Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

94 reviews

aileen_macalister's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

Rooney's writing reflects the everyday struggles in a time in life when everything seems chaotic set against the backdrop of a traumatic childhood and complex interpersonal relationships. While I couldn't bring myself to like the characters, due to their horrible decision making skills, I found myself completely wrapped up in their story. 

The writing is fast paced and I enjoyed the flow of the book. Overall it is a story that leaves you wanting more and complex characters that explore the depths of human emotions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicide, Death of parent, and Classism

fire_wolf's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Minor: Death of parent

zmeiat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book is supposed to be a romance, but i simply had to disconnect from what was happening and what the characters were doing in order to enjoy the novel. 
In the same way "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte was a good book about bad poeple, this was a beautiful story of spinneless induviduals who didnt know what they wanted in life or with each other. 
By adapting this way of thinking, I found myself not wanting to set the pages on fire as much as I would have otherwise.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, and Violence

friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition

Nothing was happening 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit

summerlyn's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This books is a roller coaster of emotions. I loved the main characters and hated them at the same time. Their actions and lack of communication drove me crazy but it was so painfully realistic. There is a larger look into Connell’s life than Marianne’s until later in the novel when it somewhat switches but I think that is based on when each character is more comfortable in their settings. Connell and Marianne are the poster for complex characters. I see why everyone talks about this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol

everythingeatsandiseaten's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

3.25

beautifully written at times but adds really nothing at all to the romance trope. i find that the romanticization of marianne in particular as isolated, traumatized, etc. can come off in quite an ignorant manner. however i do think  this is purposeful because we view as she herself (and connell), but if not understood correctly can possibly be interpreted as a glamorization of her suffering. 
much of contemporary romance, especially from the 2000s and onwards feels like a wet dream— on one hand you have dark romance & monster smut, in the middle the absolute disgrace of colleen hoover, and on the other you get esoteric nonsense that fosters individuality through romanticizing mental illness and trauma. 
not to say normal people is the extreme fault of the latter at all; i’d say the biggest fault i find is within its predictability, although i wasn’t quite expecting originality from a booktok recommended novel! to give credit where credit is due, i thought rooney did a wonderful job of creating a realistic romance, however idyllic. she has so much capability with dialogue and the natural cadences of body language and movement and conversation, which is beautiful for preserving culture in a time where human nature and behavior has advanced so much and become so complex! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

06_trinity's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Death of parent

haley_mil_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual content

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

dazzlingreader_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.75

This book is good, but it didn't talk to me as much as i thought it would. In my mind the characters are well written but they are and feel so real you might think of bad of them just from their decisions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, and Grief

Minor: Classism

mockingjayx16's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Classism