teachertroitsky's reviews
334 reviews

Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps by Tommy Vietor, Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

American Democracy is worth saving.

Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide by Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

Knowing the difference between being polite and being kind might save your life. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Eating disorder

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

The Sun Down Motel is a story that makes significant use of the supernatural, but don’t let that put you off. Simone St. James is an expert at blending the earthly with the otherworldly, and I found the supernatural elements of The Sun Down Motel truly irresistible. The Sun Down Motel is a genuinely creepy story, one that had my heart racing at more than one moment. This is a true murder mystery-meets-ghost story, and both facets are given equal playing time here. Yes, this story will ultimately have a logical, earthly conclusion, but that doesn’t make the ghosts less real.

Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America by Dahlia Lithwick

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Dahlia Lithwick, one of the nation’s foremost legal commentators, tells the gripping and heroic story of the women lawyers who fought the racism, sexism, and xenophobia of Donald Trump’s presidency—and won. The fight is not over. Everyone of us must come together and continue the battle for humanity lest we fall into permanent darkness.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Surprisingly delightful, the Cybernetic Tea Shop is a sweet and quiet asexual lesbian love story between Clara, a human technician and Sal, a sentient robot. 

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

“In her searing collection of essays, Mikki Kendall takes aim at the legitimacy of the modern feminist movement arguing that it has chronically failed to address the needs of all but a few women. Drawing on her own experiences with hunger, violence, and hypersexualization, along with incisive commentary on politics, pop culture, the stigma of mental health, and more, Hood Feminism delivers an irrefutable indictment of a movement in flux. An unforgettable debut, Kendall has written a ferocious clarion call to all would-be feminists to live out the true mandate of the movement in thought and in deed.”

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson

adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Quiet Part Loud by Mac Rogers and Clay McLeod Chapman by

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death and Hate crime

Difficult topics are explored in this horror fable in an appropriate enlightening way. It might be too upsetting for some listeners, especially anyone who has had to endure racism and discrimination.

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson

funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Hilarious, satirical paired perfectly with delightful illustrations. Great for most ages. I would recommend this to anyone seeking a gateway book to reading graphic novels.