Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell

4 reviews

stampest's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Alcoholism, Child death, Stalking, Abortion, and Gun violence

Minor: Drug abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Eating disorder, and Drug use

sshabein's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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? Yes

5.0

This is the third Maggie O'Farrell book I've read this year (the others being her memoir, I AM, I AM, AM; the other, HAMNET), and by the end of next year, it wouldn't surprise me if I read the rest of her books.

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE is not only a great title (and one of my favorite songs), but the writing here is so, so good. A dozen+ characters all realized so fully. Loved it wholeheartedly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Alcoholism

Moderate: Drug use, Miscarriage, and Murder

sarah_eggleton's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

3.5

I expected to me more gripped by this book, I particularly care about the main characters as much as I did the side characters. It made me laugh and is wonderfully descriptive, but I think having so many perspectives didn’t leave enough time to get fully invested in the main characters stories 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abortion and Eating disorder

garlinds's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

I always forget how much I love family sagas until I pick one up. In this novel, Maggie O'Farrell weaves together the relationship between Daniel and Claudette in such a beautiful and heartbreaking way. 

I fell in love with the characters and their complexities, despite the frustration they caused. I enjoyed how the chapters of this book read like a series of interwoven short stories as each character crossed paths with one another, offering a fresh perspective to the story. And though I got a bit mixed up as the story jumped back and forth in time, I liked how the book explored how our pasts are linked to our futures.

Thank you to @fictionmatters for selecting this as the May book club pick! As always, last weekend's discussion took my reading of this book to a whole new level.

This was my first Maggie O'Farrell, and it certainly won't be my last!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gun violence, Infertility, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Infidelity, and Miscarriage