Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Cleopatra und Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

741 reviews

florenceassetto's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective relaxing sad tense 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

4.25

i inhaled this book and i actually really liked it! there was some reluctance to read it at first but when i got started i found that it is incredibly well-written and full of touching stories and real characters. i feel like this is a coming of age story in the best way, for many people (of ALL ages) but the care with which mellors handles all her characters is really something very special, and it really brings the book to life. a special mention must go to the character of santiago, whose relationship with food and life and body and soul and friendship was one i felt particularly touching, and i really really connected with his character in the one chapter that highlighted him! but importantly, mellors makes everything feel so fleshed out and so human so even when we are looking at characters who are not cleo and frank, the book is just as compelling, and just as moving!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

soph0107's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicide attempt

geraldinerowe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is about dreadful people being generally dreadful. And yet thanks to the extraordinary writing it's compelling. I found myself caring about them while they destroyed themselves and each other, and then healed (mostly). It brought tears to my eyes a couple of times. I can't wait to read Blue Sisters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Drug use

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Suicide

curly_kate94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, and Drug use

chloe_hazel's review against another edition

dark funny reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual violence and Suicide

sima92's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Suicide

rubydeadyridge's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

The editor must have been on annual leave. This insipid novel aims to be realist, but is at no point even believable. The characters are cringe-worthily written, self-absorbed cliches. The side characters and their traumatic backstories only exist to serve under the leads, and leaves a taste of tone deaf racism in the mouth. It take traumatic events and conditions- from addiction to suicide- and exploits them recklessly. So much so that it feel sensationalist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

lottaleonora's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt

lemonyanne's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This book feels like you’re invited into the world of well-off socialite New York as a total voyeur. You’d never want to be part of this circle as all the characters are flawed and unlikeable in their own ways. However, Cleo and Frank’s relationship IS interesting and this discussion of how they destroy one another in the mutual distraction of themselves is why you keep reading it. You don’t want to look away from the car crash on the highway. (SPOILERS:) However, Eleanor’s 2 chapters felt really misplaced. First person was the wrong choice for her (esp when then rest of the novel is in third) and felt like an ill-attempt at making her feel normal, relatable or quirky - this I think was the more unsuccessful element of her narrative. I also don’t think she was Frank’s saving grace and I’m unsure if she was written to be. Although, her pining love for Frank could serve as an interesting contrasting how Anders pined for Cleo, as Eleanor’s love showed far more compassion, maturity and self-awareness as opposed to Anders’ vapid, self-absorbed obsession with Cleo was. All in all, this book felt like reading gossip, and for that purpose it worked fabulously. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lily_thru_the_looking_glass's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt