volcanogirl's reviews
12 reviews

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

This is a beautifully written book and an excellent example of James Baldwin's work. I enjoyed the prose more than the contents I think, but I also think that it's because of the limits of my own perspective. I have no deep personal connection to American evangelism, but I understood it just the same. It is a thoughtful, loving, incredibly human piece of literature and I think it's a very important book to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicide

Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford

adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Native Son by Richard Wright

challenging dark tense slow-paced

2.75

Passing by Nella Larsen

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

I read this book beginning to end faster than I have anything in a long time! The pacing is excellent, and Jennette's voice is distinct and incredibly vulnerable. It made me very interested to look into other writing/directing work that she's done.
 It is amazing that she could put so much vulnerability into this book, but I think it's a good indicator of her growth, which is ultimately what the book is about. I'm glad she is in a place where she can speak out about her experiences as a child actor, and I hope the success of this book makes it worthwhile for her. Amazing read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment

I borrowed a digital copy from my local library and the wait started at like 12 weeks but luckily they got more copies so I was able to get it in 3. It was back to 12 again when I turned it in.

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Fatphobia

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

Minor: Racism

Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark by Cassandra Peterson

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

This book is a whirlwind from start to finish. Peterson's life before she even became Elvira reads like a movie. From go-go dancing at 14 to becoming a Vegas showgirl by 17, it's about as bonkers as you'd expect the Mistress of the Dark's life story to be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Death

Lots of discussion of the AIDS epidemic as Elvira had many friends in the gay community who she lost during that time

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

adventurous dark funny 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

4.5

The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood

mysterious reflective tense slow-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

2.75

This book has written by a white woman syndrome with a sprinkling of insanely graphic sexual violence. There's some interesting stuff for sure in here but it's difficult to get past the setup

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Content Warnings

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