Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith

2 reviews

wytherwytch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book...!

So I have really wrestled with reading the Strike series after everyone saying at how transphobic JK is. I have tried to educate myself on this matter to understand it. While I do understand some concerns - mainly surrounding the women's shelter that JK funds - I also think that the argument as it were is more nuanced than the majority give credit. I wish it something more open to discussion - the downside of cancel culture is that it takes away the ability to discuss, to understand, to find middle ground. But none of this is about the book so I digress - apologies

I recovered my guilt from reading this while crying about the storyline involving Strike's Aunt Joan. It was powerful and relatable. 

My main criticism of this series is that the books are so long but a lot happened in this one and I have idea where I would have cut any of it. It was a joy to read. It made me laugh, and cry. Brilliant stuff.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Death, and Cancer

Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Update: Reread this two years after the first time; still agree with my original review. 
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I couldn’t figure out why it was taking me so long to make any progress in the electronic version and then I realized the paper version is 900+ pages long. I loved every page. I think Rowling is a great writer, creating an intriguing plot and complex characters, doing a surprising amount of research on detailed locations and with complicated astrology / Zodiac info. Her pacing is great - she always adds a bit of humor when the tension is getting to be close to unbearable. 

I fear I’m not articulating just how much I loved this book. I have been a big fan of the Cormoran Strike series since I read the first one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Vomit, Alcohol, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Confinement, Murder, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Misogyny, Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Sexual assault, and Torture