sophronisba's reviews
2340 reviews

The Two Loves of Sophie Strom by Sam Taylor

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The plot is engaging but Sophie Strom was a bit too much of a manic pixie dream girl for me to fully immerse myself in the story. She just never felt real so it was difficult to understand why so many characters were so drawn to her.

Habsburgs on the Rio Grande: The Rise and Fall of the Second Mexican Empire by Raymond Jonas

informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

I did not know about this little corner of colonial history and I thought this was absolutely riveting. Charlotte and Maximilian -- while not being exemplary human beings -- were incredibly fascinating characters, and I could hardly put the book down.

A Monarchy Transformed: Britain 1603-1714 by Mark A. Kishlansky

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

Excellent overview of the British monarchy under the Stuarts. Well-written and accessible.

The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

informative inspiring 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

4.75

I really loved this, especially all of the faux primary sources. It's quite the emotional journey for a fairly short novel.

Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs: A Journey Through the Deep State by Kerry Howley

informative reflective medium-paced

Interesting but a little scattered -- maybe it's too much to try to cover John Walker Lindh and Reality Winner in a single 256-page book.

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

It's probably best not to read Kate Morton novels back to back because you begin to spot the flaws -- the melodrama, the thin characterization, the neat bows at the end, did I mention the melodrama? -- but still in a time of stress it's oddly soothing to know that people living in huge English country houses with only a loose need for income _also_ seem to have significant stressors in their lives. I still enjoyed it! But I needed a break from the English countryside afterwards.

King Charles II by Antonia Fraser

challenging informative slow-paced

4.5

This book is massive and detailed and at times reading it felt like running a marathon but as always, Antonia Fraser delivers. I learned a ton and Fraser's writing is witty and engaging even when dense. I don't think Charles II was a great king, but I bet he was a lot of fun to have a beer with.

The Lake House by Kate Morton

emotional mysterious relaxing medium-paced

4.25

I really do love escaping into a Kate Morton book -- the English country house milieu, the decades-old mystery, the connections between the past and the present. They do tend to all have the same vibe but when you're in the mood for it there's nothing better. I thought the puzzle to be solved here was particularly interesting, and the prickly, precocious Alice Edevane was a really enjoyable character. But the ending might wrap things up a bit too neatly for my taste.

Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country by Patricia Evangelista

3.5

Harrowing account of Duterte's death squads in the Philippines. An important book -- especially when read with the sobering thought that this is exactly what Trump would like to bring to the United States -- but although it's well-written, there are organizational and pacing issues that keep it from being a top-tier read.

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

4.25

I really liked this character-heavy novel about a women's boxing tournament in Reno, Nevada. Well-written with some standout characters. There are some pacing flaws -- in some ways inevitable because of the structure -- but I'll be looking out for whatever Bullwinkel does in the future.