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robinwalter's Reviews (1.87k)
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another great fun read from Mr Scalzi. An entertaining and very fast read, perhaps the highest tribute I can pay the book is to say that I have grown to hate cats for the incalculable carnage they inflict on Aotearoa's endangered native fauna and yet despite that, I liked the cats in this story
informative
medium-paced
Good popsci writing is an art and this book is an exceptional example of very good popsci writing. The balance feels perfect - no patronising, no crude oversimplification or excessive forced attempts at humour but still presented with a clear focus on being understandable to lay people.
The result is good communication of the book's message, backed up with plenty of references for further reading. Some popsci books are rather forgettable, but on topics from geckos to curling and Braille, much of this excellent book will definitely stick.
The result is good communication of the book's message, backed up with plenty of references for further reading. Some popsci books are rather forgettable, but on topics from geckos to curling and Braille, much of this excellent book will definitely stick.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A very challenging set of short stories from across Pasifika. Worthwhile if at times painful, my favourite contribution was from Witi Ihimaera
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
In his afterword Mr Scalzi describes KPS as a pop song and it's a great summary. The book is fun, the pace is fast and the tone is feel good. The cast of characters is diverse in a way that feels natural and unforced. Having known someone called Kahurangi, finding a character with that name was an unexpected delight.
The story is predictable but that is not ipso facto a bad thing. A perfect cake is made from a standardised list of ingredients, with the quality dependent on the skill of the baker. KPS was a confection put together with consummate skill and was a lovely sweet treat
The story is predictable but that is not ipso facto a bad thing. A perfect cake is made from a standardised list of ingredients, with the quality dependent on the skill of the baker. KPS was a confection put together with consummate skill and was a lovely sweet treat
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One of the least engaging Bathurst mysteries I've read, the fixation on Sadism (sic) more tedious than terrifying
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
An interesting story, with likeable leads and development, but at least 10% too long
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The setting is definitely the star of the story. The mystery is built slowly, and entirely around the locale. A very measured pace, Mcdonald blending right in to the rural landscape
The phrase "I shot digital pictures of the corpse" in a book published in 2017 triggered alarms The writing style did not improve from there.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Very informative and well-written
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The atmosphere is marvellous, lavishly detailed descriptions of the Italian setting. The story is much more complex, and the characters far more nuanced than the Collier stories