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BookishWoo (317 KP) rated Zodiac in Books
May 25, 2020 (Updated May 25, 2020)
Zodiac is the 2nd book of the Sergiu Manta Series and the first to be translated into English.
I was captivated by Zodiac right from the first page. Anamarie wrote this extremely well and in a way that you felt you were reading a script for a crime drama, scene by scene. This is slightly different to what I'm used to, but I found as long as I paced myself and didnt speed through it I could keep up with the scene jumps and found that I completely enjoyed her writing style. Although this is a fast paced thriller do not be fooled that being only 218 pages long you can speed through this quickly. This is a book to savour and enjoy.
I can honestly say that I fell in love with the main protagonaist Sergiu, he was an unpredicatable, motorbike riding, charming "Agency" man willing to do whatever it takes no matter what the cost.
His character was in stark contrast to Marius who was a typical police inspector and family man with a moral conscience. This worked well alongside Sergiu's character and didnt give you that typical good cop, bad cop feel. They complimented each other well.
The plot was fantastic, and just when I thought I had it all figured out the twist came along and surprised me completely!
I cant wait to read more of the series and hope that the first book gets translated so I can read this too!
If you are a fan of fast paced thrillers I highly recommend this!
Trigger Warnings: swearing, sexual themes, rape, murder, guns, violence
I received Zodiac by Amamaria Ionescu for free in exchange for an honest review from Love Book Tours and Corylus Books.
I was captivated by Zodiac right from the first page. Anamarie wrote this extremely well and in a way that you felt you were reading a script for a crime drama, scene by scene. This is slightly different to what I'm used to, but I found as long as I paced myself and didnt speed through it I could keep up with the scene jumps and found that I completely enjoyed her writing style. Although this is a fast paced thriller do not be fooled that being only 218 pages long you can speed through this quickly. This is a book to savour and enjoy.
I can honestly say that I fell in love with the main protagonaist Sergiu, he was an unpredicatable, motorbike riding, charming "Agency" man willing to do whatever it takes no matter what the cost.
His character was in stark contrast to Marius who was a typical police inspector and family man with a moral conscience. This worked well alongside Sergiu's character and didnt give you that typical good cop, bad cop feel. They complimented each other well.
The plot was fantastic, and just when I thought I had it all figured out the twist came along and surprised me completely!
I cant wait to read more of the series and hope that the first book gets translated so I can read this too!
If you are a fan of fast paced thrillers I highly recommend this!
Trigger Warnings: swearing, sexual themes, rape, murder, guns, violence
I received Zodiac by Amamaria Ionescu for free in exchange for an honest review from Love Book Tours and Corylus Books.

Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Lion King (2019) in Movies
Aug 2, 2019 (Updated Aug 2, 2019)
"Gorgeously Pointless" sums this up for me. In general I find the Disney live action remakes pretty pointless. Why try, other than to fill Disney coffers? (Which I guess is the producer’s point!) And my opinion hasn’t changed after this. I still think its a rather pointless exercise, particularly in this case where there is no human cast.
With these things, I always think of Jim Carrey‘s cry at the end of his version of “I am the Walrus”. He screams “There, I did it. I defiled a timeless piece of art”. Jon Favreau can at least sleep happy (sic) in his bed content that he hasn’t managed to do that. I can’t say I was horrified by this one, because I wasn’t. It was majestic, entertaining, technically superb and certainly had its moments.
The acid test for me would be “would I go and see that again”. And in this case the answer would be “yes”.
For my full graphical review, please visit https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/08/02/one-manns-movies-film-review-the-lion-king-2019/.
With these things, I always think of Jim Carrey‘s cry at the end of his version of “I am the Walrus”. He screams “There, I did it. I defiled a timeless piece of art”. Jon Favreau can at least sleep happy (sic) in his bed content that he hasn’t managed to do that. I can’t say I was horrified by this one, because I wasn’t. It was majestic, entertaining, technically superb and certainly had its moments.
The acid test for me would be “would I go and see that again”. And in this case the answer would be “yes”.
For my full graphical review, please visit https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/08/02/one-manns-movies-film-review-the-lion-king-2019/.

BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Sixteen Candles (1984) in Movies
Apr 25, 2019
Not so sweet 16
What can you say about a movie like 16 candles that hasn't already been said a 1000x. Like most of John Hughes 16 candles really just sums up what it's like being a teenager and no matter the decade he really just transcended time because this movie worked for my mom in 80's, me in the early 2000's, and teens now and honestly I feel like it will still be relateable for generations to come.

Matthew Weiner recommended All That Jazz (1979) in Movies (curated)

Matthew Weiner recommended The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967) in Movies (curated)

Ondi Timoner recommended The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) in Movies (curated)

Dana (24 KP) rated And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga #1) in Books
Mar 23, 2018
So I was listening to this audio book when I was driving to and from Los Angeles area and I've got to say, I found myself drifting my thoughts a lot when listening. I didn't want to stay focused on the plot because it was kind of boring.
I think the biggest problem I had with this book is the lack of female characters. Like, there was one. That's it. Really? I understand this being based on "historical facts" but surely there were females in history. And the fact that this is a fictionalized version of this history makes it more irritating that she didn't add in more females. I don't know, I guess I am just wanting more female representation.
Yes, the main female character was strong, but she was presented in a way that makes femininity seem like it's a weakness, not another kind of strength. She shows love as a hindrance, not as something that can help you want to protect the people you love. I think the message of the book was a little skewed in that respect.
I don't know if I am going to pick up the next book or not. I don't know if I want to keep trying. Yes, the writing style was pretty good, but I don't know if I like the story direction enough to keep going. We shall see.
I think the biggest problem I had with this book is the lack of female characters. Like, there was one. That's it. Really? I understand this being based on "historical facts" but surely there were females in history. And the fact that this is a fictionalized version of this history makes it more irritating that she didn't add in more females. I don't know, I guess I am just wanting more female representation.
Yes, the main female character was strong, but she was presented in a way that makes femininity seem like it's a weakness, not another kind of strength. She shows love as a hindrance, not as something that can help you want to protect the people you love. I think the message of the book was a little skewed in that respect.
I don't know if I am going to pick up the next book or not. I don't know if I want to keep trying. Yes, the writing style was pretty good, but I don't know if I like the story direction enough to keep going. We shall see.

Merissa (13132 KP) rated The Outsider (A Broken World #5) in Books
Jan 21, 2019
The Outsider (A Broken World #5) by Dean Murray
The Outsider sees Skye reunite with Brennan, Jax, and the rest. However, things have changed - not just between Skye and Brennan, but the whole situation. There is a lot that needs to be said before the air can be cleared between them all. Skye still has her own secrets, and now it looks like she is carrying one inside her that no one knew about! Brennan has changed in the time that Skye hasn't been there, he's made decisions that are not easy, and has had to live with the consequences that he has hidden from others, so they don't have to have it on their conscience. Jax has been carrying a lot of the weight and it is starting to wear him down. Add in the fact that Skye is his daughter, and there is a whole minefield between them.
I have to say that the flow of this story was better for me. Although I thoroughly enjoyed The Founder, this one I could disappear in. Whether or not it's the relationship that Skye and Brennan have, or that Jax and Brennan have, or Jax and the soldiers, or what, I honestly couldn't say. All I can say is that once I started this book, I was hard-pressed to put it down. The time flew and I was lost once again in this dystopian world, wanting and hoping for Skye to get her HEA.
This is a long book that will draw you in, although I would recommend that you read this as a series, otherwise you just won't understand all the nuances that have occurred up to this point. That being said, it doesn't read like a long book. I did not realise how long I'd been reading until I had to put it down! There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and the characters continue to grow. With their own problems and circumstances, this is an intricate story full of characters to enjoy or despise. Either way, you'll never be bored. Highly recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I have to say that the flow of this story was better for me. Although I thoroughly enjoyed The Founder, this one I could disappear in. Whether or not it's the relationship that Skye and Brennan have, or that Jax and Brennan have, or Jax and the soldiers, or what, I honestly couldn't say. All I can say is that once I started this book, I was hard-pressed to put it down. The time flew and I was lost once again in this dystopian world, wanting and hoping for Skye to get her HEA.
This is a long book that will draw you in, although I would recommend that you read this as a series, otherwise you just won't understand all the nuances that have occurred up to this point. That being said, it doesn't read like a long book. I did not realise how long I'd been reading until I had to put it down! There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and the characters continue to grow. With their own problems and circumstances, this is an intricate story full of characters to enjoy or despise. Either way, you'll never be bored. Highly recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

Christ is the Cure
Podcast
This podcast is dedicated to bringing back orthodox Christianity (not to be confused with the Greek...

LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Recluse (2016) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020
Like if that terrifying parasite that hijacks snails' eyestalks to make them look like fleshy, pulsating caterpillars for birds to eat was a short film. A bacteria-esque, throbbing vaporwave hellscape with as much of Jimmy's trademarked vile depravity as can be compacted into a YouTube-friendly short - like if Jeron Braxton dealt in straight-up nightmare fuel. May lack the sheer amount of sickness as his usual trades, but still coated in a thick layer of slimy ick - and the eye for detail on display is incredible: contrasting colors, meticulous attention to the finer elements, and overall deeply disturbing on some buried subconscious level we gained through evolution lol. I used to say ScreamerClauz was the literal worst entertainment creator back when I was a high school filmsnob who never allowed myself to have fun, now I can see this guy is the fucking business in gross.