Reviews

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph

dawnlizreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-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? No

3.0

sk_206064's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

Good meaningful story

althornton's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective slow-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

3.0

dani_1405's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

This is obviously a very heavy book content-wise considering it deals with racism , colonialism and slavery as just a few of the themes. Which is why it was shocking to me that I came out of this book fairly indifferent to the story overall? It's not that I felt nothing while reading this book, you'd have to be heartless for that, but it lacked a depth to the emotional content that then left me with this feeling when I finished it. The structure of this book is really well done, shock it's structured as diary entries but it also has a section where it is made up of letters between Charles and his future wife and I felt that was a very effective part of the book. We also get a switch between Charles reflecting on his life for his son and then a series of flashbacks essentially which was very well done. Ultimately I think this is a pretty good book, it was just missing a few aspects that could have made it that much better.

marypboa's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This very talented actor has shown that he can also write, raising the visibility of Sancho - a real person, the first Black Briton to vote and an advocate for the abolition of slavery. This fascinating fleshed out history is beautifully written in the formal style of the 1700s. The voice of the character is very distinctive- pompous at times but also aware of his faults, including a liking for food! Paterson Joseph has obviously built his character from Gainsborough’s portrait of the man! A very entertaining book and, as well as learning a lot about Georgian England one also learns about the suffering of slaves on colonial British Caribbean plantations. 

isabelsophiex's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

mushypeasonearth's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

kidge's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I wanted to like this book but found it very vague and confusing in a lot of places. I’m glad to know a bit more about this historical figure though.

jwab's review

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

alicerebekah's review

adventurous informative reflective 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? No

3.0