Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

9 reviews

eegonzalez1113's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Stalking

Moderate: Rape

saffytriesherbest's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

2.75

Look it’s got some really well written sections but holy moly trigger warning for assault- there are too many moments that are romanticised it seemed as if by the end of the novel Florentino could’ve been friends with Humbert Humbert

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Racial slurs

Minor: Gore, War, and Child abuse

liathibault's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

A terribly enthralling book of illicit affairs in the name of love. The themes of life and death, love and hatred, sickness and health perfectly encapsulate the struggles of a life of love. Gorgeous imagery provided a surreal feeling to the text while still remaining firmly planted in reality. A very enjoyable read, but take with a grain of salt. Riddled with machismo, obsession, and lust towards those who do not warden it. TWs for descriptions of r*pe, statutory r*pe, death, and suicide. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Rape

Minor: Child death

cait's review against another edition

reflective slow-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, War, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Classism, Dementia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Trafficking, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Incest, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Racism

lacifaeria's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

This is a remarkable book about a lifelong epic preoccupation/obsession with some parts that definitely did not age well in the nigh 100 years since it was first published. Still, it was strange reading this now and seeing how many events/attitudes still featured prominently in an era ravaged by a pandemic. The section which preceded how Dr. Juvenal Urbino discovered Fermina Daza was dazzling in how succinct it was at providing a snapshot of pre-20th century medicine and sewage treatment while also feeling painfully familiar when detailing the reluctance he experienced in attempting to drag local medical methods towards the future in a community reliant on superstition and traditional methods of healing (although his being against vaccines was a bit disheartening).

And also love. How love, in all its pervasiveness and obsessiveness, seems to be the same, 100 years ago as it is now. It's beautifully written and some of the phrasing is majestically composed, even the parts that seem understated. If there was a way you could just cut the "America Vicuna" parts at the end (very uncomfortable), I think the rest is an eloquent examination of a lifelong focus, and how different people become in the pursuit of long-term goals. 

The evolution of Fermina Daza and Florentino Ariza, from the moment we really get to know them as teens experiencing the rush of first love to the end when, after entire lifetimes spent tucked away in their independent lives they reconnect as seasoned elders, was such an incredible journey. Both of theirs, with Fermina being courted by Dr. Juvenal Urbino and settling into a quiet familiar contented married life and with Florentino attempting to sate his desire for companionship in a variety of widows before, once again, returning to worship at the Altar of the Crowned Goddess. I thought it was the kind of perspective you don't usually get to see, with a level of pointed focus that would put an engineer to shame. 

Though, at the end of the day, this was still a love story about two people spread out over several decades and the transition of two centuries, encapsulated in poignancy and heartbreak.

Spoiler

And, yeah, at the end, I was still rooting for Florentino, and for finding "Forever" after fifty-three years, seven months, and eleven days and nights. 

I'm a softie and a romantic at heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Racism, Racial slurs, Grief, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

itskayleighlove's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Suicide

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racial slurs, Racism, Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Dementia, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape and Suicide

allisoncc's review against another edition

slow-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

2.0

This book essentially 350 pages of "redemption arc" of a dude who harbors a love for a woman (who marries/is married to someone else) for 50 plus years and chronicles all the sexual escapades (including grooming a minor), so that they can ride off on a riverboat into the sunset together in old age after she's a widow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Stalking, Misogyny, Medical content, Grief, Excrement, Death, Chronic illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Infidelity

Moderate: Homophobia

theodoralang's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Incredible book! Beautifully written love story in many criss-crossed parts, interwoven with the horrors of living. Very interesting to read it during the pandemic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content

Minor: Child abuse