Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang

5 reviews

carefulfearanddeaddevotion's review

emotional mysterious 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

3.5

Saw this book on a B&N shelf early last year, didn't buy it because my library had it, then didn't check it out until last Friday. I had no clue that it was a retelling (?) of The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky (at the risk of sounding ignorant, I'd never even heard of this book before).

I've started using the CAWPILE rating system (I love formulas) and was surprised that I rated this as highly as I did. I think we all know that I prefer characters over plot, and these characters were so insufferable and weird for a large majority of the book. Still, they, and the plot, were really interesting and I could not put this book down! The writing was at times confusing and hard to follow. Leo Chao, and to a lesser extent, all of his sons, skeeved me out. Annoyed at James

for letting O-Lan (or should I say, Chao Ru) get away and letting his brother go to jail. But, I believe in my heart of hearts, that Dagou will be exonerated

. Ming was a little weirdo, and most of my confusion around the writing was because of his scenes. Though I feel this might have been intentional. 

Still, there was something so captivating about this book and these characters and I couldn't look away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Xenophobia, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual harassment and Classism

alisonvh's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

I’m going to have to sit with this book for a while before deciding how I feel about it. Overall I think I liked it. It’s very well written, and I found myself sucked into the mystery. But it’s also intense, so I need to follow it up with something light.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Alcohol, Death, Abandonment, Bullying, Murder, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death

pun1sher's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Very well written, complex and sometimes unlikable characters, great portrayal of complicated familial and romantic relationships. Also a rather fast and easy read - I started and momentarily it seemed to over, in a good way. Many povs featured so it doesn't get boring

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Murder

Possible dog eating, nervous breakdown, emotionally abusive parental figure

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

I thought this was outstanding.   The narration was excellent.   

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Death, Grief, Alcohol, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, and Racism

bedtimesandbooks's review

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Death, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Rape, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Infidelity, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol