Reviews with content warning for Confinement - Het bal der gekken

Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Het bal der gekken by Victoria Mas

43 reviews

daisymayl's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The first chapter didn't grab me, but the second chapter definitely did and I really really enjoyed this up until the final chapter. If the ending had been better then this would have been a 4 but the ending just felt rushed and fell flat for me. The ball was barely a chapter in the book as well, despite the book being named after it. I think I wanted this to be a bit longer so that it could be more properly fleshed out towards the end.

Content Warnings

lau_leo's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wowowow. I feel like this book was made for me. This was a pretty quick read for me but it has resonated with me so much. As an agnostic nurse, I could sympathize with the main character immensely. I have often questioned and re-evaluated my beliefs and purpose in life so seeing one of the main characters go through similar things such as detachment, depersonalization, burnout, and survivors guilt had me connecting to this novel on a level I wasn’t expecting. I loved how the main characters question their own sanity and beliefs and stay true to themselves. I will probably recommend this book to anyone who will listen. And I am intrigued to see how I perceive this book when I reread it one day and if I will love it as much as I currently do.

Before reading this book, I want to point out that looking up content warnings might be advised.

Content Warnings

books4em's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.25

This is a short book and I was somewhat disappointed. The ending is rushed and I wish more detail/thought had been taken to expand on the ending. The author could've explored the two main characters after the climax of the book (which happens within the last few pages), but didn't. Some of the events in the novel aren't explicitly stated as they are and I think it looses some of the emotional effect they probably have in the book's native language (French).

Content Warnings

mgordon3118's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Content Warnings

jmullins21's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Very easy read

Content Warnings

marbelousreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This book was engaging and also a heartbreaking look at the realities of women who didn’t fit the mold being institutionalized in the late 19th century. I appreciated the nuance of the author about why some women preferred to be institutionalized and to show that the institutions like the Sal. were not universally good or bad but complicated. They did some bad things but they also did provide a refuge for some women who had been hurt by the world.

Content Warnings