Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

20 reviews

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, Incest, Rape, and Abortion

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Fatphobia and Suicide

Minor: Vomit

rae_kh's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia

Moderate: Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and War

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Abortion, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Grief

silkevdb's review

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest and Rape

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Child abuse and Abortion

jessica1975's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective slow-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

3.5

A little predictable at the end.
Otherwise a good read.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

mxshvili's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Sexual assault

lilbu's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Rape, and Abortion

nikkigee81's review against another edition

emotional slow-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Genocide, Incest, and Abortion

m_corsano's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Rape

Moderate: Incest and Abortion