Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

25 reviews

samburkhouse's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Violence, Death, Dementia, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent

Minor: Antisemitism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Ableism

axel_p's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, Alcohol, Addiction, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Fatphobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body shaming, Car accident, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Violence

sarahbethhh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Animal death

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: Mental illness

itsbumley's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Violence

greenmind's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

I didn't have any expectations for this one, but I was interested in reading this before watching the movie - and it's a really great book. Unusual and emotionally engaging. As well as packed with adventure, drama and fantastic characters.  

I watched the film adaptation after I finished the book - it was frustratingly crap. Can’t recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Car accident

Moderate: Ableism, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, and Domestic abuse

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Murder, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Excrement, Antisemitism, Confinement, Ableism, Fatphobia, Grief, and Infidelity

Minor: Vomit, Car accident, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Dementia, Misogyny, Racism, Trafficking, and Death of parent

napalm's review against another edition

adventurous dark

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

I’ll admit this wasn’t my favorite. I enjoyed the film immensely and as such was disappointed with the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity

rebwenhall's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I read this book when I was younger and I just re-read it. This book takes me through a roller coaster of emotions. I love the chapters of Jacob when he’s an old man and still has a love for the circus. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Ableism, Murder, Addiction, and Alcoholism

marciafelis's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

3.0

While I liked that the book conveys the atmosphere of a 1930s circus, overall, the story just wasn't quite my cup of tea.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Alcoholism

Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

lea_fox's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Wow. What a story. I felt there were a lot of things I connected to, despite the historical time period and gender and nationality of the main character. I was enthralled by the story. Great writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, and Racial slurs