Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini

309 reviews

aecy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: War, Abandonment, and Child abuse

Minor: Death and Death of parent

lailahall05's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Infertility, Suicide, War, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, and Adult/minor relationship

lorie266's review against another edition

challenging 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: Child abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Ableism, Abortion, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Violence, War, Blood, Murder, Death of parent, Infertility, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, and Sexual assault

maijakkk's review against another edition

dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and War

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Suicide

clarissa_joy's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

 This book broke my heart. It may be a fictional story, but I know that Mariam and Laila's reality is one experienced by so many women in Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries. Early in the book, Mariam's mother tells her, "It's our lot in life, Mariam. Women like us. We endure. It's all we have." And endure she does, as does Laila. My heart ached for both women as they faced familial dysfunction and loss, martial abuse, and absolute devastation in their home and country. Yet in the midst of that, they found the capacity to love and hope and ultimately fight back.
This book tackles many heavy topics with nuance and leaves the reader conflicted as to the resolution of them.
Hosseini uses Mariam and Laila to showcase the backdrop of the tumultuous events that took place in Afghanistan between 1975 and 2003. I was aware while reading that thousands of people experienced these same hardships and pain and it was deeply moving.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, War, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Rape, and Abortion

elleccc's review against another edition

dark inspiring medium-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

5.0

One of the most heart-wrenching yet powerful story ever. Read this years ago, but I find myself thinking about Mariam and Laila sporadically. I was not prepared for the emotional turmoil that came with this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Religious bigotry, Racism, Rape, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Death of parent, Grief, Bullying, Hate crime, Mental illness, Self harm, and Torture

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scienceworks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexism, War, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Rape, Murder, and Misogyny

Moderate: Child death and Death

iliana95's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

A story so poignant that really cuts you as you read. I think Hosseini really captured the heartbreak and perseverance of women without it feeling too excessive, though there is a lot of abuse of women. I don't know how else to describe it, but I am impressed with the delicacy a male author wrote a female-driven story. It was purposeful response to his male-driven previous story: The Kite Runner, as he has mentioned in interviews. I think it also helped that I found both main characters interesting and I could relate better. It, of course, crushed me to read the ending but understand the way he wrote this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide, Violence, and War

bfields352's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

4.5

This book was great but was a difficult read based on the topic at hand. There are triggers which can cause distress

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Death, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, War, and Sexual assault

arthur_ant18's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Death, Adult/minor relationship, War, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Classism, Child abuse, Torture, Suicide, Child death, Murder, Rape, Islamophobia, and Genocide