Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

48 reviews

alyssaakdefusco's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

What a winding journey. At no point was I bored by the story, but this book did not have to be so long. That's my main issue with it. Beyond that, it was heartbreaking and intriguing. I absolutely loved Theo's relationship with art and how to mirrored his world and life experiences. The characters were unforgettable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Abandonment, Drug use, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Toxic friendship, Cursing, and Suicidal thoughts

diana1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Gore

paradicsomleves's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, and Vomit

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Blood

theprinceofdenmark's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

the best book about grief and loss since catcher in the rye.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Stalking

readwithsophsx's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug use, Grief, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol

woweewhoa's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

While this book is very well written and a compelling character study, I unfortunately don't think I liked reading this book very much. It's a long and miserable read about Theodore Decker, our protagonist, ruining his life and getting his life ruined by others. It's a tragedy from the get go, and while its not all his fault, it's still hard to read at times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Homophobia

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

elenab's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Bullying, Drug use, Drug abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Death and Toxic friendship

dizzzybrook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

This book was such a chore to get through. I generally favor long books and have no issues with a slow burn, but something about The Goldfinch just failed to ever emotionally draw me in. The story was much more enjoyable for me than that of The Secret History but I'm still just not sold that Tartt's books are for me. I really loved the first 1/4th of the book but after that, I lost motivation and eventually had to switch over to the audiobook to get through the rest. I don't think this is a bad book by any means but it was a relief once it was over, and I'm not sure that's a compliment. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, Abandonment, Medical content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Blood, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, and Vomit

maddie_1999's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Gore, Abandonment, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Vomit, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, and Self harm

Moderate: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Stalking, Violence, and Fatphobia

haileyeh's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

1.75

Theo is the most unlikeable protagonist I have ever read about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Alcohol, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Death of parent

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Child abuse

Minor: Car accident and Vomit