Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

8 reviews

cecereads__'s review against another edition

4.25

A mostly heartbreaking book but with a side of beauty and all the ups and downs and flaws that come with life and love and family.
Tragedy was always close by in this story, which is only respectful of reality. Sohrab is someone I will remember for a long time.

and someone I wish had been spared the heartbreaking experiences following (and including) the murder of his parents. Amir is a deeply flawed mc, who treated Hassan from a conflicted but ultimately jealous and unkind and unfair standpoint. Even though he is just a child and a child of his environment. Assef is socio- and psychopathic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

gabriella_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

This book made me incredibly emotional. I wish I read it sooner. Really satisfying read, excellent character development, and the writing was beautiful and haunting. I absolutely could not put this book down when I was reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sadiaa's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Whew, this one is rough af, and absolutely not for anyone sensitive to anything assault-related. The writing style wasn't my fav, and I'm not sure if I loved the author narrating either. But it did give me some historical context, which was useful. Sometimes it feels a little like books that do really well are just extremely distressing, and folks mistake that for being enthralling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Rape, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Torture, and Antisemitism

monicalaurette's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

“Because the past claws its way out.”

So this book was something that I had always heard of as such a great book and something everyone should read. So I bought it years ago. Then my mom borrowed it for one of her college courses and loved it, so I kept the book even though I never looked up the summary. So I went into this book totally blind. And part of me wishes I was still blind to it.

I could not get myself to really enjoy the book. I think I finished the book out of spite for the main character because I just didn’t like him. Most of what he did rubbed me the wrong way, even as a child yes some of those things, and I don’t feel that he really changed by the end. The only thing I liked was Amir’s wife and the fact that we got justice for Hassan through his son.

“But Baba had found a way to create good out of his remorse… What had I ever done to right things?”

The trauma and assault that Hassan went through, while I guess I understand why it was added in the book, given the story and the time it was written, but I felt that it wasn’t needed, especially with the constant flashbacks with new details that Amir had. I almost stopped the book when it happened and each time it was brought up again I was close to stopping, but I had to know what happened to Hassan by the end. And I was only sad about what happened to him and his wife.

The somewhat namesake of the book, that kite tournament, was very interesting to read about though. I’d love to watch something like that or participate in. I think that it was a great point to start and stop the book during two different tournaments; possibly the two most important ones in Amir’s life.

Due to me just not liking this book or the main character (given the fact that his growth really only happened during the last few chapters in my opinion) I gave The Kite Runner 3 stars. I was originally going to do 3.5 stars but after thinking about it more I decided against it. I have started the author’s second book, and I wonder if I’ll complete it or DNF should I feel the same as I did with this one.

“Or, maybe, it was meant not to be.”

Hassan was just too loyal and accepting. The mother who abandoned him comes back years later and he aides her back to health, he does what he is told and never tells on Amir, and for just watching the home while Rahim was gone he is met with trauma, grief, and his own death.

I know why Baba also probably paid for the surgery, but did anyone ask Hassan if he even wanted to get the surgery done on this lip? Because I feel like he only did it because his master told him to.

I didn’t like how we were supposed to just always feel bad for Amir when all bad that came to him was karma and his own doing. He was a rich boy and had bad things happen to him yeah, but what about all the bad he did himself?

Sohrab hitting Assef in the eye with that brass using the slingshot felt like poetic justice. The weapon and threat from Hassan finally came true and he should feel proud for what he did.

Soraya’s infertility was something that had to be done to bring Sohrab home, but I wish that it talked more into Soraya’s sadness with him and focused on her a little during that time. As someone with fertility issues it was sad to see that it was only written as a way to bring a child in later, that no woman can be happy without a child in her life.

I KNEW THEY WERE BROTHERS WHY ELSE WOULD BABA TREAT HIM LIKE THAT!?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Infertility, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Classism

vaniavela's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment

dannythestreet's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

beetsnotbombs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Body shaming, Hate crime, Violence, and Grief