Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes

8 reviews

adrianas65's review against another edition

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

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

teacupsandfirereads's review

hopeful informative reflective 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

3.5

This story brings a big cast of characters that can get mixed up between timelines and character stories. I love books that talk about books and their importance. No matter when, where or who, books bring great meaning in different ways. The characters unique and strong with equally appropriate writing behind them. Some of the storylines and relationships lacked backing and were frustrating at times. For this, The book didn't grab me the way I hoped. Overall, a good HF that looks at the war from a different storyline, which is always nice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and War

Moderate: Death, Hate crime, and Police brutality

Minor: Genocide, Homophobia, and Suicide

redheadorganist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

This book was a slow start for me. At first I thought I might not finish it, but I am so glad I did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Genocide, Sexism, Sexual content, and Suicide

saracat's review

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring slow-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

4.75

When looking for historical fictional novels, it often feels to me like there are two main categories: WWII and non-WWII. Despite it feeling like the historical fiction market is saturated with stories that take place during WWII, this one feels like an important reminder of some of the lessons the world should have already learned then. While at the same time being very focused on the main characters of the book and their personal stories.

The story is told by going back and forth between three women. Focusing on each of them during a different point in the war. Sometimes the connection between the women became clear before explicitly written, but other times it came as a surprise. And there were more points surrounding the main characters that Labuskes was able to keep a secret until the reveal. Yet the puzzle pieces always easily reworked themselves to make the correct picture.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Genocide, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood

gnarlyrockerchick's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Sometimes POV change can be hard to follow but I didn’t have this issue with this book. It was a little confusing at first with the change in time along with the change in POV. In the end, I think it wove the story together beautifully and I can’t see it bring written any other way. The speeches at the end were powerful I wish they happened in real life. Definitely could see myself re-reading.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Antisemitism, Grief, and War

Minor: Drug use, Genocide, Suicide, and Alcohol

POV Changes

arrowlyn's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Antisemitism

Minor: Genocide

hclin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Genocide, and Homophobia

Minor: Suicide

bg_oseman_fan's review

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I really liked the themes of this book, and how they addressed censorship. However some of the arguments at time took on the tone of an after school special that really worked against the overall tone of the work. i found myself losing interest at times in some of the characters. it was very informative at the allure that fascism can have by creating its own narratives of dispossession and the need for revival and scapegoating of others. censorship plays a big role in this. the ending was kind of expected, so the emotional payoff didn’t land as much for me. overall i still enjoyed the book and would still generally recommend it, even with the above caveats. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Lesbophobia, and War

Minor: Confinement, Genocide, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol