Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Cujo by Stephen King

13 reviews

damjanotom's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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

3.25

For what is a mundane monster horror story this split its focus far too much. The horror of being blinded by life's difficulties and led by innocuous circumstance to the point that you can't see the threat in front you is interesting but the threat felt contrived and fairly uninteresting. Additionally, the swinging of circumstances especially in Vic and Roger's storyline felt unrealistic and more for convenience than anything else. A more systematic villain that better related to the violence being enabled by life and it's grim ebbs and flows might have been more interesting and would have allowed a more fleshed out and believable series of circumstances and more satisfying characterisations. Alternatively, give the monster horror a chance, transition between different power dynamics, add a cat and mouse segment or something just to give the tension more substance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Gore, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism and Infidelity

Minor: Racial slurs

vixenreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

3.75

Although it could have used a thorough editor, the theme of pain and trauma being experienced in isolation is still prevalent and Cujo the St. Bernard deserved a better end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism, Gun violence, Rape, and Sexual assault

Be aware that there are subjects of heat stroke, starvation/dehydration, vandalism, animal violence, rabies, marital dysfunction, and childhood fears addressed.

laneychaney's review against another edition

emotional sad tense

3.5

So slow in the beginning, this could have been 150 pages shorter, but enjoyed the second half.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, and Gore

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Alcohol

borneagainbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Stalking, and Alcohol

seeker42's review against another edition

dark tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

kreglow's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

carissa230's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-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

Going into this book I expected a horror book about a dog that murders people. Imagine my surprise when it turns out to be a dog with rabies. The parts written from Cujo's POV were so sad, I wasn't prepared for that as an animal lover. 

Tad is a little boy that is scared of his closet. His mom has been having an affair and his father is a marketing exec for a company that just had a major issue come up on one of the projects. When he goes out of town to work on it he has just learned of the affair. The mothers car keeps breaking down and she needs to get it fixed. 

Another story line is that of Cujo's owner, Brett. Brett is a little boy that loves Cujo. Cujo was a gift from his alcoholic father. When his mother wins the lotto she gives the father some money to get what he wants so she and Brett can go out of town. Brett's father is a mechanic. 

The scene is set. When Tad's mom shows up to get her car fixed she has no idea that there is anything wrong with Cujo. When the car breaks down and they're stuck in the car for days it's the perfect storm for them. 

It was a good book, but I wouldn't consider it a horror. I think maybe a thriller or even contemporary novel. It was definitely more sad than scary. The book also concentrates more on the peoples lives than on the fact that the dog is killing people. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Blood, and Alcohol

mariekealkema's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Child death

chrismhalton97's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

taviarz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

Bad but entertaining

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual harassment