Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

37 reviews

jeanpear's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

Very, very tense, with one of the most intentionally dislikeable characters I have ever read. Well written as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, and Stalking

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Blood, and Death of parent

nialiversuch's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Body horror and Sexual content

ehoots's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Blood and Vomit

amystainton's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I’m struggling to actually pick what to rate this book. 

On one hand I loved the different views of the true crime genre from the main characters. Their perspectives felt quite unique and genuine. Before I really grasped the idea of the book I wasn’t so enthralled.

On the other hand, in my copy the end showed some deleted chapters that I think added real depth to the characters and their stories. I think there was a bit of a lack of character depth through the book as a whole. Roach and Laura alike quite often felt one dimensional and stubborn, quite unnatural and a tad boring. I don’t think much need to be added to make them more interesting and multidimensional. It’s a shame that wasn’t the case. 

The book was an enjoyable read tho so 3.5⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Vomit

christinesreads's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Stalking, and Murder

melusinedln's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I loved the setting of this thriller : most of the novel takes place in a bookshop. The first 100 pages were fun to read, but the book became boring, slow-paced and repetitive until around page 330, right before the end. The end also feels slightly disappointing, as it feels like nothing has really evolved for the characters since the beginning. However, the writing style was pleasing to read and I liked the themes and the criticism of true crime and its community.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Vomit and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal cruelty

addie's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Murder and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent

pil4r's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Un thriller que no termina de serlo.
Death of a Bookseller ofrece una historia que intenta esgrimir el misterio sobre la muerte anunciada de una vendedora de libros, de alguna de nuestra dos opuestas protagonistas.
Slater construye personajes muy caricaturescos, humanos y, por ende, frecuentemente insoportables. Laura y Roach son dos mujeres completamente distintas pero igualmente desesperadas e intensas. Esta desesperación se vincula con la vacancia de cierto amor, de cierta falta del lugar propio que late y duele en ambas.
Las perspectivas son interesantes, entretenidas y dan lugar a efectos emocionales -muy bien logrados- del orden del asco, la verguenza ajena pero también la empatía.
Otros aspectos que disfruté mucho de esta historia son: la verosimilitud de las conversaciones que la autora propone, la atinada discusión en torno a lo problemático y lo atractivo del true crime y lo bien escrita que esta la obsesión que se desenvuelve a lo largo de la trama.
Más allá de todo esto, la novela dejó de ser entretenida e intrigante para mí para resultar larga-de-más a partir de su segundo tercio.
Recomiendo para feministas amantes del true crime y el misterio que estén dispuestas a enfrentarse a perspectivas que incomodan porque nos hacen ver, en los personajes, lo que a veces no queremos ver de nosotras mismas. Siempre y cuando estén también abiertas a encontrarse con una historia a la que le sobran un par de páginas.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

itsbumley's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol