Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

89 reviews

philomathean's review against another edition

dark hopeful tense fast-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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Gore, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Gaslighting, Rape, Terminal illness, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Classism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse

larrakyleen's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Child abuse, and Child death

Moderate: Mental illness and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty and Alcoholism

rosefl's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

This book reads like a superficial understanding of women. It relies heavily on the stereotypes of rich, white, suburban housewives. And in a book with a fantastical element such as a vampire, Hendrix still decided to include racist stereotypes in addition to the sexism. There are times where it seems like Hendrix is crafting a character that is more complex than her role as a housewife, but it’s then washed away with a desire to maintain the appearance of an easy and happy life. A Black mother wants to know what’s happening to her daughter, yet somehow is a poor mother and only has lite beer and kool aid to offer guests. Young men wanting to protect their neighborhood are chalked up to be thugs and gangsters (never mind that no Black man would talk to a white woman like Hendrix wrote, even in 2022 because of what could happen). Even after all is said and done, the women of this book club write off the Black kids who died because while you can’t save everyone, at least you finally did something when it was your own kids. I’m not sure how these are “relevant examples of sociopolitical injustices” can “satisfy any literary appetite (Foreword Reviews, starred review).” 

So many things in this book were uncalled for, as they contributed nothing to the plot/story. Patricia’s ear getting ripped off not even two chapters in. Slick being raped and dying as a result. Bennet abusing Grace (but only when he drinks). If these things were added to emphasize that their lives are not as perfect as we believe, there are so many ways to achieve that without having them deal with such levels of violence when it does not progress the story. And Patricia being slightly aroused when facing James in an attempt to spare her daughter? It just doesn’t seem realistic. Which is ironic for a book trying to root itself in “realism” with its’ stereotypes.

As a young Black woman, I simply did not enjoy this book. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the groundbreaking book that reviews and booktok claim it to be. The horror element was there, as there were parts that made me squirm and put the book down for a breather. But those… four paragraphs sprinkled throughout the book cannot make up for the poor attempt of social commentary on race, class, and sex in the deep south in the 90s. Many times I thought of dnf-ing this book, but I persevered. I’m just not sure if it was worth it. One thing I am sure of is that I regret spending my money on buying this book. If anything, at least get it from the library. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Vomit

jordangddrd's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.75

does grady hendrix write the female friendships in his books as kind of homoerotic or am i projecting my own interpersonal issues onto his work? i guess we'll never know

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Dementia, and Vomit

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Animal death

Minor: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, and Alcoholism

goodbyelore's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.75

This is a book for people who enjoy Dead Dove Do Not Eat, dark fiction. Enjoyable if a bit slow but the pace is fitting for the characters, though frustrating at times. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Dementia, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Violence, Body horror, Suicide attempt, Racism, Hate crime, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

lacunaboo's review against another edition

dark funny 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

4.5

I tore through these 400 pages in less than 3 days! I loved the characterization and themes. It was funny in places, then when the horror elements came here and there it was kind of a shock just how gory or horrifying they were - but the story never dwelled long on the these facets. So even though this is a horror novel, I took away a sense of a fun romp that had you cheering on some oppressed Southern housewives of the 1990s.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Gore

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Classism, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

ch3rrywine's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

good for her literary universe

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Body horror, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcoholism and Animal death

marlenealina's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

1.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Medical trauma

snowforest's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Xenophobia

yustawrites's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

What a joy to read Grady's writing for the first time! The plot was tense and emotional. A few times I audabily said "OMG". After 55% I couldn't put it down for a second. 

The characters were all so realistic and I treated them like my own friends. I cared for them. Patricia and Slick 💖 This book made me tear up a few times. 

Others say the Nazi references were weird and unnecessary but for me it added that extra layer of connecting to background characters. This is not a book to skim read. 

Half a star taken away because I don't think it has a profound cultural or otherwise impact. I am not sure about its rereadability. Quarter of a star taken away because of that one super extravert character - Kitty, I love you but honestly shush 😂. 

I am sad it ended, but waiting patiently for Amazon's TV show. Hope it will do it justice! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Alcoholism