Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

71 reviews

squintyfarmer's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment, Sexual content, Medical content, Death, Violence, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, and Grief

Moderate: Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Murder, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cancer and Dementia

laurenmkayyy's review

emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

Wow, what an absolutely beautiful story. This book takes us from birth to death through the life of a gay Irishman, but never loses its pacing. It truly captures the complexities of a life that is tragic, funny, thoughtful, and poignant, all while examining what family looks like through many different lenses. It is a story that will stay with me for quite some time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Homophobia

natalies7's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad tense 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: Violence and Homophobia

Moderate: Death

henry_b's review

emotional funny hopeful 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

Funny, emotional, hopeful, angry. 
It isn't reflective, but provides a space to step back. 
It flies by. 
It might be slightly cheesy at times, but it's too deliberate and clever to be offputting 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Violence

kelkelkelkelly's review

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

This book moved me to tears and out loud laughter, sometimes within one paragraph. It’s beautifully written with wry observational humour. Cyril is a flawed yet deeply lovable narrator, and the supporting cast of characters are vivid, complex, and engaging. The novel follows Cyril’s life as it intersects with some of the most important historical events of the last century in Irish and global events. From grief to lust to shame to love, this book paints a beautiful portrait of a life lived.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Terminal illness, and Violence

Minor: Pedophilia

Includes a vivid depiction of neglect of an adopted child, harm caused by the Catholic Church

jessife's review against another edition

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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Religious bigotry

katiejohns's review

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Grief, Death, Murder, and Hate crime

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Kidnapping

motherjuggler's review

emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

eimearryan96's review against another edition

emotional inspiring fast-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, and Violence

lemonem's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I didn’t want it to end! Beautiful, emotional, funny, I loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Violence and Kidnapping