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nathanjhunt's reviews
97 reviews
Edward II: The Terrors of Kingship by Christopher Given-Wilson
informative
medium-paced
2.5
This was my 9th book finished in 2024.
It started off okay, but my attention started to drop about a quarter of the way in. Maybe the 14th century just isn't my jam...
It started off okay, but my attention started to drop about a quarter of the way in. Maybe the 14th century just isn't my jam...
Henry VIII: The Quest For Fame by John Guy
informative
fast-paced
4.0
This was my 8th book finished in 2024.
This was an enjoyable and well-written read, which was easy to understand without complicated language (as has been the problem with others in the series). I flew through this on a flight from New Zealand to the UK.
It shows Henry in a neutral light, stating unbiased facts. It leads you to form your own conclusion... Successful reformer or tyrannical despot?
I did think it would have more about his marriages, though...
This was an enjoyable and well-written read, which was easy to understand without complicated language (as has been the problem with others in the series). I flew through this on a flight from New Zealand to the UK.
It shows Henry in a neutral light, stating unbiased facts. It leads you to form your own conclusion... Successful reformer or tyrannical despot?
I did think it would have more about his marriages, though...
Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This was my 7th book finished in 2024.
Having read slave narratives from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as diaries from the 17th and 18th centuries, I have to say that Joseph delivers an authentic and important book.
I will admit, I thought a bit more would happen. But I should be relieved and not disappointed that Sancho escaped some of the more brutal treatments black people received at this time.
I'd say this book was, surprisingly, a romance! I didn't think I would enjoy a book like that, but I was proven wrong.
It was so interesting to read about such a white-washed period of Britain. Even when you think a black man is free, he is not truly free. Sancho's referring to himself as a "caged bird" was perfect.
At times, I felt the book was slightly too long and slow-paced, but in retrospect, I think it was fine. I found it very easy to read, and flew through it. I feel my admiration for this book is growing over time.
For a debut novel, it is impressive. And Joseph clearly is very passionate and knowledgeable about Sancho. It was a delight to read.
Having read slave narratives from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as diaries from the 17th and 18th centuries, I have to say that Joseph delivers an authentic and important book.
I will admit, I thought a bit more would happen. But I should be relieved and not disappointed that Sancho escaped some of the more brutal treatments black people received at this time.
I'd say this book was, surprisingly, a romance! I didn't think I would enjoy a book like that, but I was proven wrong.
It was so interesting to read about such a white-washed period of Britain. Even when you think a black man is free, he is not truly free. Sancho's referring to himself as a "caged bird" was perfect.
At times, I felt the book was slightly too long and slow-paced, but in retrospect, I think it was fine. I found it very easy to read, and flew through it. I feel my admiration for this book is growing over time.
For a debut novel, it is impressive. And Joseph clearly is very passionate and knowledgeable about Sancho. It was a delight to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Classism, and Slavery
Moderate: Xenophobia, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, and Racial slurs
Minor: Alcohol, Death, and Fatphobia
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
This was my 6th book finished in 2024.
Firstly, it was a lot more light-hearted than I'd expected. It really is a children's book.
Honestly, I just found this book a bit boring. It started off promising, but got worse with each chapter. I'll never understand why the big conclusion didn't involve Smaug. He just suddenly died , and then we have a really boring last third of the book. Very anticlimactic.
I thought the problem was the third film of the trilogy, but it turns out the problem was the source material all along!
There were sections of hard exposition, especially around the battle, and I was so bored.
Just a note to say Thorin is more likeable in the book. I hated his character in the film.
And lastly, the songs made it all the more painful. No song belongs in a book. I rolled my eyes every time one came up.
In conclusion, I thought this book was really overrated. Peter Jackson did well with what he had as source material.
Firstly, it was a lot more light-hearted than I'd expected. It really is a children's book.
Honestly, I just found this book a bit boring. It started off promising, but got worse with each chapter. I'll never understand why the big conclusion didn't involve Smaug. He just
I thought the problem was the third film of the trilogy, but it turns out the problem was the source material all along!
There were sections of hard exposition, especially around the battle, and I was so bored.
Just a note to say Thorin is more likeable in the book. I hated his character in the film.
And lastly, the songs made it all the more painful. No song belongs in a book. I rolled my eyes every time one came up.
In conclusion, I thought this book was really overrated. Peter Jackson did well with what he had as source material.
The Naming of the Shrew: A Curious History of Latin Names by John Wright
challenging
informative
slow-paced
2.5
This was my 5th book finished in 2024.
