Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

10 reviews

atalea's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

1.5

I really didn't like this book. It was extremely slow, barely anything happened, the doctor gave me the creeps, the writing style was awful and this book could have been 200 pages shorter if Grace didn't have to detail every little task she did all day, everyday around the house. When we reached the murder I hoped things would pick up but I was sorely mistaken. This book was unfortunately a waste of my time. 

I read this book immediately after finishing Burial Rites which is also based on true events, about a maid convicted of murder, and whereas I loved that book and started this one in need of similar stories, this book was a huge disappointment. Read Burial Rites, not this.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Abortion, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Blood, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

elg1105's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Child death, and Domestic abuse

emequalsme's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

Really enjoyed this one. The narratives of the different characters flow well and have distinct voices/personalities. At 560 pages, I think it could’ve been edited down a bit, and there were a few small plot points left unresolved. The last section felt more like an epilogue and didn’t match the style/tone of the rest of the book as well as it could have; I guess you could say it felt rushed and untidy. All in all though, it was an engaging page turner; it posed some thoughtful paradoxes about how women were viewed and treated in mid-19th century North America. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Violence

buffalo666's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

Extremely slow paced, major plot events don't really take place until the last 1/3 of the book, but still definitely worth reading. Unreliable narrator but not really focused on, as much as it's always just in the back of the reader's mind. The book itself never comes to a clear conclusion about the guilt or innnocence of most of the characters as some people might want, but explores how all of the pieces of the real story may have played out.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Abortion, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment

pionikoi's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Violence

georgiahb's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault

amsswim's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

I really liked this but boy it was slow. I'd recommend if you are into historical fiction, but this also crosses directly into true crime. Margret Atwood clearly did her research and really brought this story to life. Glad I was finally able to finish it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Deportation

jo_d's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Miscarriage

bookycnidaria's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Racism, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation

rebekalanska's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Violence