Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

42 reviews

amgarrido's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

the_last_bookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Classism, Pedophilia, Rape, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Slavery and Abortion

katsmedialibrary's review against another edition

Too many triggers rn

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Ableism and Racism

maevebm's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective slow-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

Unforgettable and I’m not sure any review could do this book justice. A beautiful weaving of a family’s story set against the backdrop of classism, political instability, corruption, and civil conflict. The characters felt like real people and their pain and joy was tangible. There was humanity but there was also something that transcended beyond. I wish I could read it for the first time again and again and again

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Torture, Car accident, Violence, Pedophilia, Murder, Kidnapping, Rape, War, Domestic abuse, and Abortion

Minor: Racism and Fire/Fire injury

alicebodnar's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Addiction, Sexism, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Abortion

kaffee_auf_ex's review against another edition

dark informative tense 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? Yes

1.25

oh. my. fucking. god. 

I was so relieved when I finished this book. I wouldn't have finished this if I hadn't been reading it for a book club.

Let's start with the positive: Isabel Allende obviously knows how to write. I also really enjoyed the historical context that we got. That's about it.

The book is very graphic. I don't mind that in general, in fact I enjoy it sometimes. But not when we have to listen to the thoughts of pedophiles, rapists, racists and killers and also get the very details of their actions described to us.

We have 3 female main characters but never get their perspective. Instead, we hear from men that are the literal worst. 

People tend to love Clara because "omg she's so dreamy and quirky" when really, she just enables her husband to do the worst things to the women around them both including his sister even though Clara supposedly loves here. I mean, what's that about?

Also, I hated the racist terms used but I know that it's  because this book is old.

In conclusion: This book was well written but I hated every second its content.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Sexism, Torture, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Racism, Rape, Death, and Slavery

linda_elaine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Pedophilia, Racism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

max_s_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Torture, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Racism and Death of parent

siriface's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, War, Sexual assault, Racism, Death, and Rape

smuds2's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.75

So close to a 5, there were just some gratuitous scenes that I felt didn’t add to the characters portrayed in them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Torture, Murder, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Death, Sexism, Self harm, Miscarriage, Incest, Child death, Child abuse, Addiction, Violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Racism, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Medical content, Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Classism, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Animal death, and Abortion