cghegan's reviews
461 reviews

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.75

The conceit had a lot of potential, but it suffered from poor pacing and thin characters. It felt like not much at all happens in the first 200 pages to develop the characters, their relationships, or the world we find ourselves in. Not enough intention was given to each scene to propel the reader forward, and when we arrive at “the big turn” at the end, it felt so rushed and chaotic, and there wasn’t any real impact.

We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia

informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma

Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Abortion

Thicker Than Water: A Memoir by Kerry Washington

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.0

I picked this up upon learning that Kerry Washington, like me, learned as an adult that she was donor-conceived. It is a memoir that is not about that and completely focused on it—what is helpful to another writer is how she reflects on and illustrates a rippling sense of unease and tension she has felt throughout her life but never understood. The construction and choices she makes are informative and helpful in understanding craft choices, though I feel a super fan of her acting would appreciate the in between a lot more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Eating disorder, Infertility, Abortion, Alcohol, Dysphoria

Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting

Lie with Me by Philippe Besson

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo

challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and THE WASHINGTON POST by Martin Baron
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.

It’s a personal thing, really, but I couldn’t sit comfortably with the reverent tone given to Bezos. Perhaps the narrative looks at his ownership of the Post more critically and fairly later on, but it felt icky listening to this. Will read the revelatory “takeaways” elsewhere.

The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World by Max Fisher
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

It’s nothing I didn’t already know or read about, but is being touted as something so revolutionary… I’m just not who needs to read tbis.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

dark informative mysterious sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World by Malcolm Harris

challenging dark informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, Classism

Minor: Child death, Slavery, Suicide, Xenophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic