Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

6 reviews

nolemdaer's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I have to come to this review with shame, because this was supposed to be my Summer of Monte Cristo where I read three chapters a day and ended up being my Month of Monte Cristo where I got too sucked in, stopped pacing myself, and finished the back half of the book in about two days. But it just goes to show how fun this is to read! The introduction goes into how Monte Cristo is often considered just an "entertainment" book rather than high literature, and while I must admit that the themes of revenge and the character arcs are not meticulously plotted nor particularly more artful than a well-done action movie, that doesn't make it any less worthy of a good read. I was completely in love with the story until about a fourth of the way through, where Edmond Dantès transforms into the cold, cruel Count of Monte Cristo, where we lagged a bit and the story became darker (I definitely could have done without that tragic bandit story or all the slavery). The Rome chapters are a drag all around, but once we returned to Paris, the drama and conniving were addictive to read and the revenge - if not sweet - compelling to watch. There's a lot of energy to the writing, so I have to give Buss props for the translation.

I consumed way too much of this book at once and there's just so much in it, so I'm not even sure what else to say. This is entertainment in its purest form. Long live the Morrels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

brodi727's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

This book Oh my God many times I forgot I was in the real world I was so invested and I didn't even realize I had read 200 pages in one sitting

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

lightoferebus's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

gwynnfox's review against another edition

There is just so much of this story that seems unnecessary. Who cares that he owned the winning horse that ne named after an acquaintance? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder

soph22's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

No words, just… I love it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

sigynmoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Slavery

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Suicide attempt

The protagonist keeps a slave who is often referred to with racist terms. The protagonist is written like a hero, so the fact he has a slave (who he dehumanizes) is very uncomfortable. There is also quite a lot of orientalism. As for the sexual assault,

there is a story told where a woman is taken by bandits and raped. She is also then killed by her lover, which the book portrays as a mercy killing. This is very upsetting. There is also an attempted abduction with intentions to rape after, although the girl is saved.

Torture is a theme in the book at times although I cannot remember if it ever gets graphic (I am fairly certain it doesn't.), the book is quite misogynistic in nature on how the female characters are treated

(such as one being portrayed as unfaithful for marrying a man after her lover was imprisoned for years and she literally thought he was dead.)

Suicide is a theme throughout the book including suicidal thoughts and various attempts. There are characters who also do go through with it.