shelbyforsythia's reviews
435 reviews

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A Beginner's Guide to Dying by Simon Boas

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hopeful reflective fast-paced

2.0

I can appreciate that these are the words of a dying man. But the “Privilege” chapter specifically encourages readers to practice gratitude by “comparing downwards” to those living in poverty, abusive situations, or less fortunate countries and I simply can’t endorse this flavor of ableism and privilege. I tried to like this book. I really did. But this chapter specifically, combined with several other odd mentions of race, gender, and drug/alcohol usage really turned me off. Boas skims the surface of what a wild and magical experience it is to be alive but never dives deep, and I prefer my grief books to be both thought-provoking AND inclusive.

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced