Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Vagrants by Yiyun Li

3 reviews

martinaib's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Phenomenal. The book follows several characters at once and how their destinies intertwine. The transitions were so smooth, consecutive and well-done. Amazing work with the characters and the mirror effects between them; beautiful examination of how nature and society correspond to great challanges; stimulating food for thought; great build up of the plot line. My words would never be enough.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Torture, and Vomit

marjoleinvanderspoel's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective 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? Yes

5.0

In tears. Wow wow wow. Brb buying all of Yiyun Li's books like right now.

No but seriously. What a rollercoaster. Proper slow burn at the start (100 pages for a single morning) but boy was the pay off worth it! Nuanced and gorgeous prose, so many perspectives and insights, gray morals and clashes of generations and ideologies. I'm not being very coherent but please read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Misogyny, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Vomit

Necrophilia occurs but is not described in detail. Trigger warning for politically justified violence/dictatorship.

emmajanereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• 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

Complex characters and a tragically realistic context makes The Vagrants a heavy but engrossing read. All the characters and their stories are brilliantly interwoven and the writing style and content of the story seemed to grab my from my very core. As someone with very little knowledge of the politics in China in the late 1970s, this was a heartbreaking insight into the goings on. Particularly poignant considering current unrest in Hong Kong. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Vomit