Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

52 reviews

mostephanitely's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Mass/school shootings, Abandonment, and Cancer

katrinky's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad

5.0

a book about addiction that was 5 stars for me?!?! I had a characteristically hard time during the Orvil and Sean drug chapters because I hate reading things from the view of addicts while they're high, but the context of generational trauma and generational addiction meant I could get distance and perspective on it that made me want to hang in and keep reading. every character was written deeply and fully; everyone was a main character. it took me a long time to read because it was not a pleasant story, but also because the writing is gorgeous and I wanted to pay attention.  EXTREMELY recommend. will read again.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Physical abuse, and Colonisation

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcoholism, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Toxic friendship, and Violence

patlo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Genocide

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

ukponge's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, Genocide, Death, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Colonisation

sydlio's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad

• 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Sexual assault

yleavy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Genocide

Moderate: Abandonment

cheazcakeguy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

Another fantastic book from Tommy Orange. I just recently read There There and immediately after finishing, pre-ordered Wandering Stars. This book is a continuation of the first book. It doesn't really feel like a "sequel," but it follows some of the characters from There There after the events of that book, and also goes back in time to talk about their family history. It feels more like an extension of the first book, but differentiates itself in many ways.

I like that this book focused in on fewer characters - the Red Feather family specifically, some of my favorite characters from the first book. It spends more time with each character, and as a result their struggles and triumphs are more impactful. This book has similar themes to There There, but focuses a lot more on family dynamics in the face of adversity (without getting too spoilery, it deals a lot with addiction and violence, as well as illness). There were so many moments in this book that I resonated with emotionally - highs and lows. The internal monologues of the characters were often so forthright and confessional, like they are pouring their hearts out to the reader, with run-on sentences as they struggle to find the words to articulate their feelings, like someone might do when trying to confide in a therapist, journal, or friend. Yet Orange always finds the right words, and when they hit you they hit hard and deep. And the characters are so relatable in their struggles and feelings and insecurities, you can't help but love and root for them all.

My only real gripe about the book is with the pace. While I liked learning about the Red Feather family history, the pace felt a little uneven in roughly the middle third of the book. This is also a really heavy and emotionally devastating book (as is There There), so make sure you're in the right headspace before diving in.

I just discovered this author, but I can't wait to see what he does next. I think his books are for everyone and should be read by everyone.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Drug abuse, and Addiction

Minor: Alcoholism, Genocide, and War

greylovesbroccoli's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Self harm, Death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Cancer

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Mass/school shootings

chrism6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse

Moderate: Colonisation and Cancer

Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

kmcfall's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

This book, like There, There, was really bad for my mental health. 

---

Content Warnings

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