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sophronisba's reviews
2464 reviews
Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
No doubt this was groundbreaking for its time, but having read quite a lot of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century fiction I found this a disappointing introduction to Maria Edgeworth.
The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Look, it's my fault for reading part 3 of a trilogy as a standalone, but this didn't really work for me. The writing is quite good but I think I needed the build-up of Paula as a character over the previous two books to fully appreciate this novel.
Middlemarch by George Eliot
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
5.0
It's Middlemarch. Arguably the best novel of all time. My children have agreed to put "Read Middlemarch" on my gravestone when I die.
Princesses: The Six Daughters of George III by Flora Fraser
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.75
If you think the Windsors need family therapy, allow me to present the children of George III. The book really needed more context and a more critical eye should have been applied to some of the primary sources but still, what emerges is a portrait of six women whose relatively modest goals -- noble marriages and families of their own -- were consistently thwarted by a self-absorbed father who could not bear to part with their adoration.
Us Fools by Nora Lange
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Regrettably I just could not get engaged in this book.
The Woman They Could Not Silence: The Timeless Story of an Outspoken Woman and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.5
I don't think I've ever said this before but I think this material would have worked better as an opera. Don't get me wrong, the basic story here is important history but I felt the highly emotional writing set the wrong tone.
Still Life by Katherine Packert Burke
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.0
There are some great lines in this novel, but ultimately the unrelenting solipsism of Edith became intolerable and ruined the book for me.
William Pitt the Younger by William Hague
informative
medium-paced
4.5
An unexpectedly riveting account of the life and career of William Pitt the Younger, who turned out to be absolutely fascinating. Well-written, and the author succeeds in providing enough background on the social and political issues and figures of the time, so you won't be lost if you know nothing about eighteenth-century Britain.
For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet by Matthew Shindell
challenging
informative
reflective
3.5
Found the beginning boring but once we got to the twentieth century my interest was piqued. Honestly would have preferred an article to a book.
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm a huge fan of Kushner's work but in this case the main character simply didn't work for me. Read The Flamethrowers instead.