danielnski's reviews
104 reviews

My Father Left Me Ireland: An American Son's Search for Home by Michael Brendan Dougherty

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

The writing is beautiful and the exploration of Irish culture, history, and language has made me really want to learn more. At a time when it feels really complicated to have a nationalistic sense of identity, seeing how he related to the history of Ireland and how that informs his worldview was a really interesting journey to take. 

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

adventurous funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.5

I think there are uneven elements to the plotting of the book, but at the end of it, I enjoyed it so much that I didn't mind them. Aru is a fun heroine and all of the supporting characters, mythological and otherwise, feel very real and age-appropriate. I loved getting glimpses of different aspects of Hindui mythology through this book, and am excited to learn more about some of the stories and figures referenced in this book. 

The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts: Mini-Meditations for Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us by Kristin Chenoweth

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Whatever I missed structure-wise visually about the book was more than made up for by hearing Kristen read it and getting to experience her joy and strength. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Grief

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Lots of fascinating tidbits and references built into Ru's narrative. It is amazing to see how far he's come in his life and the doors he has been able to open for himself and others. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Grief

There There by Tommy Orange

challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I wish I could give this book two ratings. I loved the writing, the characters, and how all of the context and history was woven into the narrative. However, I am frustrated by how much of the plot and what linked the characters was their trauma and by how the story ended. I can understand how that is a reflection of many people's experiences, though, and appreciate how the novel contextualized it. I come away feeling very frustrated by the book but also appreciating its beauty and all it must have taken to write it. I don't think I ever want to revisit it but I also desperately want to read the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Animal Farm by George Orwell

5.0

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

Timely and timeless. It is a wonder that a story that is so harrowing can also have such an undercurrent of hopefulness to it. This is my first Octavia Butler book I have read and I am going to have to pace myself so I don't become too obsessive about reading the rest. 

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

challenging emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.75

Loved this book and the pacing. Jolene is such an interesting and messy character and I appreciated how this book laid out how she coped (and didn't) with her trauma. There were some parts with the final third of the book that didn't resolve for me as cleanly as many of the other plot developments, but I have already recommended this to two of my coworkers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexism and Toxic relationship