Search
Search results
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2526 KP) rated Spy School at Sea in Books
Sep 13, 2021 (Updated Sep 13, 2021)
Cruising for Danger
Ben Ripley is off on another mission. The CIA has reason to believe that Murray Hill is boarding the cruise ship Emperor of the Seas, so Ben, Erica Hale, her parents, and Ben’s friend Mike, are all joining the ship for a cruise through the Panama Canal to find Murray and stop him. The ship turns out to be much bigger than they envisioned. Will they find him in time? Can they figure out his plan and stop him? And will Ben and Mike be able to keep the secret they are hiding from the Hales?
This is book nine in a delightful middle grade mystery series, and fans of the series will be thrilled with this entry. Those new to the series will find some minor spoilers for the previous book, but everything they need to know is explained here. The plot is fast moving with multiple action scenes that had me turning pages as fast as I could. There is some depth to the characters, and that continues to be explored here without slowing the action down. Meanwhile, the laughs are plentiful, and I was glad I wasn’t reading this book in public. I’m a decade or three beyond the target middle grade audience, but I don’t care. These books are wonderfully fun for all ages.
This is book nine in a delightful middle grade mystery series, and fans of the series will be thrilled with this entry. Those new to the series will find some minor spoilers for the previous book, but everything they need to know is explained here. The plot is fast moving with multiple action scenes that had me turning pages as fast as I could. There is some depth to the characters, and that continues to be explored here without slowing the action down. Meanwhile, the laughs are plentiful, and I was glad I wasn’t reading this book in public. I’m a decade or three beyond the target middle grade audience, but I don’t care. These books are wonderfully fun for all ages.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Your Name (2016) in Movies
Sep 22, 2021
PHOTO EXHIBITION: NOSTALGIA
What would your life be like if you were born somewhere else, *someone* else? How much of our lives is predetermined exclusively on such random variables beyond our control, things that we've all imagined changing at one point or another? Just to be upfront, one of my absolute least favorite plots in movies is switching bodies - the plot tends to just halt entirely to provide such rote "lol person does thing they don't usually do lol" or "uh oh... I'm another gender!" jokes before it actually decides to do anything. But between this and 2020's Freaky I'm glad to see they've finally started putting some nuance into these things. Honestly one of the greatest movies I've ever seen - probably the most bracingly beautiful animated movie ever conceived and it's just as impactful narratively. Tackles layers of regressive gender roles, the cruel indiscriminate randomness within human existence, the tumultuousness of adolescence, and along with Shyamalan's 𝘜𝘯𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 handles the concept of fate/destiny better than any other film I've seen. That and it's also just so damn hilarious. I initially thought the conclusion was maybe about 10 minutes too long, but afterwards I thought perhaps that was the point - in further distancing it from its preceding events, giving legitimacy to its setting. After a string of disappointments made me remember why I even love movies in the first place.
What would your life be like if you were born somewhere else, *someone* else? How much of our lives is predetermined exclusively on such random variables beyond our control, things that we've all imagined changing at one point or another? Just to be upfront, one of my absolute least favorite plots in movies is switching bodies - the plot tends to just halt entirely to provide such rote "lol person does thing they don't usually do lol" or "uh oh... I'm another gender!" jokes before it actually decides to do anything. But between this and 2020's Freaky I'm glad to see they've finally started putting some nuance into these things. Honestly one of the greatest movies I've ever seen - probably the most bracingly beautiful animated movie ever conceived and it's just as impactful narratively. Tackles layers of regressive gender roles, the cruel indiscriminate randomness within human existence, the tumultuousness of adolescence, and along with Shyamalan's 𝘜𝘯𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 handles the concept of fate/destiny better than any other film I've seen. That and it's also just so damn hilarious. I initially thought the conclusion was maybe about 10 minutes too long, but afterwards I thought perhaps that was the point - in further distancing it from its preceding events, giving legitimacy to its setting. After a string of disappointments made me remember why I even love movies in the first place.
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (1986) in Movies
Sep 28, 2021
Following a continued trend of alternating duff and good movies, here comes the most ‘non-Trek-like’ movie in the series: “Star Trek IV”, aka “Whale Meat again”.
