Search
Search results
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated To Wager Her Heart (Belle Meade Plantation, #3) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
I have been a fan of Tamera Alexander's ever since I read her book, Inheritance. She captivated me with that book and I would read anything of hers blindly! I was super excited to take part in being able to review this newest release, the third book in her Belle Meade Plantation series. Let me tell you what! I had so much fun reading this book. I loved the detail she incorporated into the story and the characters she created owned me while I read this book! It did not take me long to read it, I was that engrossed in it. I love historical novels set around during, beginning and end of the Civil War. Ms. Alexander created this particular story post- Civil War and really made me feel a part of the time period. I could picture the clothing perfectly as the characters wore them, and the scenery was vivid in my mind.
I adored Alexandra and Sylas' characters! Both were seeking a path in life that was their own and no one elses. Watching Alexander break away from her controlling father and seek a love that her heart wanted, was incredibly wonderful! Having dealt with a somewhat controlling mom a time or two, I could really feel my heart being tugged by Alexandra. The interactions between Sylas and Alexandra really popped in the story and I loved watching them together. I could see the sparks of interest literally fly off the pages!
This story of following your own heart, seeking the true path that God has laid out for oneself was really soul capturing for me. Each page turn brought something new to the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it all. This trip to the Belle Meade Plantation was definitely not my last! I can't wait to go back and grab a copy of the rest of the books in the series.
If you are looking for a fun, soul grabbing story rich in history (I loved learning about Fisk University!) and detail, and characters that come to life, then this book is definitely for you. Be warned! This 5 star novel will keep you so engrossed you will forfeit the rest of your adulting duties! Hats off to Ms. Alexander on an incredible new book! I can't wait to read another amazing novel by you! <a href="http://cafinatedreads.com/book-review-to-wager-her-heart-by-tamera-alexander/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads</a>
I adored Alexandra and Sylas' characters! Both were seeking a path in life that was their own and no one elses. Watching Alexander break away from her controlling father and seek a love that her heart wanted, was incredibly wonderful! Having dealt with a somewhat controlling mom a time or two, I could really feel my heart being tugged by Alexandra. The interactions between Sylas and Alexandra really popped in the story and I loved watching them together. I could see the sparks of interest literally fly off the pages!
This story of following your own heart, seeking the true path that God has laid out for oneself was really soul capturing for me. Each page turn brought something new to the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it all. This trip to the Belle Meade Plantation was definitely not my last! I can't wait to go back and grab a copy of the rest of the books in the series.
If you are looking for a fun, soul grabbing story rich in history (I loved learning about Fisk University!) and detail, and characters that come to life, then this book is definitely for you. Be warned! This 5 star novel will keep you so engrossed you will forfeit the rest of your adulting duties! Hats off to Ms. Alexander on an incredible new book! I can't wait to read another amazing novel by you! <a href="http://cafinatedreads.com/book-review-to-wager-her-heart-by-tamera-alexander/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads</a>
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Endless (2020) in Movies
Oct 19, 2020
Alexandra Shipp's acting is OK (1 more)
The British Columbian scenary
A Ghost "Ditto" - but without the star quality
Riley (Alexandra Shipp) and Chris (Nicholas Hamilton) are teenage lovers about to be torn apart... but not in the way you think. Riley is about to turn her back on her talent for comic book art to follow her parent's wishes: to study law on the other side of the country in Georgetown. Chris is from the other side of the tracks - aren't they always in these films? - living in a one-parent family with his mother Lee (Bond-girl Famke Janssen).
But fate is about to push them even further apart as - with an advert as to why drinking, texting and driving don't mix - Chris is killed in a car crash. Tragedy - when the feeling's gone and you can't go on! Can their love for each other reach beyond death itself, and if so, at what cost?
We've been here before of course with the Demi Moore / Patrick Swayze hit "Ghost" from 1990. That was an Oscar winner (Best Supporting Actress for Whoopi Goldberg and screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin). Will "Endless" - a teen-love version - match this potential? Unfortunately, without a potter's wheel in sight, it doesn't stand a ghost of a chance.
