karenmariscalo's reviews
43 reviews

Things I Don't Want to Know by Deborah Levy

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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? Yes

5.0

 A book about empathy for all things and people.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Medical content, and Mental illness

Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Car accident, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Mass/school shootings, Addiction, Alcohol, Fatphobia, and Bullying

Lifespan: Why We Age--And Why We Don't Have to by David A. Sinclair, Matthew D. Laplante

hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming

I'm Fine...and Other Lies by Whitney Cummings

emotional medium-paced

2.0

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

Lovely book

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Physical abuse, Body shaming, Cancer, Death of parent, Cursing, Racism, Homophobia, Violence, Pregnancy, and Forced institutionalization

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Sexual assault, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, and Eating disorder

Every Day Gets a Little Closer: A Twice-Told Therapy by Irvin D. Yalom, Ginny Elkin

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.75

Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden

emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.75

Weird and disjointed not engaging.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Death

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Sexism

How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Death of parent, and Alcoholism