Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Memorial by Bryan Washington

59 reviews

emmehooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I was not a fan of this book until I realized it’s more about the journey then the outcome. The reader is supposed to create emotional subtext and themes in the blank space Washington leaves. A wonderful narrative that uses 2 perspectives, a lot of memories, and the present thought to evoke empathy, thoughts of subtle change, and what it means to build a life that’s okay, but not easy or perfect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Body shaming

greatu's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

remie's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment

priskafel12's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing sad fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

tinana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

winter_b's review against another edition

sad tense medium-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

3.25

The conversations between Benson and Mitsuko are very difficult to follow. Their communication is very unclear and no tone indicators are used to clarify their intensions or thoughts.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Racism

gladiolus17's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad 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

4.5

Awesome book with stylistic prose. Both main characters are flawed, yet lovable, and there’s a ton of funny interactions with other characters in the book. I cried at the end.

I’d recommend this book if you want to read a story about two people finding their way in life. 

Some specific things I liked:

-Getting lost on the trains in Japan is a mood. 
-I liked the line “fuck around with” the rear view mirror. Great verb. 
-Great descriptions of food, and parallels with cooking and getting to know Mitsuko.

One thing that took me out of the story is that Japan doesn’t have a tipping culture, so Mike’s dad threatening to take the money out of the Kunihiko’s tips wouldn’t be possible. This wasn’t enough to make me dissatisfied with the story as a whole, though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Racism

kasey__'s review against another edition

challenging emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Homophobia, and Death of parent

sloanefg's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment

Minor: Physical abuse

gabbygarcia's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Grief

Minor: Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail