townmarshboy's reviews
32 reviews

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.

too gross for me. not exactly what i’m going for in horror!!

A Violent History of Benevolence: Interlocking Oppression in the Moral Economies of Social Working by A.J. Withers, Chris Chapman

challenging informative slow-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Misogyny, Confinement, Police brutality, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Physical abuse

The Dinner by Herman Koch

challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Stigma: The Machinery of Inequality by Imogen Tyler

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

Bunny by Mona Awad

challenging dark funny mysterious 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

5.0

I didn’t understand what was going on until the last ~20 pages and suddenly the whole book came together. I don’t typically read magical realism, but I am glad I picked this up because it was a great read. 

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

The whole time I was reading this book, I was thinking, how did this even get published? 2.5 stars because the plot was interesting (until the end, when

everything was ruined by the twist

) and i felt that Flynn strongly developed an atmosphere in this novel so it was very immersive. This is my first Gillian Flynn read and I’m not sure if I’ll read anything else after this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Murder, Gaslighting, Child death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence

Minor: Medical content

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

adventurous challenging funny tense slow-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

3.0

the women sure did talk!

Insurgent Love: Abolition and Domestic Homicide by Ardath Whynacht

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape