Reviews with content warning for Addiction - Stargate. En julefortelling

Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Stargate. En julefortelling by Ingvild H. Rishøi

12 reviews

timelord10's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Despite the beautiful cover and title, this novella is actually very sad. You follow two sisters who make their own way to survive since their father is an alcoholic who can't hold a job. It's written from the perspective of Ronja, the ten year old, who is always hoping their dad will stop drinking and things will be like they have been before. And her sister, Melissa, has kind of given up on hoping their dad will get better. Despite her lack of hope, she does what she can to take care of Ronja. The ending is very confusing and open ended. Ronja gets sick, and at that point, I couldn't tell if she was really delirious and dreaming or if it was actually happening. And then in the end, they both end up at their cabin in the woods that they talk about throughout the book, and I couldn't tell if they had died or if Ronja was in a delirious state still or if it was real.

What I liked about the story was Ronja's character and especially the parts with her and Aronsen. I love how he saw Ronja and helped to take care of her. The scene when he comes to watch her sing at the Lucia Day concert thing her school had so that she wouldn't feel left out was really heartfelt. What I didn't like about the story was the open endedness of it all. I'm definitely a person who likes when a story's ending isn't up for interpretation. Although, I appreciate what the author was trying to do. I'd recommend this book if you like sadder stories, stories about sisters, and stories about hope even in dark times.

Content Warnings

megtasky's review against another edition

5.0

challenging hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A FULL 5/5, no hesitation

Ronja, a 10 year old girl with a struggling father and an older sister who is trying to keep their small family afloat, learns of a job at a Christmas tree stand. We experience what Christmas is like from her perspective — meeting the ones in life that live to give and want to help, and the ones that can’t find empathy for a small child.

This story was beautifully told.

Content Warnings

tigerlilliereads's review against another edition

3.5

fast-paced

I really enjoyed this Scandinavian tale. I loved hearing from the viewpoint of Ronja and how she viewed and tried to make sense of her world.

Content Warnings

mialikesreading's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Devastatingly beautiful retelling of the matchstick girl. I used to think of that fairytale often as a child, but now I feel this will be the version I think of. Bringing the tale into the present day, but also fleshing it out into a full story, the our innocent narrater Ronja and the people in her life who support her, and who are too far gone to do so. It paints both the light and the darkness through the eyes of a child who doesn’t fully understand what the adults do, but who is filled with love and dreams for a different future.

I think this book will stay with me for a long time. I read it on borrowbox but I will want to read it again for sure so will be on the look out for my own copy.

Content Warnings

internationalreads's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

Content Warnings

zmeiat's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Skrivemåten var helt oppslukende. Minnet meg om en deprimerende versjon av en Erlend Loe-bok som ønsker å gjøre deg trist før jul

Content Warnings

honeyflakeapparently's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

te_books's review against another edition

3.75

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Absolutely gutting. A sad Christmas story that’s a powerful reminder for how challenging the holidays can be, especially for economically struggling families. Themes of addiction, loss, and trying to hold it together. While originally Norwegian, the story transcends the setting and I easily pictured Ronja, her youthfully innocent Christmas wishes, and all her encounters with the kindness of strangers. The whole story is told in a very stream-of-consciousness way from the perspective of Ronja that’s energetic and fast paced, even during slower moments. The only thing keeping me from loving the story was the confusing ending. The book felt very well translated— I think my confusion about the finish was only because of how abstract and ambiguous it was.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic Publishing and NetGalley for the English translation ARC.

Content Warnings

wjaxel's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

booksandbulletjournaling's review against another edition

5.0

hopeful sad medium-paced

Content Warnings

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