Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

La regina degli scacchi by Walter Tevis

203 reviews

fran_ryougi's review

challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

cecilyroseceillam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

As someone who plays chess and has knowledge of the game, I very much enjoyed the Queen’s gambit, I loved the way it empowered woman in chess and showed Beth breaking a lot of stereotypes and a lot of glass ceilings down, I also enjoyed seeing a woman actually have a career in such an old book and given actual development and a voice. I think the book surprisingly actually dealt with racism and addiction quite well and it was extremely refreshing to see a black character not saved by the white characters but her own hard work and determination. It was also nice to see such an old book openly criticising racism and sexist ideology and stereotypes. I also enjoyed the games being played too and how the writer clearly had knowledge of chess as they are actual games that anyone could play today. I also throughly enjoyed seeing Beth go through addiction and beat it and how it connected to the plot, it added a hopeful positive message in what otherwise could’ve been very dark. I also liked that the prose and writing felt extremely disconnected from Beth when she was in her worse times but when she’s playing chess and in a happier space it connects more to her, it added a very lyrical and chess move prose style that felt like a knight or queen attacking a piece. Overall I highly enjoyed and would definitely recommend for people who have an interest in chess but haven’t played and the complete opposite. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

marthadude's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

3.25

This book isn’t about chess: it’s actually about hard boiled eggs. (But seriously the show was better)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Rape

There’s a short scene early on where Beth is SA’d by Jolene at the orphanage. It’s completely jarring and feels totally out of place and I had completely forgotten about it until reading other reviews.

peggyluwho's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Addiction, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Drug use

hazzardfreak02's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Addiction

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

malsterdot's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

gabthebookworm's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Addiction

Moderate: Sexual assault

eule's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

5.0

Phenomenal. The second time readin  this book might and again, I am not disappointed but marvel at this beautiful masterpiece. I don't follow chess but this book is incredible. Even the series is as good as this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

kenortz's review against another edition

inspiring 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Minor: Sexual assault

aroth638's review against another edition

challenging informative tense slow-paced

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

3.75

This was definitely a slow read, but I liked learning about chess and watching Beth develop as the book went on.

Her final game is a complete triumph and I felt that along with her.

However, this book loses a lot a points because the creepy/uncomfortable sexual encounters that Beth has. An SA scene as a child and she sleeps with both her older chess mentors? Wtf.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Sexual assault