This book got harder to read as it went on, and I enjoyed it less and less. Some sections were really quite boring. I enjoyed the history sections, and the general foray into the meanings of names, but it did feel quite long.
Firstly, the book needed to be edited SO BADLY. It's layout is terrible, and it's constantly jumping about from topic to topic. It's almost like the author just wrote down his train of thought, and thought "that'll do!" Because he really didn't know what structure he wanted, some things are repeated again and again in different chapters and paragraphs. You don't need to explain the same thing again just because it's on the next page....
The author seems to really know his stuff, but he comes across as quite arrogant sometimes, especially at the beginning. Some things are poorly explained, and I didn't understand them - specifically the Latin grammar and last chapter about the tree of life.
Sometimes the jokes really don't land. Maybe they're too "high brow" for me, so the author didn't feel the next to explain the Latin pun. Sorry I didn't learn it at school like you did. On one notable occasion, he refers to an animal and makes a joke about it's appearance, but then doesn't even tell us what the animal is. I had to look up the Latin name on Google to "understand" the joke.
The author really gave me the ick. I can tell we absolutely would not get on if we met. For some reason, he interjects his opinions from time to time, and those can feel grossly misogynist. No author, I don't want to know your sexual opinions on a Neanderthal woman and whether or not you'd have sex with her. It feels like he's writing to a strictly male audience. (Isn't that right lads, she's minging init euuurghhhh)
And the last major red flag was when he went all suddenly racist in the human taxonomy section. He started off by ignoring or defending Linnaeus' racist views on non-white humans, and going as far as echoing archaic white-centric anthropology. He then quotes a eugenicist? This guy is not an anthropologist, he is a racist, openly supporting scientific opinions that are extremely outdated. He thinks humans should be separated by colour into subspecies, like flowers! How was this stuff published? Oh yeah, because the book was poorly edited, that's why. The publisher didn't think to tell him to not include this paragraph?
I would have probably enjoyed the book more if it was written by somebody else. Can't say I'll choose to read another book like this.
This book got harder to read as it went on, and I enjoyed it less and less. Some sections were really quite boring. I enjoyed the history sections, and the general foray into the meanings of names, but it did feel quite long.
Firstly, the book needed to be edited SO BADLY. It's layout is terrible, and it's constantly jumping about from topic to topic. It's almost like the author just wrote down his train of thought, and thought "that'll do!" Because he really didn't know what structure he wanted, some things are repeated again and again in different chapters and paragraphs. You don't need to explain the same thing again just because it's on the next page....
The author seems to really know his stuff, but he comes across as quite arrogant sometimes, especially at the beginning. Some things are poorly explained, and I didn't understand them - specifically the Latin grammar and last chapter about the tree of life.
Sometimes the jokes really don't land. Maybe they're too "high brow" for me, so the author didn't feel the next to explain the Latin pun. Sorry I didn't learn it at school like you did. On one notable occasion, he refers to an animal and makes a joke about it's appearance, but then doesn't even tell us what the animal is. I had to look up the Latin name on Google to "understand" the joke.
The author really gave me the ick. I can tell we absolutely would not get on if we met. For some reason, he interjects his opinions from time to time, and those can feel grossly misogynist. No author, I don't want to know your sexual opinions on a Neanderthal woman and whether or not you'd have sex with her. It feels like he's writing to a strictly male audience. (Isn't that right lads, she's minging init euuurghhhh)
And the last major red flag was when he went all suddenly racist in the human taxonomy section. He started off by ignoring or defending Linnaeus' racist views on non-white humans, and going as far as echoing archaic white-centric anthropology. He then quotes a eugenicist? This guy is not an anthropologist, he is a racist, openly supporting scientific opinions that are extremely outdated. He thinks humans should be separated by colour into subspecies, like flowers! How was this stuff published? Oh yeah, because the book was poorly edited, that's why. The publisher didn't think to tell him to not include this paragraph?
I would have probably enjoyed the book more if it was written by somebody else. Can't say I'll choose to read another book like this.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Misogyny
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
adventurous
medium-paced
3.5
This was my 4th book finished in 2024.
Honestly I was a bit disappointed with the final book. It was a lot of "I just know it's like this / I just have a feeling this has to be done". It feels like quite lazy writing at times, and exposition-heavy. Honestly some parts were just plain boring and slow.
Additionally the battle at the end just comes to a halt for two chapters of boring exposition. Really?
I thought the Snape payoff was overdue and a bit anticlimactic. Am I supposed to like him now? Coz I still don't like his character; Alan Rickman made the character we all know and love.
