Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Die Arena by Stephen King

24 reviews

cowahbull's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I think this might be my favorite Stephen King yet. I hated character so much I wanted to kill them myself. I loved them so much I cried.
My poor hair almost all got pulled out from the intensity of it all.

Biggest criticism: the ending happened too quickly. A habit of Mr King. 

Also this has every single major trigger warning you can think of. If you are someone who needs content warnings for your own mental safety and security, this is NOT the book for you! If you like fucked up shit and to experience triggering things then give it a go

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, and Alcohol

kiwichill's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

brookebatesratesbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

hampshark's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

4.75

This is one of King’s best. Engaging from page 1 to the end. Even with the few weak spots, I come back to this year after year for the study of humanity and the consequences of no consequences. 

Even 15 years later, it feels fresh and pertinent and subversive and possible. 

Of note, due to its scope, there are many (every?) triggers so take care. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Violence, Stalking, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

roisin_marie's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad 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? No

3.5

Only let down by what I consider unnecessary 

Defecation/ specifically female degradation - repeatedly

beloved dogs dying

necrophelia

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual violence, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

braveprincess11's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.0

It was… fine. Gratuitously violent, wayyyy too long, and the “reasons” were ridiculous. I have never written a CW list this long, and I hope to god I will never write one this long again.

Stephen King could’ve made a point here, but he threw it all away for some

goddamn fucking aliens

so, overall, the book was just… meh 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cancer and Vomit

seidrulf's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

jenlikesbigbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

samburkhouse's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Gore, Sexual content, Car accident, and Alcohol

Minor: Racial slurs and Vomit

aesweole's review against another edition

dark tense

5.0

this book kept me on edge the whole time. i absolutely hated the villains, king did a good job making them the most annoying and awful people. it was like i was watching a drama tv show, a fucking emotional rollercoaster. something bad happens to main characters— shit! something good happens to them — phew😮‍💨 i know it’s how it’s supposed to be, but in a lot of cases i just don’t care enough to care about the characters. perhaps, it’s more of a me problem, still. this book is by far my favorite of king’s.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Vomit

Minor: Child death