Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Kleine Stadt der großen Träume by Fredrik Backman

196 reviews

adorablyandie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic friendship, Rape, Bullying, and Sexism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Xenophobia

gordee's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Bullying, Rape, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Murder, and Gun violence

bookishinnj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

 “Time always moves at the same rate, only feelings have different speeds.”

Beartown is a dying town with only one thing going for them, their hockey club and this year is going to be the year their junior ice hockey team puts them back on the map. It's just what the community needs, but this bright light soon has a dark shadow cast over it. The already struggling townsfolk will be come more divided than ever and the one thing that brings them together is about to tear them apart.

This is such a difficult book to review without giving too much away, there's really no middle ground. The first time I tried to read this I struggled and stopped but I know so many who loved it that I knew I had to give it another try and I'm so happy I did. The story tackles some complex and deep rooted issues that many are faced with every day by telling the story through the lives of a group characters who are very different from each other. Backman also does this by using what I found to be a really unique writing style. It's impossible not to immerse yourself in the thoughts, feelings and actions of the characters because they feel like they are people you know. While going in blind was perfect for me, I suggest checking trigger warnings for anyone who may want to steer clear of some heavy topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Addiction, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexism

hannevdss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, and Death of parent

trufflenerd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

If Big Little Lies was about hockey 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Drug use, and Alcoholism

Minor: Child abuse

unnurarna4's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child death, Bullying, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Classism, and Homophobia

beankels's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

I started this book not loving it and not liking any of the characters. In classic Backman fashion, the story started to come together and the minor characters made the book and story. I can see why he could make this into a trilogy, there are so many complex minor characters to explore. I didn’t love the menacing foreshadowing at the end. It honestly made me read some spoilers. I didn’t want to just whiz through the next books to find an answer and wanted to enjoy them for what they were. TBD if I regret it. Either way, I appreciate the though Backman put into these characters and look forward to more of them in the other 2 books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, and Death of parent

pikkumarja's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Kirja sai minut vihaamaan jääkiekkomiehiä ja kiehumaan raivosta.

Samalla rakastuin tapaan kertoa tarina monesta näkökulmasta ja joidenkin ristiriitaiseen, mutta pettämättömään oikeudentuntoon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism and Blood

Minor: Vomit

andrewhatesham's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm

Moderate: Cursing, Child death, and Sexism

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Racism, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Classism, Vomit, Gun violence, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Pregnancy

meb1916's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I feel so conflicted about this book. It's so beautiful and so painful. I read it because of a recommendation that definitely didn't touch on how truly dark it is. It took me a long time to finish this because of how difficult the subject matter is. It's written about so truthfully that it hurts to read. You can easily imagine your own community, friends and family in the place of the people of Beartown. 
I think this book is incredibly important for a lot of reasons, and I'm grateful I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death