Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride

4 reviews

lucylou29's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

josettet's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

Read for class, definitely a tough read linguistically and content wise. Details a kind of parentified sexual relationship between an 18 year old drama student and a thirty-something actor. Definitely has disturbing moments but also a lot of tenderness. It gets easier to read as the book progresses. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Self harm, and Sexual violence

tabitha_isabelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, and Death of parent

rosalind's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

This book is the equivalent of an indie film with an angsty soundtrack and lots of lingering artsy shots, where not a whole lot happens but you learn loads about the two central characters. The central theme is an age-gap romance and the pitfalls that come along with mixing trauma-bonding and sexual relationships. It’s an ode to first love, being in love in London - that heady mix of hormones and burgeoning sexuality and the new incessant rhythm of the city, calling you to your future - and working through trauma with, and for, the one you love. Think Rooney’s Normal People, but set amongst thespians.

I listened to Eimar McBride narrate this herself via Audible, and I’d highly recommend it. As well as her being a fabulous narrator, she is obviously best-placed to interpret her peculiar use of language, the strange, poetic sentence structure you may recall from A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing. I love hearing authors read their own work, especially when their use of language is unusual. Listening to McBride was a joy.

This book is certainly not for everyone, especially if you like your action direct and, well, actiony. But if you like a deep-dive into the inner workings of flawed humans trying hard to honour their love for each other, while sometimes letting their pride/ ego/ jealousy/ addictions/ naïveté/ traumatic childhood get in the way, then you’re in for a treat (and a trigger warning).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Drug use, Self harm, and Violence