Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

36 reviews

ibeforem's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

Virgil is a guy who gets by by doing odd jobs for people, usually involving violence. His latest job, which he takes reluctantly due to it coming from his ex-girlfriend's father (a tribal leader), is to track down the guy who is bringing drugs onto the Reservation and "convince" him to stop. But when his nephew, who is under his care, unexpectedly overdoses on heroin, this mission becomes much more personal than Virgil expected.

I really enjoyed this debut novel and the peek it gives into life on a Reservation. Weiden expertly weaves issues that Native Americans face into this story of violence and revenge but also gives us beautiful portrayals of the Lakota culture.

Back in the time before Columbus, there were only Indians here, no skyscrapers, no automobiles, no streets. Of course, we didn't use the words Indian or Native American then; we were just people. We didn't know we were supposedly drunks or lazy or savages. I wondered what it was like to live without that weight on your shoulders, the weight of the murdered ancestors, the stolen land, the abused children, the burden every Native person carries.

This book is well worth the time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Minor: Drug use and Alcoholism

bittybren's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Alcoholism and Cursing

voxelbee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Child death, Addiction, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, and Torture

Minor: Racial slurs, Colonisation, Bullying, Car accident, and Genocide

amandaquotidianbooks's review

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Definitely dark in places, but a fast and somehow fun read! I really liked Virgil’s journey of self discovery and also hearing about the indigenous cuisine movement.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Gun violence

Moderate: Torture, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

Minor: Child death and Sexual assault

maregred's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Colonisation

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

dominicangirl's review

hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Drug use, and Racism

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Genocide, and Kidnapping

Minor: Racial slurs

thebookbabe's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

aimiller's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An intense, compelling, fascinating read. The stakes are so high from minute one, and the issues about drug trafficking, jurisdictional issues with justice, and the complications of finances on reservations are made abundantly clear without coming across as patronizing or particularly pain-porn in tone. I had a hard time putting this down, especially in the last third, and my heart was racing the entire time! Definitely recommend for folks wanting to read more books by Native authors—I think it’s deeply approachable, and grabs you in the opening chapter and doesn’t let up the whole time! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Violence

Moderate: Drug use and Alcoholism

brookey8888's review

dark emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

This started off really strong, but then I lost interest with where the story went. I loved learning more about Indian customs and beliefs. I also thought it was great/important that the author talked about how the feds literally do nothing to help in cases and the drug problems. I just wish this focused more on his vigilante stuff. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

jennifer_bush_73's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Murder, Racism, and Violence