carolineolesky's reviews
71 reviews

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Too much racially insensitive language. Lehane could have conveyed the time period without this.

That being said, incredibly entertaining and couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to seeing the movie.

The Queer Girl Is Going to Be Okay by Dale Walls

emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.5

The Queer Girl is Going to Be Okay is an adorable high school story that highlights the power of queer relationships of all kinds. This is a fun read, perfect for folks that love Ladybird or 
early 2000s high school movies/rom coms. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Shooting for Stars by Christine Webb

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Shooting for Stars is a cute YA book about a nerdy girl's coming of age, perfect for fans of John Green or Rainbow Rowell. While a bit corny to me as an adult reader, I am sure that middle school me would have eaten this up. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC!

Washington's Gay General: The Legends and Loves of Baron Von Steuben by Josh Trujillo

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

4.5

A really sweet graphic novel about a legendary gay man who most have never heard of. I am really glad to have found this at my library.

The Midcoast by Adam White

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Wonderful book about a town I love tremendously. Enjoyed the real parts of Damariscotta that peeked through, though not mentioning Reny’s is a crime. Only missing points because I don’t love male authors that clearly make their protagonists a more adventurous version of themself.

The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I really enjoyed this book but mostly because it really resonated with where I am in life right now as in my early/mid-20's. I spend so much time wondering about my place in the world, my values, and how to integrate my passions into my work. I am also navigating the challenges of maintaining my support system after graduating college. This was not the most amazing or groundbreaking novel, but it was good to read at this time in my life.

Snowden by Ted Rall

informative fast-paced

4.0

Quick read with great cartoons. Being a follower of this case for a while it presented little new information but had a good and thought provoking perspective.

Just a Hat by S. KHUBIAR

slow-paced

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

3.0

I picked this up because, like protagonist Joseph, my dad was a Jewish middle schooler in 1970s Texas. Joseph’s ostracism from the community is true to my dad’s experience, but beyond that I found a lot of this book improbable and boring. The story was surprisingly hard to follow for middle grade fiction and too many lessons are packed in. I hoped I would want to buy this for the library I work in but unfortunately it will be a pass from me.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

King: A Life by Jonathan Eig

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I didn’t expect to cry reading this but the epilogue did me in. As white people, we have smoothed over King’s philosophies, tokenizing him and transforming into someone he was not. I am angry that we have done that and I am angry that because of that we have not yet seen his vision through.