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tetrootz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, Death, Grief, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Rape, and Misogyny
Moderate: Racial slurs, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Vomit, Cursing, and Blood
jonwood's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
For what it's worth, a member of my book club showed us that you could play through most of the major games if you wish. I wouldn't recommend the book, but I wouldn't discourage reading it either. Though, I think the Bobby Fischer biography "Endgame" by Frank Brady a much better Chess read.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Sexual content, Drug use, Medical content, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
theremightbecupcakes's review against another edition
But.
I truly believe you need to understand chess to follow this novel’s progression. Many of Beth’s plays, and tournaments’ rules and activities, are given without any explanation, which is frustrating. Plus, there is so much alcohol abuse, without it pressing forward the story. Both Beth and her mother drink beer like mother, often in physically impossible quantities and in a method of communication with each other and with other people. I am not sensitive to alcohol abuse or alcoholism per se, but even I became very uncomfortable with the frequency of it. I became so hyperaware of it that it took me out of the book.
Graphic: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Forced institutionalization
boobies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
its a fast paced, easy read book that anyone could get into, it was a bit dark but I think that was Teviss' goal, the themes of mental illness, addiction, adoption and feminism are well done in my eyes. I dont know if anyone else thought that Beth was autistic but that was a strong vibe I was getting. However :( , this book is soo obviously written by a man who has no clue about young women, tbh it was a bit annoying. plus all the characters had deep flaws which make most of them unlikeable and the ending was predictable. ♡
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Racial slurs
Minor: Car accident, Cursing, and Death of parent