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lucy_36's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Gun violence, Child death, Grief, Murder, Homophobia, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction
_rowan_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Blood, Addiction, Violence, Alcohol, Mental illness, Murder, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Vomit, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Drug use
dahaejoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt, Murder, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Suicidal thoughts
cstein's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Violence, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Vomit, Death, Gore, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Racism, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, and Mental illness
Minor: Antisemitism, Classism, Medical content, and Trafficking
lydiajlong's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
•
This was the first fiction book I have read in a LONG time. And I love that I committed to this 700+ page adventure. Donna Tartt puts so many hard emotions and complex ideas in so many beautiful words and descriptions. You really fall for some of these characters, their faults and vices. I loved the larger discussion of life, meaning, and right and wrong. Appreciated this read and the journey Donna took us all on.
•
tw: I’d warn my younger friends of cursing, drug use, sexual content, violence, and references to death and grieving — chat with your guardian before picking this book up!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Murder, and Cursing
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
rebeccaquinton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Vomit, Violence, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Child abuse, Bullying, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Grief, Addiction, and Alcohol
e_reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Some entire chapters could have stood to be shorter, or cut out entirely. I didn’t mind the part in Vegas, because it sets up the rest of the book. I just think the whole book should have been a lot shorter.
The scene in Amsterdam was also a bit confusing—although possibly intentionally so? No doubt, Donna Tartt is a genius. Her descriptions are so incredibly beautiful, and she has the ability to craft such a complex plot with apparent ease. But this book still doesn’t top The Secret History. Maybe because the characters just weren’t as compelling. For example, the time skips were confusing to me because Theo’s narration style didn’t change, and he didn’t *feel* significantly older. I did find Boris interesting as a character though.
Also, there was the incredible amount of time spent covering Theo’s increasingly concerning drug problems. As one reviewer put it, “is there anything more boring than reading about someone else’s drug habit?” It was important for the plot, I’ll give you that. But man do we spend a lot of time just reading Theo’s narration of the many drugs he tries, starting at age 12? 13?
Donna Tartt’s writing style uses first person, which I particularly enjoy, but can be off putting if you aren’t a fan of that. Overall, maybe worth the read if you are a big fan of Donna Tartt. Otherwise, save yourself the time and read something else.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Domestic abuse
casmurphy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, and Violence
lucinotlucy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Vomit, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Addiction
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Murder, and Gun violence
foxgloveinspace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief