Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

4 reviews

jonwood's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

3.0

The book reads really fast with scenes that are very compressed, not much on dialogue. Tevis does deal with emotional ramifications of addition and trauma on Beth, but some of the choices he made I found problematic (particular the inclusion of an nonconsensual sexual experience of a minor). The more I think of it, the more I realize their is good craft in dealing with the mindset of addition, self-destructive tendencies, and need to win, perhaps I confuse the brevity of the book with simplicity. Regardless, I didn't find the book particularly rewarding, and honestly  the chess games while well done and nontechnical to read (they could have been much dryer), seem to last a bit too long, but then again I don't like reading action scenes, so this may just be me. 

For what it's worth, a member of my book club showed us that you could play through most of the major games if you wish. I wouldn't recommend the book, but I wouldn't discourage reading it either. Though, I think the Bobby Fischer biography "Endgame" by Frank Brady a much better Chess read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Sexual content, Drug use, Medical content, Drug abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

zombiezami's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, Car accident, Sexual assault, Drug use, Cursing, Child abuse, Classism, and Grief

Moderate: Vomit, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Racism, Religious bigotry, Medical content, and Body shaming

Minor: Blood

charliesmith1564's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Infertility, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Child abuse, Car accident, Sexism, Racism, Grief, Death, Alcohol, Addiction, Rape, Suicide attempt, Classism, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Confinement, Bullying, Abandonment, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Medical content

izzy_mckeough's review

tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Really good book, not surprised that they turned it into a tv series. Extremely compelling for something that could be considered boring content matter (cough cough chess)

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Vomit, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Death, Child abuse, Blood, Abandonment, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Chronic illness