Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende

6 reviews

gvstyris's review against another edition

funny informative reflective fast-paced

3.0

I am not ready to pass the torch and hopefully I never will be. I want to light the torches of our daughters and granddaughters with mine. They will have to live for us, as we lived for our mothers, and carry on with the work we didn't have time to finish. 

This was my first time reading Allende, funnily enough, and I'm not quite sure she knew what she wanted to do with Mujeres del alma mía. It's something of a feminist manifesto and a slightly unserious memoir combined, and I enjoyed my time reading it enough to devour it one sitting. I can't say that I've gained much from the experience, though -- beyond an increased appreciation of Allende's career and drive.

My spur-of-the-moment purchase of this novel also unfortunately led to me reading the English translation, which undeniably changed my reading experience. If nothing else, I will say that I'm now more eager than ever to get my hands on a copy of El Viento Conoce Mi Nombre.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Abortion

jdrosario_'s review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

i’ve never really read many non fiction, but this one is absolutely amazing. it’s brutally honest, it doesn’t skate over any fundamental truths of the book. it talks about women’s sexuality, promiscuity, misogyn, feminism (obviously), machoism, rebellion, age, sexual violence and torture of women, reproducitge rights and gender identity. it’s so informative but somehow keeps a witty humour to it, i highly highly recommend!!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Abortion

Moderate: Child death, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

gem114's review against another edition

funny informative slow-paced

2.5

I wish I could rate this book in two parts. The first half was a very interesting memoir about Isabel Allende's life and upbringing. The second half, however, felt like a knock-off of the Vagina Monologues re-written as a textbook. At one point, she even mentioned the Vagina Monologues, and I had to roll my eyes because of how obvious it had been that the monologues inspired much of what she was writing about. I realize that sounds harsh, but it was pretty disappointing compared to the first half of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Rape and Abortion

Minor: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and War

sammantha's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, and Abortion

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pregnancy, and War

bobbijopmh's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.0

More of an essay than a book, but it's a lovely, philosophical meandering covering what it means to be a woman; why feminism still matters; what truly matters; what kind of world and future we want; and the life and loves of Isabel Allende.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Abortion

Moderate: Child death, Gore, Medical content, and Death of parent

Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

booksxjournals's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Sexism, Grief, and Abortion