Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese

39 reviews

kmshobbs's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

Graphic: Colonisation, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Sexual violence, and Torture

emmawiechs's review

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Racial slurs

Minor: Alcoholism

danielnski's review

emotional reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Pedophilia, and Racism

Moderate: Alcoholism

ms_sarah621's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a must read. The language is so incredibly beautiful and powerful. Then, the story is heartbreaking, full of grief, and deeply moving. I don’t want to speak too much to the story because this book speaks for itself. It handles tough subject matters, and Wagamese does this so well. The language isn’t too crude or too detailed, but it’s enough for you to feel it. It’s enough to make you angry, sad, and hopeful. It’s moving and truly reminds you that these horrendous acts happened and that this was very much a reality that Native Americans faced. I seriously can’t get over the writing and how much I appreciate and care for this book. Be sure to check trigger warnings before reading, but I feel like this is an important read for all, even with the difficult topics that are covered. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Rape, Racism, and Sexual assault

rieviolet's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

This was my first proper approach to First Nations literature and it wasn't an easy read by any means, but a vital and eye-opening one.

From a narrative standpoint, I think that Saul's story was very well structured and paced; also, his voice and emotional landscape were explored and captured on the page very vividly and movingly.

The writing is quite understated and matter-of-fact, and while I didn't mind this pared-back style and still found it impactful, it might not click with you if you usually prefer something more flowery and elaborate.

As you progress with the narration, you understand more and more clearly the significant role that hockey plays in Saul's personal journey. Still, I'm not really a sports person and, in all honesty, the parts with more detailed descriptions were not the most interesting to get through.

This is a very heart-wrenching book and it does not shy away from depicting horrific child abuse and its lasting impact or the pervasive societal racism, but it never does so gratuitously. 
Despite all, it still ends on a hopeful note, focusing on the possibility of recovery and the healing force of a supportive community. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Death, Grief, Racial slurs, Suicide, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Terminal illness, Abandonment, Blood, Mental illness, and Torture

bookish_skies's review against another edition

challenging dark 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: Racism and Alcoholism

Moderate: Child abuse and Rape

melissa_h's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad 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

5.0

Excellent.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Colonisation, Addiction, Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, and Classism

wifeslife's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, Death, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Torture, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Physical abuse

megmurp's review

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia

blotchedspots's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Rape, Child abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Addiction, and Colonisation