nie_fertig's review against another edition

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I cannot think of a single good thing to say about this novel. This is all coming from personal taste, but I thought the stream of consciousness narration was terribly boring, I didn't like the plot or really any of the characters, and I especially hated the character Esteban Trueba. He literally r*pes HUNDREDS of women all cause he's bored and upset, and I was 100% done with this novel because of his sexism, terrible physical and emotional assaults against SO many people, and homophobia. He also kicks his sister out of the house for being a lesbian (yes, she was attracted to his wife, but literally talk it out?? Let her have a wife of her own???), which also pissed me off. Anyway, I can understand why this novel is important culturally and historically, but it is definitely not for my personal taste. 

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franzys_whip's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.5


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dollarsignimp's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0


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_barbarei's review against another edition

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Hated everyone

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ikiteahill's review against another edition

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There are a lot of graphic scenes of rape and infidelity that I just couldn't stomach. One of the main characters is a classist, misogynistic tyrant and I legitimately felt ill listening to his thoughts about the people he takes advantage of and abuses. I wasn't getting any enjoyment out of the story and didn't feel like I could stand 14 more hours of it. 

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magicole's review against another edition

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2.5


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thursdd4y's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.0


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kimveach's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I realized I had never read this book in Allende's trilogy.  I don't remember details from the first two books, but this was good on its own.

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laurenw's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional

3.75

My best friend rated this as 'too much realism, not enough magic' and that is v apt. 
A multi-generational story about an intriguing family who appears to have drawn in every kind of trauma possible, the book is not bad, but it is chaotic. For all the claims of this focusing on a matriarchal line, and we do follow 4/5 generations of daughters, all the events in the book are framed through the perspective of 1 man, who is not a pleasant character. Obviously books can be enjoyable and still center a problematic character, but the role of Esteban (plural) throughout the story detracts from the spirit of the women this story should have been about. 
Ultimately, fell flat for me, but the political background and its rich cultural depictions were its shining grace. 

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kimchikat's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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