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Rose (201 KP) rated It (2017) in Movies

Sep 9, 2017  
It (2017)
It (2017)
2017 | Drama, Horror
9
7.9 (355 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Terrifying visuals (2 more)
Great job on casting
Faithful to the book for the most part
Firstly, I do want to address the running time: it's two hours and fifteen minutes. Yet, I didn't feel as if I was sitting in a chair for that long. There was one point where I did question how long had the movie run, but then something happened in the movie to pull me right back in and ignore the outside world.

You really do end up liking the kids and rooting for them. The interactions between Beverly and Ben were really well done and were my favorites. I have heard some people criticizing the amount of time that focused on the kids, but that's really what the story is about: kids dealing with adult-like trauma and facing it.


Of course Pennywise steals each scene he's in. Or should I say 'every scene it's in?' Pun intended.


It's hard to talk (write) about my favorite bits without giving away spoilers, so just go watch it and enjoy!


I can't wait for the second part!
  
Adulthood is a Myth: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection
Adulthood is a Myth: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection
Sarah Andersen | 2016 | Humor & Comedy
8
7.9 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i>Adulthood is a Myth</i> gave me some serious lolz. I had never heard of Sarah Andersen before but since I'm over thirty and still don't feel like a real, actual adult, thought I'd give it a try. The cartoons are simple, yet well done, and remind me a little of Matthew Inman's art at <a href="http:///www.theoatmeal.com">The Oatmeal</a>. Each page has a different anecdote usually composed of two to five panels. The subjects range from new responsiblities reaching adulthood to relationships to procrastination. The ones I most gravitated towards were introversion, love of books, and love of animals.

I'm so glad I requested this book, it was short, funny, and I had a good time reading it. I now have a new artist to check out. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone, most especially those in their twenties, thirties, and forties; there's a little something for everyone to relate to in <i>Adulthood is a Myth</i>.

Received from NetGalley for an honest review.
  
The Lorax
The Lorax
Dr. Seuss | 1998
10
8.5 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Environmental Morality Tale for Kids
Meet the Once-ler. Back in the past, he found a forest of Truffula Trees. Through ingenuity, he found a way to make these trees into something that everyone could use. However, the Lorax shows up to try to warn him of the dangers that might cause. Will the Once-ler listen?

I had this book as a kid, and we read it many times while I was growing up. Rereading it as an adult, I was struck again by just how dark this book is. There is a clear environmental message to the book. I do wish it were more even handed, but I realize this is a picture book for kids, and a morality tale at that. The pictures and creatures are pure Dr. Seuss and are fun. The story, while told in rhyme, features some of Dr. Seuss’s made up creatures, so it isn’t early reader friendly, but as kids are ready to tackle something more challenging with the help of adults, this book would be great.
  
40x40

BTPBookclub (18 KP) rated Inborn in Books

May 11, 2019  
Inborn
Inborn
Thomas Enger | 2019 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is bloody brilliant! A real sleep stealer, page turner of a read. I read this in one sitting and stayed up very late just to finish it, was well and truelly hooked. I seriously did not want to put this down.

Such a clever story, I was constantly trying to guess who the murderer was and was wrong each and every time. The outcome… I would have never expected that in a million years. Truelly shocking and jaw dropping.

Brilliantly written, clever how the story was told through the past and the present all linking into one straight storyline. Would appeal to young adult readers and crime readers. This has to be his best book yet! Very impressed.

I did feel sorry for Even though, poor lad. A must read. A must buy. I absolutely loved this and devoured it. A well deserved five stars from me and a place in my top twenty of 2019! Highly recommend. You won’t regret reading this one, plenty of twists and turns during the case bound to keep you reading until the end.
  
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
2018 | Action, Animation, Sci-Fi
Great movie, even to a Spiderman purist.
I've always been a purist. I enjoy the classic comics and their stories the most. Just how I was raised and what I grew up with. I know of the Morales storyline, just never gave it much credence. So, I was a little hesitant heading into this movie to say the least. That all aside, this little flick was a lot of fun. A fun, though not original, story leads all the various Spider characters together in a fun ride through Marvel lore. Was also very pleased with the adult overtones to the story while keeping it an animation movie for kids, which so many new cartoon movies do so well these days. In the end, while I may still believe that Peter Parker is the Spiderman, I now have a better understanding and appreciation of Morales and the other variations of Spiderman and their place in the Marvel Universe. Well done, Sony. And, of course, RIP Stan Lee. You will be missed.
  
