Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

Violeta by Isabel Allende

24 reviews

j9wan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

Slow start, then interesting but just not to my taste, I struggled to get through it at times. I learnt a lot about Latin America and specifically Chile, which I hadn't looked into before.

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bookellys's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • 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

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Violeta and join her on her journey of reflection as she recounts her 100 year life.

Written as letters to her Grandson, Violeta’s life is bookended with scary similarities having been born in 1920 when the Spanish Flu ravaged her home country (Mexico) with the book ending during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Across her life time we hear about her great loves, tragedies, as well as getting an insight into the political history of Mexico (though I don’t think the book ever actually says she is Mexican, I just googled the places she mentions).

I loved the prominence of family in her story, be that those related by blood, or the family that is chosen as was so often the case in Violeta’s life.




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chingona_solo's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

"With time we only remember events, emotions fade" sums up the book well. An interesting story but it felt like there were no emotions attached to the events, which was an odd choice. 

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fireinherveinzz's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Violeta was very unlikable to me but she was relatable . Also just wow . This really reminds of wild swans but instead of a 3 generation story it’s just hers . 
Everything from the depression , to genocide, to domestic and financial abuse to addiction . And learning how to really live again at a mature age. Just wow.

if would’ve been interesting to see her grandsons reaction to reading this letter .

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jnorwood's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5


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kanorve's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0


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jamieclower's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5


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emolr's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • 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


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chb's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-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? Yes

3.0


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leahkarge's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0


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