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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Nope (2022) in Movies
Oct 12, 2022
Jordan Peele has consistently delivered fresh, uncomfortable, and exciting material during his short time branching out into horror, and Nope may very well be his best work so far.
Everything from start to finish just works wonderfully. The narrative unravels at a perfect pace, giving us mystery, terror, and a hugely memorable finale. The general tone is one of unease and tension, and Nope plays it's cards close to it's chest fot the most part, keeping the audience in the unknown, even when they think they have it figured out.
There a plenty of chilling moments on display. There's one particular extended scene around the mid point (no spoilers here, but the one that happens at night time) that is pure sci-fi horror perfection.
It's all executed in a visually striking manner as well, from the inspired cinematography, to the stunning California valley vistas, to it's pleasing colour pallet.
Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer are both fantastic, as they tend to be, and both bounce off eachother in a wonderfully natural way. The two of them elevate Nope to even higher levels.
Nope is just further proof of how important Peele is in the future of the genre, and I once again find myself excited for what he does next.
Everything from start to finish just works wonderfully. The narrative unravels at a perfect pace, giving us mystery, terror, and a hugely memorable finale. The general tone is one of unease and tension, and Nope plays it's cards close to it's chest fot the most part, keeping the audience in the unknown, even when they think they have it figured out.
There a plenty of chilling moments on display. There's one particular extended scene around the mid point (no spoilers here, but the one that happens at night time) that is pure sci-fi horror perfection.
It's all executed in a visually striking manner as well, from the inspired cinematography, to the stunning California valley vistas, to it's pleasing colour pallet.
Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer are both fantastic, as they tend to be, and both bounce off eachother in a wonderfully natural way. The two of them elevate Nope to even higher levels.
Nope is just further proof of how important Peele is in the future of the genre, and I once again find myself excited for what he does next.
Hiss Me Deadly
5.0
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Charlie and Diesel must catch a killer before he strikes another deadly note in this latest...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Wedding Bride and Doom in Books
Nov 27, 2024 (Updated Nov 27, 2024)
Fatal Flowers
When Kate Ludlow's marriage ended, she packed up her teenage daughter and moved from Southern California back to her hometown in Connecticut. She also went about turning her part time gig as a wedding planner into a full business, hustling to prove herself to her new customer base. The florist she works with the most is Lori-Sue, which can be awkward since the two have a history dating back to high school. So when Kate finds Lori-Sue's body one day, she also finds herself the prime suspect. Naturally nosey, Kate gets involved. Can she clear her name?
This debut sounded fun, so I was looking forward to it. It starts out well, with Kate finding the body quickly. However, the further I went into the book, the more I struggled with it. The plot seemed disjointed at times, but connections are made at the end. Meanwhile, we learn things late in the book about Kate that would have been nice to learn earlier. Finally, the climax only works because Kate is stupid. On the other hand, I really did like the characters, and the cliffhanger is intriguing. Still, I think I will probably pass on the sequel, unfortunately.
This debut sounded fun, so I was looking forward to it. It starts out well, with Kate finding the body quickly. However, the further I went into the book, the more I struggled with it. The plot seemed disjointed at times, but connections are made at the end. Meanwhile, we learn things late in the book about Kate that would have been nice to learn earlier. Finally, the climax only works because Kate is stupid. On the other hand, I really did like the characters, and the cliffhanger is intriguing. Still, I think I will probably pass on the sequel, unfortunately.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Knot of This World in Books
Jan 13, 2024
Is Martha’s Friend Joining a Cult?
Martha Rose’s friend Birdie Watson is back in town with news. She and her new husband are selling everything to join a spiritualist commune in nearby Ojai. Martha is concerned for her friend’s safety, especially when she learns that several people have gone missing. When Martha goes with Birdie and some other mutual friends to check it out, they wind up finding the leader dead. What had Birdie gotten them into?
While spiritualism isn’t new to the series, this is the strongest it’s ever been as an element. That didn’t make me happy, although Martha is as skeptical as I am, which helped. It also helped that the plot is driven by Martha’s investigation, and we got several good twists along the way. While the ending does explain everything for us, I did feel like it was weaker than it could have been. Also weak are some of the supporting players we’ve met along the way who could really use some development. Still, I do like them and love Martha and her fiancé. I enjoyed the Southern California setting as always. Plus there are some quilting tips at the end. I have one more book in the series, and I’m looking forward to reading about Martha’s final case soon.
While spiritualism isn’t new to the series, this is the strongest it’s ever been as an element. That didn’t make me happy, although Martha is as skeptical as I am, which helped. It also helped that the plot is driven by Martha’s investigation, and we got several good twists along the way. While the ending does explain everything for us, I did feel like it was weaker than it could have been. Also weak are some of the supporting players we’ve met along the way who could really use some development. Still, I do like them and love Martha and her fiancé. I enjoyed the Southern California setting as always. Plus there are some quilting tips at the end. I have one more book in the series, and I’m looking forward to reading about Martha’s final case soon.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Villains’ Realm in Books
Jun 6, 2024 (Updated Jun 6, 2024)
Enchantment Creating New Lands
Disney’s CEO has completely changed his mind about opening a Villains’ Realm in each park. The man was opposing it because it was a clear threat, giving the villains a foothold. But now, he’s greenlit them, and constructions has started immediately. In order to stop them from being completed, Eli and his friend Blair are going to have to team up with Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. Can they stop it in time?
If you haven’t been following this saga, you’ll probably be lost trying to follow what is happening. Fans will want to read this book since it sets up the next book. Unfortunately, it falls into middle book trap. We don’t get any real battles with the villains, just stand offs. The climax is abrupt and the story just kind of stops. As usual in the series, the characters are thin as well. Plus some editing left me confused a couple of times. On the positive side, it’s always fun to watch the Kingdom Keepers interacting with Disney characters, and I enjoyed seeing a lot of the action taking place at the California parks. I’m curious to see where things are going, so I’ll be back for the conclusion.
If you haven’t been following this saga, you’ll probably be lost trying to follow what is happening. Fans will want to read this book since it sets up the next book. Unfortunately, it falls into middle book trap. We don’t get any real battles with the villains, just stand offs. The climax is abrupt and the story just kind of stops. As usual in the series, the characters are thin as well. Plus some editing left me confused a couple of times. On the positive side, it’s always fun to watch the Kingdom Keepers interacting with Disney characters, and I enjoyed seeing a lot of the action taking place at the California parks. I’m curious to see where things are going, so I’ll be back for the conclusion.
Essentials of Death
8.0
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After a scandalous arrest in San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael has moved back to her small Southern...
Hazel (1853 KP) rated What Light in Books
Dec 17, 2018
<i>This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review </i>
Almost a decade after Jay Asher wowed readers with his debut novel, he returns to the literary scene with a brand new young adult romance. <i>What Light</i> focuses on the life of a good-natured girl living a complicated life. It is almost as if the teenaged Sierra is living two lives: eleven months on a Christmas tree farm in Oregon, followed by a month selling them in California. Due to the struggling business, this year may be the last time Sierra spends Christmas in California; however it is also the first year she meets the boy of her dreams.
Knowing that a romantic relationship is unlikely to survive the long distance between the two states, Sierra cannot help her developing feelings towards the handsome Caleb. Using his own money to purchase Christmas trees for families who cannot afford them, Caleb seems like the perfect guy; however rumours suggest he has a rather dubious history. Struggling to convince everyone that Caleb is a good person, Sierra suffers the consequences of strained relationships with her friends back home. The big issue is: should she continue to support Caleb even though in a couple of weeks she may never see him again?
As young adult romance novels go, <i>What Light</i> is fairly typical. Girl and boy meet; there are various issues to resolve; but things turn out all right in the end. If you are into those types of stories then this is the book for you, sadly, Asher does not bring anything new to the genre.
After reading several of these types of predictable novels, it becomes noticeable how unrealistic they are. The amount of youngsters in committed relationships is rather suspicious, especially the ones that seems to happen as if by accident or fate – although, from the readers perspective, are so obvious from the very beginning.
There is nothing deep or meaningful within this narrative – not a criticism of <i>What Light</i>, rather an observation of the genre – but it is sufficient for a quick read to pass the time, particularly over the upcoming Christmas period. There is nothing to disappoint the reader in terms of conclusion – it could be described as what some would call a “fluffy read”.
Overall, <i>What Light</i> is a novel that maintains the status quo of young adult romance, providing brief entertainment for those seeking a happy love story. With beautiful (in terms of personality) characters and settings, Jay Asher is likely to win back all the fans that had given up waiting for his next book to be written.
Almost a decade after Jay Asher wowed readers with his debut novel, he returns to the literary scene with a brand new young adult romance. <i>What Light</i> focuses on the life of a good-natured girl living a complicated life. It is almost as if the teenaged Sierra is living two lives: eleven months on a Christmas tree farm in Oregon, followed by a month selling them in California. Due to the struggling business, this year may be the last time Sierra spends Christmas in California; however it is also the first year she meets the boy of her dreams.
Knowing that a romantic relationship is unlikely to survive the long distance between the two states, Sierra cannot help her developing feelings towards the handsome Caleb. Using his own money to purchase Christmas trees for families who cannot afford them, Caleb seems like the perfect guy; however rumours suggest he has a rather dubious history. Struggling to convince everyone that Caleb is a good person, Sierra suffers the consequences of strained relationships with her friends back home. The big issue is: should she continue to support Caleb even though in a couple of weeks she may never see him again?
As young adult romance novels go, <i>What Light</i> is fairly typical. Girl and boy meet; there are various issues to resolve; but things turn out all right in the end. If you are into those types of stories then this is the book for you, sadly, Asher does not bring anything new to the genre.
After reading several of these types of predictable novels, it becomes noticeable how unrealistic they are. The amount of youngsters in committed relationships is rather suspicious, especially the ones that seems to happen as if by accident or fate – although, from the readers perspective, are so obvious from the very beginning.
There is nothing deep or meaningful within this narrative – not a criticism of <i>What Light</i>, rather an observation of the genre – but it is sufficient for a quick read to pass the time, particularly over the upcoming Christmas period. There is nothing to disappoint the reader in terms of conclusion – it could be described as what some would call a “fluffy read”.
Overall, <i>What Light</i> is a novel that maintains the status quo of young adult romance, providing brief entertainment for those seeking a happy love story. With beautiful (in terms of personality) characters and settings, Jay Asher is likely to win back all the fans that had given up waiting for his next book to be written.
Lonely Planet Best of USA
Lonely Planet, Amy C. Balfour, Sandra Bao and Karla Zimmerman
Book
Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet's Best of USA is your...
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
9.0
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Introduction by Gillian Flynn Afterword by Patton Oswalt "This is a one sit-down read. That's how...
Roadside America
Travel and Navigation
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The team at RoadsideAmerica.com has spent decades exploring the weird wonders of America’s...