By watching the films in sequence, I find the destructive alien ship approaching earth to be an obvious re-tread of “The Motion Picture” premise. But beyond that, the plot is completely bonkers. The time travel is trivially referenced as if they are nipping down to the local shops. But once there, there is fun to be had. Cue lots of comical fish out of water (no pun intended) situations for the 23rd century crew:
Spock’s attempts to utilise colourful language;
Chekov asking San Franciscans for directions to the “nuclear wessel”;
“Computer?” asks Scotty to the Commodore 64 on the desk… (we won’t tell them that they don’t have to wait 300 years to be able to talk to computers!)
Catherine Hicks nicely plays the cute marine biologist and love interest (and only 10 years Shatner’s junior!) – – although her reaction to discovering the ‘truth’ is a rather unbelievable “oh!”. (Later edit: oops… dodgy maths…. the age difference between Shatner and Hicks is actually 20 years!)
All in all, although rather shoving its Greenpeace-style credentials down the viewer’s throats, this is a fun and family-friendly outing in the series.
By watching the films in sequence, I find the destructive alien ship approaching earth to be an obvious re-tread of “The Motion Picture” premise. But beyond that, the plot is completely bonkers. The time travel is trivially referenced as if they are nipping down to the local shops. But once there, there is fun to be had. Cue lots of comical fish out of water (no pun intended) situations for the 23rd century crew:
Spock’s attempts to utilise colourful language;
Chekov asking San Franciscans for directions to the “nuclear wessel”;
“Computer?” asks Scotty to the Commodore 64 on the desk… (we won’t tell them that they don’t have to wait 300 years to be able to talk to computers!)
Catherine Hicks nicely plays the cute marine biologist and love interest (and only 10 years Shatner’s junior!) – – although her reaction to discovering the ‘truth’ is a rather unbelievable “oh!”. (Later edit: oops… dodgy maths…. the age difference between Shatner and Hicks is actually 20 years!)
All in all, although rather shoving its Greenpeace-style credentials down the viewer’s throats, this is a fun and family-friendly outing in the series.
Opposed Desires (Rehoboth Pact #2)
9.0
Rate It
Book
Closet Romantic falling for the Hookup Queen? Never gonna happen… until one memorable vacation...
FF Contemporary Romance
Bound (The Academy #3)
6.0
Rate It
Book
As the binding ceremony that will save her clan draws near, Jamie must come to terms with a...
Paranormal Romance Shifters
Merissa (13931 KP) rated Lifting the Veil (Sophie Masterson/ Dixon Security Series #1) in Books
Apr 12, 2023
This is the story of a woman who knows herself, warts and all. Some people might even call her a sceptic. So when she gets dragged to Salem on Halloween by her best friend, she declares that it will never happen again. However, she is in for the shock of her life and how she deals with it says a lot about her character.
This is a witty and fast-paced story that is only the beginning of a series that I am already hooked on. Sophie is a great character and is not prepared to take any c**p from anyone, whether it's her brother or her lover. I adored Jack and thought he made a great partner for Sophie. I personally would love to see Marshall end up with bright, kooky and vivacious Amber as I think she would knock him right out of his suit but obviously, that's up to the author ;)
Full of surprises and action, this is one book that you won't want to put down. Definitely recommended. In fact, I've just gone and one-clicked books 2 and 3, Beyond the Veil and Veiled Intentions so that I can continue with this series.
I received this book from Reading Alley in return for a fair and honest review.
July 20, 2016
This is a witty and fast-paced story that is only the beginning of a series that I am already hooked on. Sophie is a great character and is not prepared to take any c**p from anyone, whether it's her brother or her lover. I adored Jack and thought he made a great partner for Sophie. I personally would love to see Marshall end up with bright, kooky and vivacious Amber as I think she would knock him right out of his suit but obviously, that's up to the author ;)
Full of surprises and action, this is one book that you won't want to put down. Definitely recommended. In fact, I've just gone and one-clicked books 2 and 3, Beyond the Veil and Veiled Intentions so that I can continue with this series.
I received this book from Reading Alley in return for a fair and honest review.
July 20, 2016
Murder Through the English Post
9.0
Rate It
Book
When a rash of poisoned pen letters envelops their sleepy English village, Beryl and Edwina, the...
Seven Knights
Games
App
Meet a visually powerful RPG like you’ve never experienced before! We invite you to the world of...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Bite of Winter ( Faes Captive book 3) in Books
Sep 15, 2022
166 of 230
Kindle
Bite of Winter ( Fae’s Captive book 3)
By Lily Archer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
The Red Plains are hot. But my fae king? Even hotter. So, we kind of got captured by a warlike clan of Vundi warriors. Sounds bad, right? But they treat us as guests, and I’m coming to like them despite the ongoing threat of me being shipped off to the king beyond the mountain. I still endeavor to reach the winter kingdom and find a way back home … until the Vundi high priestess reveals that I may have more ties to the fae world than I ever imagined. On top of that, Leander knows just what buttons to press to get me naked, in a tub, and panting for him. My resolve is failing on all fronts, but worse than that, I discover danger is even closer than I realized.
Well that was just what I’ve been waiting for with this series it’s finally getting somewhere. It still seems a short book but I really got into the characters and the story more with this instalment. Liander is still doing my head in a little bit now he’s finally mated maybe he’ll shut up about it. It ends on another cliffhanger which is fine as I don’t mind them!
Kindle
Bite of Winter ( Fae’s Captive book 3)
By Lily Archer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
The Red Plains are hot. But my fae king? Even hotter. So, we kind of got captured by a warlike clan of Vundi warriors. Sounds bad, right? But they treat us as guests, and I’m coming to like them despite the ongoing threat of me being shipped off to the king beyond the mountain. I still endeavor to reach the winter kingdom and find a way back home … until the Vundi high priestess reveals that I may have more ties to the fae world than I ever imagined. On top of that, Leander knows just what buttons to press to get me naked, in a tub, and panting for him. My resolve is failing on all fronts, but worse than that, I discover danger is even closer than I realized.
Well that was just what I’ve been waiting for with this series it’s finally getting somewhere. It still seems a short book but I really got into the characters and the story more with this instalment. Liander is still doing my head in a little bit now he’s finally mated maybe he’ll shut up about it. It ends on another cliffhanger which is fine as I don’t mind them!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Daughter of Auschwitz in Books
Oct 1, 2022
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” ELIE WIESEL
This is an extremely hard book to read but one I feel necessary so the past is not forgotten.
Tova was born just prior to the start of World War II; her earliest memories being of living in the ghetto her family and parents were sent to by the Nazi's. From the ghetto, she and her parents are sent to a labour camp; Tova is 5 years old. At the age of 6, Tova and her mum are separated from her dad for the first time as they are placed in different cattle cars and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Tova describes her experiences from the eyes of an innocent child trying to make sense of the horrors she hears and witnesses every day. How someone, let alone a child, can survive what went on in that hell and come out the other side and live even close to a 'normal' life is beyond me. It is testament to the strength of her mother and the lessons she taught Tova that she survived and became the woman she did.
Many thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this powerful, heart-breaking but uplifting book. This should be required reading for all school children and adults alike.
This is an extremely hard book to read but one I feel necessary so the past is not forgotten.
Tova was born just prior to the start of World War II; her earliest memories being of living in the ghetto her family and parents were sent to by the Nazi's. From the ghetto, she and her parents are sent to a labour camp; Tova is 5 years old. At the age of 6, Tova and her mum are separated from her dad for the first time as they are placed in different cattle cars and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Tova describes her experiences from the eyes of an innocent child trying to make sense of the horrors she hears and witnesses every day. How someone, let alone a child, can survive what went on in that hell and come out the other side and live even close to a 'normal' life is beyond me. It is testament to the strength of her mother and the lessons she taught Tova that she survived and became the woman she did.
Many thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this powerful, heart-breaking but uplifting book. This should be required reading for all school children and adults alike.