Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Il Club del libro e della torta di bucce di patata di Guernsey by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer

22 reviews

aileron's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and War

Minor: Alcoholism, Genocide, Mental illness, Rape, Slavery, Vomit, and Medical content

ryleee's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

Such a unique book, in terms of writing style, setting and story. It made me feel like I was there in Guernsey, and at the same time, longing to visit. The place and the people are written in such a way that they feel immediately familiar, which gives the story (even though it is relatively simple) such a warmness—a playful and enjoyable read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Vomit

cadybooks's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

221bpinkst's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and War

Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Violence

kris_tea516's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? No

5.0

Book 25 of 52 for 2024

I saw the movie a few years ago for this book. I had no idea until a couple of months ago that it was a book. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it after watching the movie but it had been a few years & I wasn’t sure how much I really remembered. Well, I have to say I’m so happy I reread it. It’s such a wonderful story & it is done so well. I highly recommend the audiobook because each wonderful character’s letter is read by a different actor. This book is the definition of “cozy” read but it also deals with very difficult things from history (Holocaust, WWII) & how complicated the relationships between the Germans & British had been. It also shows how reading can change your life in ways you might never expect. It left me wanting to read even more books & appreciate genres I might never think about. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Deportation

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

koplomps's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

clarkg's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Guernsey was a delight from start to finish! The characters were loveable, the plot was compelling, and it was easy to become emotionally invested. The politics of this book are not always fleshed out (more British nationalism than I care for, decontextualized plot point about phrenology, etc.) but it's a very good story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

hannah2896's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-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

One of my favourite books. An emotional read which is beautifully written.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Slavery, Death of parent, and War

katievallin's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Slavery, Police brutality, Grief, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

tinkeringcheck's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

Over 8 hours I feel like the Society and people of Guernsey became my friends as much as they became Juliet's. The narrators' performances were just incredible and brought the characters' voices to life in such a lively way. This book was truly made for a full-cast audio production.

I particularly loved

Sidney and Isola's

budding friendship and

Juliet and Kit's

relationship - neither of which quite got their due in the film version. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and War

Minor: Death, Slavery, and Violence

Usual WW2 homefront fiction warnings apply, but not very graphic. Many of the characters talk about their harrowing experiences during the occupation, including being sent to concentration camps. It's a postwar setting in a formerly occupied territory, so the grief and weight of those experiences is pretty steeped in the setting despite the overall lightness and charm of the book.