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sophronisba's reviews
2470 reviews
William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution by John Van der Kiste
informative
slow-paced
4.0
A fine account of William & Mary's lives and reign, with some intriguing hints about their personal lives. Mary II seems like an interesting person and it's a shame we don't know more about her. William seems difficult; the book discusses rumors about his sexual preference but I think he was more likely just very, very focused, and much more interested in his kingdom than in his wife.
Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Maybe it's just because I work in tech but I honestly did not see anything new here. It's just a collection of tired complaints about algorithms that are largely fair criticisms but have been made a thousand times before.
8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster by Mirinae Lee
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
On the one hand, it fed my obsession with Korea; on the other hand, the narrative structure was pointlessly confusing and disjointed.
Reboot by Justin Taylor
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Unlikable main characters are fine as long as the author has some understanding of how and why his protagonist is unlikable. I'm not convinced Taylor did.
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's ambitious. It's well-written. It's exhausting. It's a lot. I loved it and it also got on my nerves and gave me sensory overload and I also want to read it again.
The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
I'm not usually one for what you might call a "rollicking read" but I enjoyed this. I highly recommend the audio; the narration really makes the book. I was first introduced to Amelia Peabody in high school and she remains a treat (if one that is best enjoyed sparingly). There is no mystery to speak of. Think of this as more of an adventure thriller.
Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin
dark
sad
tense
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
4.25
If you're looking for a conventional thriller, you may be disappointed, but I loved this book. In particular, I think Schaitkin did a great job peeling back the layers of Alison's personality. This book isn't as plotty as the description makes it sound but nonetheless I could not put it down.
Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
It's obvious that Pataki put a lot of research into this novel. The writing itself is fine, but I don't think Pataki ever captured the real Margaret Fuller. One of the most original, complicated personalities of the nineteenth century and here she comes across as . . . a mostly ordinary Mary Sue.
You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Weird and trippy take on Tenochtitlan. I found that the sum of the parts was greater than the whole -- some stellar scenes but they didn't hang together. But I was definitely not bored.
Walking with Abel: Journeys with the Nomads of the African Savannah by Anna Badkhen
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Interesting with a couple of unforgettable scenes -- especially Badkhen describing the Big Bang to a Muslim nomad -- but overwritten in spots. The occasional intrusion of Badkhen's thoughts about a romantic breakup were distracting.