Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

9 reviews

lauraportalupi's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Miscarriage, and Abandonment

fbarros's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

I have to give a lot of credit to the author on this one. This book, centered on the characters and their personal journeys, had me absolutely captivated.

I was genuinely anxious while reading it even though the plot is already fixed. It made me reflect on what it means to come to terms with death, injustice, and honestly, I couldn't put it down. 

The only minor quibble I have is that I wished for more exploration of those breathtaking Icelandic landscapes. Nevertheless, the desolation of certain places is definitely conveyed, which significantly influenced the overall atmosphere of the book. 

After another emotionally charged read, I think it's time for a break from sad books 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual content, and Grief

kimmillington's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-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

3.5

I was compelled to get through this book but I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. 
Much of the landscape and the plot is bleak, foreboding and inescapable so there is a dull misery and inevitability to the course of the story. There are no surprising twists and when Agnes finally tells her tale, it is much as the reader would anticipate.
This book therefore has very little in terms of plot development and is all about reflecting on the thoughts and actions of the characters.
There are a diverse range of complex characters which adds interest and the reader does become particularly sympathetic to Agnes. She is a well rounded character, illiciting a feeling of sympathy but also dread when she makes decisions and takes action to do things that are as damaging to herself as the actions and decisions of others.

I am unsure about why Tóti’s story includes some level of desire and romantic feeling for Agnes as this element didn’t have legs and didn’t develop into anything. Is this perhaps a spiritual aside- the difficulty for those that give their life to God to walk the line between feeling a higher spiritual purpose whilst experiencing carnal desires.

I am also unsure why Margrét laid out her clothes near to the end of the book. Obviously Lauga relinquishing her brooch was relevant to her realising all was not as it first seemed, but I don’t understand the relevance of Margrét’s actions.

I also don’t understand why Tóti suffered a long and debilitating illness- Agnes could have told her story through Tóti as easily as she did through Margrét so I’m unsure why the author chose to cut Tóti from the narrative for several months. 

I did not like the historical letters included. I found them dull and two dimensional and did not really add anything to the story. I understand it was important to the author to include them to nail the narrative to the true story but I felt they were unnecessary.

A dark and mostly depressing read- well written but uneventful and unsurprising. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Infidelity, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Abandonment, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, and Toxic relationship

steph_canread's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.25

the ending was really good, and the writing was raw and very well done, really helped with the atmosphere. i did get a bit bored in the middle though, but i still think it’s worth a read as it’s a really interesting story and not much is really known about it outside of iceland

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault

mandkips's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Blood

Moderate: Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault

sarah_speaks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Animal death, Gore, Domestic abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Pregnancy and Chronic illness

charlottesreadingweb's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Five stars for Ms. Hannah Kent. I listened to this book as an audiobook a couple years ago and it still sticks with me. It is beautifully written, making the world within the book extremely rich. Agnes is a character with no good choices, and yet, I left this story loving her none the less. One of the best books I have read in the thriller genre. Please read content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Death

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

Minor: Animal death

laura_jayne's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault

josefinceh's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual assault, and Sexual content