bnelson13's reviews
450 reviews

Shtum by Jem Lester

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I have major mixed feelings about this book. So heartbreaking and so beautiful, and yet, I also kinda hated it and I'm not sure why. But I absolutely sobbed at the end. I can't imagine how hard it would be to raise a child with autism, let alone as a single parent with their own issues, so Ben's story is so incredibly powerful and heartbreaking. 

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

Well damn. I'm not sure what I was expecting going into this, but it wasn't quite this. This graphic novel tells the story of Kate, and some of the other women, who work in the Alberta Oil Sands, and their experiences there. And if you're a woman, then you know that this experience is as every bit of messed up as you could imagine. From continuous daily sexual harassment from the men who outnumber them 50-1, to being gaslight by men, even though she thought they were her friends, when she was r*ped, not once but twice, Kate's time in the oil sands must have been so mentally draining, especially in a time when mental health was hardly touched upon. 

I would have liked to have more about the destruction of the environment than what was touched on in the book, but this book is a memior and therefore only specific to one person. 

I really enjoyed that it is in graphic novel form, it makes it a quick read. However, I also feel like the plot jumped around quite a bit, and that an event would just start to be talked about, and then it abruptly switched to something else.

Overall, an incredible read. I'll be recommending it to others for sure.

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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

What a fun story of sisterhood! I loved reading about this little coven of witches, who grew throughout their lives together. The story was interesting and romantic and truly magical. It had a fun heist, and sad loss. It was very forward thinking and feminist, and the characters were relatable. I also loved the pages dedicated to "spells" from the Grimoire, and drinks from their distillery. I thought those were unique and fun touches. Such a great story!

Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

This was a very hard but very wonderful book to read. I always enjoy stories where it jumps between timelines, telling a story of the main character in the past and then the main character in the future until they finally meet up in the present, and this one was very well done. A lot of heavy topics in this book, not only of a much older man r*ping a young girl in his care and the consequences of that, but also some of the atrocities of WWII and the Nazi treatment of people with diversabilities. It also deals with forced sterilization and eugenics, both during the war in Europe, but also taking place in the United States. 

Susan Meissner did a wonderful job telling the stories of Rosanne and Helen, and I found that this was a hard book to put down. My heart broke over and over for Rosanne and Helen, and the others of this story, but I'm so wonderfully happy that I was able to read it. It's a really powerful story.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and War

Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill Santopolo

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

Such a beautiful love story, I was in tears by the end. I loved how the author intertwined Giovanna and Cassandra's stories together, grandmother and granddaughter. I loved that loved conquered all in the end, and lasted through the decades. My heart ached for Giovanna and Vincenzo.

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Well I definitely wasn't expecting to read this in a day. Very intriguing, and horrifiying memior. I can absolutely understand why Jennette feels the way she does about her mother. I am happy that is is getting the help that she needs to get her life back on track. I hope she has many years of happiness and healing ahead of her.

Halal Sex: The Intimate Lives of Muslim Women in North America by Sheima Benembarek

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Very interesting to read the stories of these Muslim persons living in North America and how they manage their faith, sexualities, and familial expectations.

Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

Well I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but it wasn't THAT. Absolutely amazing read, several plot twists that I DID NOT see coming, although the ending I kind of did. Definitely an engaging read, and I'm super excited that there are actual recipes at the end of the story for the ones that were mentioned IN the story itself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Outing, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Abortion, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Violence

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

Absolutely deeeelightful! If you love cheesy light mysteries with fantastic phrases such as "Good gravy on a goat farm", "On legs that felt as sturdy as melted cheese" and "Holy jumping grasshoppers", then this is the cozy mystery for you! Join Carly, owner of Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery, as she investigates the murder of her highschool ex Lyle Bagley. This little book is oozing with potential killers and you will never see the actual murderer coming. There was definitely a couple times where I said "Oohh this person did it...maybe". I can not wait to read the next two! So fun!

At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

While the ending wrapped everything up rather quickly, overall this was a good book. I throughly enjoyed the story, and seeing some of Maddie's growth throughout. I wish some of the side characters, Angus, Meg, Anna, had been a touch more fleshed out. Interesting plot, and characters.