Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
16 reviews
kaycie51782's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book covers a lot of deep topics, and it doesn't hold much back. Be warned: there blatant racism, misogyny, heavy alcohol consumption, abortion, abandonment...
My main criticism of the book is that it's told in first person, but it very deliberately and overtly points things out. I think telling it in omniscient third person would have felt less like I was hearing a summary than a story. It's like in video games where the next person you need to talk to is highlighted, the author basically points and says "Look at this" instead of molding it into the story.
The book is less about what is in the library (though it is discussed) and more about how she loves through the world carefully, deliberately, and choosing to hide in plain sight. It was a fascinating look at life in 1900s New York as a woman, moving in orbit around the ultra rich (Morgan, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, etc.) but being constantly terrified of having it all taken away.
Graphic: Abortion, Antisemitism, Miscarriage, Slavery, Racism, Sexism, Alcohol, Classism, Grief, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
bookishaddictions's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion and Sexual content
readsbyrach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Antisemitism, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Abortion, War, and Alcohol
readbycarina's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Abortion, Racism, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Alcohol, Antisemitism, Grief, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent and War
susannah_knox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racism, Abortion, Antisemitism, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, and Infidelity
bookcasey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, Antisemitism, and Abortion
Minor: Death of parent, War, Xenophobia, Bullying, Classism, Slavery, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Outing
ashleyreads88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Sexism, Abortion, and Racism
Moderate: Alcohol, Antisemitism, and Infidelity
Minor: Slavery, Abandonment, and Death of parent
toriwatson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Abortion
Moderate: Antisemitism, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
remie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical trauma, Racism, Sexism, and Abortion
Minor: Antisemitism, Abandonment, Colonisation, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Outing, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and War
machenn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Abortion and Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism and Lesbophobia