Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

28 reviews

kapsygabby's review against another edition

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Torture, and War

_barbarei's review against another edition

Hated everyone

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Car accident, and Death of parent

magicole's review against another edition

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

gmcgowan10's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Colonisation, War, and Classism

laurenw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional

3.75

My best friend rated this as 'too much realism, not enough magic' and that is v apt. 
A multi-generational story about an intriguing family who appears to have drawn in every kind of trauma possible, the book is not bad, but it is chaotic. For all the claims of this focusing on a matriarchal line, and we do follow 4/5 generations of daughters, all the events in the book are framed through the perspective of 1 man, who is not a pleasant character. Obviously books can be enjoyable and still center a problematic character, but the role of Esteban (plural) throughout the story detracts from the spirit of the women this story should have been about. 
Ultimately, fell flat for me, but the political background and its rich cultural depictions were its shining grace. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Lesbophobia

j_mindelan's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

lavaly_1's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Violence, and War

Minor: Racism

knenigans's review against another edition

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Abortion, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Car accident

ka_cam's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

Beautifully written and still timely multigenerational saga set in chili in the generations up to the election of Allende (‘the President’) and the subsequent coup and descent into authoritarian violence. The named first person narrator was so unlikable and casually violent I disliked parts of his narration. The characters are interesting and I see how it was hugely significant for the time, for me it read as good but not exceptional. Would advise folks to check the content warnings and be prepared for outdated language. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Blood

milliminal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

This story is as wide as it is deep, spanning decades with a multitude of characters and storylines, intertwined with a family and a nation's history of revolution. The density of the writing and the sheer amount of trauma described in these pages make it a challenging read, but a worthwhile one. I leave feeling both sorrow and hope simultaneously, with an immense appreciation for the importance of recording our histories.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism