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sandro_reads's reviews
102 reviews
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The comparisons to Sally Rooney’s Normal People are inevitable: damaged main characters, the will they or won’t they, the absence of quotation marks…
Talking at Night is gorgeous and captures moments, even in the mundane, in surprising ways. And, though there was perhaps one trauma too many, Will and Rosie will forever live in my brain as real people.
Talking at Night is gorgeous and captures moments, even in the mundane, in surprising ways. And, though there was perhaps one trauma too many, Will and Rosie will forever live in my brain as real people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s hard to disassociate the book from its author and this edition does a thorough job of giving the historical context of Oscar Wilde’s life and the reasons for the different versions of Dorian Gray.
Even though written over a hundred years ago, much of the philosophical exploration of youth, beauty, art and virtue still ring true. It’s clear why this tale has stood the test of time.
Even though written over a hundred years ago, much of the philosophical exploration of youth, beauty, art and virtue still ring true. It’s clear why this tale has stood the test of time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Before the Coffee Gets Cold reads like a series of interconnected Japanese fables about a time traveling cafe.
They are lessons on love, regret and grief but with an ultimately hopeful outlook - though the writing style is so simple and often repeats itself that It kept me at arms length from truly connecting with the characters.
They are lessons on love, regret and grief but with an ultimately hopeful outlook - though the writing style is so simple and often repeats itself that It kept me at arms length from truly connecting with the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Death of parent
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Carmilla is a fascinating read given its historical context predating Dracula.
A true gothic vibe which, at the time it was published, must have been seen as scandalous but is timid by today’s standards - with an end that felt unsatisfying.
A true gothic vibe which, at the time it was published, must have been seen as scandalous but is timid by today’s standards - with an end that felt unsatisfying.
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What if you could live inside your comfort TV show? That is what Bonnie chooses to do after winning the lottery.
The problem is, If you strip the impressive attention to Three’s Company detail away, you are left with an unlikable narrator and multiple plot points that make no sense. What is meant as an exploration of grief and trauma does not stand up to the book’s gimmick.
The problem is, If you strip the impressive attention to Three’s Company detail away, you are left with an unlikable narrator and multiple plot points that make no sense. What is meant as an exploration of grief and trauma does not stand up to the book’s gimmick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Minor: Rape
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve read my fair share of dysfunctional family sagas of late but there is something about Blue Sisters that I connected to much more than the others.
Told by the POV of each of the three surviving (barely) sisters mourning the unexpected loss of their fourth, it explores grief and, more so, the vices we turn to when trying to avoid grief so realistically, I felt parts of myself in each - despite not having any sisters of my own.
Told by the POV of each of the three surviving (barely) sisters mourning the unexpected loss of their fourth, it explores grief and, more so, the vices we turn to when trying to avoid grief so realistically, I felt parts of myself in each - despite not having any sisters of my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had to check, about a quarter of the way in, that On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous was not, in fact, a memoir because it feels that real.
Written as a series of letters to his mother, “Little Dog” philosophizes on their family history, racism, homosexuality, the opioid epidemic…
It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and almost too full for such a short novel. It took me much longer to get through than the page count would indicate.
Written as a series of letters to his mother, “Little Dog” philosophizes on their family history, racism, homosexuality, the opioid epidemic…
It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and almost too full for such a short novel. It took me much longer to get through than the page count would indicate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Kill For Me, Kill For You deals with grief, trauma and the concept of justice in such a honest way that is rarely seen in thrillers.
And yet, it still manages to be a fun, twisty ride with multiple POVs that all come together nicely - even if it does get a bit silly in the end.C’mon…Ruth trying to kill the Grangers? Seriously?
And yet, it still manages to be a fun, twisty ride with multiple POVs that all come together nicely - even if it does get a bit silly in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Stalking, Murder
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There is an odd tension in Mrs. Caliban created by the simple prose and absurdity of the plot. It’s almost not absurd because the words are devoid of any emotion. And yet, at just over a hundred pages, it could have given us more - especially when it dealt with some of the heavier topics.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Long Island Compromise is like one long anxiety attack. This family saga explores inherited trauma and generational wealth from the POV of three of the worst adult children you will ever meet.
Brodesser-Akner is a skilled writer and I found myself laughing through much of even the darker material. But, too many minor characters and subplots bogged down an already over-bloated book that never seems to go anywhere (even if that is kinda the point).
Brodesser-Akner is a skilled writer and I found myself laughing through much of even the darker material. But, too many minor characters and subplots bogged down an already over-bloated book that never seems to go anywhere (even if that is kinda the point).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping