Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Removed by Brandon Hobson

32 reviews

katymat18's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

2.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Addiction, Grief, Death, and Drug use

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Police brutality and Gun violence

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

This a short read and another fictional viewpoint of indigenous people and how they survive after trauma. Our story takes place partially in Oklahoma and New Mexico. A Cherokee family lost their fifteen year old son due to a cop shooting him. The fifteenth year anniversary of his death is approaching and unfortunately, the remaining four members are somewhat scattered. Sonja, the oldest sibling, is close by but is struggling to figure out what being an adult means to her, embarking in a situation ship with a man that isn’t the best suited for her. Edgar, the baby of the family, is in Albuquerque, using drugs to cope with his depression. Mom and Dad are still alive but Alzheimer’s is clouding Dad more and more everyday. I did enjoy the Native American voice and background into their lives (we need more stories that showcase this) but I also wish (simile ish to other BIPOC centered stories) we focused on Indigenous joy instead of constant sadness and trauma. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use

Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Colonisation

Minor: Physical abuse

betsygrace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

I really enjoyed this. I love reading Indigenous authors and think the author did a really great job of depicting generational trauma. This gave me the same feelings I got when I read There, There by Tommy Orange. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Racism

kimveach's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

This is a very different sort of book but I ended up liking it. Parts of it are a straightforward plot about a family is trying to heal from a tragedy. Another part includes an ancestor talking about The Trail of Tears' removal of the Cherokees from their land. And the last part is about the living son's struggles with drug addiction but is told as a visit to a "darkening land".

I didn't understand all of it while I was reading it. I wish I had read this article from NPR first:  
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/02/963361391/author-brandon-hobson-on-his-new-novel-the-removed

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Medical content, Murder, Vomit, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Grief, Gun violence, Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Dementia, Drug abuse, Genocide, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Violence, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

emilyeehaw's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad

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

3.75

i feel like this is a book that will grow on me the more i think about it and the more time passes. even now having just finished it, it seems like i’m only just connecting some of the dots and realizing why certain elements were included/were important to the story.

this book does a great job of discussing grief and how it manifests differently in different people. the entire family is still struggling with the death of ray-ray, 15 years after the fact, but we see the effects of this event in vastly different ways. i liked how native american, specifically Cherokee, stories were woven into the book and provided parallels to the situations the echota family members were facing. 

my favorite storyline involved wyatt bc i find the concept of reincarnation so interesting !!! 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Drug use

colettesjourney's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic relationship

stevie's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Hate crime, Gun violence, Grief, and Genocide

ashleyjo817's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Racism

Minor: Police brutality and Suicide attempt

leahrosereads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

This was an absolutely stunning, fascinating story.  Loved the different POVs and don't think I could pick a favorite.  Each enhanced the story and gave such fantastic insight to the family's dynamic.  And the fantastical elements were such a great addition.  

The conversation around grief and how it affects everyone differently was also excellently handled.

Cannot gush enough about this one!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Police brutality, and Grief

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, and Racism

literarylion's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Pros:

• flawless incorporation of Cherokee legend into a modern-day story
• each of the perspectives were developed and distinct from one another while still maintaining an underlying narrative thread
• striking imagery

Cons:

• it's being marketed as a horror novel, but I wouldn't classify it that way
• the sci-fi/fantasy element in Edgar's story seemed incongruous at times

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Police brutality

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Cancer and Sexual content