danielnski's reviews
108 reviews

The Group by Mary McCarthy

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed the structure of this book and how it showed the evolutions of the characters. It is long (but not slow) and I wonder how much of my discomfort/dislike of parts of this book comes from not necessarily understanding or relating to the historical context. All in all, I think there is a lot in this book though that is still relevant today and I really enjoyed the process of reading it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Grief and Suicide attempt

Minor: Infertility, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Blindness by José Saramago

challenging dark sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

The way it is written is very disorienting, which is very apt for the topic and makes it feel a lot like the early days of the COVID lockdowns. But that does make it quite the challenge to get through. Overall, I loved how the style fit the substance of the book, but this is more of a book I am glad I can say I have read rather than one I will revisit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

A classic that is very silly, fun, and British. 

My Father Left Me Ireland: An American Son's Search for Home by Michael Brendan Dougherty

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

The writing is beautiful and the exploration of Irish culture, history, and language has made me really want to learn more. At a time when it feels really complicated to have a nationalistic sense of identity, seeing how he related to the history of Ireland and how that informs his worldview was a really interesting journey to take. 

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

adventurous funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

4.5

I think there are uneven elements to the plotting of the book, but at the end of it, I enjoyed it so much that I didn't mind them. Aru is a fun heroine and all of the supporting characters, mythological and otherwise, feel very real and age-appropriate. I loved getting glimpses of different aspects of Hindui mythology through this book, and am excited to learn more about some of the stories and figures referenced in this book. 

The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts: Mini-Meditations for Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us by Kristin Chenoweth

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Whatever I missed structure-wise visually about the book was more than made up for by hearing Kristen read it and getting to experience her joy and strength. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Grief

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Lots of fascinating tidbits and references built into Ru's narrative. It is amazing to see how far he's come in his life and the doors he has been able to open for himself and others. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Grief

There There by Tommy Orange

challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I wish I could give this book two ratings. I loved the writing, the characters, and how all of the context and history was woven into the narrative. However, I am frustrated by how much of the plot and what linked the characters was their trauma and by how the story ended. I can understand how that is a reflection of many people's experiences, though, and appreciate how the novel contextualized it. I come away feeling very frustrated by the book but also appreciating its beauty and all it must have taken to write it. I don't think I ever want to revisit it but I also desperately want to read the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail