Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

1633 reviews

madismurdermysteries's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

4.5

I’m finding it difficult to rate this book. Really more than anything else, I rated it so high because the writing itself is so stunning, much more so than the actual plot. I couldn’t put the book down a lot of the time, but I couldn’t even figure out why.

I was almost expecting some sort of magical element, or a BIG TWIST that just never came, which rather disappointed me…

that said it really was a fascinating read, and she really captured the complete unraveling of these characters

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Incest and Vomit

zahliajayne's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i have never been so hooked to a book from the beginning. 

it was only within the first 70 pages where i discovered that this was possibly going to be my favourite book of all time- and this still holds true after completion. 

the effortless descriptions are like turning back time and recognising the simplicity of youth. all the while, comparing to the most intricate of classic literature and greek ingenious. 

the story eventuates different to how i expected, which kept me intrigued and infatuated. it is surprising, this, because there were hardly any truely good qualities about any of the characters. however, you still are coerced into loving them. 

i will return to this story, and annotate it to the brink. i cannot wait return.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

yanders2's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Murder

hannah8713's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Racism, and Murder

Minor: Incest and Physical abuse

leonkoenig's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.75

how was this 3000 pages long

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia and Racial slurs

midnightstory's review against another edition

mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Antisemitism

egglanor's review against another edition

4.0

I am left speechless. This book began haunting my dreams. The descriptive writing is beautifully done, and the plot complex, captivating, and harrowing. The opening mystery is mostly revealed by about halfway through the book, and I wondered what could possibly develop from then onwards (since that mystery had been til then sustaining the fast pace of the book), but things sure do develop, and you start to wonder how you ever thought any of it could be reasonable, or how you didn't see certain things before. I was so immersed in this story that I genuinely forgot you can't smoke indoors anymore because so many of the characters constantly have cigarette in hand. Anyway, what the fuck, and, go read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicide, Violence, and Toxic friendship

st4rryn1ght's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

i don’t even know how to rate this 
it was so good yet made me contemplate about my life decisions 
even though i read it in my native language i still didn’t know a few words and i loved looking them up
i’m so gonna reread this 
it kinda left my heart shattered

WHY DID HENRY HAVE TO DIE AND WHY WOULD RICHARD WANT TO MAVE BACK TO CALIFORNIA???? AND THE ENDING WAS BRUTAL

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Suicide

Moderate: Incest

pam_'s review against another edition

dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the best books I’ve read in years. I’m late to the party, but this book was fantastic.

My one complaint: the second act of this book was underwhelming. The story lost steam and started to feel needlessly drawn out. I’m pretty sure we could have cut 100 pages (at least) and still have included all the necessary plot points to bring about the conclusion of the story.

Other than that, I absolutely loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

feodora's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Sexual assault, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol