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Cece writes biographies of dead mystery authors. While working on a biography of Erle Stanley Gardner, she finds a letter he'd received from a prisoner who claimed to be innocent. Can Cece dig up this cold case and prove the man innocent? I found this debut a little slow at times, but I was still drawn to Cece and the mystery.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-i-dreamed-i-married-perry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
A Woman Under the Influence (1975)
A Woman Under the Influence (1975)
1975 | Classics, Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"My favorite — my number one favorite, actually — is A Woman Under the Influence. [Gena Rowlands] is just… I respect and admire her so much as an actress. I just think that performance is so brave and extraordinary. It was one of those things that, as a woman, as an actress, I kind of appreciate, you know. And also, that film is kind of a really, truly independent film. I think Cassavetes financed it, I think Peter Falk put money into it; kind of no one really believed in it. I was in a film a couple of years ago that a studio would never touch, a movie called Trucker, which was a great opportunity for me; but those sort of movies need to be independently financed."

Source
  
A Prophet (Un prophete) (2010)
A Prophet (Un prophete) (2010)
2010 | International, Drama
7.0 (4 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"A Prophet is a film that I saw a few years back now. That completely blew my mind, and I thought that could have easily been quite… Not cheesy; cheesy is the wrong word. They have this sort of ghost and kind of have this supernatural element of it in places. I feel that it could easily kind of be done to a point that it takes me out of the story, but I think they handled it so beautifully and subtly. The madness of it being in the prison system. I thought it was a really gritty, real film. I thought that the performances, in fact, were just wonderful. Very gritty. A Prophet, it’s a strange film. Yeah, it’s really a great film."

Source
  
Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe, Biyi Bandele | 2001 | Essays
6
7.5 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book as part of a book exchange for my book club. I was excited because it finally gave me a reason to read a book that has been on my "I should read this" list. I finished this book and I honestly have no idea what my thoughts are. I'm trying to put them into words and I'm failing.

I liked this book for the multicultural issues that it proposes. It had elements that I have never grasped or read before which I enjoyed. I loved learning about the culture and customs of this tribe. I also loved how complex the main character was. I loved how at moments you're wanting him to be shunned and at other moments you want him to be fully embraced by his tribe.

I didn't like how abrupt the ending was. It was leading to the climax of the story and then just halted leaving me extremely unsatisfied. I want a resolution and I want a cookie cutter ending where everything is wrapped up tight with a cute little bow. Unfortunately, that isn't this book.

All in all, I'm happy that I read this book. I'm thrilled that I finally found time to read it. I'm just not so sure how I feel about it either.
  
Blasphemy (Wyman Ford #2)
Blasphemy (Wyman Ford #2)
Douglas Preston | 2008 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Qute a few years ago, I read a couple of books in the 'Jurassic Park' vein that I really quite enjoyed: 'Relic', and then 'Reliquary'. Not that long ago, I also read another book by the same author(s) ('Mount Dragon'), but found it to be rather slow moving and a bit tedious in places.

Never-the-less, and despite a rather provocative title, I thought I would give this a chance. I can happily report that this moves at a much faster pace then 'Mount Dragon', and is more enjoyable than that novel - more like what I remember 'Relic' and 'Reliquary' to be like. I might not agree with all the view-points expounded in the novel, nor even with its eventual denouement, but at least it has restored my faith in the author!
  
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder
Holly Jackson | 2019 | Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
9
9.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
What a great thriller debut book for Holly Jackson. I was engrossed from the start to the end with helping Pippa and Ravi find the real killer of Andie Bell. There were so many twist and turns I felt like I was watching a documentary on how solving a real murder case might go. I was invested in the characters as well as the writing was on point.What a great thriller debut book for Holly Jackson. I was engrossed from the start to the end with helping Pippa and Ravi find the real killer of Andie Bell. There were so many twist and turns I felt like I was watching a documentary on how solving a real murder case might go. I was invested in the characters as well as the writing was on point.
  
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Jackjack (877 KP) rated Ghost Girl in Books

Mar 14, 2020  
Ghost Girl
Ghost Girl
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Definitely one to read.
I can honestly say since school I have only read two books, they don't interest me. I am more of a movie guy. This book however I saw on my way to bed and I randomly read the first page. I was hooked.

Amazing story about a young girl who is convinced people from a t.v show is harming her sexually. She is petrified to talk cause spiders have ears, she is at a loss until she meets Torey Hayden an author that writes from her own experiences, she works with all kinds of children. As this mystery novel unfolds it kept me breathless I couldn't believe what I was reading, it was awful but every story has a happy ending, definitely a 10/10!
  
When Katie Met Cassidy
When Katie Met Cassidy
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was excited when I found out I won an advanced copy of this book - I tend to read a lot of the same books and I try to step out of my bubble and read things I normally would not have heard of - and I find myself usually really glad that I did!

I hadn't read The Assistants, by Camille Perri, but it's definitely on my TBR list. This one sounded interesting and it was definitely a great story. I do think it got a little boring in parts, and the character development was pretty lacking.

Katie is fresh off a pretty major breakup with her fiancé when into her shambled life walks Cassidy. The attraction is almost instant for Cassidy and quickly follows with Katie, although pretty confused about her feelings, the story goes on to see how things all fall into place, or fall apart - all while still reeling from a devastating split from a man, and a life she thought she knew and fit into all so well.

I found some things a bit unbelievable and had a hard time taking the attraction between Katie and Cassidy seriously. I'm not sure what sparked it between them - I found it a bit far-fetched, but it was a fun quick read and overall that's fine by me!
  
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Laura (40 KP) rated Queens of Geek in Books

Oct 21, 2017  
Queens of Geek
Queens of Geek
Jen Wilde | 2017 | Young Adult (YA)
10
8.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Just the book I needed
I read most of this in a single sitting, I couldn’t put it down, nor did I want to. The story takes place over a weekend at a convention, so it is fairly fast paced. There are two alternating perspectives, Taylor and Charlie, both were wonderfully written. I really related to them, especially Taylor who is an introvert, who struggles with anxiety, also she has autism. A lot of what she said really spoke to me, this book is just really well written and I fully recommend it.
  
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Jackie Meyer (1 KP) rated Artemis in Books

Dec 12, 2017  
Artemis
Artemis
Andy Weir | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
7.6 (35 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was genuinely entertained the entire time. (0 more)
Good fun
This book was so much fun. I wasn't sure where the twists were going in the last half, which was interesting. I like that he wrote an intelligent, scrappy female protagonist without making romance a dominant storyline. She was a real person who felt rather real. Heck, the story felt really real. I expect there to be a moon station right now! I felt the same way about The Martian. I enjoy the science Andy Weir weaves in as well. A genuinely enjoyable book.