Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

66 reviews

lillythebluepaladin's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective tense slow-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: Complicated

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This was suuuuuuch a long, but exciting read!!
KEN FOLLETT SERIOUSLY KNOWS HOW TO WRITE TENSE AND EXCITING BOOKS!
My only criticism is probably how much "boobie" talk there was in it, that definetly made it clear that this was written by a middle aged man, BUT his female characters are most of the time greatly written, and the characters being all "booobiee, brrreastss, badonkas" were either extremely "thirsty" or disgusting misogynists, so it sense with their personalities and relationships, and we are talking about the middle ages, so I will let that slide.

Warning tho: This book is very graphic. The medieval ages were not fun to be in, and that is veeery reflected in this book. Check up on content warnings

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, Death of parent

ariane_'s review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark informative inspiring sad medium-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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Blood, Death of parent

seanml's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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It can be hard to tell the difference between an author’s thoughts and a character’s thoughts. I’m still not entirely sure when a hypersexual thought came from Follett or when it came from 

Tom, or William

. The first half of this book had me unsure, reading through the atrocities of 

William Hamleigh

  in graphic detail, and the sexual emphasis placed on 

Ellen.

  However, by the second half it had gone above and beyond. I’m sure it isn’t perfect, but it is a monumental effort and execution. 8.5/10. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Excrement, Islamophobia, Cultural appropriation

meganpbennett's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Pillars of the Earth is far more engaging and compelling than a book about building a cathedral has any right to be. It's a very hard read, as it is one disaster after another, but it's incredibly engaging, to the point that you don't want to put it down, because you have to know what happens next. And it's never good, what happens next. Characters have runs of good luck only to lose everything and have to start over. It has an oddly hopeful ending, and everything is neatly tied together and explained. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity, Antisemitism, Abandonment

finfoski's review against another edition

4.0

emotional informative tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder

mooncow's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Antisemitism