danielnski's reviews
112 reviews

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, 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, Alcoholism

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, 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, Colonisation

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

Animal Farm by George Orwell

5.0

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Timely and timeless. It is a wonder that a story that is so harrowing can also have such an undercurrent of hopefulness to it. This is my first Octavia Butler book I have read and I am going to have to pace myself so I don't become too obsessive about reading the rest. 

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

challenging emotional funny hopeful fast-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? Yes

4.75

Loved this book and the pacing. Jolene is such an interesting and messy character and I appreciated how this book laid out how she coped (and didn't) with her trauma. There were some parts with the final third of the book that didn't resolve for me as cleanly as many of the other plot developments, but I have already recommended this to two of my coworkers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent

Minor: Sexism, Toxic relationship

Love That Story by Jonathan Van Ness

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5