Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh

47 reviews

trashkatchewan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

This was a great read, much better than Eileen and really gripping in its rhythm. I crashed through it in an evening and I'm glad I just pushed through, not a story I want to dwell on because it was just heartbreaking and then obviously the amount of slurs was just egregious , but it was absolutely of quality in terms of writing style, conveyance of the character's issues, and tone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

sel_reads's review

1.5

I had to force myself to finish this and it's only 145 pages. There is something to be argued regarding whether it is appropriate to use the slurs written in this book given the identity of the author. Specifically the N-word used on the second to last page. It was already awful to read the words bl*ckie to describe Black background figures, the N-word was overkill and inappropriate. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Homophobia and Physical abuse

Use of the N-word on page 144.

book_slay's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Cursing, Homophobia, and Alcoholism

isalime's review

dark sad 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

2.0

Rated 2 stars on 09/21 - I didn't enjoy reading the story - and not because it's dark, sad, or gross. I found it boring and a little confusing. The story reminded me of The Trial where the MC has  been accused of a crime but has no idea what's going on. I have an upcoming book club and perhaps the discussion will point out themes/hidden meanings or clear up some things.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Homophobia

espears's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I keep seeing stuff about McGlue being a pirate story?? It is not. McGlue is an alcoholic sailor, struggling to deal with himself and the reality of what happened between him and his best friend. TW: There are a lot of homophobic/racist slurs being flung around here. The prose is beautiful. The journey of self-loathing and reflection that McGlue experiences over the course of these pages felt visceral. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Homophobia, Blood, Alcoholism, Cursing, Racial slurs, and Racism

nina5sophie's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

2.5

sexist, racist(!), homophobic. But it was literally a love story between an alcoholic man, who can't remember a single thing and a rich man, who's been killed by him. Would have been a 3 to a 3.5 star, but because of all the sexism racism homophobia it's a 2.5. It was literally too much, why did she have to write the book like that?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Racism

rogueoneapologist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Racism, Addiction, Homophobia, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Violence, Self harm, and Murder

readerette's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.5

The writing style made sense for the character's inner voice, but it was difficult to get a lot of meaning from it sometimes. This definitely feels intentional, and while I appreciate why the author did it, it also made the story and characters harder to follow.

I'm glad it is a novella; a whole novel of this writing style and this level of darkness would have been too much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Misogyny

amandayounglund's review

dark mysterious sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Gore, and Homophobia

crow6e098's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Addiction