Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

23 reviews

tetrootz's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • 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


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colorful_lulu's review against another edition

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dark sad 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

3.5

I still know nothing about chess besides the Sicilian. Do I know how to pronounce it or what it is besides an opening? Nope. The book was still entertaining even though the tone and the chess aspect could bore half-interested readers. It is a good book that explores addiction but it wasn’t the most entertaining book I’ve read. 

I’m still confused about Beth/Benny though. Because at the end of the book she’s 19. But when she first met Benny at the US openings she was about 15 and Benny 25. I’m not exactly sure what the precise age is since I read it quickly (and the show changed the age for some reason) but… I don’t like it. Or Benny to be honest. Why did Beth want to sleep with him? He seems like the least interesting person to do so, she even said the sex was just okay.

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mh9's review

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Great book! the characters were amazing, the overall story was amazing, everything was just amazing. A piece of modern-day literature.  Would read again. 5/5*

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

As someone who doesn't know anything about chess strategy, I found this book fascinating from the very beginning. Even though I barely knew what was going on during the games, they were described in such an exciting way to me. I would highly recommend this.

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elspethmigliore's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

this was actually pretty good. i’ve been wanting to read this for years so i’m glad i finally got around to it, but i don’t know if i would consider it a new favorite. 

the beginning of the story felt really odd and tense, and the sa scene with Jolene was very unnecessary and uncomfortable. i liked how we got to see beth slowly start getting back into chess again when she left Methuen, and how Mrs. Wheatley started supporting her in it. 

i would’ve liked to see more of each character after beth had established relationships with them and not just randomly hooked up with them and then never spoke to them again (harry, somewhat benny). i feel like there could even been so much more with each relationship. it also seems like the ending was a bit rushed. 

the drugs and alcohol were definitely a lot and it became frustrating to keep reading about beth’s addictions, but that did make for a more satisfying ending when she cut out those things.

i don’t play chess and i could still follow this story really well, but it’s mostly chess terms with a plot. i likes the tv series so much better

would probably reread but not definitely ☑️

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abe26's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25


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genevieve_eggleston's review against another edition

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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

3.25

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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rachaelbunny's review

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slow-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

2.5


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marianneiriss's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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icarusandthesun's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Great series, great book. Walter Tevis was ahead of his time. Beautiful social commentary and great representation of addiction, masterful writing and characters that you want to root for.

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