It feels like it's not for the want of trying from the five youngsters* at the heart of the action, with Eddie Ramos and Zoë Belkin playing the lover's best friends and DeRon Horton being the limbo-trapped ghost-guide equivalent to the subway dropout from "Ghost". (* I say "youngsters", but most seem to be in their late twenties!) )
All seem to invest their energy into the project. Unfortunately, with the exception of Alexandra Shipp, the energy is not matched with great acting talent. Poor Nicholas Hamilton (the bully from "It") seems to have a particularly limited range, with his resting expression being "gormless".
None of the adult actors fair much better, with Famke Janssen being particularly unconvincing.
As I said, the exception here is Alexandra Shipp, who had a supporting role in "Love, Simon" and a more centre-stage role as "Storm" in the otherwise disappointing "X-Men: Dark Phoenix". Here she remains eminently watchable, but is hog-bound by a seriously dodgy script.
If you read my bob-the-movie-man blog regularly, you will know I reach for my flame-thrower at the appearance of voiceovers. And the start of this movie made me shudder with fear as a "tell, not show" approach was followed. It's a mild blessing that the script - by Andre Case and O'Neil Sharma - used this device purely as a slightly lazy way to set the scene and the voiceover didn't rear its ugly head again.
However, on a broader basis, the screenplay doesn't excite - predictability is its middle name - and it contains lines of dialogue that are absolute stinkers. There are whole sections of the movie that defy belief, with a police investigation in particular appearing completely incompetent. The result is that it adds neither drama or tension.
Through my career in IT I've had the great fortune to travel to a number of small cities in Canada, and all have appealed with their consistently picturesque qualities and consistently quirky individuals! Here we have the cities of Kelowna and Vernon in British Columbia playing California, and the drone cinematography (by Frank Borin and Mark Dobrescu) displays the dramatic lake-filled scenery to the full.
With so many cookie-cutter movies out there, it feels like the non-horror "Ghost" recipe (or "Heaven Can Wait" / "It's a Wonderful Life" / "A Matter of Life and Death" / delete per your preference) is well overdue for a makeover. Unfortunately, director Scott Speer's attempt just isn't good enough to fill the void. And that's a shame.
(For the full graphical review, please check out the bob-the-movie-man review here - https://rb.gy/mzq6jx . Thanks.)
But fate is about to push them even further apart as - with an advert as to why drinking, texting and driving don't mix - Chris is killed in a car crash. Tragedy - when the feeling's gone and you can't go on! Can their love for each other reach beyond death itself, and if so, at what cost?
We've been here before of course with the Demi Moore / Patrick Swayze hit "Ghost" from 1990. That was an Oscar winner (Best Supporting Actress for Whoopi Goldberg and screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin). Will "Endless" - a teen-love version - match this potential? Unfortunately, without a potter's wheel in sight, it doesn't stand a ghost of a chance.
It feels like it's not for the want of trying from the five youngsters* at the heart of the action, with Eddie Ramos and Zoë Belkin playing the lover's best friends and DeRon Horton being the limbo-trapped ghost-guide equivalent to the subway dropout from "Ghost". (* I say "youngsters", but most seem to be in their late twenties!) )
All seem to invest their energy into the project. Unfortunately, with the exception of Alexandra Shipp, the energy is not matched with great acting talent. Poor Nicholas Hamilton (the bully from "It") seems to have a particularly limited range, with his resting expression being "gormless".
None of the adult actors fair much better, with Famke Janssen being particularly unconvincing.
As I said, the exception here is Alexandra Shipp, who had a supporting role in "Love, Simon" and a more centre-stage role as "Storm" in the otherwise disappointing "X-Men: Dark Phoenix". Here she remains eminently watchable, but is hog-bound by a seriously dodgy script.
If you read my bob-the-movie-man blog regularly, you will know I reach for my flame-thrower at the appearance of voiceovers. And the start of this movie made me shudder with fear as a "tell, not show" approach was followed. It's a mild blessing that the script - by Andre Case and O'Neil Sharma - used this device purely as a slightly lazy way to set the scene and the voiceover didn't rear its ugly head again.
However, on a broader basis, the screenplay doesn't excite - predictability is its middle name - and it contains lines of dialogue that are absolute stinkers. There are whole sections of the movie that defy belief, with a police investigation in particular appearing completely incompetent. The result is that it adds neither drama or tension.
Through my career in IT I've had the great fortune to travel to a number of small cities in Canada, and all have appealed with their consistently picturesque qualities and consistently quirky individuals! Here we have the cities of Kelowna and Vernon in British Columbia playing California, and the drone cinematography (by Frank Borin and Mark Dobrescu) displays the dramatic lake-filled scenery to the full.
With so many cookie-cutter movies out there, it feels like the non-horror "Ghost" recipe (or "Heaven Can Wait" / "It's a Wonderful Life" / "A Matter of Life and Death" / delete per your preference) is well overdue for a makeover. Unfortunately, director Scott Speer's attempt just isn't good enough to fill the void. And that's a shame.
(For the full graphical review, please check out the bob-the-movie-man review here - https://rb.gy/mzq6jx . Thanks.)
Night Reader Reviews (683 KP) rated The Queen Of The Geraticaian Empire in Books
Jan 9, 2020
The Queen of the Geraticaian Empire by Anna Hampton is the third book in The Two Worlds of Geratica Series. This book continues perfectly from where there the previous book left off. I am also happy to see that this is not the final book in the Geratica series. I look forward to seeing the world(s) carry on.
At the direction of The Mistress, Alexandra creates the first Constitution of Geratica that is adopted by the new government. Two main political parties form, Conservatives and Radicals, and elections begin. Elizabeth surprisingly joins the Conservative Party alongside Linda instead of the Radicals as everyone expected after her involvement with the Male Rights Protesters. Unsurprisingly Linda also runs in the elections, not wanting to give up her power. Meanwhile, Alexandra graduates from Castra University and starts looking for employment.
Things are not all smooth sailing though as conditions in Geraticai are still out of balance. The woman placed there from Geratica to be their Queen is put in jail by her own sister-in-law in a play for the throne. The sister-in-laws seat is not secure either as the Hybrid living inside the Mistress starts thinking up ways to get back at those in Geratica it feels wronged it. The Hybrid plans to attack Geratica, specifically targeting Queen Alexandra and Linda in order to name itself The Queen of the Geraticaian Empire.
What I liked best about this one was how the characters evolved over the course of the book. Linda is starting to relax on her views and accept that times are changing. Other characters are evolving and growing as well, yet her transformation is the most shocking. Although this book was packed full of surprises. There is once again very little that I can negatively say about this book. Having to choose something I would pick the issue of transport between Geratica and Geraticai after the two are separated. It states that direct travel through the transport capsules is no longer possible yet there are a few connected to the Mistress who can still do it so why not everyone?
The target readers for this book remains the same as the first two. That means this book is geared towards adult female readers more so than other groups. While there isnt as much sex in this one as the previous two books, politics and the occurrence of rape still keeps it at an adult level. I rate this book 4 out of 4. For many books, as the series moves on it starts to lose something and just rides off of the popularity of earlier books. That is not the case with this book. I found this book to be just as well written and compelling as the first two in the series.
https://nightreaderreviews.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nightreaderreviews/
https://www.austinmacauley.com/book/queen-geraticaian-empire
At the direction of The Mistress, Alexandra creates the first Constitution of Geratica that is adopted by the new government. Two main political parties form, Conservatives and Radicals, and elections begin. Elizabeth surprisingly joins the Conservative Party alongside Linda instead of the Radicals as everyone expected after her involvement with the Male Rights Protesters. Unsurprisingly Linda also runs in the elections, not wanting to give up her power. Meanwhile, Alexandra graduates from Castra University and starts looking for employment.
Things are not all smooth sailing though as conditions in Geraticai are still out of balance. The woman placed there from Geratica to be their Queen is put in jail by her own sister-in-law in a play for the throne. The sister-in-laws seat is not secure either as the Hybrid living inside the Mistress starts thinking up ways to get back at those in Geratica it feels wronged it. The Hybrid plans to attack Geratica, specifically targeting Queen Alexandra and Linda in order to name itself The Queen of the Geraticaian Empire.
What I liked best about this one was how the characters evolved over the course of the book. Linda is starting to relax on her views and accept that times are changing. Other characters are evolving and growing as well, yet her transformation is the most shocking. Although this book was packed full of surprises. There is once again very little that I can negatively say about this book. Having to choose something I would pick the issue of transport between Geratica and Geraticai after the two are separated. It states that direct travel through the transport capsules is no longer possible yet there are a few connected to the Mistress who can still do it so why not everyone?
The target readers for this book remains the same as the first two. That means this book is geared towards adult female readers more so than other groups. While there isnt as much sex in this one as the previous two books, politics and the occurrence of rape still keeps it at an adult level. I rate this book 4 out of 4. For many books, as the series moves on it starts to lose something and just rides off of the popularity of earlier books. That is not the case with this book. I found this book to be just as well written and compelling as the first two in the series.
https://nightreaderreviews.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nightreaderreviews/
https://www.austinmacauley.com/book/queen-geraticaian-empire
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Guest Room in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Richard and his younger brother, Philip could not be more different. Even so, Richard decides to use his home for his brother's bachelor party. Knowing how Philip and his friends are, he expects that this will be a wild party, but out of respect for his wife and child, he hopes it doesn't get too terribly wild. So when two strippers show up with their two bodyguards(apparently they're supposed to keep the men in check)this does not alarm Richard. What does alarm him though, is how young they look and the things Philip are doing with them even with the bodyguards present. When the girl, named Sonja jabs a knife into the neck of one of the bodyguards, all of the men are in total disbelief. Even more shocking are the two gunshots heard after. Sonja along with the other stripper/dancer/call girl, Alexandra, make their escape in the truck they arrived in. Richard is left with two dead men in the middle of his living room and a lot of explaining to do to his wife, Kristen.
The Guest Room will have you quickly turning pages to determine what is going to happen next. Told from two perspectives, third person narrative giving us the story as it unfolds through each character and first person narrative, told by Alexandra in which she tells her entire life story including the fateful night where her life changed forever.
I have read two of Chris Bohjalian's books previously. I was first introduced to his writing through a book club selection of Midwives. After that I added all of his books to by TBR. So far, this has been my favorite, but I'm just a juvenile in reading his books. This book had me go through a whole host of emotions. At the end, I cried. This is an amazing book that everyone will enjoy. One of the best books I have read this year.
The Guest Room will have you quickly turning pages to determine what is going to happen next. Told from two perspectives, third person narrative giving us the story as it unfolds through each character and first person narrative, told by Alexandra in which she tells her entire life story including the fateful night where her life changed forever.
I have read two of Chris Bohjalian's books previously. I was first introduced to his writing through a book club selection of Midwives. After that I added all of his books to by TBR. So far, this has been my favorite, but I'm just a juvenile in reading his books. This book had me go through a whole host of emotions. At the end, I cried. This is an amazing book that everyone will enjoy. One of the best books I have read this year.
BookishWoo (317 KP) rated The Foundling in Books
May 24, 2020
This book had me hooked from the get go.
Having not yet read the "Familiars", Stacey's first book, I am unable to compare the 2, however if "The Foundling" is anything to go by I am sure I will not be disappointed.
Stacey truly has a beautiful writing style that brings the pages to life and draws you in right from the start.
She splits the narrative between two Protagonists, Bess and Alexandra. The former is a headstrong young woman who becomes pregnant at a fairly young age and due to her poor status has to place her daughter in The Foundling Hospital. The latter being a seemingly unstable wealthy Widow, appearing to suffer from Agoraphobia although as the story unfolds I would steer more towards P.T.S.D.
