suzharold's reviews
269 reviews

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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

3.5

Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

An irreverent romp through the dark ages and medieval English history. Occasionall  crass and frequently hilarious. 

The Puzzler: One Man's Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life by A.J. Jacobs

challenging funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-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

4.0

A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn

adventurous funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

#5 in the series and a solid addition. If you liked 1-4, you will also like this one. A fantastic romp, as Veronica might say. 

Mansfield and Dirksen: Bipartisan Giants of the Senate by Marc C. Johnson

hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

4.5

Highly readable account of two important men who have been widely forgotten. It was fascinating to read about the Senate's role in pivotal events in the 1950-60s, and to link it with other accounts I've read. Highly recommend. 

Graveyard of the Pacific by Randall Sullivan

adventurous challenging funny informative medium-paced

4.0

Sullivan neatly braids 3 strands - the history of crossing the Columbia River Bar, the difficult and often heartbreaking childhood of himself and his friend Ray, and their crossing of the bar at age 70 in a trimaran - into a compelling and highly readable book. 

I read the book pretty quickly once I switched to hardcover. I had started with the  audio book a few months ago, but the reader mispronounced too many local names and I had to stop by chapter 2. It took me a few months to get back to the title. 

Mariam Sharma Hits the Road by Sheba Karim

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

3.0

Fun and interesting,  though it bogs down a bit near the end as the author has the characters say out loud everything they're learned and the theme of the book. But the friendship dynamic is good and I enjoyed learning a bit more about Muslim community. 

All the President's Men by Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein

informative slow-paced

4.0

I listened to this title and it's a lot of names to keep straight. But it was fascinating to follow along with how they tracked down rhe story and worked their sources. 

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Pure fun. Like reading Midsommer Murders but with a young female protagonist. Can't wait for book 2.