Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

9 reviews

sunbathingturtle's review

challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I finished this book moments ago and am thankful for its existence. 

Within the confines of a hayloft, Miriam Toews creates a deep ecosystem of life, social webs, shared history, thought, and—most importantly—characters that feel so very real.

I’m in awe of the format and storytelling of this book. Masterful craft.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Domestic abuse, Incest, Grief, Child abuse, Alcohol, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

amy_park's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

3.5

Strong and moving! Not a very long book, but it holds a powerful kick. It took a while for me to get to grips with the many characters and how to differentiate their voices in my mind, but once I had done this it was easier to follow. The narration from a male was an interesting choice, which initially I was hesitant about it as I felt his opinions and backstory were a distraction to the main plot and at parts it did grate on me, but on the whole I think the device was nessecary and realistic for the community. Based on true events this made it an incredibly difficult to read and I would suggest to look at the content warnings before. The questions and conversations had by the women were so very important and made me reflect internally about my own femininity. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, Suicide, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, and Alcoholism

thewellbitch's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-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? No

5.0

Read it (listened to it) in one sitting. Very compelling story and characters. I give it 5 stars for keeping ratings simple because I really liked this book, but I would have preferred not to have a male narrator, though I can see what the purpose of it was.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry

cait's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Dementia, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Abandonment, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Miscarriage

Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism

hinkleh's review

fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexism, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Suicide, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcoholism and Incest

vixenreader's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A text that that gives a humanizing insight on a community that is not as closely examined as it should be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Alcoholism

There is a lot of information about Mennonite culture and the story adhering to the assault of the women such community. Please read at your own discretion.

minisaucisse's review

dark funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Very good read, but somehow not much to chew afterwards. Am I reading to fast ?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Child abuse, Blood, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child death, Violence, Self harm, Suicide, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Rape, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Alcoholism

Description are on the effect on the person, not the act itself.

mbgates's review

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

A really difficult and challenging book, but definitely worth a read. I definitely think this is one I will have to re-read to get the full grasp. I loved the format of the book and felt it was really served by the symposium format. The characters were just so well fleshed out and I felt that I could really feel their feelings. Every page of this book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. I feel like this is one of the best representations I have ever read of the feelings and lasting trauma for victims of sexual assault. The prose wasn't pretentious or overdramatized, but I was fully crying during several instances at the way Towes was able to give such simple dialogue and sentences an incredible emotional punch. One of my favorites; "Ona...mentions if [all skin on the body is replaced every month], the skin they, the women, had during the attacks is gone now, has been replaced. She smiles." This is not a light read, but 100% a worthwhile read. Fair warning that there is absolutely no plot. It is just women talking about what they are going to do in the aftermath of the violence they faced by members of their community. The only reason I have not given it a 5 is because I'm not sure the overall theme and thesis of the book was served by August's monologue at the end. This may change when I inevitably reread this, although the monologue was incredibly touching, I do feel like it made the novel and the ending for the women lose a little bit of its impact. In many ways, this is a story where I'm not entirely sure I appreciated a male narrator. Granted, the fact that the narrator is male is a huge theme in the book, and his reckoning with members of his own community is an insightful aspect of the book. So, while in this initial reading, I was not entirely won over by this artistic choice, I do see how it forged the path of the novel and definitely added an interesting texture. So, like I said, I'm sticking to my rating now, but may very well change it in a future read, which I will definitely, as I mentioned, need to read this one again. All in all, a must-read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

liblibby's review

emotional tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt