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Connie (244 KP) rated It (2017) in Movies

Sep 13, 2018  
It (2017)
It (2017)
2017 | Drama, Horror
8
7.9 (354 Ratings)
Movie Rating
I saw IT at a midnight release in a theatre with a person who caused me personal distress and when I say I freaked out, I mean it. But the second viewing, in the day and not with a creep, proved to be a little less scary.

For those who have never read this book, this was a frightening view of how children view fear and how hysteria can grip a town. Unexplainable things happen and no one seems to notice, almost at all. The scene with the blood in the bathroom really freaks me out every time, and her father standing in it not noticing is awful. That being said, this far the movie and the book have a lot of differences.

All in all, I feel that the movie was done well, but it doesn't hold a candle to the book. I can't wait to see the next paet though because I might change my mind!
  
Donovan's Greatest Hits by Donovan
Donovan's Greatest Hits by Donovan
1999 | Folk, Psychedelic, Rock
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This was from college and Charles had it, and obviously I knew those songs. Jimmy Page and [John] Bonham and John Paul Jones did the arrangements to this song, 'Hurdy Gurdy Man'. Fucking hell man! That's epic! Also, I like the sensibility of basically saying "fuck you", well, not fuck you, but it was the freedom of the 70s - I know 'I Love My Shirt' isn't on that album but I just love that, it was like, "Wow, what kind of freedom can you get talking about your favourite goddamn shirt!" And washing it in the stream! And he'll say, "Know what I mean?" [laughs] There's a song there, 'Sunshine Superman', and I played it for Charles and he went, "Shit!" It's so strange. It took me a while, it's got - [imitates guitar] - it's got all these weird sonic spots, it's more sonic really than the melody, because the melody there, what is that?"

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Next in the independence Island series…Scrumptious Independence by Melissa Wardwell! I have been looking forward to this book for months. and boy was it worth the wait. I loved her balance of character interaction with the emotions and memories she invoked in me through her characters. It truly was a fun book to read that I had a hard time putting down.

I thought Melissa Wardwell did a great job engaging not just your eyes but your memories too! From her yummy sounding recipes (that may or may not have set off a cooking spree, much to my husband’s delight), to the hints of a mystery within, added with a dash of super sweet romance between Beth and Scott… I mean what more can I say? This book is a recipe for a good clean engaging read. Well done Melissa Wardwell, now I can’t wait to see what will happen on the Merriweather Islands next
  
Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground
Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground
1967 | Experimental

"I know, I know - it's the most classic album on the list. But it is an amazing record. You can look at it in so many ways - just as a piece of music, or what it was responsible for culturally. It really was the most influential record of all time. I'd say it and Never Mind The Bollocks invented modern leftfield music. It has incredible songs, that's one thing. And another is that it has Lou Reed as songwriter. His voice is one of those that you become glued to. It's not as perfect as Scott Walker's, it's more about his phrasing. I love Nico. I mean, how influential was Nico? I think she invented goth. Obviously when she did stuff on her own she really went out there, but with the Velvet Undergound I love the juxtaposition between the songs' melodies and the fact that she couldn't really sing. She had her own style. Amazing record. 'Venus In Furs', 'All Tomorrow's Parties': I love the drones."

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ClareR (6253 KP) rated The Truth in Books

Sep 24, 2019  
The Truth
The Truth
Naomi Joy | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So what is the truth?
If you like unreliable narrators, then this is the book for you. The Truth is in fact questionable - not the book, the narrators version of events. What can I say without giving the game away? Well, no one in this novel is someone that you’d want to know, they all do immoral, unpleasant things, and I enjoyed it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I do like an unlikeable main character, and even though when I was reading this, I was telling myself that I should give her a chance, and that circumstances had made her the way she was, I still found her thoroughly unfriendly and rude.

The last third of the novel was particularly good, and really made the book for me. Everything is explained, and it was utterly fascinating: the fact that this is based on a true story blew my mind!

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Naomi Joy for reading along.
  
Taking chance by Traci Wooden-Carlisle was a great example of its title; It is a book about taking chances. It is the second book in the Chances Series, but it can be read as a standalone. This is my first time reading a book by Traci Wooden-Carlisle and I loved her writing style, it is conversational and built with good detail.
 Andrew and Pietra (Which is a cool name, but I had to look up how to say it!) is a classic unrequired love/friends to lovers’ type storyline that was engaging, heartfelt, and had some deep thought stirring moments. I enjoyed their banter back and forth, Andrews's culture was fascinating, and I truly loved Pietra’s patience with Andrew through everything. It was a good culturally diverse book that kept me interested and I did not put it down until I finished!
  
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Kristina (502 KP) rated The Quickie in Books

Dec 7, 2020  
The Quickie
The Quickie
James Patterson | 2007 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences, Travel
8
7.3 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
BookReporter.com says, "Action? Check." Very true. It was pretty action packed. "Suspense? By the carload." Fact, the suspense, twists, and turns just kept coming. "Romance? Yes." Now I know why their answer is so vague and only one word - anything that could be considered romance occurs before the 11th chapter (and these were some short chapters!). "Erotica? Let's just say that it's not limited to the cover." Error, error! What Patterson has written couldn't even touch the average erotica novel - I've written more erotic scenarios. I know erotica isn't James' forte and it didn't take away from the story, I was just disappointed in this part of BookReporter's review. I can tell you I never would have predicted the ending and there was no way I could have foreseen some of the shocking revelations within the book. It's shocker after shocker. Once again, Patterson has managed to write another brilliant suspense!
  
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Andy K (10826 KP) rated Martyrs (2008) in Movies

Mar 29, 2019 (Updated Mar 29, 2019)  
Martyrs (2008)
Martyrs (2008)
2008 | Drama, Horror
8
7.5 (10 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Hard to handle
Director Pascal Laugier said he modeled the ideas and script for this film after "Hostel" and you can see a lot of comparisons from the obvious plot similarities to the definite two sections of both films showcasing different styles and subtexts.

Martyrs is more cerebral, darker and more supernatural getting into the characters minds somewhat, but still having that brutal, visceral element for sure.

I would have to say some of the brutality may be unnecessary; however, I think one of the points of the film is how much a human being can endure, so it's hard to make a conclusion on that.

If you don't like movies like Hostel or Saw I can't seeing you like this one either since they have similar plot devices. I found a lot of this film interesting as it takes chances and definitely shows you things you haven't seen before.

If someone said it was "torture porn shite" it would be hard to argue with them either. All your point of view I guess.
  
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Book Divas (227 KP) rated Saving Me in Books

Mar 5, 2018  
Saving Me
Saving Me
Sadie Allen | 2018 | Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Perfect Book
I simply cannot find the right words to use in this review that will do Saving Me any justice. First I'll say that this is the first book I've read written by Sadie Allen and I loved every single moment of this story. You know that you have found the perfect book when you find that you can relate to the story and characters in such a way that it feels like the author could be retelling your own story. We are allowed access to the very soul of Ally, and we can feel her emotional despair, her hopes, desires and what will ultimately be life changing moments. I wept for her, felt anger for her, but I also felt moments of extreme happiness for her. The reflective message contained within the pages of this book will stay with readers of all ages.

{I received a copy for review purposes and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own,}
  
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Stuart Braithwaite recommended Pink Moon by Nick Drake in Music (curated)

 
Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Pink Moon by Nick Drake
1972 | Rock
9.0 (3 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"It's a perfect record. Succinct, sad, melodic, definitely its own thing. The simplicity of it was a big thing for me, that music that simple can also be really moving… I think a lot of the simplicity of it might be to do that he was having a hard time and couldn't get it together to do anything particularly complicated, but it is a wonderful record. Just doing enough and never overblowing anything works so well. Has my music taste changed? I've always listened to quite loud and quite quiet music so I don't think getting older has changed it that much, not that I can think of. I think Belong is the only quite new record on this list, which is a bit fogeyish, but I guess you have to take a long time to know if something really is the best ever. Some of these lists you look down and they say 'best album of all time - number three, The Strokes!' No, wait, something has happened here. There is a disturbance in the force."

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