Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

128 reviews

chamolilies's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Colonisation, Rape, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Abortion, and Suicide

steffieras's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, War, Grief, Drug abuse, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Death of parent

humblej's review against another edition

dark informative reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

I couldn’t have gotten through this if not for the audiobook. Some of the writing was beautiful and it was nice to see how different generations interacted. Aunt Lola was my favorite. 

But it was difficult to connect with the characters. The disdain Olga had for everyone did not make her likable, and Pietro’s crisis was boring. Matteo is not 3D, and neither is Blanca. The

rape

was completely unnecessary. It added nothing to the story. She could have easily had the same

breakdown after failing her mission and being disregarded again by her mother

. The ending also brings into focus the selfishness of both leads. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Abortion

pferdina's review

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Colonisation, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Rape

berrypatch's review

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective 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

This book was absolutely incredible. Underscored by events in Puerto Rico and the deep sociological tension between a neglectful and manipulate mother and her pining children, Olga Dies Dreaming gives an impactful and informative insight into the impact of community, corruption of power, and pull between expectations and personal fulfillment. I cried many times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Addiction

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Outing, and Colonisation

Minor: Alcoholism, Xenophobia, Abortion, Rape, and Infertility

starlily's review

emotional informative reflective sad 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: Abandonment

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Colonisation, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Abortion, and Drug use

cass_ward's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia, Addiction, Colonisation, and Rape

Minor: Racism, Abortion, Death of parent, and Misogyny

laurenwerlinger's review

emotional informative 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, War, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content and Sexual assault

bella_cavicchi's review

emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

I began OLGA DIES DREAMING back in February and lost the opportunity to finish it when I had to return it to the library. On a flight home, I took the chance to complete it and I'm so glad I saw it through. It's an ambitious novel, and I'm not sure it hits every mark, but it has a lot of heart and that I applaud. That this is González' debut just has me excited to see what else she has up her sleeve (!).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Death, Homophobia, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Moderate: Cursing, War, Racism, Rape, and Infidelity

drbookishbiologist's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Rape, Abortion, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Racism

Minor: Drug use