Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Der Distelfink by Donna Tartt

147 reviews

annahill888's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

mausekuchen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-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

A good read, though I expected something different plot-wise because of the blurb (focus on criminal activities, even some mafia involvement). 

The writing style and pacing where once again distinctively Tartt and while there wasn't a part that felt dragged-out for me (compared to The Secret History), I still sometimes wondered if what I was reading right now would actually lead me to a point (I'm not entirely sure, though I'm tending to no).

Overall I enjoyed the book, however I was also glad to finally finish it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Racial slurs

Minor: Sexual content and Trafficking

fairytalefootnotes's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Overall: ⭐️⭐️

Writing: ⭐️⭐️

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes, etc: Coming of Age, Morally Grey Characters

POV: Single, 1st Person

Notable Quote: “In the midst of our dying, as we rise from the organic and sink back ignominiously into the organic, it is a glory and a privilege to love what Death doesn’t touch.”

The Praise: I liked the general message surrounding the importance of art. I also enjoyed the last 30% of the book. Boris practically carried the entire book for me. 

The Critique: I think I would’ve enjoyed this book if it was half as long. It was repetitive and just downright boring for at least the first 70%.

Final Thoughts: Longwinded and boring. If all of the repetition and unnecessary descriptions were removed, leaving the necessary backstory and the climactic final act, it would’ve been so much better.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer

casper_boo727's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Absolute phenomenal work! Everything about this book was fantastic. I absolutely cannot wait to delve into Donna's other works. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

thegillbird's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Vomit

amyicable's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense slow-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

hgraham98's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

mialola's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Gun violence

eef_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

supermandireader's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship