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Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
160 reviews
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
No
I started reading this book and then slowly began to dislike it, but that was down to how the main character was treated (even though she was 5-6 years old!)
As the story progressed, I saw how the main character began to make do with what hand she was given and how she made friends.
Those friends would then do what they could to help and support her.
By the end of the book, I really liked it and was a bit emotional about how it ended.
This is a hard read in places, and there are trigger warnings.
There are a few mentions of old words used to describe Downs Sindrome and transgender. Please be aware that those words are used in the correct context of the era they story is written in, although they are used today to be verbally abusive to those who those descriptors apply to.
As the story progressed, I saw how the main character began to make do with what hand she was given and how she made friends.
Those friends would then do what they could to help and support her.
By the end of the book, I really liked it and was a bit emotional about how it ended.
This is a hard read in places, and there are trigger warnings.
There are a few mentions of old words used to describe Downs Sindrome and transgender. Please be aware that those words are used in the correct context of the era they story is written in, although they are used today to be verbally abusive to those who those descriptors apply to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Slavery, Transphobia, Trafficking
Moderate: Transphobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Alcohol
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Transphobia
Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Trafficking, War
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Cuando pasa la vida entera en un flash, la autora tiene muchos temas que abordar, entre ellos, el de la familia biológica y la familia de elección, la amistad, el desamor, los infortunios, las injusticias y otros más... Elif escribe abrumadoramente hermoso y genial, y aunque este libro yo no sea capaz de volver a leerlo, es una autora que vale mucho la pena tener entre las repisas porque no deja a nadie indiferente al llevarnos por un mundo de ficción cuyos límites se difuminan entre la poesía y la crítica social.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Transphobia, Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A beautiful novel.
The retellings of memories from Leila's life are evocative, the descriptions of her childhood home and her family are vivid, I felt like I could picture everything.
The story takes place among political struggles, cultural change and within a society intertwined with religion and bigotry. I learnt a lot about the history of Turkey. The novel deals with women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights as well as the experience of sex workers. We explore relationships, family dynamics and secrets and friendships. Leila's story is tragic and this is a very sad and dark novel.
It did fall off slightly for me when the perspective shifted from Leila to her friends but overall this is a stunning novel and I definitely want to read more of the author.
The retellings of memories from Leila's life are evocative, the descriptions of her childhood home and her family are vivid, I felt like I could picture everything.
The story takes place among political struggles, cultural change and within a society intertwined with religion and bigotry. I learnt a lot about the history of Turkey. The novel deals with women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights as well as the experience of sex workers. We explore relationships, family dynamics and secrets and friendships. Leila's story is tragic and this is a very sad and dark novel.
It did fall off slightly for me when the perspective shifted from Leila to her friends but overall this is a stunning novel and I definitely want to read more of the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence
Moderate: Self harm, Police brutality, Trafficking
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault
Moderate: Self harm, Transphobia, Trafficking
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Quite strong in the beginning although I was unprepared for the graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse. The second half lagged for me and lacked lustre in comparison to the first half which was quite strong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Murder
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Mixed feelings with this one. I’ll start with a content warning. This novel does feature some graphic scenes of child abuse, sex abuse and self-harm – none of which I was prepared for.
I’ve been drawn to the premise of the ’10 Minutes 38 Seconds’ ever since I heard about it: the structure is based on the scientific theory that the brain can take up to 10 minutes to shut down after the heart stops. In that time, the protagonist of the story, Leila, a sex worker, sees her life flashing before her eyes. Certain memories re-surface.
Elif Shafak offers a historic sweep of Istanbul – the old and new, the grand and lowly, the elite and the outcasts. But it’s the outcasts who get full spotlight in this story. Shafak’s insights into ‘the street of the brothels’ in Istanbul, as well the ‘cemetery of the companionless’ (still in operation today), is based on factual research. It’s shocking and fascinating. I was invested in Leila and wanted her to shine. I think the novel succeeds in humanising those like her who become entangled in Istanbul’s web of trafficking and exploitation, unravelling the circumstances that lead to their current moment.
That said, I felt the character development of each of Leila’s band of friends comes in too late. I didn’t like the formulaic description of each character before they started speaking. And I didn't find the dialogue between them always natural or convincing. I can’t comment on the accuracy of representation of each minority group, but I sense that Shafak goes to extremes, resulting in caricature rather than empowerment through representation. I am increasingly appreciating subtlety as part of the skillset of a good author.
This novel has reinforced my sense that Shafak writes for the white gaze, something I acutely felt with the last book of hers that I read, ‘40 Rules’. There is no real complexity with the Muslim characters, just a mishmash of superstition and cultural oddities. How many times have I read that someone is “deeply religious” because they pray five times a day. Lord! I am begging, please stop! Does Shafak do this every time? If not, ‘The Island of Missing Trees’ and ‘There Are Rivers in the Sky’ could be next.
I’ve been drawn to the premise of the ’10 Minutes 38 Seconds’ ever since I heard about it: the structure is based on the scientific theory that the brain can take up to 10 minutes to shut down after the heart stops. In that time, the protagonist of the story, Leila, a sex worker, sees her life flashing before her eyes. Certain memories re-surface.
Elif Shafak offers a historic sweep of Istanbul – the old and new, the grand and lowly, the elite and the outcasts. But it’s the outcasts who get full spotlight in this story. Shafak’s insights into ‘the street of the brothels’ in Istanbul, as well the ‘cemetery of the companionless’ (still in operation today), is based on factual research. It’s shocking and fascinating. I was invested in Leila and wanted her to shine. I think the novel succeeds in humanising those like her who become entangled in Istanbul’s web of trafficking and exploitation, unravelling the circumstances that lead to their current moment.
That said, I felt the character development of each of Leila’s band of friends comes in too late. I didn’t like the formulaic description of each character before they started speaking. And I didn't find the dialogue between them always natural or convincing. I can’t comment on the accuracy of representation of each minority group, but I sense that Shafak goes to extremes, resulting in caricature rather than empowerment through representation. I am increasingly appreciating subtlety as part of the skillset of a good author.
This novel has reinforced my sense that Shafak writes for the white gaze, something I acutely felt with the last book of hers that I read, ‘40 Rules’. There is no real complexity with the Muslim characters, just a mishmash of superstition and cultural oddities. How many times have I read that someone is “deeply religious” because they pray five times a day. Lord! I am begging, please stop! Does Shafak do this every time? If not, ‘The Island of Missing Trees’ and ‘There Are Rivers in the Sky’ could be next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Transphobia
Minor: Mental illness, Trafficking