callanisreading's reviews
196 reviews

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad fast-paced

4.0

Say Nothing is the story of Jean McConville, a Belfast woman born Protestant, converted to Catholicism, and eventually disappeared by the IRA amidst rumors of being an informant for the British. But within the mystery of Jean's disappearance lies a more sprawling story about the violence of The Troubles. In this history of murder and intrigue, Radden Keefe chronicles the guerilla warfare that devastated the streets of Belfast and examines the legacy of The Troubles on the land, the people, and the psyche of Northern Ireland.  

Nectar by Upile Chisala

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

Chisala whittles down years of love, trauma, and joy into life-affirming lines that are fit for social media. Her second poetry anthology is a celebration of Black excellence and confers wisdom that transcends identity. This easy-to-read collection is an uplifting addition to the Malawian literary canon.

Dreams in a Time of War by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Ngũgĩ approaches adolescence in the midst of Kenya's struggle for independence. In his memoirs, he details his life-long search for knowledge and the ways colonialism, rebellion, class, religion, and tradition shape the man he will one day become. This moving portrait of a country's beginnings explores a complex history that has left an indelible legacy on Kenya and wa Thiong'o.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

Whenever she nears a chemistry breakthrough, Elizabeth Zott finds herself thwarted by men: intimidated by her academic prowess, envious of her success, or angry she doesn't welcome their sexual advances. After being driven out of research, Elizabeth accepts a lucrative opportunity to apply her skills as a chemist on a daytime cooking show — and proceeds to inspire a feminist revolution. In this quirky, easy-to-read novel, Garmus decries the patriarchy in schools, homes, and workplaces the world over.

Trust by Hernán Díaz

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

 When the wife of a wealthy recluse dies under mysterious circumstances, a novelist is inspired to create art that imitates life. But the wealthy recluse does not want the novel to be the last word on the matter; Trust is a compilation of multiple perspectives on the event. In this multi-part story, Diaz explores the subjective nature of truth, the stories upon which we build our identities, and the ways pride can blind us to reality.

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

 A student responds to an ad from a teacher, with earnest hopes of saving the world. The dialogue that ensues explores the power of myth in popular imagination and encourages us to question facets of life we take for granted. In this novel, Quinn explores the Judeo-Christian origin story, drawing upon it for inspiration to live in harmony with the natural world.

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

adventurous funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

In 1986, the Los Angeles Public Library burned in a spectacularly hot, incredibly destructive fire. The news was eclipsed by the tragedy of Chernobyl, but in The Library Book, Orlean revisits the mysterious blaze, the eccentric characters involved, and the fallout from setting hundreds of thousands of books aflame. In this book that is part true crime, part human interest, part love song to libraries, Orlean explores the role of the public library as a place to hold our ideas, hopes, and dreams. 

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

Nonagenarian Ptolemy Grey lives alone, struggling with memory loss and sleeping between decaying stacks of newspaper, photographs, and boxes. When a young woman named Robyn assumes the role of his caretaker, she helps to clear Ptolemy’s house and mind; for the first time in decades, he wants to think about the future. In this tender meditation on love, loss, and legacy, Mosley explores the ways we live through memory. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

adventurous dark sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

When four indigenous young men stumble upon a herd of elk in the midst of a snowstorm, they shoot with gleeful abandon. Their memorable day of hunting comes at the cost of their hunting rights — and their lives. In this chilling tale, a mother seeks revenge in a ten-year hunt across the American Midwest that leaves blood and destruction in her wake. 

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

hopeful informative reflective 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

3.0

A Wisconsin family finds their world forever changed when their son Claude wants to wear a dress to school. By moving to Seattle with their daughter Poppy, they start over with her past as a secret — but as their carefully woven lies unravel, they must confront the realities of her identity. In this tender, thoughtful reflection on the choices trans youth and their families make, Frankel ponders the secrets we all carry.