Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

59 reviews

bookivore's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a beautifully written book, which was essential for this to be an enjoyable read. Why? It's big. It feels like it's bigger than it needs to be. Even though there's always plenty happening, the core plot progresses slowly. It does snowball gradually, but there are a lot of digressions. It all adds up to the overall story but if the writing hadn't been so good, it would have been excessive. 
I did enjoy this. I do think, however, that you need to be Australian to really get a lot of the content. It's always good to get an authentic Australian story, but overseas readers won't understand a lot of references.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Violence

alicx_g's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder

sharyce's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective slow-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

3.0

Overall this book wasn’t too bad, but there were just a few too many things that I didn’t like to give it a higher rating. The book took way to long for me to get into - I had to force myself to read the first half, many of the characters were unlikeable - especially Caitlyn Spies and her relationship with the protagonist Eli Bell, and although this book was written with a touch of magic realism, the whole ending just felt too unrealistic, causing the book as a whole to feel slightly disjointed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Addiction

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Death, Alcohol, Body horror, Cursing, and Drug use

Minor: Excrement, Gun violence, Bullying, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, and Blood

hannahiscrying's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

A heartwarming story of a boy in Brisbane growing up as he learns the truth of his past. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Murder, Grief, Cursing, Alcohol, and Violence

pencils's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

bookdealer's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Violence

sneako's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, and Ableism

becgoldsmith's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Violence

lenin_lover_69's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Violence