paronomaniac's reviews
234 reviews

Book of Khartoum: A City in Short Fiction by Bawadir Bashir, Arthur Gabriel Yak, Bushra al-Fadil, Hammour Ziada, Isa al-Hilu, Rania Mamoun, Ali al-Makk, Abdel Aziz Baraka Sakin, Mamoun Eltlib, Ahmed al-Malik

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Suicide

Bryant & May's Peculiar London by Christopher Fowler

funny informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

I really like Paula Hawkins and, while this isn’t my favourite of her books, she does a great job exploring themes of loneliness, love and caregiving that almost creep up on you as you read. And even when I figured out the who in the whodunnit part of the book, these themes and ideas made me want to keep reading and delve more into the characters. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, and Abandonment

Black Ice by Thomas King

emotional mysterious slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Suicide

Minor: Gun violence

Voice: Adam Pottle on Writing with Deafness by Adam Pottle

emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Gun violence

Heat Wave by Maureen Jennings

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Murder, and War

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Gun violence

William by Mason Coile

dark 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Minor: Infidelity

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Animal death