Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon

9 reviews

tinytrashqueen's review

emotional sad medium-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? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Sexual assault

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

This book was intense, sad (yet funny), and beautiful. I think despite how much was accomplished and complete/ resolved (and by complete/ resolved, I don’t mean ‘all is well and good’ but ‘okay, that answers that’) I felt there were many other characters I wanted to hear from again. I just feel like there were abrupt ‘tie-offs’ to a few side characters.  

I think the variety of reactions to Jonathan and Web’s stories allows most queer people to relate on some level but it is really interesting to view with the historical and cultural lenses which are more specific to the characters, location and time period. 

I have recently come to love queer historical fiction and books like this are why.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Cultural appropriation

eloise_vi's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Colonisation

quinnyquinnquinn's review

emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

darina_kisel_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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

Made me think of some things I didn’t understand before

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Violence

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

modernmatilda's review

challenging emotional inspiring sad tense slow-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

4.0

Wow, this book. I picked it up on a whim after seeing it on Novel Neighbors bookstagram page. Read the first four pages in the store and couldn't leave without it. 

It took me a minute to get past the over use of 60s slang, but when I got into the emotional scenes with Web and Johnathan, I wouldn't escape the book's pull. I just wanted Web and Johnathan to be happy!!! 

This book made me cry, a lot. I felt big emotions while reading it. There were also scenes that felt just like a David Bowie song. 

I really, really loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

captainwinter's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

The idea of the book and some of its execution is great, but I just couldn’t get past the writing style. It like it was trying way too hard to be edgy and different and some things/words/phrases are repeated too many times. Idk, I don’t think this was my book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Grief

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This came recommended to me by a coworker. I really liked the historical setting which lent itself to a lot of the issues and topics covered by the author.
The main character was likeable and I loved the addition of pop culture and music references. 
I'm not Indigenous or Two-Spirit so I can't speak to whether the representation will ring true and authentic to folks who are, but I think the author tried to be inclusive and respectful of their experiences without stepping on toes and depicting it too intimately.
It's a sweet love story with lots of dark content but a hopeful ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Minor: Police brutality and War

conversion "therapy"

miserablemoons's review

5.0

I couldn't put this book down, the characters were written and opened my eyes to the things I need to see in myself and that I'm not a burden and j don't have to change. 
please r as the content warnings though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape