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bookishaddictions's reviews
310 reviews
The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is a good tribute to the kids that are struggling with poverty or stuck living in an abusive home (even if it isn’t physical). Zoe shows how wise yet naive a young teen can be all at once when forced to perform adult responsibilities at a young age; her younger siblings (Bryce, Aurora, and Hector) are perfect examples of the different reactions that young children can have in these circumstances. The story shows the love and power that individuals in their position can reclaim, such as by joining a club, alongside the difficulties that their temporary powerlessness can create. Readers also get to learn some fun octopus facts while they face these darker topics too, so that’s a bonus. I found TBOBAO on @libby.app as an audiobook, so check if your local library has a copy 🎧
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
If you are looking for a book that is both beautiful and heartbreaking, Clap When You Land is the book for you. The story follows Yaharia and Camino in their respective homelands, and we see how they process their grief and work toward healing after the death of their father. Their story is written in prose, so the 400 or so pages just fly by. This would probably be a great audiobook, but the Kindle book was still aesthetically pleasing. Acevedo doesn’t shy away from the difficulties associated with poverty, split households, half-siblings, and grief. Acevedo shows the beauty of both New York and the Dominican Republic, and yet, she does not shy from some of the harsh realities of either place. This story shows just how much hardship and strength Acevedo has witnessed✈️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Death of parent
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.5
If you love Carrie Fisher or the Star Wars series, this is an interesting audiobook to listen to. Fisher tells of her experiences as the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, how she ended up acting herself, and some of the prime developmental moments that made her who she was. Fisher reads the audiobook herself, and has granddaughter Billie Lorde read the chapter that is her diary entries. For Star Wars fans, Fisher tells a variety of stories from behind the scenes; these stories range from how the iconic buns came to be, her experiences with fans, and the controversial chapter on her brief affair with Harrison (or “Carrison” as they dub it). I snagged my copy through @libby.app, so check your local libraries for a copy ⭐️
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
I can’t say enough positive things about this book, so let me start by saying I loved it enough to actually mail my copy to one of my favorite college professors. It combines video games, Shakespeare, and other literature to create this multi-dimensional story that leaves readers hooked. I found myself cheering, getting angry, and feeling heartbroken along with each of the characters throughout the story. Sadie and Sam are amazingly complex characters, and Marx is given more depth than almost any other non-main character (or NPC as he is dubbed) I have encountered yet. This story follows multiple decades and describes the evolution of the video game industry; it honestly portrays most of the good, the bad, and the ugly. I can see why this one made it for the BOTY awards, and I’m glad I took the time to read it (even if I kept getting distracted so it took a while). If you haven’t read it yet, do yourself a favor and order a copy right now 🕹️💾
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I love Tom Hank’s various films, so I had honestly hoped that I would love his short story anthology as well. Honestly, I hated it. There wasn’t anything wrong with the writing style, but it was so dull! It took me months to get through this collection because I genuinely felt disappointed every time I picked it up. I originally thought the idea of a bunch of short stories that were all connected by typewriters (s) was interesting, but that was about as far as my interest made it. I can’t say I’d recommend this one to anyone; I honestly wish I could have the time I spent reading it back so I could use it to read something else.
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
2.0
I randomly stumbled upon this audiobook while searching Libby for something to listen to with my fiancé…. It was odd, to say the least. Sedaris chose to tell stories that are all over the place, and they often left us both looking at each other and wondering what kind of drugs Sedaris was on while writing. The stories range from more mundane experiences- like visiting a dentist- to audio from his comedy performances. I can’t say I needed to hear this book though; while I believe every story is worth telling, this one was one I could have personally lived without hearing. Who knows though; someone is his target audience, so that might be you 🤷🏼♀️😬
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Stalking, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
adventurous
challenging
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
4.0
TLSS is out now, and it is definitely worth checking out. I got lucky and snagged a copy via @netgalley, and I found myself hooked. Penner has a way of incorporating the illogical without taking away from the believability of a story. I really enjoyed The Lost Apothecary, so I knew I had to read this one when she initially posted about its release dates. I loved how strong Lenna is, and Vaudeline was interesting. I kept trying to figure out the ending, but the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. I love that Penner also includes notes about the actual history of the time period at the end of the novel; I found the information both fascinating and educating
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.0
I love Dolly’s music, so I decided to check out the audiobook. I found my copy via @libby.app. I thought it was cool that Dolly could explain the inspiration and meanings behind many of her famous songs, and I was able to immediately hear a part of the very song being discussed. I didn’t know very much about Dolly’s upbringing, besides her having been a Christian woman raised in Tennessee, so her book gave a lot of interesting background information. Dolly addresses everything from her philosophy, to her musical beginnings, to the rumors that followed her throughout her career. While I liked learning more about Dolly, I didn’t find myself super hooked or constantly wanting to listen to the audiobook. Overall, I can’t complain; I wouldn’t listen to the audiobook a second time, but I would recommend it to Dolly
Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I let my fiancé pick some titles for me, and he chose well! I love The Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as Disney’s line of Twisted Tales. While Long Live The Pumpkin Queen is not a part of the Twisted Tales line, it seemed right up my alley. Ernshaw managed to capture the magic of TNBC within LLTPQ, and yet it was not merely just a sequel. I loved getting to know Sally more thoroughly, and I loved learning more about the alternate holiday worlds that we do not see during Jack’s travels. The story has the right amount of suspense to complement the storyline. I would definitely gift copies of this one to my book-loving friends!
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
3.0
I’ve always had an interest in science, but I have also had a limited attention span for learning about mathematics-based sciences such as physics (I can admit that I’m a math hater). The audiobook, read by deGrasse Tyson himself, squeezes a ton of information into 5 hours of listening for listeners with minimal time to devote to learning about astrophysics. I found myself listening to his explanations of theories and various hypotheses when I needed something factual to help reduce my anxiety. While deGrasse Tyson presents a variety of new vocabulary and advanced astrophysics concepts, he definitely does so in a way that most people could follow along (although having taken high school or college-level physics would probably help enrich the listener’s understanding). While deGrasse Tyson’s book won’t leave you prepared to conduct your own experiments or call yourself an astrophysicist, AFPIH will provide you with the basic understanding of astrophysics that you will need to follow along with a variety of scientific news and discussions. I found my copy via Libby, so it was worth listening to for free. I would recommend this book to someone who does want to learn about astrophysics quickly