Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

46 reviews

everythingemily97's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, and Blood

emjrey's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful tense medium-paced

4.0

I found this a curious mix of beautiful prose, with brutal and heartbreaking scenes, some of which are hard to stomach. I found the first third to a half a bit waffly and I didn't quite know where it was headed but the end and resolution was worth it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Torture, and Vomit

meganjeg's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read which makes it so interesting when the subject matter is around suburban poverty, drugs, abuse and neglect.

For better or worse, I primarily read to be entertained and uplifted and whilst this book is many things, it isn’t those two. So it did take me a few sittings over a number of months to read this book. 

I would recommend spending time with Eli Bell and his dysfunctional family. It’s a coming of age story that swaps out cliches for the realities of generational trauma. Plus, a cracking crime story. 

This book is grim but spectacular. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse and Suicidal thoughts

booksforsarah's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

I had trouble with this books pacing. At times there was intense actions scenes where I couldn’t put the book down, and then other times there was literally pages of internal monologue that had me nodding off. I think if the pace was a bit more consistent I would have enjoyed the reading experience a lot more. 

I can definitely appreciate the good writing, it probably just isn’t the book for me and that’s okay. 

As an Australian though, I loved it. I loved seeing references to Australian slang and brands and places ect and seeing my home country so explicitly represented 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

bridgie_didge's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Car accident

ardour's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol

praises the police!

avgastright's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

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

4.0

Wowzas. This was one of those undeniably excellent books that I feel will one day be studied in high schools across the globe. It discusses the burden of choices, the cyclical nature of losing, light in dark moments, crime, drugs, morality, and growing up decent despite the world demanding suffering. Brothers Eli and August were perfect. Quirky, desperate, and altogether good. Lyle was tragic. Warm, kind, and stuck in a life he wanted nothing but out of. Slim was unforgettable. Fatherly, wise, and, in spite of his past, good at heart. I especially loved what he had to say about “good” and “bad” people. Something like ‘we’re all good and we’re all bad. It’s only a matter of what we choose to do. And there is always always always a choice.’ And Robert was the perfect case study in Slim’s theory. 

My only complaints:
a) I felt that Eli fell victim to what I call “The Scout Effect,” as in when a young child is far wiser than their years and therefore their “coming of age” is ruined because they’re “coming” from wisdom already. 
b) I felt that the story was so powerful because while for me, at least, being surrounded by an international crime ring is difficult to imagine, it managed to humanize a fantastical situation. However, some elements of the story, particularly the conclusion, edged too far into the fantastical to be believable, which kind of took me out of the story. I’ll leave it at Broz’s story got a little too Batman villain-y for me to fully maintain my suspension of disbelief. 


Overall, I thought this was brilliant, powerful, funny, emotional, and a wonderful first read of the year.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Gore

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism and Death

ellen_nicholson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

georgiaknight's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Police brutality

quirkyaquarian's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Trent Dalton has created a phenomenal Australian contemporary fiction. I was enthralled by this story in the same way a person reads crime articles in the morning newspaper - morbidly curious, upset at what the world has come to, while deep down knowing “it could’ve been me”. 

The narrative of Eli Bell’s life and family from his young perspective felt deeply tragic and profoundly meaningful in its innocent childlike tenacity. The juxtaposition of his rambling and detail-oriented storytelling nature with his mute and seemingly omnipotent brother was expertly designed. Dalton weaves his magic in a way that leaves you questioning time and space itself.

I felt too much of myself relate to this story; perhaps not with the minute details, but it still left me shaken at witnessing my thoughts, feelings, and experiences written into words. I thank Trent Dalton deeply for capturing one of the truest and most raw Australian experiences, and for creating Eli Bell to lead it all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail