Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Bad Girls by Camila Sosa Villada

21 reviews

ktfytz's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

An intensely sad book. It feels like reading a dream, or someone else's dream. The narrative is jerky and confusing, switching timelines and locations but ultimately moving in a linear direction. Perhaps it reflects the disjointed reality of its protagonists. Exploring the world of trans sex workers in Cordoba, Argentina, this memoir(?) is incredibly interesting while overwhelmingly sad. I think the blasé manner in which the horrors suffered by the protagonist and her colleagues is described is what makes this book so depressing. Despite this I'm really glad I read it. 

The writing and translation were really beautiful, some favourite quotes include: 

"So we chased our johns, forced into [...] feeling that there was nothing worse than being a fairy choking on the hot world of men, where all issues are resolved with kicks and punches" (97)

"But poverty draped its cloak further and further over me" (109)

"He was a cowardly, cheap, cunning, and grabby. But give credit where credit is due: he also made chocolate-covered pancakes with dulce de leche in about two minutes and they were always perfect, it was the only manifestation of beauty of which he was capable." (172)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, and Alcohol

wmelissa's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Abandonment

eestellar's review

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This book was not a joyful read - it was dark and sad. I like magical realism but I felt like it hindered this story. The timeline was confusing at times but I'm not sure if that was because of translation or just a story. It was a sad but interesting story, I felt for the women in this story and the terrors they faced. There were parts that were genuinely beautiful and I wished I could read Spanish so I could've read them authentically  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use

reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

This story is one of perseverance in continual strife, of finding moments of levity, and finding yourself. While some may find this to be too blunt, too intense, too dreary, the sad truth is that there are some journeys that seem like they are constantly uphill. This narrative is a constant weight, a constant shadow. And yet it is slightly inspiring in that in spite of all of the trauma faced by all of these characters, of all the compartmentalization they're forced to put on their brains just to keep moving-- they find a place to be, mostly, to keep taking that step. It is by no means hopeful. It leaves you feeling heavy and hurt. But it makes you want to yearn for everyone remaining to find a light. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Deadnaming, Drug use, Incest, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria

therecoveringbookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Police brutality

Minor: Drug use and Alcohol

vcriveros's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Bellísimo y desolador, no puedo a leer más de la autora. La escritura es brillante y los personajes inolvidables. Los elementos de realismo mágico no me fueron ni vinieron personalmente, pero las transiciones entre el foco en la protagonista y las otras chicas lo hace polifónico y continuamente en movimiento de una forma que me encantó. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Blood, Excrement, and Grief

solusipse's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism

bluemoony_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Es un libro hermoso y fuerte que representa muchas cosas. Entre ellas, un acercamiento a una parte de mi país que yo no conozco. De una forma hermosa y desgarradora, este libro cumple una de las mayores funciones de la literatura: comunicar.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide, Transphobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Deadnaming and Medical trauma

stirnbandpunk's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Child death

prufrockpreptooth's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Blood, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Minor: Deadnaming