Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

141 reviews

casandra_lovealwaysbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Terminal illness

Moderate: Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation

anarmandameg's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Outing

josie2k's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Outing, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Abortion

deelightfulreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Outing, and Colonisation

streberkatze's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was one of my favorite books this year so far. The author brilliantly weaves together the story of her protagonists, told from different perspectives, with Puerto Rican history and U. S. politics. This is also a great read for readers who enjoy a strong sense of place, especially in New York City. Brooklyn really comes alive in this book. And the audiobook version, recorded by three amazing Puerto Rican voice actors, makes the story even more immersive and contributes to the already amazing character development. The resolution

felt a little too neat for my taste

, but this was such a minor issue at the very end of a great read, it didn't really matter to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Outing, and Abandonment

Moderate: Rape and Colonisation

Minor: Religious bigotry and Pregnancy

bloo_0's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

lindsaybethlyons's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in one day. If I were still teaching high school, I would definitely use this as an ELA/Social Studies unit. Rich with information and a compelling story told beautifully through multiple perspectives. Wow. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Racial slurs and Suicide

jennipea382's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Outing, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

majestyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is the second book I have read by Xochitl Gonzalez and somehow it lived up to and even surpassed my expectations! 
In Olga Dies Dreaming, Gonzalez presents a very diverse set of characters that are flawed, complicated, morally-ambiguous, and reflective while also remaining compelling and inspiriting! 
The way that the characters’ histories, motivations, and schemes unravel as the novel progresses is presented through varying perspectives that come with vastly different sets of schemas. 
In every chapter I didn’t know who I was supposed to root for, what perspectives to trust, and how just everyone was interconnected. 
This novel touches on sensitive topics like familial abandonment and manipulation, impacts of American colonialism on the Puerto Rican population- both on the island and the main land- the impacts of being HIV-positive, and the question of what exactly you’re willing to do to live up to the perceived expectations of those around us. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Xenophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape

anna_rubin's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol