Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

36 reviews

robinks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This was such an interesting collection of stories. They all left me feeling a bit uneasy and unresolved, though the fantastic elements in each of the stories were quite creative. I particularly enjoyed Oranges and Peking Duck.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Racism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual content

dwager's review against another edition

This is a very interesting book, mostly about dating and marriage relationships. Some stories involve fantastical elements, and the whole thing has a very surreal quality to it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

siebensommer's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

favourites: oranges, returning, office hours 

She wanted a homecoming, whatever that meant. Maybe it was to be overwhelmed by déjà vu, a staggering tsunami wave.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Medical content

mcoleman1250's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use and Domestic abuse

asolis's review against another edition

Some interesting ideas but too tedious. Stopped during the 4th story of 8.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Rape

erinmjustice's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Drug use

Moderate: Xenophobia and Infidelity

dixiecarroll's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I found this to be brilliant, but I guarantee it’s a polarizing book. This was terrifying and emotional and felt ultimately like I was dreaming. Tense but non threatening dreams. (There are trigger warnings for DV in the first two stories so please take care before diving in). I finished this in 2.5 hours… ridiculously fast so it’s a quick and easy one to slip in there while still being completely stunning. A collection of 8 stories that seem to not be entirely based in our realm but at the same time they are absolutely on our planet - exactly like a dream. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racism

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

lola_milk's review against another edition

reflective 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? It's complicated

3.0

I thought this collection was well written, I just didn't like it. Between the cover and the title I thought it would be lighthearted, but it wasn't. Which is fine, it's just not what I wanted from the collection.
The story I liked best was G, which was about a toxic friendship and a fantastical drug. 
The last story, Tomorrow, was about a made up pregnancy condition, and it was explained just enough that I couldn't accept it as a magical realism thing, and instead I thought the defect was just not possible. Thus preventing me from engaging with the rest of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

odrib's review against another edition

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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia

quesatiya's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Racism

Moderate: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Body horror, Eating disorder, and Body shaming

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Cancer