robinwalter's reviews
1786 reviews

Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age by Annalee Newitz

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

A lot of very interesting information on the 4 ancient urban settlements, but let down by some simple howlers that suggested poor fact-checking and/or editing. Also, a whole lot of hypothetical extrapolations being used as the basis for dire warnings about urban settlements of today. 

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveller by Ryan North

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.25

VERY informative and a lot of fun. At times the humour was a little forced and overdone, but the collection of information is great, and it gives the impression it could really work for the stated purpose.

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

Um...: Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean by Michael Erard

informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

A very interesting look at verbal disfluency. Learning about verbal disfluency in sign languages was fascinating, as was the history of the research into the various forms the phenomenon takes

Destiny's Way by Jack Campbell

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

A fast-paced wrap to the story. Upbeat and enjoyable 

In Our Stars by Jack Campbell

adventurous mysterious fast-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

4.0

A story with some interesting things to say and, like all good SF, very relevant to today. But it's fair to say that romance is not the author's forte, and the cliffhanger ending is a cheap trick 

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

informative mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

A really riveting book, a fascinating mystery in which the criminal part of the mystery ha only one possible culprit, blindingly obvious from the very beginning. But the journey to the revelation of the culprit's identity was immensely engaging. 

The Forgotten Children by Anita Davison

challenging emotional mysterious 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? N/A

4.0

End of Story by A.J. Finn

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

Stupidly overlong and over complex. The writer is deeply in love with his own cleverness, which is a particular shame as this writing is not that clever.

A Gentleman of Sinister Schemes by Grace Burrowes

emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25