lucibello's reviews
61 reviews

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

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

5.0

Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex Ptsd with Internal Family Systems by Frank G. Anderson

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informative medium-paced

2.5

Some good information mixed with a lot of hooie. He is an excellent trauma therapist who spent too much time on every page trying to convince us he has done his own work. There was a lot of spirituality blended I, and it would have been more tolerable if done consistently. On a single page he talked about both free will and incarnation (which are incompatible ideas to both Buddhists and Christians), and fully irrelevant to the subject of the book. I did learn something but had to spit out too many bones.
Sexual Awareness: Your Guide to Healthy Couple Sexuality by Emily J. McCarthy, Barry W. McCarthy

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slow-paced

2.0

I am a marriage and family therapist, it is my job to have a basic understanding of sex therapy. I found this book to be horribly boring, and theoretically I disagreed with certain aspects of it. It was repetitive in its themes, did not give good evidence for some more of its controversial recommendations, but I still chose to give it to stars because there were a few sections, such as the aging process, that were quite good.
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Flappers and Philosophers by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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slow-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

3.5

Some of the short stories were a slower read, some very enjoyable and light-hearted. Some had excellent character development, some didn't necessarily. Just the same, the writing is excellent.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

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

5.0

I read this aloud to my children years ago, and just convinced my book club to give it a try (never having chosen children lit). Reading it again, I felt it all again. Beautiful, poignant, reflective, and sweet. 
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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

5.0

This book was eloquently written and captured human nature well. The story had a natural flow to it, never getting bogged down with one part or another. I found the narrator (Nick Caraway) very pleasing, and in this audiobook with Sean Austin reading, I felt the character come alive.
The Loser Letters: A Comic Tale of Life, Death, and Atheism by Mary Eberstadt

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

3.0

I have heard the author interviewed and really appreciate her. The premise of this book was fantastic. I just didn't care enough for the main character, and I felt like the main character did way too much foreshadowing about how she was going to explain her situation and her last letter, which started to grate me. Overall, I found some enjoyment in the book but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.
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Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As a therapist to middle school boys with serious emotional disturbances, I chose to read this one aloud. The Alaskan culture comes through very clearly, which entices the young male reader. The main character is harsh and doubt of control, but as the story unfolds you discover his need to forgive and to be forgiven. It is an extremely touching book that creates insight into humanity.
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The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

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dark emotional sad tense 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

The Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy: Updated and Expanded Edition by Gerald L. Klerman, Myrna M. Weissman, John C. Markowitz

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informative slow-paced

3.5

I appreciated the sections on use of this modality for specific diagnoses, but it was a fairly dry text to read.