Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

Empuzjon by Olga Tokarczuk

2 reviews

sarahb919's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

 Very well-written but also very slow-paced. Towards the middle I started to get bored and was wondering if the plot would ever reappear. But I stuck around because I wanted my suspicions about the main character confirmed. Was happy they were confirmed. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lvleggett's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

The main character arrives at a sanatorium in Switzerland in the early 1900s to take the treatment. He is surrounded by a guesthouse of men who pontificate on the superiority of men, among other philosophical points. He is always a bit removed, unsettled and immediately aware of unnerving elements in and around the house. While horror does appear - in what is said and what is done - it is not the driving force of the book. It is the main character's understanding of self. 

Olga always challenges me. I'm looking up references and reflecting on moments long after I've read them. It's not casual reading. But it is fun and startling.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Alcohol

Moderate: Antisemitism

Minor: Confinement, Medical trauma, and Death of parent