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Marylegs (44 KP) rated After Alice in Books

Aug 14, 2019  
After Alice
After Alice
Gregory Maguire | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
2
4.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
At this point I honestly don’t know what to write about ‘After Alice’. This SHOULD be a book I enjoy. This is an author I have read other books from and have enjoyed. But in all honesty this book is dire. I am 15%+ into the book, and I can’t honestly tell you what is happening.

The language feels like someone has vomited out a thesaurus. It doesn’t flow and the language doesn’t even feel like it is being used to enhance the descriptive tones. Instead it feels like alternative words are being used for the sake it. Possibly to mask the fact that even though I am over 15% in NOTHING has happened.

I have no bond with the characters. It isn’t even that I dislike them. There has been barely any character building what so ever. I very rarely leave a book unfinished. But I feel like I am reading for the sake of finishing it. And having a toddler I don’t have the time to read a book I am not enjoying.

Very disappointing. I feel like I should have loved it.
  
Children of Blood and Bone: Book 1
Children of Blood and Bone: Book 1
Tomi Adeyemi | 2018 | Paranormal, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.1 (28 Ratings)
Book Rating
It took me a moment to get into it, but I promise you after I kept reading it just got better and better. I loved the ending, it was absolutely wonderful and a great read.

This book has a three characters view. Zelie , Amari, and Inan. Each chapter you get to see how these characters grow and become stronger and show who they truly are. I personally love Amari and the strength you get to see from her and how she grows as a character.
Zelie is such a strong, brave, and talented women, absolutely enjoyed how this character grew stronger as I read further on in the book.
Inan, I cant express how much I love this character. I looked forward to reading his view, he such a mystery and it wanted me to read more about how this character was going to plan out in the story. I cant wait for the next book to come out. I look forward to it cause this story had me hooked to the point I was pulling the book out at work!
  
Born In The U.S.A by Bruce Springsteen
Born In The U.S.A by Bruce Springsteen
1984 | Rock

"You simply couldn’t ask for a better pop record by a rock and roller. There’s not a lot of songs on here I don’t like. I don’t even know what I could say about this one, other than it simply is a must-own record. But once you get past the never-ending hits on this one, there’s a depth to the lyrics that really rivals anyone writing out there. That creeps in after a few listens. How brilliant the words are on this record. I love when sad songs sound happy, and this is maybe the king of them all: “Born down in a dead man’s town/The first kick I took was when I hit the ground/End up like a dog that’s been beat too much, ‘till you spend half your life just a covering’ up, now."

Source
  
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
2017 | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The Actors (1 more)
Updated version of a great movie
First all you would have to say is The Rock, Jack Black and Kevin Hart and you know it will be funny. Although I have to admit I was a little skeptical before seeing it because it is a reboot and let's face it they are doing a lot of those lately. Not all end up being as good or better then the original, however this is not the case with Jumanji. I thought this was a great reboot of a great movie. I like the updated idea of the game being a video game versus a board game but still follow along with the older version as well.

If you decide to see the movie and you are a Rock fan, or a Jack Black fan or a Kevin Hart fan I don't think you will be disappointed. I laughed quit a bit and my whole family enjoyed seeing it.
  
40x40

Jonny Pierce recommended Beat Happening by Beat Happening in Music (curated)

 
Beat Happening by Beat Happening
Beat Happening by Beat Happening
1985 | Indie, Pop, Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"That album for me was just…It sounds like they’re – instead of using a drum kit on their songs they will just tap a pencil on a desk into a microphone. That album, for me, also is a testament to great song writing, that you don’t need a lot of production. I think that helps me be relaxed about making an album when I started the Drums. I said to myself, “Look, I have no money. I’m riding my bike 6 miles to work to work at a shitty outlet mall only to ride back and make music.” I couldn’t afford to make a record. Knowing that Beat Happening did that with a pencil and a desk for a drum kit…I have this rule, if the song is good just by whistling it, then you don’t really need a bunch of gear and production. People will connect to the melody, and people will connect to the lyrics. So, Beat Happening was big for me."

Source
  
IT
In The Shadow of Blackbirds
Cat Winters | 2013 | Paranormal
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
(This review can also be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).


I'm a sucker for ghost stories, so when I heard about this book through numerous blogs, I knew it was a book that I would have to read. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed.

Mary Shelley Black is a 16 year old girl who is sent to live in California with her aunt after her father gets arrested for helping men avoid the draft in 1918. She meets up with her childhood friend, and they fall in love with each other. Unfortunately, when they realize they're in love with each other, it's too late. He is being shipped off to war the next day. When she receives word that Stephen, her childhood friend and sweetheart, has died in battle, Mary Shelley is devasted. She's never believed in ghosts before, but when Stephen's ghost comes to here asking for help, she'll do whatever it takes to help him.

I found the title of this book to be very interesting. In fact, before I read the book, I was quite confused about how that title would fit in with a ghost story. After reading the book, I understood what it was all about.

The cover is rather interesting as well. I like the way there's pretty Mary Shelley Black sitting on a chair with what looks like a spirit beside her. The cover is what caught my attention in the first place. When I saw it, I knew I had to read it.

The world building in this book is quite good and believable. It's very obvious that Miss Winters has done her homework about life back in 1918. I'm not a history buff, but from what I was reading, everything seemed to be historically accurate. I even had to look up stuff myself that I never knew about such as people using onions to ward off the flu!! Personally, I think I would've been a bit more scared when it came to Stephen's ghostly visits to Mary Shelley though, but this may just be a me thing.

The pacing did start off a bit slow, and I was feeling disappointed as I had heard great things about this book. However, once I got about 100 pages in, the pacing picked right up, and I was hooked. I only put this book down because real life interfered with my reading. I could definitely tell why people were loving In the Shadow of Blackbirds!

The plot was fantastic and very interesting. I had never read a book dealing with the whole spiritualist movement of the early 20th century. I loved how the plot incorporated everything about that period of time such as the war and the flu. The spiritualism in the book portrayed how gullible and desperate people were back then with all their loved ones dying. I loved the fiction aspect of a girl whose first love dies despite all these other things going on. I loved how he returned as a ghost and the major twist in the story.

The characters were definitely thought out and well written. I loved how Mary Shelley was so passionate when it came to what she loved. I loved her vulnerability at times but how strong she was. I just loved how great of a character Mary Shelley was. I did find Stephen to be a bit annoying as a ghost though. I just thought he was too whiney, and at times, I wanted to exorcise him! I know it sounds mean, but boy, he was just so annoying! I understand that he was suffering but still. I just felt that he put a lot of pressure on Mary Shelley to save him considering how much he loved her! Julius made a great meanie! I hated him, and there were so many times I wish I could've yelled at him! He wasn't a poorly written character; he was quite the opposite actually! I did love Mary Shelley's Aunt Eva too. She came across a lot older than her 26 years, but I think I would've as well if I'd been through what she had. I loved the way she was willing to take Mary Shelley in, and I loved how she always made a fuss over her. Eva definitely had a big heart.

I found the dialogue to be most fascinating! I enjoyed reading about each character as well as reading about history. If only learning about history were this fun in school. I think I would've paid more attention! I loved reading about how Mary Shelley felt about everything. I loved the way people spoke back then as well. As for language, there are a few swear words, but nothing too major.

Overall, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters was a super interesting read!! The world building, plot and characters were all written fantastically, and I never even knew I was getting a history lesson in the process.

I'd recommend this book to those aged 15+ who are after an interesting read. I think mostly everyone would enjoy it.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds gets a 4.25 out of 5 from me.
  
A Feast for Crows
A Feast for Crows
George R.R. Martin | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.2 (51 Ratings)
Book Rating
Can I give this more than 5 stars? No? Well it deserves it!
I was gripped from beginning to end. Putting it down was a problem, and with a book this size it does make cooking the family dinner a bit tricky one-handed! Some real 'gasp out loud' moments (one of which I tried to explain to my husband whilst he was watching the Vuelta. Unsurprisingly, it didn't go down well, but he's a tolerant chap after all these years with me!) and the usual blood and gore. I love this series, but if GRRM hasn't released The Winds of Winter by the time I finish A Dance with Dragons, I may have to have a little cry! At the rate I'm reading these though (because I keep getting distracted with other books), he has a while...
  
Ghoosebumps: Slappyworld: Slappy Birthday to You
Ghoosebumps: Slappyworld: Slappy Birthday to You
R.L. Stine | 2017 | Children
3
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
My Little Brother Got it For Me
I loved Goosebumps books as a child. When I was much younger, they even scared me a bit. Reading this one as an adult, it isn't as impressive. You see story mishaps, and it becomes painfully obvious that these are just for children. That being said, I still enjoyed this book. It was a great silly read, perfect for an end of the day break. I really liked how 'Slappy' would hop in every once and a while and give his own opinion. For a child who loves these types of books, it would definitely be a much higher rating. Unfortunately, as an adult, I would say my rating fits (maybe I was even a little generous). It wasn't written for us; we won't enjoy it as much. For nostalgic purposes I recommend it.