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delvesinshelves's review against another edition
I don’t shy away from challenging books, but there has to be a strong why when it comes to this degree of sexual violence.
The most recent series I read with content of this sort is the Poppy War trilogy, which deliberately covers a parallel to the rape of nanking.
This book is not covering real historical events, and not all of the rape/attempted rape seems to be serving a purpose of any kind in the story.
I was really excited to read about the building of a historical cathedral over the decades, but I think this book may be harmful without sufficient redeeming qualities for me to push through. DNF.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage
stellabyproxy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“Build a beautiful cathedral for me.”
It is not every day that I pick up a book of this volume, but the title immediately caught my eye. Though deathly slow, akin to the ennui of a long dreadful winter, I found it rather fascinating.
I must say, after the first 800 pages I began skimming, simply skipping to the dialogue to try bulldoze through what remained but as I reached the sixth, and final, part of the book I became immediately invested again. For all its vulgarity, and violence, and frustration, it is a well written book and I cannot take that away from Follett. I feel rather optimistic with the idea of finishing the trilogy (something I would’ve done regardless, out of pure spite) however I pray that it does not become more graphic. Going into a book starting in 1123 I knew what to expect, historically, however I can’t help but be left with a bad taste in my mouth from all the brutality forced upon the main female character, and the almost lack of regard for her suffering. Though resilient, powerful and graceful to the end, as happy as i was to see Lady Aliena get her justice, I’m of the option that she should’ve never had to seek it to begin with.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Blood
siniandi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The description of women and sex scenes are a quite male gaze-y though (as is usually the case in Follett's work) and the ending comes a little abrupt and too neatly, as if he really wanted to finish after 1000 pages.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism
elisabethshanahan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Animal cruelty and Fire/Fire injury
susanknights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
joey1914's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Abandonment
turtlebucket's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
melina_30's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
worm_book's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
karingforbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Look, it’s a treatise on cathedral architecture with some characters thrown in. Think moby dick for cathedrals in medieval England and you’ve nailed it. Except moby dick wasn’t so heavy on the anti women front, which says something because it’s 100 years older than this book. I liked the setting, Jack, Aliena, Elizabeth, and sally. Martha got forgotten which is sad. Tom was oblivious but nice enough. I desperately hate William and alfred for *reasons* and the pacing is not there. It’s so slow in the first half then gets better at the end then slows down but speeds up simultaneously in the last hundred, which is not great. I did like the historical context in which it occurred (white ship, Henry ii) but thought there was just a bit too much close connection with real historical figures. Course that could be because by halfway through I was just angry at the book in general
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment