Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Alles Licht, das wir nicht sehen by Anthony Doerr, Werner Löcher-Lawrence

16 reviews

miller8d's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I didn’t dislike reading it— I enjoyed the character development and world-building, but the fact that it was all out of order and time-jumpy was a complete and horrible mess and was extremely frustrating to try and keep track of what was going on at any given moment. Also I HATE knowing the end/climax of a book at the beginning, so that ruined it too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Deportation

jamanji's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I enjoyed reading this book every step of the way. The writing is masterful and the author’s ability to manipulate the plot and intertwine two seemingly unrelated lives into one is remarkable.

**SPOILER ALERT**

I did not expect the ending, especially Werner’s death. it was surprising and abrupt that one of the main characters was killed in one simple sentence. The irony of his death at the hands of German machinery when he himself was a slave to German machinery was not lost on me. I did obviously hope for a happy ending for Marie and Werner (why didn’t he just take off his damn uniform), but I guess it’s more poetic this way.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

shaleen64's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is beautifully written with two characters at its centre. Both lovable in their own way, both forced towards different goals but ultimately brought together by a sense of doing what is right.

The book makes you view the Second World War in a different light without becoming a history text book. There’s heartbreak, anger, horror and despair but hope and love throughout.

If you loved the Book Thief, or anything similar, this should be your next read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Rape, Sexism, Slavery, and Torture

martha_is_reading's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

eliya's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Historical fictions are difficult for me, and this one was beautifully written. I loved following two people as they grow up, I found it very interesting and informative the different ways in which they interacted with and experienced the war. Heartbreakingly told, such incredible detail done in every moment. 

I think this is a book I would not recommend the audiobook for - I found myself getting too distracted on the small details and had to go back several times. I started the beginning chapters probably thrice. Although, Zach Appelman does an incredible job - there was so much consistency throughout the 16 hours I was astonished. 

I learned a lot about radios and sound waves and science. I learned more about WWII.

I particularly enjoyed

the story about the Sea of Flames, I listened to that probably three times it was so fantastical..

  I savored Yutta’s story as much as I possibly could. I found her fascinating. Verner

:-( I totally get why he had to die but :-( did he really have to. I get that he did some bad things and made some bad choices but 😭 I wanted them together so badly.

Liked this book a lot, other than the out of no where horrificly anti-fat descriptions of fat people lol. I am excited to see what Netflix does with it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Fatphobia and Rape

readerworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, Classism, and Deportation

pigeongreen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

The beauty of the writing and story cannot be overstated. Be prepared to absorb, to forget, to re-read, and re-read again — paragraphs, pages, chapters. This author fits so much meaning into so few words. This story spans decades and nations, grabs you by the elbow and leads you along the journey, at times gently, at others aggressively.  Savor the experience and emotions and don’t be surprised if a few tears fall. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Devastating.

isacarvalho91's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

medini_l's review against another edition

informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Classism

sakisreads's review against another edition

dark inspiring tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

✨ Thrifted ✨

I was not expecting this book to be SUCH A TREASURE. I had picked it up once, decided I wasn’t ready for it, then picked it back up at a time of boredom. Needless to say, I was hooked within the first few chapters.

I was a big fan of the flitting between Marie-Laure and Werner’s perspectives, as most of the chapter endings left me on a cliffhanger and kept me wanting more 🥹
There were some VERY TENSE PARTS (obviously, being in the midst of a war and all) by which I was hooked! This book definitely does require content warnings which I’ll put below.

The only reason why I’m giving this 4.5 out of 5 stars is because there were parts in which there was a little too much descriptive language for my liking 🥲

Anyone involved in Marie-Laure and Werner’s life in a positive manner would have me fighting for them; I would’ve done anything! Daniel (Papa 🥹), Etienne (great uncle), Frau Elena (the orphanage’s housemistress), Frederick (Werner’s best friend), Jutta (Werner’s sister), Madame Manec (the Saint-Malo housekeeper) have my heart ❤️

LOVED the ending as well, when Jutta gets to meet Marie-Laure and interact with Frank Volkheimer (who brings Werner’s bag)! I just thought it was precious and SO necessary ✨

Big fan! Thank you 🥰

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Genocide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and War