Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

La regina degli scacchi by Walter Tevis

138 reviews

genevieve_eggleston's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This book was something that I picked up because I found it free on Audible and have heard wonderful things about the TV adaption. Unfortunately, it wasn't a book that I particularly enjoyed. People who have an interest in chess might find it more entertaining than I did, but as someone who doesn't have much of an interest in the game, I just got lost, and at times annoyed, with all of the move-by-move descriptions. I also found Beth frustrating as a character, especially when she kept falling back on the same self-destructive tendencies. Even though the book covers a period of nearly 10 years, the presentation of the story somehow manages to make it seem painfully slow. Overall, this book was okay, but nothing more than that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Grief, and Vomit

Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

kmaron's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, and Drug use

abundantlyamy's review against another edition

dark inspiring tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Racism and Misogyny

gymjam_reads's review against another edition

informative inspiring tense slow-paced

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

2.5

If you love playing or studying chess, this is a book for you. If (like me) you don't know anything about chess, there will be times it may seem like you're reading a novel in another language but it's still a good read. A great insight into the life/mind of a chess genius but I felt like it could have delved a lot deeper into her emotions/alcoholism/sedative drug addiction/relationships with others rather than having such a huge focus on game play. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol, and Addiction

Minor: Death of parent

samgscott1's review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

Idk chess but really enjoyed the storyline, interesting read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Sexual assault and Racism

ercon's review against another edition

inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Alcoholism, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Vomit

spring_rain's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Drug use

meeileen's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Cursing

Minor: Abandonment, Bullying, and Car accident

meganthestallion's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-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

4.0

I find this book to be a kind of palate cleanser. It’s no nonsense storyline is like a vacation compared to other novels. I know nothing about chess, so all the detailed terminology went right over my head. I did find some moments uncomfortable. for instance, when the author (Walter Tevis) talks about little girls bodies with disturbing detail. I love Beth’s growth throughout the novel. One of my favorite parts is when Beth says that she is now too old to be called a prodigy. I found the line to be heartbreaking. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

silvertoni's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Death of parent