Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Rose Code, by Kate Quinn

17 reviews

srah's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

4.5

I took off a quarter point for being a bit longer and slower than it needed to be, and another quarter point for the graphic descriptions in the

Spoiler

Café de Paris

scene, which I have been thinking about all week since I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, War, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Child death, and Grief

Minor: Genocide and Homophobia

shortshortreads's review against another edition

inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

Revolving around the lives of three women at beltchley park we get an insight into three different compartments that made the clockwork of the park tick.
We were also given the POV of the women post war hinting at the scars and perhaps an unsolved mystery still lingering. This was really well written but I did have to wait for the pace to pick up around 50%. We got to see the women develop and learn their strengths and show they too could contribute to the war.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Rape, Domestic abuse, Death, and Child death

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

3.5

For the most part, The Rose Code was a gripping, compelling work set against the backdrop of the Bletchley Park codebreaking operation in Buckinghamshire, England, during the Second World War.

The novel follows three women who worked there - socialite Osla Kendall, working-class Mabel "Mab" Churt, and shy but brilliant local girl, Bethan "Beth" Finch who today would probably be diagnosed as autistic.

Kate Quinn excels in creating a vivid atmosphere, rich in historical detail with characters who feel three-dimensional.  These characters are either composites of real people, fictionalised versions of real people, or actual historical figures - such as the late Prince Philip

Spoiler

(who the fictionalised Osla is in a relationship with, as was the real Osla before he married the now-late Queen)

, the-then Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Winston Churchill.

But even though it's clear that Quinn did her homework on history, I found that upon reading the extensive author's note, I disliked the way she adapted characters and historical events to suit the plot. I know most authors of historical fiction do this, and normally I don't have a problem with it, but somehow it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it's because the backdrop of the novel is set in (relatively) recent times. I don't know - maybe it's just me.

Anyway, The Rose Code is still a beautifully written and excellently-paced novel - but if you're a historical purist, it might not be your cup of tea.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Violence, War, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Bullying, Racism, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Ableism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Antisemitism and Genocide

Spoiler

A past gang rape attempt is described. The survivor, Mab, manages to fend off her attackers, and as a result of this, she has a fear of sexual intimacy. Another main character, Beth, is probably autistic - although this is never stated explicitly. She is bullied by her mother. Once employed at Bletchley Park, Beth experiences breakdowns and burnout, and works for hours at a time. She is later sent by one of the other employees at Bletchley Park to a sanatorium in order to ensure her silence about an act of treason. Once there, she is coerced, abused and gaslighted by the staff and on one occasion exchanges sexual favours for information. She also later is threatened with undergoing a lobotomy, and the procedure is described in detail. It does occur to another minor character, but Beth is rescued before the procedure is carried out.

She also has an affair with a married man called Harry Zarb. Harry and his wife Sheila have an open marriage, staying together for the sake of their only son, who has polio.

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Sexism, Injury/injury detail, Racism, and War

Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Minor: Slavery

fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free review copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a perfect complement to the typical WWII books and I've always been interested in the Bletchly Park codebreakers. I did feel that it was a little too long, but it was beautifully written and I can't wait to read more by Kate Quinn. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Confinement, Death, Injury/injury detail, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, War, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Blood and Classism

Minor: Sexual content and Animal cruelty

melmattocks21's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this story! It was action packed, but also filled with love, friendship, and mystery. I struggled a bit with the WW2 terminology and slang, but overall it was a well-written story with unforgettable characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Racial slurs, and Grief

beedavey89's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

linesiunderline's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Ah Kate Quinn… I’ve only read 3 of her books but I can easily say that she writes historical fiction better than most. I adored The Huntress, and for me, The Rose Code equaled it. Another 5⭐️ experience.

I don’t think The Rose Code was as tense a read as The Huntress, however the way that Quinn brings the three central female characters to life is every bit as satisfying as the page turning quality of her previous novel. I could’ve read an entire book about each one of the code breaking women at the heart of The Rose Code.

One of the most tantalizing qualities of great historical fiction is how it gives the reader a feeling of being transported, and Quinn excels at this. When I read her books, I am temporarily pulled away from the present time and I sink down into an experience from the past, and I love that sense of traveling away into the story. I can get lost in her books.

Absolutely brilliantly narrated on audio, and certainly worthy of rereading, this will be one of my favourite books of the year!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

luvhate21's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, War, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Racial slurs, and Mental illness

Minor: Abortion, Vomit, Medical content, and Medical trauma

nataliebootlah's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

I devoured this book. In 1940, three women — Osla, Mab, and Beth — begin mysterious work at Bletchley Park as World War II rages on. Under strict oath, they cannot tell anyone that they’re breaking intercepted enemy communications. A resounding story of friendship, love, and humor is born out of secrecy. That is, of course, until everything falls apart. 

Flash forward to 1947, where the three haven’t spoken in years. Beth is locked away in an asylum and sends Osla and Mab an encrypted message begging them to come to her. They do owe her, after all. 

Twists, turns, secrets, lies, love, and hate fuel the fire of this one. You won’t regret diving head in. 

The Rose Code intertwines historical reality with breathtaking fiction. The amount of research that clearly went into this novel (and the parallels to the real men and women of Bletchley Park) made it that much more enjoyable. I can’t wait to read more Kate Quinn books! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War