Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

84 reviews

gelslitreviews's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Racism

caleighrosebud's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Racism, Physical abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Death

Moderate: Slavery, Addiction, and Police brutality

atamano's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Death of parent, Cancer, Racism, Vomit, Death, Grief, and Gore

Moderate: Drug abuse

annecharlotte_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A story about stories, told and untold, that can keep us alive and also kill us. About relationships and family, and how far we're each ready to go for the ones we love. About loving against violence and abuse and death, and keeping each other alive. 
This novel is a thing of beauty. From the first few sentences you know you're in for something special: not only a powerful story but gorgeous writing. I was reminded of the best elements of Toni Morrison. 
The story is written from 3 points of view. Sometimes I had trouble remembering if it was the mother or the son speaking, so maybe there isn't enough difference in style. These shifts are still incredibly powerful and force us to empathise with Léonie, a violent, abusive and neglectful mother, but also a daughter, a sister, a lover, traumatised and addicted to drugs. The magical realism is injected gradually and amplifies into a terrible, spectacular climax, right at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Rape, Drug abuse, and Forced institutionalization

kellyofcali's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

A book written with shifting perspectives and narrators about a family struggling with addiction, incarceration, illness, racism, and life. It's a powerful story, and the writing style is unique and often beautiful. I struggled when it turned a bit more magical/spiritual, but it is a truly singular novel and voice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Death, Chronic illness, Cancer, Addiction, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Racism, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment, Gun violence, and Murder

mia_merrill's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Murder, Hate crime, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Rape, Medical trauma, Slavery, Sexual assault, Medical content, Gun violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Police brutality, and Animal death

miamon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Cancer, Vomit, Murder, Racism, and Police brutality

fletches's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Racism

chandranolynne's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, and Vomit

ekmook's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit