Reviews tagging 'War'

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

96 reviews

kapsygabby's review against another edition

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challenging informative

3.75

Wow. First, I want to start with how I stepped into this genre I would normally not read. I heard this book and Isabel Allende recommended when I went on a recent trip in Santiago, Chile and it definitely lives up to informing the reader about the dark history of this country and strong spirit of its people. 
There is a reason I don’t usually read this genre though and struggled with this book: because of the real life situations and terrors (see the list of content warnings) that are very real on this planet. I don’t mind being educated about the world with nonfiction books because you are able to stand at a safe distance. I don’t enjoy it when it enters fiction and especially when you’re inside the head of these terrible people. Feeling what they feel and thinking what they think. It makes my skin crawl. 
Without any specific spoilers but clear content expectations: let me just say very early in the book we are introduced to a character and see the world through his eyes as he objectifies and brutally rapes prepubescent girls. This is a main character we have to continue to see through the book and (of course) there is no apology or remorse for the way he dehumanized others. These actions are key to the plot but I had a very hard time getting through this. It did not need to be so explicit and detailing of his thoughts. Plenty of other disturbing events were shared with less detail and still held the proper weight to story. I loathe how, even this day, men around the world continue to do this exact same or worse and continue to not change their way of thinking and seeing women as things. There is no catharsis or justice. Life just goes on and I can’t stand it. 
There are many amazing characters, particularly women characters in this book. Do not get me wrong. But I will continue to be sick to my stomach when I think of this book and this character - who I can never think of as “a product of his time” since I know men continue to abuse power in exactly the same way to this day. 

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lovetlr's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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franzys_whip's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5


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kubs's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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

5.0

What an beautiful book. Spanning multiple generations of a family with allusions to the political climate of Chile. Its depth and breadth are incredible.

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kayaelena's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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dollarsignimp's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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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acacia_happy_hour's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

3.5


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sophridge's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

If you’ve ever seen There Will Be Blood, it feels like a similar vibe to that— but with magical realism and strong women, but the main-ish character/narrator is similar to that of the movie previously mentioned. You want to root for him but he’s the worst person. Super interesting read for the psyche/ego :)

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ajmickel's review against another edition

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

3.0


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magicole's review against another edition

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2.5


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