Honestly I was a bit disappointed with the final book. It was a lot of "I just know it's like this / I just have a feeling this has to be done". It feels like quite lazy writing at times, and exposition-heavy. Honestly some parts were just plain boring and slow.
Additionally the battle at the end just comes to a halt for two chapters of boring exposition. Really?
I thought the Snape payoff was overdue and a bit anticlimactic. Am I supposed to like him now? Coz I still don't like his character; Alan Rickman made the character we all know and love.
James I (Penguin Monarchs): The Phoenix King by Thomas Cogswell
funny
informative
fast-paced
3.75
This was my 3rd book finished in 2024.
This was a lot more enjoyable than others in the series. I liked getting to know a lot about his personal life. It was structured very well, with easy to understand language. I just wish there were more photos than just his portraits.
James is definitely one of my new favourite monarchs. Best played by Alan Cumming in Doctor Who!
This was a lot more enjoyable than others in the series. I liked getting to know a lot about his personal life. It was structured very well, with easy to understand language. I just wish there were more photos than just his portraits.
James is definitely one of my new favourite monarchs. Best played by Alan Cumming in Doctor Who!
Level 3: Doctor Who: Mummy on the Orient Express by Jane Rollason
fast-paced
3.0
My 2nd book finished in 2024.
It was fine for what it is. I'll admit I ordered it from my local library thinking it was a proper novelisation of an episode I liked. Didn't realise it was a literal kid's book. Oh well, I ain't a quiter!
It was fine for what it is. I'll admit I ordered it from my local library thinking it was a proper novelisation of an episode I liked. Didn't realise it was a literal kid's book. Oh well, I ain't a quiter!
Henry III: A Simple and God-Fearing King by Stephen Church
challenging
informative
medium-paced
2.25
This was my 1st book finished in 2024.
I was surprised that the book opened and jumped straight into Henry III's coronation. Nothing on his childhood, then?
I found it difficult to engage with. I guess it's not the author's fault, I just found a lot of it very dry; swathes of his lifetime are covered, but in my opinion, with no interesting specifics.
I have to say though, I liked the layout. Rather than chapters, it was broken in smaller paragraphs for different events. It made it a lot easier to get through.
I was surprised that the book opened and jumped straight into Henry III's coronation. Nothing on his childhood, then?
I found it difficult to engage with. I guess it's not the author's fault, I just found a lot of it very dry; swathes of his lifetime are covered, but in my opinion, with no interesting specifics.
I have to say though, I liked the layout. Rather than chapters, it was broken in smaller paragraphs for different events. It made it a lot easier to get through.
William and Mary (Penguin Monarchs): Partners in Revolution by Jonathan Keates
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
This was my 64th book finished in 2023.
I have a fledgling interest in the Restoration Era, having read Samuel Pepys' diary, and a biography on Charles II. I too have an interest in the Georgian Era, having read a biography on George I. But, as the author states, there seems to be this forgotten gap between the two, marking the end of the Stuart era. I know a little about Anne, but what about Mary II and William III? The oldest English coin I own is a William III half penny from the 1690s, but I don't know a thing about the man.
This book serves as a good introduction. Of course this is just a summary of their lives, but it did feel a little fleeting. The book is about 20 pages shorter than others in the series, and I did feel like some things were just glanced over.
Generally, the author's writing style is fine, with nothing too confusing. But I did have to re-read some paragraphs in the opening chapter, as a lot of people had the same name, and it wasn't always obvious who the author was talking about.
To summarise, it's true that their reign was short and quite unremarkable; it seems no wonder British history has mostly forgotten about them. The author does an okay job of keeping the book interesting.
I have a fledgling interest in the Restoration Era, having read Samuel Pepys' diary, and a biography on Charles II. I too have an interest in the Georgian Era, having read a biography on George I. But, as the author states, there seems to be this forgotten gap between the two, marking the end of the Stuart era. I know a little about Anne, but what about Mary II and William III? The oldest English coin I own is a William III half penny from the 1690s, but I don't know a thing about the man.
This book serves as a good introduction. Of course this is just a summary of their lives, but it did feel a little fleeting. The book is about 20 pages shorter than others in the series, and I did feel like some things were just glanced over.
Generally, the author's writing style is fine, with nothing too confusing. But I did have to re-read some paragraphs in the opening chapter, as a lot of people had the same name, and it wasn't always obvious who the author was talking about.
To summarise, it's true that their reign was short and quite unremarkable; it seems no wonder British history has mostly forgotten about them. The author does an okay job of keeping the book interesting.