Reviews tagging 'Incest'

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

30 reviews

geckojordy's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Incest, Rape, and Abortion

abejadeazucar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

AHHHHHH??????

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation and Death

Moderate: Rape, Incest, Genocide, and Fatphobia

larawade's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Rape, War, Incest, Infidelity, Violence, Abortion, Child abuse, Murder, and Suicide attempt

theanxiousbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed most if the book, but the ending, starting with the reveal of Asya's father ruined the story for me 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Incest, Genocide, and Racism

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, and Incest

Moderate: Genocide and Abortion

lagaialettrice's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Incest

Moderate: Genocide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Deportation, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, and Racism

griernotgruyere's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide

Moderate: Rape and Incest

mariawie's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Genocide

Moderate: Incest, War, and Violence

Minor: Deportation, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Abortion, Dementia, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

anabelengm's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Incest

Minor: Genocide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, War, and Abortion

charity_ix's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I was very busy this month with school stuff but I finally finished this weekend and I liked it! I recently did a project on The Armenian Genocide for school and I didn't know this book was about that until I started reading.

It was interesting to get so many perspectives and people in this book and it was satisfying how they were all connected. The backstories were my favorite parts 

particularly Grandma Shushan's story and the pomegranate

. I also liked how everything was significant and there were no random plotlines or characters just to fill the pages.

I obviously loved the main characters Asya and Armanoush, as well as the aunts and grandmas. Seeing Armanoush's struggle with being Armenian-American, her identity, and her family overall was insightful. 

I also thought Cafe Constantinople was an interesting addition to the book. I do wish Armanoush and Baron's relationship/friendship was further explored but that may have been too much to compact into one book.

The parallels between Asya and Aunt Zeliha were interesting to see and I think their relationship was perfectly explained in the book. Again, I do wish they healed a bit more from their conflicts, but I believe the ending alluded that they would eventually.

 

The setting and cultural aspects of the book were illustrated so well that I felt like I was in Istanbul myself. Overall, this book is a story about multigenerational trauma, family, and confronting the past. I would recommend this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Abortion, Rape, and Incest