danielnski's reviews
106 reviews

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

Love That Story by Jonathan Van Ness

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

Bossypants by Tina Fey

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

Educated by Tara Westover

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

5.0

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.0

It all came together in the end, but it took quite the journey to get there. Muir's writing always propels the story forward, but there are some questions left open that I think made the story harder to follow. That said, the world she has bult is incredible and it is a treat to spend time in it. 

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

4.5

Fun, easy read that to me feels like a love story to bread but also a great fictional story about how our food systems and culture are changing. 

Health for All: A Doctor's Prescription for a Healthier Canada by Jane Philpott

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

Very interesting reflections on health care and what it would take to fix our challenges in Canada. I am very moved by the stories she included in the book and how they have shaped her worldview. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief

Minor: Drug use