Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

40 reviews

idessa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.5

very sad

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Blood

mary_jinxedit's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

thetearex's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War

theelliad's review against another edition

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? No

4.5

this was so beautiful to read and so eye opening to read a history, raw and realistic though fictional, so ignored by the western curriculum. mapping these events to pop culture moments and more recognisable (to western readers) events gives the story such a followable timeline despite it spanning such a wide time period 

the writing style of this is so beautiful and emotional and hosseini approaches such difficult themes in such a gentle and humane way, overall a very beautiful read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

anion's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Police brutality, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

mrdonalddarkie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War

lajoy's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, and Classism

Moderate: Abortion

katrinarose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I have struggled to rate this book. I didn’t enjoy it, but I did fly through it. The writing style is beautiful and emotional but not overly flowery. My biggest complaint is that the characters were a bit black and white - either painted as a monster or perfect. I appreciate depth and complexity even in the most vile characters. In lacking this, most actions the characters took were a bit predictable.

I did cry while reading this book, but I was almost angry at the fact. Hosseini is praised for how raw he displays the suffering of generations of people in Afghanistan, especially women, but combined with the lack of real character depth, it feels like trauma porn for a western audience. I go back and forth on this opinion because their suffering deserves to be told in all the horror it was, but I can’t decide (and in the end it’s not up for me to decide) whether it’s honoring them or exploiting them.

So I didn’t enjoy it due to the immense pain I felt for the Mariam and Laila (and all the other women who suffered), however I couldn’t put it down either. A 3.5 it is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Gaslighting

bookishdaylight's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

I was not prepared for the emotional turmoil this book had put me through. It was so beautifully written however it can be alarming at some points in which there were so many heavy topics and events that happened that when I think about it, it makes me tear up again.

It's about family, love, and loss and how the characters experienced one of the most traumatic things a child, a woman could ever go through. This was set in Afghanistan in where this was during a war that occurred in that country that changed the lives of so many people.

I couldn't imagine thinking about being a woman in that time and in that place going through so many hardships in life where they hardly even lived. They were disregarded and had to go abide by a lot of regulations and if those rules were broken, even if it was simply going outside then they would be punished, beaten, or terminated. So many cruelties that women had to suffer through at the hand of men.

The most inspiring thing that happened was how resilient Mariam and Laila were despite all the things that they had to went through. They had each other when no one could even save them where It was such comfort how they found solace in one another.

This was truly an amazing read and it has touched my heart and will forever be remembered. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War

audc's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Would give it 5 stars but I don’t think I ever plan on reading it any time soon. BUT, I would DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, recommend it and have and my friend loved it. 

Of the top of my head:
So many emotions! I can’t believe Mariam’s character development!!! Following these TWO STRONG WOMEN from childhood! 

It’s triggering, but it’s probably nothing close to the reality. This book needed to be written. The writing is just so flavorful and precise; I couldn’t stop underlining!!! 

It drags at some points, but it’ everytime it’s so worth it! 

I really appreciate that this book is not westernized and that throughout there’s that single thread of Afghanistan. 
I appreciate that though the story is set during the larger picture of the Taliban and political insecurity, famine, social upheaval the book focuses on these women and the smallest details of their lives. Rippling effect that further encompasses the history at large. Making it a lot more impactful. 

!!Very Triggering!! 

At least a happy ending will continue to live in this book despite what actually happened. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation