danielnski's reviews
110 reviews

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.

Content Warnings

There There by Tommy Orange

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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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Animal Farm by George Orwell

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5.0

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

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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

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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

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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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