masha_and_the_cat's reviews
372 reviews

Ékleipsis by Tamel Wino

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol

No Bones by Anna Burns

dark sad tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

dark emotional informative sad 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? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism

Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Rape, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy

Škrinjarkin dom vanbračne djece by August Cesarec

dark sad fast-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death

Moderate: Abandonment

You, Me, and the Colors of Life by Noa C. Walker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

Got bored. The style of writing is too simplistic for my taste. I didn't care for the religious overtones either. Also, the book definitely strays too far into tacky "inspiration porn" territory. And the scene where Thomas follows Janica - whom he'd only recently met - to the children's hospice, and her reaction amounts to "How nice to see him here, I hope he keeps coming"? No woman in real life, no matter how kind and trusting, would react like that to being followed, especially by someone who is hardly more than a stranger. I was surprised to see that the author is a woman too.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury

Unclean Hands by Andrew Schafer

dark informative inspiring reflective sad

4.0

A solidly written, well researched account of the life of a genius before his time. Everyone should know the story of Ignaz Semmelweis, and this book is a good starting point, with plenty of references for those who wish to learn more. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy

Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood

Taking Flight by Adrian R. Magnuson

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Charming book, for the most part. As a (beginner) birdwatcher myself, I love the birdwatching theme and how it's intervowen with Harry and Jeremy's journey. 
Would have been much better if that was the sole focus of the story; the other characters really don't contribute enough to merit taking up as much space as they do. Also, the secondary characters' chapters being in different tenses/persons than the protagonists' is just jarring and makes no sense, since all the storylines take place simultaneously.
Definitely worth reading for the Harry and Jeremy chapters, though. They paint a lovely picture of intergenerational friendship and bring a touch of humour and hope to the painful subject of living with memory loss. Sweet and gentle, and not at all cheesy. A light read, but thought-provoking and heartwarming nonetheless.
I could easily see this story as a movie, especially since birdwatching is such a visual hobby. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

Moderate: Mental illness, Car accident

Minor: Death

Zašto me ne zovu Penelopa? by Dubravka Rebić, Angelina Meringer, Milan Živanović, Jovana Viculin, Miloš Lazović, Katarina Fiamengo Alispahić, Tihana Smiljanić

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Prekrasne priče, napisane iz srca. Neke će vas nasmijati, neke dirnuti do suza, ali zajedničko im je što iz svake od njih zrači ogromna ljubav prema životinjama.

Priče iz davnine by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective

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

5.0

Čipolino by Gianni Rodari

adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0