Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

265 reviews

corine's review against another edition

dark funny informative medium-paced

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

3.5

Very slow start, but interesting read after that. Just enough slapstick sprinkled in to keep a book about murder, DV, classism and sexism a relatively light read. Mind the TWs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Infertility

Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Islamophobia, and Death of parent

tinyumbrellas's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Classism

wowsmeows's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

catnapping's review

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Suicide

Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, and Death of parent

bretton's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty

michaelion's review against another edition

funny inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

So very funny. iIhad a grand time with this council of queens. I only watched season 1 of Good Girls but the similarities, women who are underestimated! Don't ever underestimate a bad bitch!

If I had a nickel for every time I read a book by a Desi female author who’s also a lawyer I’d have THREE nickels. All this year! How weird is that! Desi women leave some talent for the rest of us!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, and Racism

Minor: Ableism, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts

lani03's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty

shay_talksbooks's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Listened to on audible

A fantastic story that was filled with twists and turns, some shock reveal moments and plenty of laugh out loud moments.

Despite the humour, and the fun of the story as things began to snowball for Geeta (our main character), the author didn't shy away from discussing difficult topics: domestic violence, the caste system, sexual assault, a woman's standing in a rural Indian village, nothing was off the table for conversation.

A brilliant book that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Side note: the audible narrator, Shazia Nicholls, was superb!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism

kirsto's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Loved this book! While the subject matter (domestic violence, misogyny, casteism, murder) is undeniably dark, Parini Shroff’s brilliant use of humor as a balm made it a shockingly pleasant read. The Bandit Queens ensemble of female characters are first shown to the reader as every negative stereotype women are believed to be—gossipy, cruel to other women, and unwilling to resist male abuse; by end of the book we see them through all their complexity—women who are vengeful, crass, bitter, and manipulative as well as loving, resilient, and loyal. Shroff writes women and their friendships that form between them in a way that feels tangible and honest. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Murder

Moderate: Infertility and Pedophilia

moonbloomandgrow's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This was my book club’s pick for August and I honestly don’t think I’d have stuck it out and read it all if it wasn’t. Unfortunately I struggled to get into this book and found myself googling vocabulary and cultural references too much to fully feel like I could get stuck in. I did enjoy the camaraderie that eventually grows between the women of the village and admired their strength and quick wit but the dark humour was a little bit hard for me to take given then amount of abuse and trauma the book delves into. It’s definitely one that I wish I’d read the trigger warnings for before reading but it was eye-opening to learn about how things are in remote villages such as the one featured in this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment