Reviews tagging 'Death'

This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staples

6 reviews

decembermagpie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Drug use

cheesepuppy's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Rape, and Death

Minor: Sexual assault

rorikae's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.0

'This Town Sleeps' by Dennis E Staples is a quiet yet powerful story about relationships, home towns, and family. 
The story centers on Marion, an Ojibwe man who has just begun a relationship with a closeted white man. As Marion deals with this new relationship, the ghost of a dog rises from the playground to lead Marion to the grave of one of his classmates that was murdered while they were in high school. As he learns more about this death, Marion also explores more about himself and his relationships. 
Though this story is relatively short, Staples creates human characters that are full of flaws but also easy to care about. As Marion explores his sexuality, we learn more about his childhood and his existing relationship with his mother. Through quiet moments, Staples explores larger themes about our connections, sexuality, and the messiness of being human. 
I do think that the blurb makes the story sound as if it is more of a murder mystery, which isn't the case. Though a murder is a central part of the story, Staples doesn't set it up as a mystery but more as the catalyst for conversations between characters. I'm interested to see what Staples writes next and will be interested to pick up more of his work. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Miscarriage

badmom's review

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Colonisation, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Miscarriage

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Bullying, Colonisation, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

keatynbergsten's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, and Sexual content