Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

20 reviews

milesofkiles's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction

poppyseedromance's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

0.25

I don’t know how this book was published. I could barely finish it. There were tons of grammatical and continuity errors, the descriptions of everyone were way too sexual, and none of the characters were even a little relatable.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

owlliecat's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

While this is typically not a type of Novel I would read, I did find it intriguing. I've never read a novel before we're an older woman pursuing a younger man was the focus of the novel. There is not one character that I actually grew to love oh, but I was fascinated with all of them. I did not feel that it was a happy book with a happy ending, but I feel that the author got the point of self-reflection, obsession, and complexity across. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Infidelity

theabbadook's review against another edition

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Fatphobia

stitchnlich's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

This book was a train wreck, in that it was grotesque, obscene even, but I couldn’t have looked away even if I wanted to.  The book introduces its prickly, unlikable narrator with its uncomfortable first sentence and it doesn’t get better from there in terms of allowing the reader feel at ease.  I don’t think it is a coincidence that the character after which the book is called is named in a way that calls back to the author of another controversial book about obscene sexual interests, or to a famous murderer, or to a hated dictator.  It is well written and thought-provoking but unnerving and uncomfortable.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

srm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Addiction, Kidnapping, Cursing, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

mariexcelsior's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Sexual harassment

bootsmom3's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Fatphobia, and Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, and Drug use

liv_camryn's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

1.5

Firstly, I need to admit that I’m not the target audience for this type of book. I chose to read this in a effort to step out of my comfort zone and to get out of a reading slump. 

Secondly, don’t let the cover make you think this is a romance - It’s more of a character study told from the perspective of a middle aged female professor, who, in my opinion, is completely unhinged. I wouldn’t go into this trying to like any of the characters - they all pretty much suck. 

My biggest problem with the book is that it brings up an abundance of important issues, such as the impact aging has on women, power differentials, addiction, depression and sexuality just to start. However, it never actually does anything with the issues it brings up. Nothing is ever resolved. There’s absolutely no character growth whatsoever. 

All of that being said, I thought the writing was done well and the narrative was engaging. I think if these kinds of books are your thing, you’d probably enjoy this book.
I can honestly say that I’m glad I read this if only for the fact the I’m happily running back to my plot driven, fast paced, fantasy novels and spicy romances.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, and Body shaming

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Sexism

kassfromtheinternet's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Self harm, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt