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Lenard (726 KP) rated The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) in Movies
Jun 9, 2019
The hidden truth of those dogs, cats, and other four-legged friends you care about continues. More like a three episode animated series than a 80 minute feature film, The Secret Life of Pets is a collection of three interconnected stories, a Pup Furtion with Chloe as the wise Paul and four wolves instead of just Winston Wolf. First, Max (now voiced by Patton Oswald) and Katie have a new master, the baby/toddler Liam. Parenthood give Max an anxiety disorder turning him into a canine version of Marlin protecting his yound ward from all the dangers of New York City instead of the Great Barrier Reef. Katie and new hubby take Max and Duke to the country for some relaxation where Max meets alpha dog Rooster who teaches our old dog new tricks. The second story is Gidget who is entrusted with Max's toy Busy Bee and loses it in the apartment of a cat lady. Gidget is given lessons in cattitude by Chloe to save Busy Bee. Last up, Snowball who moonlights as a costumed hero meets a femme fatale Daisy who wants Snowball to save a circus tiger from an abusive Russian. For a supposed family feature, there is a lot of animal cruelty on display whether intentional or not. I cannot support any film without regard for the safety of its animal cast. Therefore, avoid Secret Life of Pets and watch Aladdin a second time.
A huge disappointment
I've always really enjoyed Coelho's books, and I feel I come away having learnt something every time. Not so much this time. There are lessons to be learnt: don't judge a book by it's cover, always be open to new chances to learn, follow your heart and be true to yourself.
The delivery this time, to me, seemed rushed, not always well explained and just not very interesting. I feel bad saying this. I've read a lot of his other books, but I just didn't enjoy this one.
I liked the sentiment, just not the delivery. He glosses quickly over a run in/ torture session with the police, which has clearly left it's mark on him in a later episode. He's cured pretty quickly of this anxiety-type reaction though. He seems to have no purpose to what he's doing (which is fair enough, he's young, he's exploring, and that seems to be the whole idea behind the hippie movement) until he hits Turkey however, and then he quickly decides to stay - and then it's the end of the book. So, will there be a follow up? Is this one of those 'cliff hanger' type endings?
I wish I had enjoyed this more, but there are just some books that we can't enjoy I suppose. I just really don't like it when it happens with one of my 'go to' authors.
The delivery this time, to me, seemed rushed, not always well explained and just not very interesting. I feel bad saying this. I've read a lot of his other books, but I just didn't enjoy this one.
I liked the sentiment, just not the delivery. He glosses quickly over a run in/ torture session with the police, which has clearly left it's mark on him in a later episode. He's cured pretty quickly of this anxiety-type reaction though. He seems to have no purpose to what he's doing (which is fair enough, he's young, he's exploring, and that seems to be the whole idea behind the hippie movement) until he hits Turkey however, and then he quickly decides to stay - and then it's the end of the book. So, will there be a follow up? Is this one of those 'cliff hanger' type endings?
I wish I had enjoyed this more, but there are just some books that we can't enjoy I suppose. I just really don't like it when it happens with one of my 'go to' authors.
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated After Hours (1985) in Movies
Mar 5, 2020
Scorsese's direction (2 more)
The quirky cameos
Griffin Dunne
This is one of my absolute all time guilty secret films. Except guilty secret is wrong, because it is too good to be guilty. Perhaps it's better to say one of the most under-rated and under-seen films of the 80s. Forgotten by many and unknown by many more. When listing the best of Scorsese it is easy to overlook this lighter work, dismissing it as a diversion from his main oeuvre, but that is a shame...
Set over the course of one crazy night on New York, where everything goes wrong and spirals into one weird encounter after another, it is an allegory for lost direction and anxiety in a confusing time; chasing the rat race, money, dreams and love, only to fall down a never-ending rabbit hole. Watching the cameo appearances come and go is like doing an 80s B-movie checklist. Griffin Dunne himself has drifted into obscurity now - not that he was ever huge - and this remains the one thing he will perhaps always be known for.
I wonder if it would make any sense at all to anyone who can't remember the 80s first hand? For me it screams nostalgia for that time: the epitome of music, fashion and movie style back then. I recommend it in an unlikely double bill with Desperately Seeking Susan. Trust me.
Set over the course of one crazy night on New York, where everything goes wrong and spirals into one weird encounter after another, it is an allegory for lost direction and anxiety in a confusing time; chasing the rat race, money, dreams and love, only to fall down a never-ending rabbit hole. Watching the cameo appearances come and go is like doing an 80s B-movie checklist. Griffin Dunne himself has drifted into obscurity now - not that he was ever huge - and this remains the one thing he will perhaps always be known for.
I wonder if it would make any sense at all to anyone who can't remember the 80s first hand? For me it screams nostalgia for that time: the epitome of music, fashion and movie style back then. I recommend it in an unlikely double bill with Desperately Seeking Susan. Trust me.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Spontaneous (2020) in Movies
Mar 7, 2021
I'm not someone who typically ventures into Romance territory (although I will quietly admit to quite liking The Notebook...) but the promise of people exploding at random intervals drew me in... I have simple needs.
Turns out that Spontaneous is a wonderfully heartfelt (and gory) tale of two college kids who fall in love.
The two leads played by Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer are some of the most likable characters I've seen in ages. Their chemistry is top tier, and their relationship feels real and relatable and is the glue that holds the whole narrative together.
The gory side of things is quite something. It's nicely spaced out so it doesn't steal the spotlight, but Jesus Christ it's anxiety inducing. I was just on edge for the whole runtime wondering when someone else would violently explode. Would it be mid sentence? Would it be one of the characters I liked? "No one has blown up in a while, and I'm so nervous" is a thought that kept popping (pun fully intended) into my head. Somehow, it's a cute enough love story that is just tense as fuck. Hats off to everyone involved!
Watching Spontaneous is a ride. It's uplifting, suitably visceral, wonderfully acted, and feels meaningful.... definitely nearly(...) cried on more than one occasion. It's all backed by a great soundtrack, and has some lovely cinematography and inspired style choices. Absolutely recommend this one, for romance and horror fans alike.
Turns out that Spontaneous is a wonderfully heartfelt (and gory) tale of two college kids who fall in love.
The two leads played by Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer are some of the most likable characters I've seen in ages. Their chemistry is top tier, and their relationship feels real and relatable and is the glue that holds the whole narrative together.
The gory side of things is quite something. It's nicely spaced out so it doesn't steal the spotlight, but Jesus Christ it's anxiety inducing. I was just on edge for the whole runtime wondering when someone else would violently explode. Would it be mid sentence? Would it be one of the characters I liked? "No one has blown up in a while, and I'm so nervous" is a thought that kept popping (pun fully intended) into my head. Somehow, it's a cute enough love story that is just tense as fuck. Hats off to everyone involved!
Watching Spontaneous is a ride. It's uplifting, suitably visceral, wonderfully acted, and feels meaningful.... definitely nearly(...) cried on more than one occasion. It's all backed by a great soundtrack, and has some lovely cinematography and inspired style choices. Absolutely recommend this one, for romance and horror fans alike.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Shadows of Nightshade (The Garden of Eternal Flowers, #1) in Books
Aug 11, 2023
107 of 235
Kindle
Shadows of Nightshade ( The Garden of Eternal Flowers 1)
By Lyla Oweds
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I dream of a time where I was warm, safe, and loved.
But my waking reality is starkly different.
Anxiety plagues me and spirits haunt the shadows. No matter how fast I run, I can’t seem to escape my past.
The only solace and steady force in my life is my best friend, Finn.
And now… there’s a ghost haunting me. And I’m not certain if it wants help or if it wants to kill me. There’s only one person who can understand: Finn’s brother, Damen.
However, in reaching out, I’m betraying Finn and setting things into motion that cannot be undone.
But nobody ever said that doing the right thing was easy.
So apparently this is a rewritten story of this author’s Grimm Cases series the first book but I didn’t read the original so this is a new story for me. This is a strange one for me because I was really intrigued by the world and the supernaturals and the story was really what kept me reading as it was good. My issue was the main female character she was written as really naive and a little irritating if I’m really honest. I would have gone with a 2.5⭐️ rating if I could have.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kindle
Shadows of Nightshade ( The Garden of Eternal Flowers 1)
By Lyla Oweds
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I dream of a time where I was warm, safe, and loved.
But my waking reality is starkly different.
Anxiety plagues me and spirits haunt the shadows. No matter how fast I run, I can’t seem to escape my past.
The only solace and steady force in my life is my best friend, Finn.
And now… there’s a ghost haunting me. And I’m not certain if it wants help or if it wants to kill me. There’s only one person who can understand: Finn’s brother, Damen.
However, in reaching out, I’m betraying Finn and setting things into motion that cannot be undone.
But nobody ever said that doing the right thing was easy.
So apparently this is a rewritten story of this author’s Grimm Cases series the first book but I didn’t read the original so this is a new story for me. This is a strange one for me because I was really intrigued by the world and the supernaturals and the story was really what kept me reading as it was good. My issue was the main female character she was written as really naive and a little irritating if I’m really honest. I would have gone with a 2.5⭐️ rating if I could have.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Merissa (11805 KP) rated Hunted (Blood Moon, Texas Shifters #5) in Books
Sep 29, 2023
HUNTED is the fifth book in the Blood Moon, Texas Shifters series and we have River and Ellie's story. I would recommend you read this in order as it does have an overall story arc that might be confusing if you don't know how it got to this stage.
River and Ellie have a history together, and it's not always a good one! River had to take Ellie's memories, even though she was his mate, leaving her with crippling anxiety. It's for this reason that Hayden refuses to speak to River and threatens him at every opportunity.
River and Ellie have moved past that - although I'm not exactly sure when. Maybe it was in the past books, but it's been a while since I read those, so I'm not sure. Their relationship did throw me a little in the beginning. Especially the 'projection' sex, when it wasn't always clear that's that what it was.
The overall story arc moves along at a fast pace, with new and old characters helping it along the way. It will be interesting to see what happens in August and Rowan's story, which is up next.
A great addition to the series but definitely recommended to read as a series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 29, 2023
River and Ellie have a history together, and it's not always a good one! River had to take Ellie's memories, even though she was his mate, leaving her with crippling anxiety. It's for this reason that Hayden refuses to speak to River and threatens him at every opportunity.
River and Ellie have moved past that - although I'm not exactly sure when. Maybe it was in the past books, but it's been a while since I read those, so I'm not sure. Their relationship did throw me a little in the beginning. Especially the 'projection' sex, when it wasn't always clear that's that what it was.
The overall story arc moves along at a fast pace, with new and old characters helping it along the way. It will be interesting to see what happens in August and Rowan's story, which is up next.
A great addition to the series but definitely recommended to read as a series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 29, 2023
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated My Mess Is A Bit Of A Life in Books
Mar 21, 2022
I didn’t know what to expect of this book with it being a book about someone’s journey with anxiety, but I definitely didn’t think it would be as funny as it is.
Georgia Pritchett writes little anxious anecdotes from her life beginning in nursery. They are all written with Georgia’s humour prominent throughout the book, even the heartbreaking anecdotes still have some humour sprinkled into them. Reading through them, some are completely relatable and others not so much, but all completely believable.
The chapters are extremely short, some only a paragraph or two long. And while it might annoy some people, I loved this style as it showed that we were onto the next little anecdote and was quite easy to follow. But for me, with the chapters being short it just meant that I wanted to carry on reading… “just one more chapter” turned into the whole book!
