Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Hot Water Music by Charles Bukowski

6 reviews

adrireism's review

dark funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual harassment

stealingyoursunbeams's review

dark funny fast-paced

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

3.75

I like this book because it shows a different side of sex from what the movies show. Bukowski portrays sex as an ordinary occurrence, a tool for manipulation, far removed from the romanticized versions we usually see. Moreover, his misanthropic antiheroes have a sharp and pithy tongue that gets to the root of the story.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual content

anpaul98's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Classism

margauxreadit's review

dark funny reflective fast-paced

3.5

This collection was just okay.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death of parent and War

nisanatreads's review against another edition

dark funny reflective slow-paced

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

0.25

I can't believe anyone decent would like Bukowski's writing and the stories he tells. To me it's a disgusting mix of alcoholism, misogyny, sexism, violence and pessimism. Would not ever recommend Bukowski. Not sure if I will pick up anything of his again. 0.25 stars because it was intriguing enough for me to read the whole collection of short stories. There was not one story I even remotely liked but I kept hoping for one that would redeem all the others and show me why so many people have read and loved his work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

folded_between_pages_of_books's review against another edition

I like some of Bukowski's poems but this short story collection is just not for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, and Cursing