Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah

17 reviews

mandaazzi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

The change in perspective from chapter to chapter is an effective writing tool to provide a full understanding of the effects of intergenerational trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Alcoholism, Cursing, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, and Domestic abuse

shlymiller's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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

3.5

Compelling and deeply hopeful story. I think I would have benefited from reading a physical copy or maybe just having a family tree in front of me. I wasn’t always sure who in Ever’s family was the narrator at any given time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Drug abuse

biblio_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, and Physical abuse

biobeetle's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Drug use

lilcoppertop's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Racism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Vomit, Violence, Domestic abuse, Death, Grief, Drug use, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

lyndsay_bibliophile's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad slow-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

5.0

This book is an experience - filled with characters so real you'll find yourself laughing with them one minute and hurting for them the next. A must-read for anyone who appreciates a slow burn.

Hokeah's storytelling is pure magic - raw and honest, weaving in humor and tenderness. The shift between voices takes some getting used to initially. Each voice is distinct, each narrative contributing to the story of a family grappling with love, loss, and historical trauma.

I found myself relating to each character, seeing echoes of my own loved ones in their struggles and triumphs. Vincent stole my heart with his quiet wisdom, but every character resonated in a way that felt deeply personal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Addiction, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Grief, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

bookrecsondeck's review against another edition

emotional tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Police brutality

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Drug use

Minor: Pedophilia

eve81's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Police brutality, Child abuse, Racism, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? Yes

4.5

this book was beautiful and raw. such a great depiction of family dynamics and character development. i wish this was longer though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Colonisation, Drug use, Infidelity, Violence, Child death, and Police brutality

gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-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

4.25

Calling for a Blanket Dance was such a heartbreakingly tender read into the life of a part-Cherokee, part-Mexican man named Ever, as told from the perspective of his many many family members (and eventually, from his own). I really loved how this book refuses to shy away from the many societal issues that continue to affect Indigenous communities, from methamphetamine use to rampant poverty to military indoctrination, all as a direct result of the U.S. government's continual abuse and neglect. 

The beginning of Ever's story is heartbreaking, showing the myriad of ways in which the circumstances of his life continually work against his success. And yet, as the story continues, we see this young man discover himself and his purpose; though he is by no means perfect, readers see the ways in which Ever shows up for his kids and his community on a steadfast and continuous basis. 

At times, the narrative felt like it prioritized telling rather than showing the events that occur in the book, but other than that I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to others, though not without checking content warnings beforehand. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Police brutality, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Drug use