sophronisba's reviews
2467 reviews

A Wilder Shore: The Romantic Odyssey of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson by Camille Peri

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adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

Fascinating dual biography of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife Fanny. It should perhaps come as no surprise that Fanny turns out to be vastly more interesting than her more famous husband. Highly recommended if you fancy a romp across two continents with a pair of engaging(if extra) companions.
A Voyage Around the Queen by Craig Brown

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informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.75

Much like Brown's previous book about Princess Margaret, this is  not a conventional biography but an engaging and whimsical collection of vignettes about the late QEII, assembled in roughly chronological order. It reminded me of Olive Kitteridge in the sense that although the Queen is present in each chapter, she is sometimes just a side character, more of a presence than a person. The book does leave you wondering what the Queen made of her own life in the end.
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

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dark funny reflective relaxing fast-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

4.75

Witty and entertaining but also an ultimately thoughtful consideration of wealth and class and the ways in which you never quite escape your upbringing even when (maybe especially when) you are desperate to flee it.
Venice: A New History by Thomas F. Madden

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Madden is excessively forgiving of the medieval Venetian oligarchy -- at one point I wondered whether anyone had ever seen Madden and Ross Douthat in the same room -- but this book remains an engaging and lively one-volume history of Venice.
The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III by Andrew Roberts

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

OK, wow, I had no idea there were hardcore George III stans out there. I'm not sure I'm buying everything Andrew Roberts is selling but his increasingly indignant defense of George III's honor makes for surprisingly engaging reading.
The Bluestockings: A History of the First Women's Movement by Susannah Gibson

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

This book was a delight to read. I'd heard of some (not all) of these women and every one of them had an interesting, provocative life. Were they all badass feminists in the twenty-first century sense of the word? No. Some of them were the seventeenth century's answer to Bari Weiss. But none of them were boring.
Pasta, Pane, Vino: Deep Travels Through Italy's Food Culture by Matt Goulding

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

I read this in preparation for a trip to Italy, and learned a ton about the preparation of Italian food. Very engaging and inspiring, particularly if you're interested in cooking and baking.
Michelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces by Miles J. Unger

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Maybe a hot take but I found this to be more readable and interesting than Irving Stone's _The Agony and The Ecstasy_. Learned a lot, really useful book to read if you're planning to visit Italy and take in a lot of art.
Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munro

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challenging emotional reflective 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

3.5

 Should I still be reading Alice Munro, given recent revelations? I am torn. I tried not to be affected by the news but nevertheless my enjoyment of this collection was spoiled. It's not really one of her best, though, and I'm going to try another one in a few months. 
James by Percival Everett

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adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-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

4.5

Percival Everett's novels usually don't work for me -- believe me, this frustrates me as much as it does you -- but this one really did. Darkly funny and challenging.