Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

19 reviews

alexandramillar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny slow-paced

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

4.75

One of the most challenging books I’ve read, but so well written and worth the time it took. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

charlottekm's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

drewbutler's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

There’s so much to say about this book. It’s a behemoth and pushes the boundaries of what a novel can do and how much ground it can cover. It’s not without its flaws whatsoever, but I really loved it in spite of its shortcomings. This is a very sad, very funny, very sincere book, and I think it’s worth reading, if for no other reason than that you can feel the honesty with which everyone is written. DFW doesn’t always succeed with each facet of each character, but when he does, you feel like someone is telling you plainly something you’ve always felt, but never had the ability to describe. There are so many themes woven into the myriad plots and subplots and endnotes and footnotes in this massive book, but they all connect and paint a messy picture of life. There is a lot of satire and tongue-in-cheek settings here, but they’re all supported by a genuineness that’s hard to find, especially nowadays in a world where most media reflects the current cynicism so pervasive in our modern American culture. DFW has some incredibly astute observations on entertainment, meaning, and things like personal and national identity, all of which have been validated by the actual course of events and culture since this book was written. Above all, though, he’s not mean about it, and the criticisms levied at some of our worst instincts as a people still feel like they come from a kind place that wants things to change, and wishes that they could. This is definitely a book that you can read over and over again, and I look forward to picking it back up sometime in the future. It’s a lot, and has such a reputation behind it, but I really believe it’s worth reading, and it’s worth getting to know these funny, broken characters that we’re lucky enough to meet.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Rape, and Suicide

evetoi's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

rho21's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, and Sexual content

nickleemusic1's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

rue_knee's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

viksquires's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

raegan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Excrement, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence