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A Brief History Of Time: From Big Bang To Black Holes
A Brief History Of Time: From Big Bang To Black Holes
Stephen Hawking | 2015 | Science & Mathematics
6.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"I read it during a period when life in Swat was very hard. I distracted myself from the fear and terrorism by thinking about things like how the universe began and whether time travel is possible. I enjoy science, and I’m a very curious person. I always want to know the reason behind everything, big or small."

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Seth recommended The Vanishing (1988) in Movies (curated)

 
The Vanishing (1988)
The Vanishing (1988)
1988 | Mystery, Thriller
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Not so much a film about tragic loss as one about obsession. Intense, disturbing, and affecting. A film not easily forgotten. I’m not sure I actually liked any of the characters—but I felt for them. I thought about The Vanishing for days after watching it. It still creeps into my thoughts when I least expect it."

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Aldis Hodge recommended Life (2015) in Movies (curated)

 
Life (2015)
Life (2015)
2015 | Drama
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"My fifth, my fifth, my fifth. That’s a hard one, man. That’s a hard one. I love Bridesmaids, I will say that. But I was also watching Life the other night, and Life is one of those classic joints. I don’t know if it really got the love that it deserved but Life, was damn good."

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Zach Braff recommended Brazil (1985) in Movies (curated)

 
Brazil (1985)
Brazil (1985)
1985 | Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi

"I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pitched something and said, “It’s like if Terry Gilliam directed ____.” I fell in love with this film and those of Jean-Pierre Jeunet while I was in film school at Northwestern. I would love more than anything to make a film with a Gilliam level of design and art."

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Captive (Beautiful Monsters #1)
Captive (Beautiful Monsters #1)
Jex Lane | 2016
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'm not much for action, but this had a lot of it and I enjoyed it. Despite being a vampire story, I felt like it was different from what I've read before, which made it compelling. Though action felt like the main theme, I was drawn in by the romance and was surprised by the emotions I experienced throughout.
  
Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #3)
Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #3)
Laini Taylor | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
7.9 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
So I finished the third and final book in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series and I have to say, bravo! It really was such a good read, longer, which is more to my taste and such a lovely way to finish of such a good trilogy. Luckily for me I only read books 1 & 2 this year so unlike other readers the story was all still incredibly fresh in my mind. It picks up before the end of book 2 and explains some of the finer details to bring the story up to scratch. I won’t go into further details encase people haven’t read book 2 yet.

This is such a well-structured trilogy and you can see the authors develop as well as the characters, without it seeming to ‘after thought’ish, in this final edition to the series. I will say I was not overly keen on the edition of an unknown character as a narrator at this stage (which is surprising considering I read Game of Thrones). One of the only real dislikes I had was Eliza’s first few chapters I just couldn’t see how or why she fits into the grand scheme of things. Which she does in the end in such a brilliant way, I think a second reading at some point will allow a better appreciation of her chapters now.

Whilst I thoroughly loved and enjoyed this book I do have to say that towards the end it felt almost like and ‘opps we haven’t really said what’s going on with these characters or this area’. I think the book would have been perfect finished at around 94% the last 6% did feel a bit padded.

I would like to finish by adding that Zuzana is such a bright star of a character in a story that could get pulled down with seriousness. She is right there with such quick funny lines that at times I did laugh out loud. I could hear her sarcastic little voice and I loved getting to her chapters. I also wonder if at some point Laini Taylor may revisit this world as I can almost feel the rest of the story unfolding in my own head.
  
It’s taken me longer than I would like to admit to write this review, but that is only because I feel that I cannot properly express what I truly want to say.

In reality, I feel there is little I can say that I didn’t say about Altaica. The characters are well written, the world interesting, reminiscent of Tolkien and the like, and the storyline engaging. However, while I loved Altaica , Asena Blessed completely blew it out of the water. After reading Asena Blessed, I realize that Altaica is just a tease, the tip of the iceberg. It’s like comparing a shake to a sundae. Both are delicious, but there are more ingredients to enjoy in the sundae. The characters, geography, and plot introduced in the first novel are more developed and fleshed out. We learn more about the mythology and event going on in the world the story is set in.

Normally, I don’t like cliffhangers, but with Joyce’s Altaica’s it just makes me hunger for more. I read it in one sitting and I felt like I lost a friend once I finished Asena. I cannot wait for the next installment. If you are a fan of Tamora Pierce, you will love this series.
  
Cold Pursuit (2019)
Cold Pursuit (2019)
2019 | Action, Drama, Thriller
I am so torn on how to review/rate this film. This film is a remake of a Norwegian film, and the setting is moved to Colorado. The director of this film is also Norwegian, and it is apparent that this is the case from the beautiful shots of scenery.
Basically, Liam Neeson's character is taking out a drug network after they OD his son. It is amusing when he's committing the crimes, which is a very weird thing to say.
I don't know if it's funny enough to be considered a black comedy, but there are amusing/awkwardly funny parts. Midway through the movie, another drug network is brought into the picture, and I'm not sure it was strictly necessary.
I have to give a shout out to Tom Bateman, who plays Viking. After I got over the weird/pretentious American accent he was rocking, he reminded me of a lot of the people I know with his... interesting... viewpoints and parenting habits. I can't figure out if I liked this film or not. I think the further removed I get from seeing it, the more I like it.
  
San Andreas (2015)
San Andreas (2015)
2015 | Action
I remember the first time I saw this film - it was at a drive-in movie with my family and that was a whole experience. I thought it was bad then, but less so than I do now because the screen was so huge and you were pulled into it in a way that you're just not at home.

When I watched it a second time, my poor soul, I was slapped in the face with how atrocious I always knew it was. I am a firm believer that most every Dwayne Johnson film is the same. He's always the hero, the rescuer, the buff, tough, don't mess with me type of guy. I don't think I've seen a film with him in it where he's not that person and if you find one, let me know!

Overall, I think this film just shows the lack of diversity in his characters, but also that writing and having a thought out plot are just as important as cast and effects. This film did not lack in effects, but it definitely lacked in pretty much every other department.
  
*Copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

DNF at 63%.

Somehow I thought I'd like this more but it didn't grab my attention. Well that's a lie, it did for the first 15% or so. I loved the fact it was set somewhere other than America or England, like most other books I've read, and having been to Prague myself, it was interesting reading a story set there. I loved that she was an artist and drew both halves of her life; Zuzana and Brimstone but they never mixed and she had to juggle her life.

But then it all went a little odd for me. I think it was a sort of fantasy that didn't gel with me. It's not really a genre I like too much, which took me a long time to figure out.

The plot was difficult for me to gel with too. I think it was the mystery aspect. Not having any idea of Karou's background. It was like she just appeared one day.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters either. I cant say I felt a connection to any of them.

Not for me.