Search

Search only in certain items:

Somebody's Daughter
Somebody's Daughter
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So this is a very timely book--as it seems like sexting and its repercussions is everywhere right now--and its horrifying to see how quickly one bad decision can affect the course of so many kids' lives. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. I actually really liked Zoe--and even her twin, though she wasn't as prominently featured--but the book was told from Emma's perspective, and she drove me crazy.

It's made clear from the beginning that Zoe's incident parallels something Emma herself did as a teen or young woman. But, of course, we can't just be told what that is. Heaven forbid. Instead, there are constant allusions to whatever happened, or Emma mentioning it (to herself, since it's a secret) and agonizing whether she should tell Zoe or her husband, or blah blah blah. We go over half the book before finding out what really happened and by then I was way too annoyed to care.

Not to mention, Emma's husband, Bobby, is a total jerk. The guy turns on his teenage daughter when she needs him and then spends the majority of the book being a total a** to his wife and kids. I had zero sympathy for him and honestly wished either Emma or the kids would just kick him to the curb. Most of the book is Bobby sniping at Emma (or his fifteen-year-old daughter, who has just been through a huge trauma!), or Emma endlessly worrying about Bobby and the state of things. Ugh. Rinse and repeat. I found myself sort of skimming waiting to see if more was going to happen. (It really didn't.)

It's a shame, because there was real potential with Zoe's character, and the message of the book--about the dangers of sexting--is a good one, I think.



“There’s a monster out there,” she says. “It can be anyone pushing a button and ruining my life. I can’t see them, but they’re out there, and I’m terrified.”


Alas, the book was just too melodramatic and repetitive for me. I couldn't handle how long it took to reveal Emma's past, especially after all the build-up to said revelation. The rehashed bickering between Emma and Bobby is just way too much (and I couldn't stand Bobby whatsoever). I felt so bad for those poor kids. And, of course, to end it all, we have a predictable ending that you could see coming a mile away. I should have abandoned this one, but I kept holding out hope it would surprise me. It did not. 2 stars.
  
C is for Corpse (Kinsey Millhone #3)
C is for Corpse (Kinsey Millhone #3)
Sue Grafton | 2005 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.8 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Strong female lead (0 more)
Entertaining mystery
This is the third book in the Kinsey Millhone "Alphabet" series by Sue Grafton, and so far it's been my favourite.

This time round private investigator Kinsey Millhone's services are employed by rich kid Bobby Callahan who thinks someone is out to kill him. Bobby’s struggling to get anyone to believe him, which isn’t surprising given the accident that he believes was a murder attempt, left him with memory loss and generally not a well boy. When Bobby dies not long after hiring Kinsey, (not a spoiler honest,) she becomes more determined than ever to get to the bottom of what Bobby was involved in.

The main story was a solid mystery but it really benefited from a fun side story where we get to see the people around Kinsey’s day to day life more. Henry the sexy octogenarian landlord and Rosie the overbearing Hungarian bar owner are enjoyable recurring characters. Having a bit more going on seemed to reduce the tedious description levels that I found bogged the previous books in places helping to move this book along at a better pace.

Kinsey keeps growing on me as a character, great to have a strong female lead without large amounts of time dedicated to romantic relationships. She’s a strong independent woman, I just struggle with a character who doesn't like dogs (this is usually the sign of a psyco imho)

I will be carrying on with this series and see what Kinsey gets involved in next.
  
Don't Look Back (1967)
Don't Look Back (1967)
1967 | Documentary, Music
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Speaking of snake-ish charmers, enter a young Bob Dylan in D. A. Pennebaker’s 1967 Dont Look Back. This may be a documentary, but don’t think for one moment that Dylan isn’t brilliantly putting on a performance as PYT (pretty young thing) “Bobby Dylan, the brilliant folksinger.” And while it’s not to my credit that I could never wrap my mind around folk music, even I am not immune from the oodles of bratty charm that Dylan exudes here."

Source
  
40x40

Cameron Crowe recommended track Barcelona by Stephen Sondheim in Company by Stephen Sondheim in Music (curated)

 
Company by Stephen Sondheim
Company by Stephen Sondheim
1978 | Soundtrack
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

Barcelona by Stephen Sondheim

(0 Ratings)

Track

"There was a PBS special on Sondheim, and I got steeped in “Company,” and “Barcelona” really stuck out. It was like the third character in that scene was Bobby’s emerging soul. Beneath this lilting back-and- forth, push-and-pull of the song was the strong current of what was pulling Bobby to “Being Alive.” It was as rich as any Paul Simon or Neil Young song that I was starting to fall in love with."

Source
  
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
1979 | Action, Drama, War

"I think my second favorite film is Apocalypse Now, partly because I’m 58 years old, and I grew up with Vietnam on the television. That movie is just such an amazing journey, and it was really terrifying to watch. There were just so many elements of that film that just left a big impression on me when I saw it. I think I saw it — when did it come out? In ’78, ’79? It was just an amazing film. For me, not having served, it kind of articulated and revealed the fear I think I would’ve had, had I had to go. There were just so many elements about that film that were terrifying. It was fascinating filmmaking, and I love that film. In my career, I finally got to work with Bobby Duvall, he played my father in the movie I did with Billy Bob Thornton [Jayne Mansfield’s Car], but to talk to Bobby about those sequences and what that was like, and how it was like to shoot… It’s a pretty profound movie."

