Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Cantoras by Caro De Robertis

64 reviews

howdyhoward's review against another edition

3.0

I really appreciated the historical perspective and lesbian representation. I learned a lot about the Uruguayan dictatorship which I didn't know about before, huge win for historical fiction. Besides that this was really boring. The only times I felt remotely engaged was when something tragic was happening which is more about the plot than the writing. I think I didn't like the writing? The characters were fleshed out and I understood them but I never connected with them on an emotional level. The whole thing felt very distant. And boring. Mostly very boring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Suicide, Torture, and Forced institutionalization

jessj12's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Sexual content and Antisemitism

biblioghoul's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Suicide

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Forced institutionalization, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Confinement, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

tracey1981's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.75

This is a beautiful book about friendship and building intentional community during hard times, in this case the dictatorship in Uruguay in the 1970s. 5 women friends, all cantoras (which means singer, but was also code for lesbian in that era), vacation together at Cabo Polonio, eventually buying a vacation home there that they visit over the years. The book sees them go through transitions in life, politics, relationships with one another as friends and sometimes as lovers, as well as with other lovers and family members, over the years and decades that follow. It’s well-written and gave me insight in to a history I didn’t know. 

Probably a 5 star book but the experience was 4-4.5 stars for me because it might have been the wrong time for me to read a heavier book and I found it very hard to stay in to the audio even though the narration was good. I wish I’d read it on paper, maybe at a time when I could handle the harder parts of the story better. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Infidelity

dasweinz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide

etinney's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Trafficking

asolis's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Cantoras seamlessly melds the stories of five queer women to explore the history of Uruguay, queer joy, life under a dictatorship, and the importance of community and making space for yourself in the world. This book runs the gamut of emotions, but leaves you with a sense of hope. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

Minor: Cursing and Death of parent

genizah's review against another edition

4.0

Sits squarely in the center of underground lesbians + South American dictatorships, without any real surprises. But they're good genres, and it's artfully done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Rape, Torture, and Police brutality

kelly93's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Outing

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

mayacolclazier's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, and Torture

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Suicide

very triggering account of conversation therapy