I read this in an afternoon because it was such an easy and pleasant read (despite the subjects touched upon not being pleasant) and it was nice to read about the life that Georgia has had and the accomplishments despite her being a woman in a man’s world.
I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen, and will probably pick it up again at some point in the near future.
Thank you to Pigeonhole and Georgia Pritchett for the chance to read this page turner!
Georgia Pritchett writes little anxious anecdotes from her life beginning in nursery. They are all written with Georgia’s humour prominent throughout the book, even the heartbreaking anecdotes still have some humour sprinkled into them. Reading through them, some are completely relatable and others not so much, but all completely believable.
The chapters are extremely short, some only a paragraph or two long. And while it might annoy some people, I loved this style as it showed that we were onto the next little anecdote and was quite easy to follow. But for me, with the chapters being short it just meant that I wanted to carry on reading… “just one more chapter” turned into the whole book!
I read this in an afternoon because it was such an easy and pleasant read (despite the subjects touched upon not being pleasant) and it was nice to read about the life that Georgia has had and the accomplishments despite her being a woman in a man’s world.
I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen, and will probably pick it up again at some point in the near future.
Thank you to Pigeonhole and Georgia Pritchett for the chance to read this page turner!
Becs (244 KP) rated The Bipolar Addict in Books
Jun 4, 2019
Very informative!
Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
Review:
I received a copy to read and review from Smith Publicity for my honest opinion.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, suicide attempts, bullying, sexual abuse.
The Bipolar Addict is broken up into three parts: Part 1 - Conor's Story, Part 2 - Interviews of others who battle with Manic Depression and Bipolar disorder, and Part 3 - Talking of Recovery, getting help, and that sober is the new cool.
Part 1 follows the hardships Conor endured growing up. Bullying which eventually lead to alcohol abuse and then later drug abuse as he grew older. During this time, he also attempted suicide a few times. Conor was then diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, manic depression, and anxiety. Mix all that with alcohol and drug abuse and his body was struggling.
As I read, I was enthralled in the world of what Bipolar disorder really is. I was also blown away with the writing style. The Bipolar Addict is a debut novel by Conor Bezane and he definitely has a way of grabbing your attention and holding it instantly. A first time author, Conor has taken his life and spun it into a tale of struggles, sacrifice, and recovery that will tear the readers heart out, rip it into pieces, and then piece it back together, little by little.
Part 2 was just as interesting as part 1. You learn about a few others who used and through some rough patches like Conor. Part 3 was more informative compared to parts 1 and 2, talking about sober being the new cool and that it's healthy. The book ends with links and information on different helpful groups in the chance that you need to seek help for yourself.
"We are punks. We are poets. Musicians and artists. Professionals and intellectuals. We are drunk. High. Manic. Depressed. We almost died. And now we are stable and sober."
Reasons why I rated it 4.5 stars:
1. The plot:
There really wasn't much of a plot as this was a memoir/ self-help book. But the way Conor wrote, captivated my attention through and through.
2. My enjoyment:
I surprisingly was really interested in the entirety of this book. I couldn't put it down as Conor captivated me, not only in his writing but also the way he was able to take his life and spin it into a tale that read like he was a friend having a conversation.
3. Character and story development:
Again, this was a memoir/ self-help book, so there wasn't much development as it wasn't needed.
4. Grammar and spelling:
I did notice a few grammatical and spelling errors but for this being a debut, I really didn't mind.
5. The overall story:
The way that Conor wrote, you could feel the pain, loss, and loneliness. The lows of depression and the highs of mania. It was all otherworldly and from someone who has balanced depression and anxiety the majority of my life, I felt the painful and roller coaster of a life that Conor lived. This was definitely worth the read and was highly informative.
"Keep coming back."
Review:
I received a copy to read and review from Smith Publicity for my honest opinion.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, suicide attempts, bullying, sexual abuse.
