Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

42 reviews

abidoodle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

I really struggled with figuring out how to rate this book. It was very complex. I didn’t always enjoy it, but it did get me thinking, and the ending really tied everything together for me. I enjoyed the writing style, but sometimes found the story strange and difficult, but I think it’s meant to be. I appreciated the difference of each character, the representation of different ethnicities, sexualities, religious beliefs, superstitions, political opinions, mental illnesses, family situations, etc. The characters felt really well designed to be like real people, with beauty and flaws and complexity and the relationships were well written in that regard as well. Overall a great book, definitely not a light read, but worth reading and considering some of the themes throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism and Homophobia

Minor: Abortion and Violence

sh0pgirl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

3.5

this certainly is a book that I read!

giving an extra .5 star for simon and klara alone 😭

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Alcoholism

nicola_scutt's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Mental illness

Minor: Racism, Abortion, War, Self harm, Addiction, and Alcoholism

cosmicbeth21's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

2.25

A slow read with not much at off at the end. I did like the depth on which they talked about trying to keep one’s self young and healthy to ward off an early death when in reality we hold little control over the time our life ends.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

wellyreads's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abortion and Abandonment

guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, and Suicide

helen464's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

3.5

At times I was really invested waiting to see what happens but at other times I was just reading to get through it. The characters aren’t that likeable but I still cared what happened to them. Simon’s story was a bit predictable but the other siblings were more original.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Alcoholism

amiahhh's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia

josh_mza's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

3.25

A captivating irony of a dysfunctional immigrant family trying to piece together what it means to live. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Suicide

Minor: Abandonment, Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Addiction

mcclintock1808's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

The concept of The Immortalists initially drew me to the book in the first place, and while I still enjoy the concept of it, I don't think it was executed the best. The story is in four sections following four siblings, and some fell flat. Simon's was a good story; it follows and deals with both inner and outer problems. It did get a bit too descriptive with his love life for my taste, but nothing against the book. Klara's perspective was the best in my opinion. Her struggles, dreams, hopes, and desires all meshed into one was perfectly told. Daniel's was the worst. He was stoic, and I didn't understand his character arc at all, it seemed so random and just used as a plot device. Although Varya's was better, it wasn't great. It did incorporate important themes, but it did so randomly and more things just seemed thrown in as plot devices. The only other thing that struck me as odd, was how every child came to either resent, disagree or look badly upon their religion. I understand a change in beliefs, but it just seemed odd that religion was displayed so negatively in the entire book. Overall, the book covers important themes and is very interesting to reflect back upon life and death, and how people should be living. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Alcoholism, and Death