Reviews tagging 'Violence'

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz

15 reviews

leontyna's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved this book! The story was really touching and I really liked the way it was told, through session transcripts and job applications. The main character and all her community seemed so realistic and vivid and I finished the book wanting to hear more stories about them.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Medical content

nozycozy's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I love this book it was written in a way that the MC is talking to you so I highly recommend listening to the audio book. Listening to Cara Romero was like having a cafecito with a beloved Tia. She was spilling all the tea about her life and everyone she knew in her community. I felt like a chismosa haha But in a good way 😆 The story telling was phenomenal the ups and downs, the wisdom, the reflection kept me engaged. I felt conflicted with Carmen at times but in the end she’s human and she is doing her best to change. I loved Cara’s growth. As a daughter of immigrant parents Cara’s relationship with her son really hit close to home. I would get emotional. Cara Romero’s (Cara Bonita 💅) character was very well fleshed out and complex that she felt real and human. I enjoyed listening to her story and despite her mistakes I couldn’t help but root for her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse

abnormal_shadow's review

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I didn't go into this book with a clear understanding of what it was. I listened to this as an audiobook on Libby and I would very much recommend this method. It felt like a podcast. The main character address me as a character. In the book I answer her questions, I follow her story and I check up on her. The audiobook had music, the sounds of waves and the scratching of pens and pencils on paper. The main character is flawed, she often doesn't see how she makes people actually feel. She is confident and assertive to the extent that

it took a public argument with her sister to understand how she actual hurt the people in her life (Fernando and the sister).  Its seeing the other side of a child's life, how she feels she was doing her best, her side of the day that her son left, her side of the lives of those around her, her account of events.

You can tell in the book that she is an unreliable narrator and its easy to sympathize with her until certain things click you as a reader get angry with her but not for long. She is not a bad person she is just doing bad things and doesn't understand that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Grief, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, and Stalking

Minor: Kidnapping and Pregnancy

mr_cain's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A sweet little story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Cursing

Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent

veritea's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Domestic abuse and Violence

alexisgarcia's review

emotional funny reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

i would HIGHLY recommend the audiobook for this. the main character was incredibly lovable and felt like someone i might know and love in my own life. while on the surface the main characters “monologue” seems surface level, there is actually so much depth in it. i felt like the main character became so well rounded and real as the book went on. i also loved the formatting of this book surprisingly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, and Infidelity

theabee's review

emotional sad slow-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity

Minor: Miscarriage and Addiction

emily_koopmann's review against another edition

funny reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Homophobia

bella_cavicchi's review

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5 stars. A sheer joy and a half to read. Angie Cruz has crafted what is effectively a 190-page monologue, showcasing what feels to me like one of the most distinct voices in recent literary memory. My sentimental heart was tearing up by the final few pages, but I’ll leave that for you to experience for yourself… :)

(And for anyone craving a multi-media (!) experience, reading it is well-paired with this episode of Thresholds: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5odDnfti2oq70ktRVZ4rdU?si=1379209cd6e14d86)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, and Death

Minor: Miscarriage and Infidelity

helenaeoftroy's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-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

3.75

I got choked up at the end. Finishing the book felt like I was losing a friend. I want to meet Cara Romero.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Death, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, and Miscarriage