gdhansen's reviews
278 reviews

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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? N/A

4.0

This is a very compelling book, dealing with significant trauma. It's a difficult and emotional read but the pain is tempered with flickers of love and hope in a way that keeps it from getting unbearably bleak. Backman balances many characters in such a way that the town becomes a character as well. I know many people who felt it was a slow starter - I was pretty engrossed from the beginning, but the pace definitely picks up mid-way through. Highly recommend if you can handle the difficult subject matter. I listened to the audio, which was very well done. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Rape, and Violence

Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? by Martin Luther King Jr.

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

It is very sobering how relevant this book still is, more than 50 years after it was written. Not an easy read, but an important and vital one. 

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a fun, smart middle grade read with a sweet friendship at its heart. Give this one to kids who like puzzles, games, mysteries, or The Westing Game. This would have been right up my alley around 6th grade. 

The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 A fitting finish to the Binti series. I love Okarafor's world building, and was very invested in Binti's struggles to figure out her place in the world in the midst of tumult and change. 

Home by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous emotional reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

 Although book 1 can be read as a stand-alone, this one really needs to be read with book #3 as it ends without resolution. But it's an excellent continuation of the story and I love some of the new characters introduced in this book. 

Ever After Always by Chloe Liese

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Driving the Deep by Suzanne Palmer

adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Palmer delves further into the life of space repo man Fergus Ferguson: his history, his friendships, and his anxiety. But while the author handles those topics seriously and you can practically feel the intense claustrophobia of the undersea setting, she still retains a lot of humor and fun, and this book is another adventurous romp. 

Finder by Suzanne Palmer

adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

 I bought this book because it was recommended by Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries, and it did not disappoint. It's a deftly-written page-turner with a nice balance of adventure and humor. I really like space repo man Fergus Ferguson and look forward to reading the rest of the series. 

Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This lovely book just broke me wide open! Author Adib Khorram deals with serious topics of depression, complicated family relationships, and feeling caught between two cultures, but does so with great love and warmth and compassion and hope. Highly recommended.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

5.0

Excellent book, totally engrossing. Martin manages to juggle a large number of characters and a complicated plot, and I never lost interest. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!