camscampbell's reviews
600 reviews

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

challenging fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous 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? It's complicated

2.0

I struggled with this one. It felt too long and it took a while to get to know the characters because there was so many of them and all with challenging names, ranks and relationships. To be honest, I wish I’d quit after 100 pages. 

Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Catherine the Great and Potemkin: The Imperial Love Affair by Simon Sebag Montefiore

adventurous challenging informative slow-paced

4.0

Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What can I say about this wonderful novel that hasn’t already been said? It’s one of greats and if you haven’t read it, what are you even doing? 

Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind by Tom Holland

challenging informative slow-paced

4.0

It’s a very dense book and, for me, one pass doesn’t feel enough to grasp its message fully. It’s very well written and researched. Holland’s style is eminently readable, which is just as well as I have more of his books on the shelf!
I’ve listened to some of Holland’s guest appearances on podcasts talking about this book—Honestly, Triggernometry, Past Present Future—and always enjoy listening to him. But there’s really no substitute to reading the book. I’m almost certain that I’ll read it again, possibly quite soon. 

Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Did not finish book. Stopped at 95%.

emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

The Bell Jar: The Illustrated Edition by Sylvia Plath

challenging dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0