Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

298 reviews

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

minablfzl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

This book unravels the foundations of difference in a pre-war Afghanistan through the unique experiences of two half-brothers, neither of whom are aware of their blood relation. Throughout the story, as it follows Hasan and Amir, Hosseni loosens the threads of traditions in favour of uncovering the human within our communities. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual violence

isolatedlee's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

• 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

4.0

It was amazingly written, but it can be a trigger warning for those who cannot read about sexual assault. Other than that, I highly recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

rock_gnome's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

yesterd4y's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual violence

meliacartin's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

this is the first book since i read yellowface that i felt like i couldn’t put down. the story was perfectly paced and i really formed a connection with the characters. it was really intense and a lot to take in, but i wanted to keep going in spite of it. i’m reading a thousand splendid suns next and i hope it makes me feel the same way. it’s definitely not without its faults but it’s a great book i’d gladly read again

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

bunnybaby_hop04's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Classism

gubler2003's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

Tackles history and family with unbelievable sensitivity and truth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

racquellemulvey's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

If you want to cry and become extremely moved, I do recommend. Artfully written, and I can see why one would require student to read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Classism

rberdan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

4.5

The Kite Runner is devastating and beautifully written. There are many content warnings to heed. I had to take breaks because of the heaviness, but that speaks also to how rich the storytelling was. Set in Afghanistan and the United States, this is a story of family trauma and secrets, betrayal, redemption, unconditional love, friendship, war, violence, class, power, and immigration. Yes, it’s a lot, and woven together artfully. 

From the joy of kite running to graphic abuse to the complexities of relationship, I felt so much of this book deeply. I’m a white woman from the Global North, so there are many aspects of this book that are far from my own lived experiences, and yet the desire to undo regret and redeem oneself, to simply be loved by those we admire most, and to get away from kindness that feels undeserved… these are things I can relate to. While I know conceptually of the history of the Taliban and of issues with immigration, there is an immersive reality in the storytelling that allowed me to understand in a different way. There is a recurring theme of shame and being loved anyway that is truly beautiful and touching. 

Amir’s own self loathing is so beautifully captured that I found myself struggling to like him much. Seeing his family and Hassan through his eyes was so interesting as I got to love them along with him. I ultimately could feel compassion for him as he found his way to loving others. I struggled to forgive him as he struggled to forgive himself, even though his greatest regret was still something he did (or didn’t do) as a child. 

All of that said, I also felt that there was almost too much “other people are good and I’m bad” in the story. I get that it’s Amir’s point of view, and I also feel that there’s more nuance than this in who we are as humans. 

In the end, I absolutely adored Sohrab and my heart broke for all that he’d endured at such a young  age. I ended the book with so much hope for what could be on the other side of his early days. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, War, and Classism