Reviews with content warning for Rape - Violeta

Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Violeta by Isabel Allende

41 reviews

laerkelikesreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

Content Warnings

the_clueless_tourist's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

gracescanlon's review against another edition

Go to review page

It's...fine.

That's the trouble, actually. It's fine. I could only read this before bed, because it kept putting me to sleep. That is, in a small way, also a compliment - Allende's prose, its rhythm, is soothing. But the book is also boring boring boring.

I've been trying to read more diverse books. Even so, Allende in general has been on my TBR, as a renowned female South American author. However, leaving the country where the book is set unnamed was frustrating to me. I've learned since abandoning this book that it's set in Chile, but as I read it, the vagueness of the location irked me. I want to know more about other places. Leaving Violeta's setting unspecified was counterproductive to that - it just wasn't a choice I liked or appreciated. I'm quite aware that that's a personal problem, and that Allende's choice was purposeful and valid, but I don't have to like it.

The amount of people in the reviews who were at all surprised as to Camilo's identity is baffling to me. It's so blatantly obvious to me that he's her grandson, or at the very least a grandson-like person in her life. Y'all need to work on reading comprehension.

Violeta seems, to me, aimless - an odd sensation, given it's the story of a woman's life that spanned throughout tumultuous times. But even 35% through the book, Violeta has only been "involved" with contemporary world events tangentially, if at all.

Also, the older Violeta telling the story has a little personality, but her younger self has very little. Honestly, the side characters were all more interesting than she was, from Torito and the Rivases to her aunts and Miss Taylor.

So, ultimately, I didn't care, don't care, can't care. I'll be donating or selling this book.

Content Warnings

johnybzk's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Heartbreaking, frustrating, and tragic: a great read. Dramatic lol, but actually a generally endearing reflection of a real and flawed woman as she ages through intimacy and crisis. Not sure I love the main character or her POV but I don’t think that’s the point. Got more than a lil entertainment from this story

Content Warnings

emilietje's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Wow. Ik heb dit echt graag gelezen.
Normaal schrikt historische fictie me een beetje af omdat ik bang ben dat het saai gaat zijn. Integendeel, Violeta is zo'n boek dat je meesleept doorheen een 100 jaar lang verhaal met personages die verschijnen en weer weggaan, en toch geraak je niet verward en ben je zo emotioneel betrokken met alles wat er gebeurt. Allende slaagt er telkens in om je mee te nemen terug in de tijd, ze legt het zó goed uit. Ik kan lofgedichten schrijven over hoe fantastisch ze het feminisme mengt in het leven van haar vrouwelijke personages. Echt gewoon meesterlijk. Ik hou van vrouwen en ik hou ervan wanneer vrouwen onderling gemeenschap en bescherming zoeken en vinden. Deze gaat me even bijblijven.
Shoutout to oma for buying it for me, fantastic rec <3

Content Warnings

bookellys's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Violeta and join her on her journey of reflection as she recounts her 100 year life.

Written as letters to her Grandson, Violeta’s life is bookended with scary similarities having been born in 1920 when the Spanish Flu ravaged her home country (Mexico) with the book ending during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Across her life time we hear about her great loves, tragedies, as well as getting an insight into the political history of Mexico (though I don’t think the book ever actually says she is Mexican, I just googled the places she mentions).

I loved the prominence of family in her story, be that those related by blood, or the family that is chosen as was so often the case in Violeta’s life.

Content Warnings

chingona_solo's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-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? Yes

3.5

"With time we only remember events, emotions fade" sums up the book well. An interesting story but it felt like there were no emotions attached to the events, which was an odd choice.

Content Warnings