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robinwalter's Reviews (1.87k)

A Lady of Expectations: A Regency Romance

Stephanie Laurens

DID NOT FINISH: 50%

I prefer Regency romances to Neanderthal romances, and any book whose first third features characters  waxing lyrical about foxhunting ad nauseam is always gonig to struggle to catch me. 
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Another interesting story, but a hard one to get into as the first half was again dominated by the protagonist's conviction of her own omnscience
lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

An enjoyable addition to the series, it kept me guessing and provided light entertainment along the way 

Love, Theoretically

Ali Hazelwood

DID NOT FINISH: 5%

I was attracted by the physics, repelled by the style. Not my cup of tea (or other brownian motion inducer)
lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Another enjoyable Pitkirtly mystery. Alongside the well crafted mystery, some insightful comments on grief and grieving, and another awesome Scots word for my idiolect - smirr!

A Lady's Guide to Scandal

Sophie Irwin

DID NOT FINISH: 90%

I got bored of the predictability of the storyline and the balmost cartoonish transformation of tyhe 'villain' 
adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Not bad, but the IT elements a little to facile and redolent of corny hacker flicks
informative medium-paced

Other reviewers have described this as a 'primer' and I think that's a good description. I knew nothing at all about the origins of Poland and its people, and learned a lot. It is a little dry and 'data dump' style in the early sections, but that's understandable given the sheer amount of history the author's trying to cover. As an introduction to the history of Poland and with a more detailed look at its 20th century history in particular, this was an informative and interesting read. 
challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

A difficult read, but worthwhile. There was no sentimentality about "home", no optimism for the future, just a remarkably dispassionate and clear-eyed observational discourse. I learned a great deal, including the somewhat surprising fact that I got the distinct impression the author is not a particularly likeable person. I am glad I read it and even more glad to have finished it and be able to move back to lighter, brighter reading.
challenging informative sad tense medium-paced

I learned a great deal from this book. Lebanon was in the news a lot through my childhood and teens,  this book helped show how it arrived at the Civil War which defined perceptions of Lebanon for decades.