, I hated the racist terms used but I know that it's because this book is old.
In conclusion: This book was well written but I hated every second its content.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia
now, I experienced such a disconnect with this book largely in part because of its characters. they were flawed and real, true! also true is that I did not care for a single one of them!! for a family drama spanning multiple generations, very few of the emotional beats landed for me (🤨😐😔) sadly.
in a shocking turn of events, I was drawn more towards the politics + history that informed the background of this saga. the novel’s attention to women’s rights, unionization, revolution, and the west’s presence in foreign governments were its saving grace for me.
and one thing this book tackles brilliantly is the violence of men + power. so so so many terrible ways in which these individuals + institutions possess, demean, and violate others. while earlier I mentioned that many of the story’s emotional beats were a miss for me, it never failed to make me absolutely livid! the anger I felt when reading some of these scenes! every man in my line of sight should be afraid! rage enough to burn the world I think!!!
Graphic: Death, Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Car accident, War, Classism
Minor: Drug use, Xenophobia, Abortion
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Classism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Alcohol, War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Abortion
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, War, Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use
Graphic: Torture, Kidnapping
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Xenophobia
Besides that, this fictional story is very insightful as it depicts Chilean history, politics, and feminism through the lives and struggles of the Trueba family, in particular through the three generations of women and the patriarch Esteban Trueba. Overall, it was a relatively heavy read with some lightness that came from the magical realism depicted through some of the family members as well as the absurdities of Esteban Trueba. Allende does a great job of writing the story in an almost playful method, using timelines and character POVs to tell an engaging story. Would recommend - just make sure to review the content/trigger warnings ahead of time.
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Gun violence, Homophobia, Vomit
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Excrement, Abortion