Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Ritos funerarios by Hannah Kent

18 reviews

atalea's review against another edition

dark 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

4.5

I didn't know it was based on real events until I finished the book and read the author's note. The amount of research that went into this book elevated my enjoyment of the book even more. It was a beautiful interpretation of the story backed by a lot of historical sources.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

sestep's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content

mackli's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

pich's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

i definitely agree with a previous review that this book is heavy with exposition, though that is my only complaint. the atmosphere is hauntingly entrancing, and as a whole well written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death and Child death

veliana's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Abandonment

amyteurhour's review against another edition

3.75

Content warning: murder, execution/capital punishment, animal death, violence, abuse, neglect, abandonment, death of parent, depression, suicidal thoughts, toxic relationship, assault, rape, child sexual abuse, panic attack, chronic illness, pregnancy, miscarriage, infidelity, ableism, classism, gaslighting

Definitely make sure to look through the content warnings (I'm sure I've missed some). Kent's writing was very atmospheric and painted a bleak picture of Agnes's last days. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as Morven Christie gives an amazing performance to really bring Kent's words to life. If you usually speed up the audio, I wouldn't go any further than 1.5x; let yourself sink into the story. It's really slow, but just be patient with it

the catharsis at the end was such a relief. So sad but I felt much better after my sob fest

. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

samanthaleereads's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Vomit

fbarros's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

I have to give a lot of credit to the author on this one. This book, centered on the characters and their personal journeys, had me absolutely captivated.

I was genuinely anxious while reading it even though the plot is already fixed. It made me reflect on what it means to come to terms with death, injustice, and honestly, I couldn't put it down. 

The only minor quibble I have is that I wished for more exploration of those breathtaking Icelandic landscapes. Nevertheless, the desolation of certain places is definitely conveyed, which significantly influenced the overall atmosphere of the book. 

After another emotionally charged read, I think it's time for a break from sad books 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Murder

mollz77's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

most gripping and intriguing book i’ve read. an absolute must read

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

friends2lovers's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.0

"We'll remember you, Agnes."  She presses my fingers more tightly, until I almost cry out from the pain, and then I am crying.  I don't want to be remembered, I want to be here!

This is a very slow, melancholy read with a bleak setting and a tragic ending.  I thought the historical details were interesting, but I never became very invested in the story.   While it's not a long book, it took me a long time to read because other books I was reading were far more engaging and less somber.  I've owned a paperback copy of this for years, but will probably put it in a box to donate or sell as I don't see myself ever rereading it.

In the author's note at the end, Kent says some other books written about the Illugastaðir murders "hold a common view of Agnes as 'an inhumane witch stirring up murder'.  This novel has been written to supply a more ambiguous portrayal of this woman."  Unfortunately, I think by making Agnes an ambiguous and mysterious character, Kent inadvertently made her a bit flat and uninteresting. 

The multiple points-of-view and tense in the first chapter made for a rough start to the novel.  Agnes' perspective is in 1st person, present tense.  Tóti's perspective is in 3rd person limited, past-tense.  And the Jónsdóttir family is introduced in what I think is supposed to be 3rd person omniscient, but came across more like 3rd person limited with head-hopping between each member of the family.  Luckily, after the first chapter, Kent mostly sticks to the perspective of one family member, Margrét, in 3rd person limited, past tense, like Tóti. 

Other than those POV issues, the writing was decent, so I might try another of Kent's books in the future.  Especially considering that Burial Rites was Kent's debut novel, so presumably her writing will have improved with later books.

If you're looking for another literary novel about a woman murderess in the 19th century I recommend Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, which I remember liking a lot more than this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment