Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Gambito de dama by Walter Tevis

203 reviews

deliriah's review against another edition

tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Vomit

laurendart's review against another edition

dark inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Addiction

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Minor: Car accident

feelingpeachygreen's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Incredibly written - fantastic characters who you genuinely understand. It's fantastic and you dont need to understand an ounce of chess to deeply, heartily, root for Beth.

My only criticism - there's a scene of sexual assault at the very beginning that is never mentioned again. 

I also find it so interesting that the author is a man.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexism

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

applebottomjeans's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Addiction

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Racial slurs

whitelotusreads's review against another edition

inspiring tense medium-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 know nothing about chess, but this kept me hooked from beginning to end. I believe it takes real talent to engage their audience like that. 

Amy Landon was able to embody and give life to Beth’s character. The combination of Landon’ narration and Tevis’ brilliant storytelling makes for a wonderful experience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use and Addiction

Minor: Alcoholism

canttalk_reading's review against another edition

emotional informative tense medium-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

4.0

I read this after watching the series and was pleasebtlybsuprised to find the book developed some things I felt the series lacked. 
For one, Beth in the book is much easier to understand and root for as you get to see how her mind works. Also her mother/daughter relationship with Alma is more heartfelt and sincere.
My only critiques are that I found the first part of the book a little less exciting compared to the last half. And I wish we had  more insight and emotion where her relationships with Benny and Harry are concerned.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Racial slurs

_sia_'s review against another edition

inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Sexual content

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

As someone who doesn't know anything about chess strategy, I found this book fascinating from the very beginning. Even though I barely knew what was going on during the games, they were described in such an exciting way to me. I would highly recommend this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, Car accident, Sexual assault, Drug use, Cursing, Child abuse, Classism, and Grief

Moderate: Vomit, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Racism, Religious bigotry, Medical content, and Body shaming

Minor: Blood

elspethmigliore's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

this was actually pretty good. i’ve been wanting to read this for years so i’m glad i finally got around to it, but i don’t know if i would consider it a new favorite. 

the beginning of the story felt really odd and tense, and the sa scene with Jolene was very unnecessary and uncomfortable. i liked how we got to see beth slowly start getting back into chess again when she left Methuen, and how Mrs. Wheatley started supporting her in it. 

i would’ve liked to see more of each character after beth had established relationships with them and not just randomly hooked up with them and then never spoke to them again (harry, somewhat benny). i feel like there could even been so much more with each relationship. it also seems like the ending was a bit rushed. 

the drugs and alcohol were definitely a lot and it became frustrating to keep reading about beth’s addictions, but that did make for a more satisfying ending when she cut out those things.

i don’t play chess and i could still follow this story really well, but it’s mostly chess terms with a plot. i likes the tv series so much better

would probably reread but not definitely ☑️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Racism

Minor: Child death and Body shaming

breeinreadingland's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Death of parent and Death