Reviews tagging 'Gore'

De stad der blinden by José Saramago

34 reviews

maceye23's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, and Vomit

jayvdw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.25

What happens when the world turns blind in a matter of weeks? That is the question the book tries to answer. It is an interesting delve into human nature when exposed to a sudden and drastic change in one's senses and conditions. 

The book is very interesting and a lot of different events take place. It takes a little while before the main character, the doctor's wife, is presented. The only person left who can see but presents to be blind. Through her eyes we see the conditions put on the blind, the first hastily put up quarantine, fuelled by fear, the conditions that followed, and the world just shortly after everyone has turned blind in a matter of weeks.

The book however is written difficultly, what is said is only separated by a comma before and after the text, and it is not written down who said what. The task of figuring this out is left to the reader. This style fits very well with the book's themes and puts the reader into the mind of the blind. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment

amandadelbrocco's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I had a hard time with the rambling writing style of this. Not only are there no quotation marks, but there are also no line breaks so it made it very difficult to tell who was speaking, or if they were speaking out loud at all. The characters were also all unnamed which added to the confusion.

Plot wise, this was terrifying. It was also gross. I never really thought before about how the world would change so drastically if everyone in it went blind and I don't really want to continue thinking about it. Coupled with the fact that it emphasized just how blind many are to what is happening in society, it is definitely a book that will (unfortunately) haunt me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

abijmieds's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? No

4.0

Do yourself a favor and check the content warnings

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Car accident, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

watermelleon's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

it is so hard to write a review for this one!!

the good bits:

• the writing style is completely unique. I have read nothing like this ever, and it has been a fully original experience. 
• The characters were incredibly complex, despite not knowing their names or what they look like past a quirky defining feature used to establish who is in the room or speaking. 
• In a book where almost no-one can see, this book has some of the most vivid and detailed descriptions I have ever read. I could map out a floor plan of a whole building, which absolutely added to the impact of what was happening within the novel. 
• so many well thought out moments and quotes, the messaging behind this book was incredible. it feels like a very good time to be reading a book like this, as many instances early on felt very reminiscent of the current situation in Palestine (and other political situations), something saramago has spoken out about for many years.
• I really enjoyed reading this on holiday in portugal! although purposefully not set in a specific country or town, I felt very connected to the work this way - I also caught a glimpse at the saramago foundation community space in obidos :)

the challenges;

• the book is incredibly dark, and a difficult read. by far this book has some of the most uncomfortable scenes I have ever come across, with a lot of potentially triggering detail. However, it doesn't feel gratuitous, or there for the sake of it being there. It has a purpose, and I think any other author (my mind gravitates to stephen king) would have done a terrible job. What was unique for me was that saramago managed to centre these events through the eyes of the victims and not the perpetrators, something I have very rarely (if ever) seen in any other book. 
• The writing style I imagine is not for everyone. It does take some getting used to, and I think this plus the traumatic contents do slow down the reading experience. I would not change this though!
• I wish I could have read this in portuguese. I think the translator did an excellent job, however it does (as it always will) feel like it is likely that the original flowery prose is lost to me!
• having known people on a personal basis that have lost their vision overnight, it was a concern to me going in how this concept would come across, and whether it would be too abelist for my tastes. I felt personally that this was avoided, however cannot speak on this opinion from the perspective of a visually impaired person. What made this book feel okay to myself personally was that: it was made very clear that it was a "medically impossible" blindness and not a known medical condition, as well as the one character that could see showing her own type of blindness, assuming that her blind friends needed her help when they were sufficient. what is referred to as "blindness" in this novel is perhaps more a state of mind, over level of vision.  

I went into this book wondering if it would be a bit too close to the bone to those who in some way have lost their vision, but have left wondering perhaps the opposite. with something this descriptive and visual I feel like it could be an absolutely incredible audiobook journey!

I would recommend this book on everyone's bucket list, providing the topics covered aren't too difficult for you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Car accident

rubyics's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

eelitorr's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

3.0

Great book, interesting prose. However, the content is incredibly difficult to read as it details the dissolution of society. See numerous content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ahzarkie's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic

tmbrundage's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Compelling and thoughtful book, but graphic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

4.75

A beautiful, dark, horrifying, redemptive read, which is more honest about human nature than anything I have ever experienced. I would highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail