Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah

25 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. 

---

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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

msantiagocoyle's review against another edition

hopeful 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Child death

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.

---

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

bookshelf_al's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

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.

---

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

mairead_parade's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

A really beautiful story of inheritance, both of trauma and of dreams. Loved the voices of multiple people in the main character’s orbit telling his story as  they experienced it and how the author’s structural choices are rooted in the cultures he’s writing about.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Child death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Child abuse, and Terminal illness