Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton

20 reviews

ryleee's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

If I wasn't reading this for book club, this probably would have been a DNF... This attempted to present some large and important themes (domestic violence, homelessness, addiction), but I felt as though it just trivialised these topics, reducing them to gaudy one-liners (Tyrannosaurus Waltz, Tyrant Lizard), or only superficially reflecting (throwaway sentences about the impact of the 2032 Olympics on those without stable housing, or the incredibly brief mention of settler violence in the opening-ceremony-bit). It tried to be a window (or... a mirror) into everything, and in doing so, became an empty view. 

The main character doesn't develop at all, despite experiencing a kaleidoscope of traumas. She seems to bounce from one horror into the next without even a glance in the rear-view. The plot does develop, but only through the most whip-lash-inducing twists that are so unbelievable that it's incompatible with the hyper-real setting that the author spends every second word reiterating. There always seems to be someone or something that arrives for the narrator at exactly the right time, so she is able to avoid self-reflection entirely. The only remotely likeable character is Charlie. 

The entire 'Danny' sub-plot is borderline elitist. I'm not sure if the author was intending this character to be ironic? I can't even describe my dislike of his storyline. Charlie sums it up perfectly on pages 338-9. It's skimmed over but the narrator stalks Danny. For a book that is so vocal about domestic violence, this was a double standard for me. 

Perhaps I took this book too literally. There are some segments that are solid. It invokes some emotion, mainly through the ancillary characters. I wish it focused more on the narrator's internal journey.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury

_brooke___'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Kidnapping

judyrigby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-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

This book is both heart-warming and heart-breaking; it's eye, mind and heart-opening; it demands reflection as you read it and stays with you after you're finished. Above all, it's shot through with tender mercy. Paul Heppell's illustrations only serve to enhance the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

nanirump's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

A beautiful and touching story that puts you in the shoes of a homeless young person like never before. As are all of Trent Dalton's books, it is fantastical, with so much heart, love for difficult-to-love characters, and magical realism. I really enjoyed the aspect of art in this and it kept me guessing and broke my heart bit by bit, but entrenched in there as always, is hope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

melissa_muses's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I’d give this 10 stars if I could. Trent Dalton has once again occupied a piece of my brain and heart with his words in this tale of a girl with no name. Making me look at the city I love with awe, horror, curiosity, admiration, sadness and fondness, he vividly describes my river city, tells a dark, gritty tale and name drops every company I ever worked for. I loved this and stayed up way too late for “just one more chapter” each night. Can’t fault it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

erinn93's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

hellbent's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

miranda_coward03's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-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: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide

cpsnell's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Abandonment

brooklynjane's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Blood