Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

40 reviews

avgastright's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful slow-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? No

4.0

Wowzas. This was one of those undeniably excellent books that I feel will one day be studied in high schools across the globe. It discusses the burden of choices, the cyclical nature of losing, light in dark moments, crime, drugs, morality, and growing up decent despite the world demanding suffering. Brothers Eli and August were perfect. Quirky, desperate, and altogether good. Lyle was tragic. Warm, kind, and stuck in a life he wanted nothing but out of. Slim was unforgettable. Fatherly, wise, and, in spite of his past, good at heart. I especially loved what he had to say about “good” and “bad” people. Something like ‘we’re all good and we’re all bad. It’s only a matter of what we choose to do. And there is always always always a choice.’ And Robert was the perfect case study in Slim’s theory. 

My only complaints:
a) I felt that Eli fell victim to what I call “The Scout Effect,” as in when a young child is far wiser than their years and therefore their “coming of age” is ruined because they’re “coming” from wisdom already. 
b) I felt that the story was so powerful because while for me, at least, being surrounded by an international crime ring is difficult to imagine, it managed to humanize a fantastical situation. However, some elements of the story, particularly the conclusion, edged too far into the fantastical to be believable, which kind of took me out of the story. I’ll leave it at Broz’s story got a little too Batman villain-y for me to fully maintain my suspension of disbelief. 


Overall, I thought this was brilliant, powerful, funny, emotional, and a wonderful first read of the year.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Body horror

Moderate: Violence and Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcoholism and Death

ellen_nicholson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug use, Blood, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Addiction, and Domestic abuse

georgiaknight's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

---

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

quirkyaquarian's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Trent Dalton has created a phenomenal Australian contemporary fiction. I was enthralled by this story in the same way a person reads crime articles in the morning newspaper - morbidly curious, upset at what the world has come to, while deep down knowing “it could’ve been me”. 

The narrative of Eli Bell’s life and family from his young perspective felt deeply tragic and profoundly meaningful in its innocent childlike tenacity. The juxtaposition of his rambling and detail-oriented storytelling nature with his mute and seemingly omnipotent brother was expertly designed. Dalton weaves his magic in a way that leaves you questioning time and space itself.

I felt too much of myself relate to this story; perhaps not with the minute details, but it still left me shaken at witnessing my thoughts, feelings, and experiences written into words. I thank Trent Dalton deeply for capturing one of the truest and most raw Australian experiences, and for creating Eli Bell to lead it all.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail

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

---

Content Warnings

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

caittyj's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders

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.

---

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

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

---

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

---

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

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

---

Content Warnings

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