Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

6 reviews

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

4.75

Thank you to the 2025 StoryGraph Onboarding Challenge for bringing Boy Swallows Universe into my awareness for which I listened to the audiobook.

The prompt was: 
Read a book published between 2010-2020 that fits your reader profile but excludes your most-read genre.

I had to exclude my top genre, Young Adult and include all aspects of my reader profile:

.Mainly reads fiction books that are emotional, adventurous, and dark.

.Typically chooses medium-paced books that are 300-499 pages long.

I feel like my reader profile works to mention here since this book fit perfectly! I loved it.

Initially I had a difficult time following the book as I was not sure who was who or the settings but that became much easier and the characters were all really well written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Racism, Xenophobia, Dementia, and War

librosdenopal's review against another edition

really slow and almost too much description and side stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

timmytunter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.5

I found "Boy Swallows Universe" by Trent Dalton to be an exceptional and moving novel. Dalton’s prose effectively transports the reader to 1980s suburban Australia, evoking nostalgia via pages spattered with single-scoop Gray-Nicholls cricket bats, Golden Gaytimes, Pasito soft drink, gobstoppers and clinkers, and the TV show "Sale of the Century." His unique way of writing captures the essence of the era and immerses you in the world he has created.

The book’s protagonist, Eli Bell, serves as the narrator, and Dalton has given him a distinctive voice. It seems very apt to Eli’s effervescent nature that the narration is often excitable, loquacious, and very stream-of-consciousness. This style brings Eli’s character to life and makes his experiences and emotions incredibly relatable.

The characters Dalton has created are incredibly flawed, yet in many cases, loveable people. Eli and his brother August grow up in poverty, surrounded by adults who do not behave like adults. The boys are frequently required to step into the adult role, caring for themselves and the adults in their lives, as they navigate an alcoholic father, an heroin-addicted mother, a drug dealing stepfather, and a convicted murder for a babysitter. Despite their challenging circumstances, their bond is heartwarming and their resilience is inspiring.

The book speaks of trauma and healing, family love and romantic love, what makes someone “good,” mentorship, striving for justice, loss and resilience, and redemption and forgiveness. One of the most memorable quotes from the book is a conversation between August and Eli:

‘You know what I realised in all that time with my mouth shut?'
‘What?'
'Most things people say don't need to be said,’ he says.
He taps the moon pool.
‘I’ve been thinking about all the things Lyle said to me,' August says. 'He said so many things, and I reckon all those things put together wouldn’t say as much as he said when he’d wrap his arm around my shoulder.’

I cannot deny that a certain escapist mindset is required to step out of the real world and into the pages of "Boy Swallows Universe." This fictional world is one where the traumatized, the impoverished, and the societal outcasts overcome their circumstances if they put their minds to it. And score the job of their dreams, and the girl of their dreams, to boot. Despite all the real-world details and nostalgic references, there is a distinct extra-reality note to it all. Real life often doesn’t have a happy ending. This is not to detract from the tale but merely to recognise it for its allegorical, sentimental, and idealistic nature, and its slightly saccharine ending. 

Read with the appropriate mindset, this novel is one to be savoured, as it fills you with hope and optimism. Dalton’s storytelling is captivating, and his characters leave a lasting impression. I highly recommend "Boy Swallows Universe" to anyone looking for a powerful and uplifting read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty

rhiannonhoward's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kiwichill's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

3.5

A tragic but funny book about growing up in a chaotic household where there is alcohol and drug addiction and domestic violence.  Parents are friends with ex criminals.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Medical content, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Stalking, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Vomit