Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

38 reviews

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

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

davidup_15's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

Really, really heartwarming despite its dark themes, with one of the best and most uplifting endings I read this year. Eli Bell may be one of my favourite book characters of all time; his relentless desire to be a good man despite all the bad role models he has had, his incredible love for all his family and friends despite their flaws, and his insatiable thirst to tell stories honestly inspire me. The writing of this book is also exquisite; Trent Dalton practices what he preaches in terms of focussing on small details and using that to enhance his storytelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Torture, and Violence

sharyce's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective 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

3.0

Overall this book wasn’t too bad, but there were just a few too many things that I didn’t like to give it a higher rating. The book took way to long for me to get into - I had to force myself to read the first half, many of the characters were unlikeable - especially Caitlyn Spies and her relationship with the protagonist Eli Bell, and although this book was written with a touch of magic realism, the whole ending just felt too unrealistic, causing the book as a whole to feel slightly disjointed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Addiction

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Death, Alcohol, Body horror, Cursing, and Drug use

Minor: Excrement, Gun violence, Bullying, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, and Blood

zoegrace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

Fabulous audiobook narrator.

I couldn't stop listening to this book. It can be quite a heavy read due to the nature of the content however Dalton guides the reader through the story with charm, hilarity and love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Torture

bookdealer's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

sneako's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, and Ableism

lenin_lover_69's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Violence