Source
  
Mortuary cosmetologist Callie Parrish is preparing the body of car salesman Bobby Saxon when she finds a needle stuck in his neck. Since his death was ruled an accident, that sure doesn't seem to belong. What's really going on? The mystery was decent, although I did guess the killer early. But I really didn't care for the amoral characters, especially Callie's best friend.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-ticket-tasket-fancy-stolen.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
40x40

Darren (1599 KP) rated 2 Guns (2013) in Movies

Jun 20, 2019  
2 Guns (2013)
2 Guns (2013)
2013 | Action, Drama, Mystery
6
6.5 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
Verdict: Easy to Watch Action Film

 

Story: 2 Guns starts as we see Bobby (Washington) & Stig (Wahlberg) planning their latest bank robbery before flashing back to one week earlier. We learn that Bobby has been undercover working for his handler Deb (Patton) in the DEA who are trying to take down Papi Greco (Olmos). We also find out Stig’s real motives as he is also undercover but with the military.

When the two find themselves being betrayed they must re-team up to take out the people that framed them making everything right with all the people they have stolen from.

2 Guns is an action comedy that is a real jumper because we start in the middle before going to beginning before getting to the end which automatically doesn’t help pull us in. We never really get the idea of how the two first meet and then when everything happens it all become overly complicated. If you want a simple action film this isn’t going to be for you but in the end this will need you to keep attention. Having too many people involved works for a flat out comedy but the overly serious side of certain moments pulls it all down.

 

Actor Review

 

Denzel Washington: Bobby is the undercover DEA agent that is trying to take down a drug cartel with his young partner Stig. When he gets betrayed by Stig he finds himself needing to make up for the crime only to find out he is involved in a bigger picture and having to work with Stig once more. Denzel is good in this role but it won’t be one you will remember.denzel

Mark Wahlberg: Stig is the young partner of Bobby, but he is secretly undercover for the military. When the money is stolen he learns the truth that only puts his own life at risk. He must re-team with Bobby to stop the people out to kill the both of them. Mark is good in this role which is what you would expect him to be in.stuif

Paula Patton: Deb is the former lover and connection with the DEA for Bobby, she has to supporting him whenever he gets the next part of the information. Paula is a solid supporting performance without doing too much.

Edward James Olmos: Papi Greco is the drug lord that both men are trying to take down. He has a reputation of being deadly that makes him one of the deadliest men after our leading men. Edward is solid but is just one of the main villains.

Support Cast: 2 Guns has a big supporting cast that all help with the final outcome of the film without being overly memorable or original.

Director Review: Baltasar Kormakur – Baltasar gives us a solid action film that could be enjoyed through the eyes of the audience.

 

Action: 2 Guns has a mix of action sequence which involves car chase, fights and fire fights.

Comedy: 2 Guns has good laughs between the two leads but otherwise doesn’t have much.

Crime: 2 Guns puts us through a crime world where we have a group of different men after the money.

Thriller: 2 Guns tries to keep us on the edge throughout but isn’t enough to pull us in.

Settings: 2 Guns has small town settings which are hard to keep on top of where we actually are.
Special Effects: 2 Guns has a couple of needs to effects but not the best when used.

Suggestion: 2 Guns is one for the action fans to try but otherwise you can miss it. (Try It)

 

Best Part: Car chase between Bobby and Stig.

Worst Part: Too many characters.

 

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: Maybe.

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $61 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 49 Minutes

Tagline: 2 Guns, 1 Bank.

 

Overall: Overly complicated action film that doesn’t have enough to pull us in.

https://moviesreview101.com/2016/05/24/2-guns-2013/
  
The Railway Children
The Railway Children
E. Nesbit | 2017 | Children
10
8.9 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
I love this book. I love trains just as much as books. I enjoyed the charthers in the book. It about a family that has to make adjustment on the fly. I quite enjoyable. I love how this is a Classic. I did not know this book was out there to read while I was growing up. The Children name are Bobby, Phil and Paul.

If you want to know mare about it what happens I would suggest picking it up. Something happens that causes their father to go away.
  
40x40

Kevin Phillipson (9967 KP) rated Monday nitro in TV

Nov 11, 2019 (Updated Nov 11, 2019)  
Monday nitro
Monday nitro
1995 | Sport
8
7.8 (9 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
NWO (4 more)
Sting
Monday night wars
Bobby the brain heenan
Goldberg
Got too silly (1 more)
Ended too soon
Where the big boys come to play
Watching reruns on the WWE network WWE main rival during the Monday night wars when wcw nitro was beating raw every Monday night due to the popularity of the new world order and Hollywood Hulk Hogan but over time it got stale and repetitive and silly due to stars egos eventually wcw was brought up by WWE and no more nitro which was a shame. Still classic 90s wrestling nwo for life
  
BG
Bobby's Got a Brand-New Car
Zidrou | 2017
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bobby's Got a Brand-New Car by Zidrou is a fun ride through a child's imagination of grown up things. This was a fun and cute little book, but it isn't clear to children in my view that it is a dream, or his imagination running away with itself.

Little Bobby gets to pick out his dream car (a convertible) and pay for it with his own money (the magic card that pays for everything!). He takes it out for a drive and listens to all the sounds a happy car makes. He picks up his mom from school, but when he gets dad, dad has to sit in the back.

The book never lets on whether this is a daydream, and I think I'm ok with that. Surely children are smart enough to know they can't drive cars yet. The magic card that pays for everything might be a teachable moment, but I say let the kids have a little dream of being big and being on the road.

It's a cute story and the illustrations are perfect. I liked the style that this book had. I also liked that it didn't belittle Bobby.

I received this ARC from NetGalley via Quarto Publishing Group.