Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Le Chardonneret by Donna Tartt

323 reviews

cor_vus's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cursing and Abandonment

matilda_m's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

From a literary standpoint, it’s a spectacular book. It’s beautifully crafted and the plot seamlessly comes together in a chaotic build up of tension that breaks with a satisfying end. 

It was hard to get through a large portion of the book that takes you right inside the main character’s mourning, as well as his highly stressed and drug-ridden life. The emotion is very intense, which can be a good thing, but it is drawn out over 600 pages - which readers might wish to be aware of before embarking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

frmeden's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, and Physical abuse

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

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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.

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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.

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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

jemappellecat's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

lib_hn's review against another edition

This book is somehow very dense while also containing very little. It felt like a heavy meal with no nutritional value. I grew tired of trying to root for any of the morally flawed characters and I felt swept up into Theo’s anxiety and unease every time I opened the book. Not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness

dearbhlanoonan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Trafficking

iloponis's review against another edition

5.0

That maybe even if we’re not always so glad to be here, it’s our task to immerse ourselves anyway: wade straight through it, right through the cesspool, while keeping eyes and hearts open. And 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.

im speechless

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Death of parent