Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Cantoras by Caro De Robertis

22 reviews

tracey1981's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

This is a beautiful book about friendship and building intentional community during hard times, in this case the dictatorship in Uruguay in the 1970s. 5 women friends, all cantoras (which means singer, but was also code for lesbian in that era), vacation together at Cabo Polonio, eventually buying a vacation home there that they visit over the years. The book sees them go through transitions in life, politics, relationships with one another as friends and sometimes as lovers, as well as with other lovers and family members, over the years and decades that follow. It’s well-written and gave me insight in to a history I didn’t know. 

Probably a 5 star book but the experience was 4-4.5 stars for me because it might have been the wrong time for me to read a heavier book and I found it very hard to stay in to the audio even though the narration was good. I wish I’d read it on paper, maybe at a time when I could handle the harder parts of the story better. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Infidelity

asolis's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Cantoras seamlessly melds the stories of five queer women to explore the history of Uruguay, queer joy, life under a dictatorship, and the importance of community and making space for yourself in the world. This book runs the gamut of emotions, but leaves you with a sense of hope. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

Minor: Cursing and Death of parent

micropunk's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia

kelly93's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Outing

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

aliciarosales's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Alcohol

Minor: Transphobia, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

jrow's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

3.5

I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the tone and pace felt like it changed drastically during the second half and it was hard to keep my attention with the repetition of the reflections. Otherwise, it was very beautifully written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Outing

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Death of parent

theboricuabookworm's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and War

breanneporter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely incredible novel. Cantoras follows 5 sapphic Uruguayan women from 1973 to 2013, who come together, become family to each other, and build a refuge for themselves in a beach town called Cabo Pollonia, down the coast from their home in Montevideo, which was under a military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985. I knew next to nothing about Uruguayan political history before reading this novel, and following these fierce, lovable, brave Uruguayan gay women as they fell in and out of love and friendship was such a beautiful way to learn about this piece of history. I love that the novel covers decades in these women’s lives, but never felt rushed, and the characters all felt so supremely real. I cried often, from horror and sadness and also happiness and relief. I desperately want to see the mini series version of this novel; for now I’ll settle for rereading it again soon. Brb, recommending it to everyone I know (though please check content warnings, as this is not a lighthearted journey). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Police brutality, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Religious bigotry

maddelpop's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Sexual harassment, and War

maggiebourne's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Medical trauma