The Bipolar Addict is broken up into three parts: Part 1 - Conor's Story, Part 2 - Interviews of others who battle with Manic Depression and Bipolar disorder, and Part 3 - Talking of Recovery, getting help, and that sober is the new cool.
Part 1 follows the hardships Conor endured growing up. Bullying which eventually lead to alcohol abuse and then later drug abuse as he grew older. During this time, he also attempted suicide a few times. Conor was then diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, manic depression, and anxiety. Mix all that with alcohol and drug abuse and his body was struggling.
As I read, I was enthralled in the world of what Bipolar disorder really is. I was also blown away with the writing style. The Bipolar Addict is a debut novel by Conor Bezane and he definitely has a way of grabbing your attention and holding it instantly. A first time author, Conor has taken his life and spun it into a tale of struggles, sacrifice, and recovery that will tear the readers heart out, rip it into pieces, and then piece it back together, little by little.
Part 2 was just as interesting as part 1. You learn about a few others who used and through some rough patches like Conor. Part 3 was more informative compared to parts 1 and 2, talking about sober being the new cool and that it's healthy. The book ends with links and information on different helpful groups in the chance that you need to seek help for yourself.
"We are punks. We are poets. Musicians and artists. Professionals and intellectuals. We are drunk. High. Manic. Depressed. We almost died. And now we are stable and sober."
Reasons why I rated it 4.5 stars:
1. The plot:
There really wasn't much of a plot as this was a memoir/ self-help book. But the way Conor wrote, captivated my attention through and through.
2. My enjoyment:
I surprisingly was really interested in the entirety of this book. I couldn't put it down as Conor captivated me, not only in his writing but also the way he was able to take his life and spin it into a tale that read like he was a friend having a conversation.
3. Character and story development:
Again, this was a memoir/ self-help book, so there wasn't much development as it wasn't needed.
4. Grammar and spelling:
I did notice a few grammatical and spelling errors but for this being a debut, I really didn't mind.
5. The overall story:
The way that Conor wrote, you could feel the pain, loss, and loneliness. The lows of depression and the highs of mania. It was all otherworldly and from someone who has balanced depression and anxiety the majority of my life, I felt the painful and roller coaster of a life that Conor lived. This was definitely worth the read and was highly informative.
"Keep coming back."
What Happened to Daddy's Body? by Elke Barber, Alex Barber is a children's nonfiction book about death of a loved one. It talks about cremation and burial. It is a simple and easy to understand, which makes it great for kids who have experienced death of a family member or loved one.
The main character is Alex who is 4 years old and lives with his sister and mother. His father has died and Alex wonders what happened to his father's physical body. His mother explains after his father died he was put into a coffin and was cremated. I liked how the writers broke the story down and explained cremation in a way a 4 year old would understand death and what happens after death.
I was not a fan of the artwork, which I felt took away from the story. A little issue I had with the story was that there was a step-family introduced so quickly to the end of the story. I did not see how it fit in with the timeline and the story. The issue of a new parent and siblings seems a bit too much overload on a child when they are trying to get over one hurdle and not increase anxiety. I would have saved John and his five kids for a later books on step-families.
I give this book 3/4 stars.
I received this book from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The main character is Alex who is 4 years old and lives with his sister and mother. His father has died and Alex wonders what happened to his father's physical body. His mother explains after his father died he was put into a coffin and was cremated. I liked how the writers broke the story down and explained cremation in a way a 4 year old would understand death and what happens after death.
I was not a fan of the artwork, which I felt took away from the story. A little issue I had with the story was that there was a step-family introduced so quickly to the end of the story. I did not see how it fit in with the timeline and the story. The issue of a new parent and siblings seems a bit too much overload on a child when they are trying to get over one hurdle and not increase anxiety. I would have saved John and his five kids for a later books on step-families.
I give this book 3/4 stars.
I received this book from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
