Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Ruins by Scott Smith

5 reviews

popham05's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Body horror

Moderate: Medical trauma, Grief, Blood, Vomit, Gore, Alcoholism, and Self harm

zarakoconnor's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Completely horrifying, bleak and disgusting. First venture into horror literature so was a bit intense in body horror for my liking but would be great for someone who loves gore. The setting was so tangible and the ruins were written in a terrifyingly beautiful way.

The ending left me empty, knowing that everything was for nothing and that rescue was so close the entire time, with everyone giving up a second too early.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Excrement, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: Misogyny and Sexual content

pbandjane_library's review

adventurous dark lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Alcoholism

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Horror Summer Camp Book Club / June Pick

The Details:
Narrated by Patrick Wilson
Unabridged 

I really wanted to take part in this group read so for the first time, I purchased more credits!

This was a fun read. Once we got into the meat of the horror, it had me in mind of the Day of the Triffids. I think I'd be interested in reading more plant based horror.

The body horror was quite grim (in a good way), but I didn't find that it made my stomach turn or had me feeling nauseated.

There were no distinct chapters, which made it hard to pause but helped to amplify the blurred lines of time as terror set in for the characters.

The characters themselves weren't very likeable but felt believable for the most part, though some feeling more 2D (or more caricatures of a person) than others. I think my favourites were Matthias and Pablo.

I don't think this will be a strong story that would be very memorable long term, for me, but it was fun for whilst I was listening, I'd recommend it to others and I'd be interested in giving the movie adaptation a go.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Torture, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Gore, Gaslighting, Excrement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Confinement, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Suicide, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Grief, Cannibalism, Body horror, and Abandonment

Minor: Cannibalism

jessyhere's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book is extremely unsettling.  I had a few sleepless nights because of it.  Don't read if your stress levels are already high.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Self harm, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cannibalism and Sexual assault