Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt

8 reviews

alibrarymouse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

This book is excellent and interesting, but it is dense. It’s just hard to get through, but so good when you do.

I liked Theo’s story and the way Tartt writes, but it is definitely higher level writing determined to call back to the classics. Of course, this works for the kind of story she’s telling of a boy who becomes an art dealer and everything he gets caught up in. However, from the start, it’s very intimidating; it’s definitely one that makes you think about what’s being said because there are so many words being used to say it and the format for each chapter is broken down into their own sub chapters. It’s twisty and elegant, but absolutely not a light read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Alcohol, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Medical trauma

Minor: Infidelity

mawn323's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Alcohol, Suicide, Drug abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Murder, and Medical content

lucy_36's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Gun violence, Child death, Grief, Murder, Homophobia, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction

cstein's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Some racist humor/undertones that the 2022 reader should question. Tartt's description of the attack and its aftermath are moving and memorable, in contrast to later passages and conversations which feel rushed and underexplained. Interesting use of an unreliable narrator and a combination of several narrative styles. Generally entertaining.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Violence, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Vomit, Death, Gore, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Racism, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, and Mental illness

Minor: Antisemitism, Classism, Medical content, and Trafficking

maddalenacesco's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

kid steals and then feels bad about it for over 800 pages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexism, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

lvr105's review

slow-paced

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

3.0

I found this book very compelling before the time jump - afterwards, I found myself frustrated with Theo’s character and less invested in the story. The prose is beautiful, but the plot tends to either drag on or rush through important moments. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Infidelity, and Forced institutionalization

stuff3danimalzintheeclo5et's review

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Medical trauma, and Mental illness

Moderate: Homophobia

monoliloquy's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This is the most depressing book I have ever read. I loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Death, Child abuse, Blood, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Car accident, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Violence

Minor: Antisemitism and Misogyny