Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage

26 reviews

joshhornbeck's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

3.5

FIRST THOUGHTS:
The characters are richly drawn and so much is given in the layered subtext of the novel. I love the way the film explores misogyny, deconstructs traditional masculine codes, and even looks at homosexual desire - and written in a time when that was rare to find in a Western. The way the novel jumps between point of view is also really compelling, giving us insights into characters other than the white menu at its center. The language and sentence structure throughout is a bit too convoluted for my tastes - phrasings and sentences are organized in ways that often get themselves List before they reach the end. But the characters themselves are richly drawn.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Blood

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Genocide, Self harm, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

saldre's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

The Power of the Dog is a hidden literary gem. I didn't know this book existed until I watched the movie on Netflix. It's a beautifully written, complex psychological drama about 2 brothers on a Montana ranch in the 1920s. It's a thought provoking look at good versus evil, toxic masculinity, repressed homosexuality, and alcoholism. Don't miss out on this book! Also, make sure to read the afterward written by Annie Proulx. In the afterward, the reader learns that the author Thomas Savage took characters & situations from his own life and included it in this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

coltons1996's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Suicide

colinjames's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism

prm97's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Homophobia, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Antisemitism

emily842752's review against another edition

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death