Set in the Georgian era, this is a story of class divides and Motherhood and how Bess' daughter brings the women together.
I highly recommend this to anyone.
Having not yet read the "Familiars", Stacey's first book, I am unable to compare the 2, however if "The Foundling" is anything to go by I am sure I will not be disappointed.
Stacey truly has a beautiful writing style that brings the pages to life and draws you in right from the start.
She splits the narrative between two Protagonists, Bess and Alexandra. The former is a headstrong young woman who becomes pregnant at a fairly young age and due to her poor status has to place her daughter in The Foundling Hospital. The latter being a seemingly unstable wealthy Widow, appearing to suffer from Agoraphobia although as the story unfolds I would steer more towards P.T.S.D.
Set in the Georgian era, this is a story of class divides and Motherhood and how Bess' daughter brings the women together.
I highly recommend this to anyone.
Kourtney Becraft (1 KP) rated Princess of souls in Books
Dec 8, 2022
Book: Princess of Souls
Author: Alexandra Christo
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 352
Published: October 11th 2022
Main Characters: Selestra and Nox
I loved the fantasy novel Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo. It was a great read. I decided to read it because it sounded intresting. I also chose to read this novel because I love retellings. I really love the cover too it's what caught my attention and pulled me in. The book starts off slow but slowly starts to get intresting a couple chapters in. Three important characters in this book are the heir Selestra Somniatis, Seryth king of the Six Isles, sand Officer Nox Laederic of Thánatos regiment. Officer Nox Laederic is the king's favorite. Also King Serth had been trying to conquer Southerisle Polemistes is the only one left not bowing down to king after he killed their king. When Officer Nox goes to make the bargain with the king his prediction shows his and Selestra Somniatis death. I hope you enjoy reading this book I sure did.
Now here's some important quotes from the start of the book so I don't spoil the rest of the book for y'all:
1. "I can tell someone when they're going to die. All I need is a lock of hair and their soul."..."That's the job of a Somiatis Witch."
Thoughts on the quote: This job seems interesting but must be hard
2. "At sixteen, I'm still just an heir to my true power, waiting for the day I inherit my family's magic."
Thoughts on this quote: It must be really hard to wait for your true self to kick in.
3. "Somniatis witches are like siphons. We draw in energy and let it pass through us. Energy like death that we call into our veins and let wet our lips. It's what gives us our visions and allows us to take the soulsof the doomed and pour them into the king.
It's cursed magic but it's the only magic left in the six Isles.
My family saw to that."
This quote is important.
4. "Heirs to magic are useless until they reach their eighteenth birthday and are bound to the king by the blood oath, ready to be taught the true essence of magic and trained to take over once the old witch dies. Until then I am Irrelevant."
Thoughts: It must be hard.
5. "Each year only two hundred are allowed to enter into the bargain and risk their souls."
Author: Alexandra Christo
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 352
Published: October 11th 2022
Main Characters: Selestra and Nox
I loved the fantasy novel Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo. It was a great read. I decided to read it because it sounded intresting. I also chose to read this novel because I love retellings. I really love the cover too it's what caught my attention and pulled me in. The book starts off slow but slowly starts to get intresting a couple chapters in. Three important characters in this book are the heir Selestra Somniatis, Seryth king of the Six Isles, sand Officer Nox Laederic of Thánatos regiment. Officer Nox Laederic is the king's favorite. Also King Serth had been trying to conquer Southerisle Polemistes is the only one left not bowing down to king after he killed their king. When Officer Nox goes to make the bargain with the king his prediction shows his and Selestra Somniatis death. I hope you enjoy reading this book I sure did.
Now here's some important quotes from the start of the book so I don't spoil the rest of the book for y'all:
1. "I can tell someone when they're going to die. All I need is a lock of hair and their soul."..."That's the job of a Somiatis Witch."
Thoughts on the quote: This job seems interesting but must be hard
2. "At sixteen, I'm still just an heir to my true power, waiting for the day I inherit my family's magic."
Thoughts on this quote: It must be really hard to wait for your true self to kick in.
3. "Somniatis witches are like siphons. We draw in energy and let it pass through us. Energy like death that we call into our veins and let wet our lips. It's what gives us our visions and allows us to take the soulsof the doomed and pour them into the king.
It's cursed magic but it's the only magic left in the six Isles.
My family saw to that."
This quote is important.
4. "Heirs to magic are useless until they reach their eighteenth birthday and are bound to the king by the blood oath, ready to be taught the true essence of magic and trained to take over once the old witch dies. Until then I am Irrelevant."
Thoughts: It must be hard.
5. "Each year only two hundred are allowed to enter into the bargain and risk their souls."
tonidavis (353 KP) rated The Return: A Titan Novel in Books
Jun 29, 2017
Seth (2 more)
Amazing Writing Style
Seth Apollo interactions
When your in love with a God
If you haven't yet read any Jennifer L Armentrout then your missing out!
Jennifer writing is so easy to get lost in whether your reading her Young Adult, New Adult or General fiction she has the ability to capture the reader better than most authors I've ever read.
The Titan Series is the Sequal to Jennifer Covanant series. If you haven't yet read Covanant please read it especially if you love Greek mythology. Covanant follows a very empowered amazing female lead called Alexandra Andros where as The Return follows Seth.
Seth is an extremely complex and amazing character if you have read the Covanant series you know Seth started out as a egoticial hard man Apolloyon who through the series change due to Alexs influence.
The Return Seth no longer has Alex as his conscious and guide. Seth has to repent for his mid deeds from the covanant series and it doesn't help he suddenly has feeling for his new charge. I love this book a lot not as much as the original Covanant series but it still amazing all the same plus Seth and Apollo arguments egos and bitch fighting can keep me amused for days.
Jennifer writing is so easy to get lost in whether your reading her Young Adult, New Adult or General fiction she has the ability to capture the reader better than most authors I've ever read.
The Titan Series is the Sequal to Jennifer Covanant series. If you haven't yet read Covanant please read it especially if you love Greek mythology. Covanant follows a very empowered amazing female lead called Alexandra Andros where as The Return follows Seth.
Seth is an extremely complex and amazing character if you have read the Covanant series you know Seth started out as a egoticial hard man Apolloyon who through the series change due to Alexs influence.
The Return Seth no longer has Alex as his conscious and guide. Seth has to repent for his mid deeds from the covanant series and it doesn't help he suddenly has feeling for his new charge. I love this book a lot not as much as the original Covanant series but it still amazing all the same plus Seth and Apollo arguments egos and bitch fighting can keep me amused for days.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The New Girl in Books
Nov 14, 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
The New Girl by Ingrid Alexandra is billed as a Psychological Thriller. The description definitely piqued my interest. Imagine meeting someone and they instantly know you so well. Then imagine letting the person move in with you. I was looking forward to reading this story.
The story is written using flashbacks that allows readers, as well main character, to figure what happened That Night. At the beginning I found myself having difficulty putting this down. Pretty quickly though I found the flashbacks were distracting and never really felt a connection with any of the characters. The characters were not well developed and, at times, their behavior was unbelievable.
Even if I had not agreed to finish the novel, I would have. I did not dislike the book but realized I was tempted to skim the end. The ending is interesting and I am glad I read it but, at the same time, I found it unbelievable. I dislike using the same adjective in such as short review but unbelievable would be an adequate description of how I feel about the story and the characters.
I liked that the chapters were short and that the book itself was a quick read.
The New Girl by Ingrid Alexandra is billed as a Psychological Thriller. The description definitely piqued my interest. Imagine meeting someone and they instantly know you so well. Then imagine letting the person move in with you. I was looking forward to reading this story.
The story is written using flashbacks that allows readers, as well main character, to figure what happened That Night. At the beginning I found myself having difficulty putting this down. Pretty quickly though I found the flashbacks were distracting and never really felt a connection with any of the characters. The characters were not well developed and, at times, their behavior was unbelievable.