Above the Timberline
Above the Timberline
Gregory Manchess | 2017 | Comics & Graphic Novels, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'm calling this a graphic novel because that's really what it is - it's not a comic, though. Each spread of pages is a mixture of text and oil painting - sometimes just a painting.

If it was just the text, it would be a very lackluster book. There are aspects of the story that are unexplained, and aspects that are explained only by the accompanying paintings. It's really the paintings that make this book unique. It's almost like - an adult picture book, I suppose. It actually reads more like someone found the series of paintings and constructed a story to support what they imagined was happening in the pictures.

Regardless, it's a unique experience. Manchess is a remarkable artist. The paintings are gorgeous, and the book does that thing where the text and art play around each other on the page, creating unique formatting that helps tell the story on its own, like when a full two-page spread of a painting has two lines of text to emphasize them.

Fascinating, beautiful book.
  
The Queens Corgi (2019)
The Queens Corgi (2019)
2019 |
1
2.0 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The first 2 mins (0 more)
Everything after the first 2mins (0 more)
The Queens Corgi needs putting down
Contains spoilers, click to show
Wow what did I just watch.
It started well a cute and funny 2mins showing the new corgi arrive. The interaction between the dogs and the palace servants was good.

From here:
Trump shows up and flirts with a random woman which is cringy and just feels wrong

The animation of anyone outside of the palace looks rushed

Trump brings a final dog to breed with the queens corgi, so proceeds a scene where the queens dog is sexually harrassed whilst the American dog declares shes on heat and wants him.

Queens dog ends up in dogs pound where dog fights occur, one dog is dragged out after one such fight in a mess.

The animation of the other dogs is poor

Nothing fun or interesting in the final half hr.

It is a poor kids film, that poorly tries to insert adult humour that is just cringeworthy or in bad taste.

Avoid at all costs. The worst animated kids film I have ever seen... ever!!
  
TD
Two Dukes and a Lady
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A historical menage a trois involving childhood friends? Sign me up please! As soon as a I read the synopsis, I requested this book immediately. This is everything I wanted. Historical erotica is the best. Childhood friends to lovers is my weakness. Throw in a menage a trois and I am sold 100%.

And the novel didn’t disappoint. Overall, it was as erotic as it was romantic. I was a little annoyed at the characters, their actions/reactions to situations, and how they handled them. I mean, they haven’t seen this woman they loved for years, and the first time they do, they practically ravage her in the street after not contacting her in forever. It felt similar to reading a YA where the couple hasn’t quite figured out how to interact with their significant other as an adult.

Barring that, it was a great read. I wish I could find more novels similar to this mold (that aren’t garbage.)
  
This was your typical, hilarious Rick Riordan companion novel. Like Percy Jackson telling us in his witty way about Greek mythology in the two books about Greek Gods and Greek Heroes… Various residents of Hotel Valhalla tell us about Norse mythology. It was filled with interviews, stories and jokes. Part encyclopedia and part comedy sketch. I do wish that it was longer and more in depth. Generally, people know more about Greek mythology than they do about other types, so it would be great to have a more expansive discussion about the gods, goddesses, monsters and origin stories in Norse Mythology. Perhaps this will be rectified in a future expanded novel? That would be my one criticism for this book, otherwise it was a fantastic, quick, funny read. Highly recommended for middle grade and young adult readers who are already fans of Rick Riordan's, love fantasy, mythology, funny books or pretty much anything else. I just recommend that you read the Magnus Chase series before delving into this book to give yourself a little familiarity.
  
TP
The Pilgrim's Progress
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Join Christian on his journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. He’ll encounter many dangers and trials as he tries to stay on the straight and narrow path. And then in the second half of the book, follow his wife Christiana’s journey.

I was obsessed with this story in other forms as a kid, and it was interesting to read the original many years later as an adult. Christian’s journey is book, with many powerful lessons and morals that still apply today. Even when the characters start to sermonize as they walk along, it is interesting. The second half isn’t as engaging, however, and feels like it suffers the fate of the sequel. There are still some good moments here, but overall the first part is better. Bunyan never tries to hide his allegory. This translation into modern English is very readable while still maintaining the voice of an author from the 1600’s.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-pilgrims-progress-by-john.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.