Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Little Friend by Donna Tartt

26 reviews

another_dahlia's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child death, Racism, Death, Classism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Murder, Addiction, Cancer, Sexism, Drug abuse, and Drug use

lief_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Ableism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racism, Addiction, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Classism, Death, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Confinement

carlytenille's review

adventurous mysterious 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

4.75

This murder mystery has everything, and as intense as it can get, it was such a fun read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Child death, Murder, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, and Violence

nvadams's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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? No

4.5

A wonderful book on the way that grief and trauma effects a town, a family, and in particular the main character Harriet whose search for answers is the driving force of the story.

General content warnings, a lot of racial tension and slurs used very liberally throughout, and a description of an animal death that has stuck with me sense I read it.

If you're looking for a whodunit or a crime novel I'd suggest you look elsewhere. I lagged on finishing the last ≈120 pages because it seemed pretty clear that the solution I had been expecting was most likely not in the cards. 

The story is more so a look on what happens when a tragedy like the death of the nine year old boy Robin can not be explained or reasoned with. You do get closure on some aspects, but if you're looking for The Big Reveal you will be disappointed. I was, but Tartt's writing was more than worth it and I think the wrap up of the book was beautifully tense in its own way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Animal death

Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse

petrichorandcoffee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A compelling, painful, dark, beautifully written, unpredictable book. I am very glad I read it. There were some points in the book where I felt upset by racist language used, but I realized as the book progressed that we (readers) are meant to be upset by it and to see it as commentary on the time and place. It is not quite as resolved at the end as I personally would have liked - but that serves the story well so I don't mind. This is a story about loss, pain, growth, inherited trauma, structural classicism, structural racism, childhood, grief, dreams, and family. I would say it is southern gothic despite the fact that is lacks the supernatural/magical realism I feel is required for that genre because the text feels haunted and in the service of ghosts despite their lack of presence in the story itself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Murder, Car accident, Animal death, Gun violence, Vomit, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Gore, Classism, and Addiction

gdgm00's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

5.0

Absolutely gorgeous writing with nothing but clear images along the way. This book takes you on a journey whether or not you are ready and it is worth every page. Heartbreaking, stunning, shocking and too good to put down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Child death, Animal death, Racism, Racial slurs, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, and Blood

sumstew's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

when hely grows up he is going to be the worst type of man ever. its gives me chills. i loved how complex all the characters & relationships were. there are so many little details that make you feel like you are sitting there in the scene with the characters. ily Donna Tartt<3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Violence, Animal cruelty, Racism, Animal death, and Hate crime

Minor: Car accident and Vomit

ellensmith's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

This book could be taken up to somewhere in the 3 star range or as low as a straight 2 star. I tried to average it out and marked it as 2.75. This book seemed to lose the plot at some parts, only to never pick it up again. I did really enjoy the discussions about class and race in the southern town. Tartt's writing makes you feel like you are truly in the place and watching the discussion happen. I just cannot justify the beauty of the setting for the actual plot of the novel. It would be a good book to fall asleep to I think. Also! Who the heck killed Robin?

I really do not think it was Danny. Maybe Pem or Pharish. Who knows. Maybe even Alison killed him.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Vomit, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Cursing, Classism, Child death, Car accident, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Addiction

brianna_moye's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Death

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Vomit, Terminal illness, Stalking, Racism, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Gun violence, and Grief

joyfayrweather's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I liked the idea of this book. I wish there had been more about Allison and the Aunts, but it has left me room to infer. I was expecting a more satisfying ending, but I think that is just Donna Tartt’s way. This is my 3rd Donna Tartt book and every book of hers ends very suddenly, without any justification or significant meaning. However, I do kind of enjoy this, because isn’t life just the same? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Ableism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Grief