Even if I had not agreed to finish the novel, I would have. I did not dislike the book but realized I was tempted to skim the end. The ending is interesting and I am glad I read it but, at the same time, I found it unbelievable. I dislike using the same adjective in such as short review but unbelievable would be an adequate description of how I feel about the story and the characters.
I liked that the chapters were short and that the book itself was a quick read.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Rabbit Hunter (Joona Linna #6) in Books
Mar 26, 2020 (Updated Mar 26, 2020)
6th book in the series. Can stand-alone but read the earlier ones first.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
The Rabbit Hunter is the 6th novel in the Joona Linna series written by Lars Kepler. Kepler is the pseudonym of husband and wife team Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril.
While it is the 6th in the series, it can stand alone. However, you should read the earlier novels to really understand the characters.
Kepler's books are detailed and gritty. They are not set nor originally published in the US. Be warned! There is gore. That being said, the books I have read in the series are captivating. This one, not so much. I do recommend reading it but it was missing something. I am not sure if the cause was the translation or the original text.
Joona was not as strong of a presence as in prior books. He is released from jail just to help solve the case of the rabbit hunter. Instead of focusing on the case, he plans for life after prison and without working as a police officer. It is in his blood. It is who he is.
I will read book 7 and hope it was only this book or its translation I found lacking. I thoroughly enjoyed the others in the series.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/25/20.
The Rabbit Hunter is the 6th novel in the Joona Linna series written by Lars Kepler. Kepler is the pseudonym of husband and wife team Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril.
While it is the 6th in the series, it can stand alone. However, you should read the earlier novels to really understand the characters.
Kepler's books are detailed and gritty. They are not set nor originally published in the US. Be warned! There is gore. That being said, the books I have read in the series are captivating. This one, not so much. I do recommend reading it but it was missing something. I am not sure if the cause was the translation or the original text.
Joona was not as strong of a presence as in prior books. He is released from jail just to help solve the case of the rabbit hunter. Instead of focusing on the case, he plans for life after prison and without working as a police officer. It is in his blood. It is who he is.
I will read book 7 and hope it was only this book or its translation I found lacking. I thoroughly enjoyed the others in the series.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/25/20.
Dean (6921 KP) rated Lost Girls and Love Hotels (2020) in Movies
Aug 22, 2021
Lost its way
Not heard of this before it popped up on Sky cinema based on a successful novel of the same title. A different direction for Alexandra Daddario who seems to have churned out lots of low budget Rom Coms most recently.
This is an odd bleak character study which feels a bit like Lost in Translation crossed with 9 1/2 weeks but falling way short of either of them. Her character is a bit of drifter in Tokyo, always drunk and meeting random men for meaningless sex in the love hotels. Until she meets by chance a Yakuza gangster who she begins an affair with.
There was a lot more potential in this, it tries to be quite art house but most of the film is filled with shots of her drunk in a bar with friends, staggering around Tokyo at night or with random men. The Yakuza angle is barely explored with Kazu and they spend very little time together as well. Apparently a good 45mins has been cut and the film has been on the shelf a while after being filmed late 2017.
The end result is a brief character study of someone at rock bottom of life. Unfortunately it's quite dull for the most part, not erotic either. It's a shame as it could have been a lot better with a few plot angles explored more.
This is an odd bleak character study which feels a bit like Lost in Translation crossed with 9 1/2 weeks but falling way short of either of them. Her character is a bit of drifter in Tokyo, always drunk and meeting random men for meaningless sex in the love hotels. Until she meets by chance a Yakuza gangster who she begins an affair with.
There was a lot more potential in this, it tries to be quite art house but most of the film is filled with shots of her drunk in a bar with friends, staggering around Tokyo at night or with random men. The Yakuza angle is barely explored with Kazu and they spend very little time together as well. Apparently a good 45mins has been cut and the film has been on the shelf a while after being filmed late 2017.
The end result is a brief character study of someone at rock bottom of life. Unfortunately it's quite dull for the most part, not erotic either. It's a shame as it could have been a lot better with a few plot angles explored more.