Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

6 reviews

lizburny's review against another edition

challenging dark funny slow-paced

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

4.5

It is a book that pulls you in and pushes you away. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Ableism, Bullying, Grief, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Addiction, Animal death, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Islamophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Cursing, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Medical trauma

beansrowning's review

challenging dark funny 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It took several months of non-committal reading and a month of solid reading to knock this out. 

Wow. Not sure where to begin. I both loved many sections and hated an equal amount.

I get why so many people just don't finish it, but I'm happy I did. Not my favorite book, but one that has (maybe a bit too much) to say.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Adult/minor relationship

julziez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Torture, Gore, Transphobia, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Drug use, Excrement, Homophobia, Medical content, Rape, Suicide attempt, Violence, Alcoholism, Animal death, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Death, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

edick's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.75

Man, I might be ensnared by the feelings I have from finishing this amazing piece, so the almost-5 might be impulsive, but I absolutely loved Infinite Jest.

Wallace’s style and flow of writing is truly mesmerizing. His insertion of minute details may seem sporadic at first, but as I moved through IJ I found a calculated precision that revealed itself slowly, as you see everything tie into itself. I know that this is a popular one to reread, and I plan on it, but I was so crushed when I hit the last page. I haven’t got a feeling like this since East of Eden — Wallace absolutely immerses you in a scattered mix of O.N.A.N. locales, and I was so sad to not have any more to explore.

There’s just so much I can ramble about with this one. Overall, Infinite Jest just displays so much… humanity, I’d say. I don’t think it’s for everyone, but so many elements of the lens Wallace viewed the world with ring true to me. So much incredible, subtle humor enmeshed in some absolutely desolate, crushing vignettes of Enfield’s inhabitants stumping through life. There are so many absolutely bizarre fragments here, but simultaneously it all feels so raw & authentic. 

I realized it not too far in, but the weird MFA-litbro reputation Infinite Jest has these days is absurd. Wallace’s prose is so fun, so addicting, but with pretty substantial depth and agility. It doesn’t really talk down to ya, but he throws in some interesting word choice and concepts to keep you on your toes. Yes, it’s long and winding, but like many amazing “non-linear” works its beauty simply unfolds the more you immerse yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Addiction, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicide, Homophobia, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Murder

Minor: Transphobia and Xenophobia

nickds's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Suicide, Self harm, Mental illness, Incest, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Deadnaming and Child death

alexandramillar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny slow-paced

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

4.75

One of the most challenging books I’ve read, but so well written and worth the time it took. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual content, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Addiction, Incest, Death, Drug use, and Alcohol