Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

387 reviews

____nique's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

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

1.5

I saw this on Fully Booked– the cover page piqued my interest and made me want to read it when I read its blurb. Thankfully, I fought the urge to buy the physical copy of this book because I would be so disappointed if I did as I didn’t enjoy reading it. The first chapter of it was eye-catching and it was the main reason why I continued reading it. However, the chapters following that were disappointing. Maybe the story was not just for me, but I really can’t see the logic and sense of reading a story without an actual plot (I mean, I would get it if the story is non-fiction, but a fiction book without a plot? Oh, come on!) 

Since it has no plot, I found the book very tedious and tiring to read– it took me 2 weeks to finish it which was unusual for me as I only read books at least a week. The chapters were just too long; I found the descriptive words very detailed; and the stories in each chapter were not really linked to the main storyline (if a storyline/plot really does exist in this book). Some readers prefer this kind of writing, but I found it unnecessary which prevented me from connecting with the story. 

I can see the similarities between this book and The Year of Rest and Relaxation. They both gave me mixed feelings towards the book because I genuinely think that the story, characters, and overall setting of this book have potential, but something in the writing was lacking that made the story feel lost somewhere. So sad, I would’ve loved to enjoy reading these kinds of stories, but my impatient ass cannot stand it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Drug use

csmoke85's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Addiction

kelly_ann's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I am a sucker for melancholy books about the human experience and this was definitely that. Reading Cleopatra and Frankenstein was like being dropped into someone’s life, following them around, and just as suddenly being pulled away. In this case we not only follow the two main characters, but briefly drop into the lives of a few of the side characters too.

 

I can see how this book would not be for everyone – it’s character led with a meandering plot that really leads to nowhere – but I enjoyed it! I will say, though, that the description on the back of the book is a little misleading. I found very little humour in it and, while, there are a couple of POVs from the side character’s referenced, their storylines are pretty minor. I would also recommend checking trigger warnings before reading; there is adultery, heavy drug use, discussions of depression and suicide, and an attempted suicide.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Suicide attempt

_misha_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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

Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Alcoholism, and Drug use

alexandram's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

i don’t usually cry reading books but i cried reading this one. it was a fucking journey and i lived every second of it. my heart ached so much for the characters and i really felt like i learnt a lot. and it’s so well written like aghhhh!! i’m not much of a re-reader either but i’d read this again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Drug abuse, Self harm, Drug use, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship

ewatt33's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Addiction, and Mental illness

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Drug use, Death of parent, and Drug abuse

mookisbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Grief, Addiction, Drug use, Alcoholism, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

lailajm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug use, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

meljoyfox's review against another edition

Too dark

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Sexual content

krystalkoski's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed reading this book, I think. I do think in this case the constant switching between characters that were only peripherally involved with the story hurt the ability to view the flawed main characters and really understand their complexities. It also took me out of it that there were similar writing and descriptive styles used for all the characters that were so vastly different. Still an enjoyable read though, but nothing too groundbreaking 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism and Self harm