Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

12 reviews

shadannn's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

jennaweston's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I have never seen The Godfather, so when I found out it was book, I was intrigued. I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up liking this book way more than I thought. 

What I Liked 

• Loved the pace of this book. Right as you think we’re getting too comfortable, something crazy happens.
• the characters were all really interesting and had faults of their own. Right as you thought someone was good, they turned and did something awful. 
  • you wanted to root for them but also were disappointed in them
• Each character got their moment, their backstory, which made the story much more in-depth and interesting.

What I didn’t like

• the women in this book are very sexualized and everything is tied around how the men in the family can satisfy them sexually. 
  • Johnny was a real piece of shit — getting mad at his wife for the divorce
  • Kay is an interesting character
• It was an older book, but the racist outlook on people of color isn’t great

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship

what_karla_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

talia1353's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

kate_has_book_thoughts's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Antisemitism, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Cursing, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Deportation

tiernanhunter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and War

Minor: Cancer, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit

blue_reader's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia

emily_koopmann's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Pedophilia

jessgreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Title: The Godfather

Author: Mario Puzo

Genre: Fiction / Crime Fiction

Setting: NYC, NY / Las Vegas, NV / Sicily, Italy / Los Angeles, CA

Month Read: February 2022

Book Type: Paperback (50th Anniversary Edition)

Publication: 1969

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 435

*A PBS Great American Read book.

TRIGGER WARNING- 

Abuse / Murder / Drugs / Abortion / Sex / Rape / Alcohol (these are the big ones)

"You cannot say 'no' to the people you love, not often. That's the secret. And then when you do, it has to sound like a 'yes'. Or you have to make them say 'no.' You have to take time and trouble."

No Spoiler Summary:

The Godfather is a book about a mafia crime family in New York, and brings you straight into the criminal heart of New York City in the 1940s. You learn about everyone in the Corleone family, as well as a motley crew of side characters who work for and against The Don. 

Review:

I'm not one who generally reads a lot of 'crime fiction', but this book was incredibly hard to put down. I thought the characters were interesting, and the entire book kept you just knowing enough where you wanted to read more to know where the story went next. I loved that you got into the heads of so many different characters, and was actually surprised by how many women you got to know during the story (since this book is super patriarchal, because 1940's Italians. 

I've never seen the movie (much like with Gone With the Wind) so again went into this novel knowing a few parts that have invaded pop culture, but not much else, and I think this was so helpful. I gave myself the entire month of February to read this book, and then finished it in a week. 

I went into this assuming I wouldn't have a favorite character, but as the book went on I really fell for Michael, much like everyone else in the book seems to. I think his character arc was so interesting, and honestly follows in his father's footsteps more than anyone seems to know (including Michael, and maybe even his Dad.)

I'd highly recommend giving this a read, even if you think it's not your thing. The entire book reads like a movie, and now I'm really excited to watch it. It'll be really nice putting faces to names, because with a cast as large as this book had, I did get lost a few times trying to figure out who everyone was. I really enjoyed myself for this one, and am hoping this trend continues with the classics I have to read this year to work on the Great American Read PBS list.

"He should be careful. It's dangerous to be an honest man."


See more reviews at:  https://jessgreads.wixsite.com

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexism, Antisemitism, and Sexual harassment

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Body shaming, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Excrement, and Abortion