tctimlin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Pedophilia, Addiction, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
7838208's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Cursing, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
morebedsidebooks's review against another edition
2.0
Certainty gives only momentary relief, for truth is always overwhelming. You can assimilate it if it comes to you gradually, just as the earth of Galicia absorbs the water falling from the sky; but when truth washes over you like a tsunami, it causes as much anguish as the blackest of all lies.
1) Related by a character whose mother was assaulted in his youth, describing in detail the aftermath.
2) Then later this same character goes on to also describe years back assaulting his wife, their estrangement, and the remorse he feels. This confession leads to an odd paragraph I’m going to quote from the English translation by Michael Meigs: “A suffering sinner had opened himself, and the profound sense of a shared humanity both provoked rejection and made him feel complicit in evil, as if Manuel too shared the responsibility for all the horrors, humiliations, and affronts committed against all women everywhere from the beginning of time. And he saw the truth of it. Every man on earth, by the simple fact of his masculinity, is guilty of causing all that suffering.” I have no idea if the English text well reflects the original. I think what the passage is trying to get at is (toxic) masculinity and privilege. But the last line makes me unsure if instead it is courting moral or causal thought on collective responsibility. Which is a very complicated subject. Worse though is this passage appears to insinuate the issue to be wholly put at the foot of masculinity. Which is just not true.
FYI this couple also make up by the end.
3) On page a female character also threatens to use false rape allegations against another male character.
Pertaining to clergy abuse, paedophilia, rape, suicide
4) There is a character who experienced childhood sexual abuse by a monk. His assault and injuries are also related by others in detail on page. Lots of discussion of Catholicism, God, and abuse.
As an adult this character attempts, not once, but twice to commit suicide. He is successful the second time. The first attempt is related by others in text, the second is on page. Here’s a link for support to the website of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) https://www.snapnetwork.org
Nor is it the only (presumed or otherwise) suicide described or enacted on page.
“But first and foremost I have to warn you it’s possible you might not like what you turn up.”
Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Gun violence, Medical content, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
Clergy abuse is a topic. There are also instances depicting sex work and mentions of blackmail.