Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt

2 reviews

mollymfay's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

I absolutely adored this book. While it may be a little bit longer, I definitely found it loveable and worth it because it was so interesting to see Theo the main character grow up and become what he will be: for better or worse. The writing style of this book is also so like Charles Dickens with a modern twist it would be hard to say no. The imagery is something greater than I would ever wish to create for myself and Boris was definitely my favorite character who made this book that more amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, and Sexual violence

tobeeornottobee's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

i've seen a lot of negative reviews about this book. about how it's boring, hard to get through, uniteresting. i think if your only critique of a book is that it's boring, it's not really a critique. it's a heavy book, it was written in the early 2000's and deals with a lot of trauma and unhealthy coping mechanisms. going in i thought this was a book i would have to drag myself through. i didn't find that to be true in the least. its dysfunctional and unreliable, a direct reflection of the narrator. the book takes us through a lifetime spent severely depressed and filled high with anxiety. i think if it was shorter, less wordy, it would have been so much more impersonal. it wouldn't have settled in my chest the same way. (also the characters. obviously, we're seeing it through theo's eyes so everything is tinted with his thoughts and feelings. i think boris and theo's dynamic is really important. i think andy deserved better. i think theo is a repressed gay man. i think these people were real and tangible.) take care with the topics and triggers in this book. but if it is something you think you'll enjoy, don't be deterred by negative reviews. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Gore, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death