avasbookmark's reviews
245 reviews

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

So beautiful and evocative but I wanted more answers than the book provides- sue me!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment

Wednesday's Child by Rhea Côté Robbins

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment

His Own Where by June Jordan

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Car accident, and Abandonment

You Didn't Hear This from Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip by Kelsey McKinney

adventurous funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying and Infidelity

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Infidelity and Miscarriage

Maria Chapdelaine, récit du Canada français by Hemon-L

adventurous emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Terminal illness and Grief

Minor: Racism

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

emotional funny hopeful informative sad 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? Yes

5.0

A masterpiece!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Colored Television by Danzy Senna

funny sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I thought this was a great commentary on the corrupt nature of Hollywood today, especially when it comes to tokenism and the appropriation of stories/ideas.
I know it’s all part of the dark satire angle but I had a hard time getting past the unlike-ability of almost every character in the book. I wanted to root for Jane but it was difficult.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Beautiful prose. I enjoyed how nicely everything ties together in the end. St. John Mandel is definitely one of the great writers of our time.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic