Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

4 reviews

rhiannonhoward's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence

water_and_shade's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

Boy Swallows Universe is gritty and soft at the same time. The characters are well fleshed out, flawed but you love and root for them anyway. The descriptions of domestic violence, addiction and poverty are tenderly and empathetically delivered. I did take a while to warm to the book - I really loved the middle third - but also found the ending a bit of a let down, too dramatic and focused on plot twists which I think detracted from the overall pace and gentle build up delivered by the earlier chapters. Dalton really paints a picture with his words, creating an evocative snapshot of Brisbane (my hometown!) in the mid 80's - I could feel the piercing blue sky of QLD summers reading his descriptive passages. Loved the motifs dotted throughout. Overall, a beautiful book with characters that will stick with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Addiction, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Stalking, Torture, and Mental illness

waybeyondblue's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Blood, and Torture

Moderate: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

Minor: Vomit, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

elsa_clare's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Torture, Violence, and Vomit