Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë

24 reviews

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-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

“Whatever I am, you will be the same, and therefore, cannot possibly regret it; and whatever that change may be, we know it must be for the better.”
The Tennant of Wildfell Hall is an absolutely breathtaking novel, and one which I never wanted to end. A feminist text way ahead of its time, the story uncovers the dark past of Helen Graham, who lives alone in Wildfell Hall with her son Arthur.
This was one of the first novels to bluntly discus divorce, alcoholism, and other taboo topics, so much to the point that Charlotte Bronte did all in her power to stop its publication.  For any fans of the Brontes, or those looking to get into their woks, I would highly recommend. I can’t wait to read Agnes Gray.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

paulagarco's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Addiction and Violence

katewhite77's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad medium-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 Think Helen Huntingdon is one of the best heroines I have ever read. 

This book was way way ahead of it's time and very controversial as it is  a cering critique on Victorian parenting and the strife it causes in later in life. With a lazer sharp focus on gender.  Therefore it is also immensely feminist and lays bare the dark side of Victorian attitude towards marriage and domestic violence.  Religion is also an important theme in this novel. Universal salvation was a new concept at the time and also controversial concept. This is the idea that a sinner is not necessarily condemned to hell as long as time is served in purgatory is served. 

This is also such a well written novel that you always feel at the centre of the action. The plot is so intricate and intriguing that I didn't know which way to look. Thankfully the Audrey app has handy character list so it is easy to keep track. 

I can't recommend tĥis book and if you do take careful note of chapter 3.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Bullying, and Sexual harassment

saliwali's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Bullying, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment

banjo_bunny's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism

Moderate: Addiction

sophiesbooks_16's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse

mattiedancer's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

4.75

Writing: 5⭐️/5 

Anne Brontë’s writing, much like her sister’s, is thoughtful, intentional, poignant, and full. Reading a Brontë novel feels filling and, even as these novels tend to start slow, they’re always worth the payout. Most of this novel is beautifully written, even stunningly so. No notes.

Characters: 4.75⭐️/5

It was refreshing to see Gilbert’s immense growth through the story. From starting as a bit of a stuck-up farming boy to a thoughtful and moral man was an entertaining read. Similarly, I love Helen with my whole heart, deeply appreciating her desire to be more than just a wife or mother, while also placing those roles and their corresponding responsibilities on a bit of a pedestal. Her feminism was refreshing and her fight against her husband’s control reminded me a lot of bits and pieces of my own life and how, looking back, you realize how blind you’ve been. I struggled a bit with Lawrence, Helen’s brother, and his slightly inconsistent character, but where he failed to deliver, every other character seemed to step up.

Plot: 4.5⭐️/5 

I’m going to start with my critique, which is that one of our main characters, in a fit of rage, horrendously injures our other character’s brother. Gilbert is quick to apologize once he realizes the connection between the characters, but it felt like a large obstacle that was shoved conveniently out of the way. Otherwise, I think this novel’s plot progressed nicely, though slowly. I enjoyed the switch of perspectives as it gave a fullness to the story and, even though the switch was the majority of the novel, it felt perfectly timed and well-structured.

Who Should Read This Book? 

• Fans of the Brontë sisters
• Fans of classic literature
• Those looking for a slow, romance-heavy read that bends toward feminism

Content Warnings? 

• Misogyny, sexism, infidelity, emotional abuse, classism, death of a parent, death, injury, terminal illness, pregnancy, bullying

Post-Reading Rating:  5⭐️/5

I love Helen and Gilbert.

Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Sexism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Child abuse

uncreativeoops's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Addiction, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Infidelity

Minor: Rape and Suicide attempt

theodrred's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

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

2.5

not half as subversive as i had hoped. women are blamed for the behaviour of their abusive partners, and addiction is considered a grevious moral failing, and not an affliction that anyone could fall prey to under the right circumstances. there are some redeeming qualities but overall i found it an unpleasant read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Death of parent

eve81's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Murder