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My Way West: Real Kids Traveling the Oregon and California Trails
My Way West: Real Kids Traveling the Oregon and California Trails
Elizabeth Goss | 2021 | Children, History & Politics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
My Way West tells the story of real kids that traveled the trails across the west. The children told the stories and through their quotes and paragraphs about how folks decided to move west—the journey across the Oregon trails, California Trails, and Momon trails.

The kids told these journeys on the trails through the images and how life was on the trails. Children will be able to learn about the life and history of the US and the Oregon trails. This book shows tragedy and how everyone came together and helped each other along the way. Children can learn about this and American history by reading this book, not of it but a good glimpse of it.

I enjoy learning about the western expansion and the Oregon trails. I am one of those kinds of readers. I was learning about history through books and how life may have been back then—the dangers of it. When reading this book, I read the quotes first and then the information on the page. Tough, you can read it by doing the significant info about the journey or the topic that was talked about and then the quotes after. It doe not really make a difference in what way you read it. I enjoy that. There is no right way to read this book.

I like the focus was on the actual kids that traveled the Organ and California Trails. The author does a beautiful job of that. This book is suitable for middle-grade readers who want to learn about American history. This book would be an excellent book to have in classrooms as well.
  
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Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Unbroken in Books

Jan 15, 2018  
Unbroken
Unbroken
Laura Hillenbrand | 2016 | Biography
8
9.6 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Louie Zamperini is an amazingly inspiring human being. Unbroken tells the story of his life from his family's move to California due to a bout of pneumonia to his life into his 90s. He went through hell and fought his way back. He went from the deepest, darkest depths of human suffering and emotion to putting himself in a position to help other "lost boys."
This book was a tough read. It is hard to imagine that what Louie lived through is even possible, let alone that people really did experience it and lived to tell the tale... and it is a truly amazing tale. I found myself smiling, horrified, laughing, and with tears streaming down my face through the course of this book. It was a wild ride and well worth the read!
  
J Is for Judgment
J Is for Judgment
Sue Grafton | 1993 | Mystery
10
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I Judge This to be Another Excellent Book
Kinsey is surprised to be hired once again by California Fidelity. They’ve just paid out a claim on Wendell Jaffe’s life insurance five years after his supposed dead at sea only to hear he’s been spotted down in Mexico. Kinsey locates Jaffe only to have him vanish again. Can she prove he is still alive?

This is another fantastic mystery. The characters are strong and help pull us in. The story itself has plenty of twists and turns before we reach the climax. We have some time for updates from the series regulars, and I love what is happening there. Kinsey also stumbles on a surprise in her personal life. I’m curious to see how this sub-plot plays out in future novels.
  
Jenna Hart has returned home to Crystal Cove, California to help her aunt open a new cookbook bookstore. But their big guest for the grand opening - Food Network Star and Jenna's college roommate Desiree - is murdered before the store even opens. With local gossip making Jenna a suspect, can she prove her innocence?

This has many of the traits of a first in a series, but it is filled with warm characters and a sense of fun I enjoyed. I'm looking forward to many return trips. I did have a few niggles with the book - one weak character and a couple of timing issues - but they were minor overall.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-final-sentence-by-daryl.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
National Lampoon&#039;s Vacation (1983)
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
1983 | Comedy
The dog went on the picnic basket!
The Griswolds!

Everyone's favorite adventurous family embarks on their inaugural journey together to go see Wallyworld in California and encounters creepy annoying relatives and all sorts of unsavory characters along the way.

I once had a long discussion with someone about which was better, the first Vacation or Christmas Vacation, this one being my favorite of the bunch. The family dynamic on the open road, for me, was slightly more entertaining than Christmas at home with the relatives which is also still a lot of fun.

Seemed like a liked the introduction of Randy Quaid, John Candy, Christy Brinkley and Imogeen Coca and just thought it was a lot of fun waiting to see what happened next.

  
B-
Bad - Single by Shy Keller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Sky Keller is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Not too long ago, she released an attractive pop tune, entitled, “Bad”, produced by Danny Garibay.

“‘Bad’ is a song about loose ends. It’s about dealing with the power trips and struggles of attainable love when you want what’s not good for you.”

‘Bad’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who is in a troubled relationship with her significant other.

Apparently, she feels uncomfortable because of his uncertainty about their status as a couple, and that makes her nervous.

Also, she feels guilty for having to wait this long to find out that he’s such an indecisive person.

‘Bad’ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and robust instrumentation flavored with an electro-pop aroma.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/sky-keller-bad/
  
San Diego 2014: The Last Stand Of The California Browncoats
San Diego 2014: The Last Stand Of The California Browncoats
Mira Grant | 2012 | Dystopia, Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Description for Mira Grant's website: It was the summer of 2014, and the true horrors of the Rising were only just beginning to reveal themselves. Fans from all over the world gathered in San Diego, California for the annual comic book and media convention, planning to forget about the troubling rumors of new diseases and walking dead by immersing themselves in a familiar environment. Over the course of five grueling days and nights, it became clear that the news was very close to home…and that most of the people who picked up their badges would never make it out alive.

This novella is part of the newsflesh series, and explores what would happen if a zombie outbreak occured a comicon. And interesting read although it felt a little bit rushed.
  
8MM (1999)
8MM (1999)
1999 | Action, Mystery
Look at this Photograph
8mm- is a underrated mystery thriller, it was directed by Joel Schumacher, yes the person who destoryed and ruined batman two years before this movie came out. Joel Schumacher is better with mysterious and thrillers than Batman. Anyways the plot:

Private detective Tom Welles (Nicolas Cage) lives a normal life with his wife (Catherine Keener) and young daughter, until he receives a startling new case. A widow named Mrs. Christian (Myra Carter) has found what appears to be a snuff film among her late husband's belongings, and she wants Welles to determine if the movie is real or fake. Welles heads to California, where a video store employee (Joaquin Phoenix) helps him infiltrate the dangerous and depraved world of illegal porn movies.

Its suspenseful, horrorfying, twisted and overall a good movie.
  
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Sarah (7798 KP) Nov 7, 2019

This is definitely a hugely underrated film. And one of the few times Nicolas Cage is actually decent!

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AJaneClark (3975 KP) Nov 7, 2019

the only Nicholas cage film that I enjoy