ceilingghostreads's reviews
99 reviews

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

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dark reflective 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

4.0

This was an incredibly disturbing book to read. I think it was really good as it went from the past to future and showed how the mans, Strane, grooming and abuse affected her mindset even into adulthood.
As the authour said "It should be difficult to read and it should even be difficult to talk about but I feel like as a culture we're at a moment where we're ready to lean into these questions"
I think it's an important conversation and I'm not sure how I wish it was different but it invokes these complicated feeling on purpose and therefore I have to say it's a book that accomplishes it's goals/is successful. 
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The Red Deal: Indigenous Action to Save Our Earth by The Red Nation

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challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

My only critique is that's it's so jam packed with information in such a short book that it can be hard to read. This means that those with a poor education and/or lower literacy skills can't read this book, at least not easily but it's important for them to have these kinda of concepts accessible to them.
But otherwise an anticapitalist book focused on climate change based in indigenous knowledge and centered around indigenous people. This is the book I wish every leftist would read.
The Iliad by Gareth Hinds

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adventurous emotional informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte

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

4.75

Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

3.5

Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism by Jenny McCarthy

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1.0

Please don't read this book.
This book only perpetuates dangerous stigma around autism and dangerous misinformation. It makes many absurd claims that are far removed from science. As written I the introduction (not by her but obviously supported by her):
Autism, as I see it, steals the soul from a child; then, if allowed, relentlessly sucks life’s marrow out of the family members, one by one
The way she describes her son is also upsetting
He was still acting a bit kooky—and borderline annoying
And:
I’m happy to report that the psychotic portion of Evan disappeared completely.
Describing someone as psychotic is incredibly offensive to begin with let alone an autistic child.
She claims to deserve a google doctorate but if I presented the level of misinformation she shares I would have failed my classes automatically.
I decided to start doing some research—and by research, I mean Google. By the end of the book, you will see that I should have a doctorate in Google research
She also uses the r word (a slur for people with mental disabilities) multiple times and has a real disdain/hatred for disabled people.
My father was also still living in Chicago but was blind in one eye, and I didn’t want two special-needs people living in my home.
She also thinks autistic people can't or shouldn't reproduce (wtf) and says it's an epidemic akin to cancer or aids (it's not) which is harmful and scary to see written in a book meant for parents of children diagnosed with autism. Just a reminder autistic kids grow up to be autistic adults!! And they can have their own kids (and they can have sex).
I have so much more to say but this review is already to long. PLEASE please look elsewhere. Listen to autistic people themselves and doctors!
Someone I love: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLsNday8/
Sketches by Eric Walters

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dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

I love this authour. Every book he writes is so impactful and important. This book humanises unhoused youth and people - something that desperately needs to be done. It's also well written and brings awareness to these issues
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Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

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adventurous emotional reflective 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

5.0