Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

23 reviews

ruthypoo2's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

An interesting and emotional postapocalyptic story about how life on a reservation might be affected in a world where modern conveniences like electricity and public services were lost. Naturally, there will be certain lifestyles better equipped to live in this kind of world, including those where people already respect an inter-generational cultural structure and have the knowledge and experience of how to survive by respecting and cultivating natural resources. This lends itself to indigenous communities that are primarily confined to a sprawling reservation landscape, and central to this story is the Anishinaabe community of Canada's First Nation.

I was impressed at the realistic way in which the characters of the story assessed and responded to the changed world they found themselves suddenly living in. Unfortunately, the nature of man seems to be one of seek and divide and conquer, so it's no surprise when the story's Anishinaabe community find themselves confronted by non-reservation people who are looking for a new place to call home where they will have a chance to live full and productive lives. How the Anishinaabe respond is heart-warming but costly to the community.

The author, Waubgeshig Rice, expresses the many layers of the First Nation people. While all seem to have knowledge of the teachings of their ancestors and natural capabilities to survive in a world missing the usual comforts, not everyone has the sound mind and responsible work ethic their elders tried to instill in them from a young age.  The cultural experiences and beliefs are beautiful and lovingly included within the narrative of the story. And their area also parallels between what's happened in the past when white settlers invaded First Nation lands and how this type of greed can replay in a world where boundaries have been blurred. It was a story that captured my interest from start to finish and I genuinely cared about everyone in this story.

I listed to the audiobook and very much enjoyed the clear dialect and reading of the narrator, Billy Merasty. At first, I wasn't sure if his voice suited me, but I quickly became accustomed to his sound and I normally listen on 1.75-2X speed, so that helped eliminate any drawing out of the spoken word that I might otherwise find a little off-putting. This is another example of when I really want to hear the pronunciation of words I'm not familiar with, and Mr. Merasty ably provided that for me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death and Death

Minor: Grief, Gun violence, Alcohol, Violence, and Addiction

linneak's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Alcohol, and Gore

Minor: Cannibalism and Colonisation

cait's review

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Xenophobia, Murder, Racism, Blood, Animal death, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Grief, and Violence

hanreadin's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Murder, Suicide, Alcohol, Blood, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Gun violence, Addiction, and Death

loras's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Cannibalism, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Racism

corvidaeus's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Cannibalism, Suicide, Racism, Grief, Drug use, Addiction, and Alcoholism

abbie_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cannibalism, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Racism, and Suicide

amnda527's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Suicide, and Violence

kelseyland's review

dark tense 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? No

4.75

An incredible take on the apocalyptic genre, from the perspective of an Anishinaabe community for whom the world has already ended more than once because of the violent actions of white colonizers. Rice's sparse prose keeps the tension dialed up to maximum as the characters navigate food and power shortages, the deaths of community members, and the intrusion of violent outsiders. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Animal death, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide, Cannibalism, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Body horror

christalbotheindl's review

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• 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

Moderate: Animal death and Death

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Cannibalism