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Merissa (12929 KP) rated High Tide (Olympic Cove #5) in Books
Jul 5, 2024
HIGH TIDE is the fifth book in the Olympic Cove series and continues the overall story arc, so you really need to read them in order to get the full enjoyment from them.
In this one, we have Scott (who thinks he's a human), Orrin (a satyr), and Rian (who people think is a mer but is so much more.) Rian and Orrin are already a couple when Scott comes on the scene, and Rian is not happy with his appearance. This, for me, is where I lost a star. Rian's insecurity and jealousy were understandable and he didn't really receive any reassurances. Not only that, but his attitude did a 180 from disliking Scott to not. I would have liked a little more details about the change of heart, a little more build-up.
The story arc is coming along nicely and I am LOVING how it's going with Thetis. Instead of being a cartoon character baddie, she is fully dimensional and I found myself sympathising for her in this book. Loved that!
On the whole, this is a great addition to the series, just not one of my favourites. I still recommend it, plus the others in the series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 4, 2024
In this one, we have Scott (who thinks he's a human), Orrin (a satyr), and Rian (who people think is a mer but is so much more.) Rian and Orrin are already a couple when Scott comes on the scene, and Rian is not happy with his appearance. This, for me, is where I lost a star. Rian's insecurity and jealousy were understandable and he didn't really receive any reassurances. Not only that, but his attitude did a 180 from disliking Scott to not. I would have liked a little more details about the change of heart, a little more build-up.
The story arc is coming along nicely and I am LOVING how it's going with Thetis. Instead of being a cartoon character baddie, she is fully dimensional and I found myself sympathising for her in this book. Loved that!
On the whole, this is a great addition to the series, just not one of my favourites. I still recommend it, plus the others in the series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 4, 2024
Lee (2222 KP) rated Wolfwalkers (2020) in Movies
Oct 12, 2020
Wolfwalkers is the latest animated offering from Irish based studio, Cartoon Saloon. I’m actually ashamed to say that before watching Wolfwalkers, I was pretty unfamiliar with their previous Irish folklore offerings - The Secret of Kells (2009) and Song of the Sea (2014) - but having seen this latest animated feature, it’s a mistake that I will be looking to correct as quickly as possible.
Wolfwalkers is set in Kilkenny, Ireland (which is also the home of Cartoon Saloon!) during the 17th century. Robyn (Honor Kneafsey) has moved from Yorkshire with her father, Bill (Sean Bean) to the walled town, where Bill has been tasked by the rather menacing Lord Protector (Simon McBurney) to clear the surrounding forest of wolves. Once the forest is clear, the woodsmen can fell the trees and the farmers can start working the land.
There are signs everywhere, throughout the town and pinned to trees in the forest, showing a snarling wolf with a red cross drawn over it. A wolf attack on some woodsmen early on shows us just how dangerous the wolves are, and also introduces us to the Wolfwalkers that walk among them. With blazing eyes and fiery red hair, the Wolfwalkers are able to communicate with and control the wolves, calling them off their attacks on the humans. They also appear to possess magical healing abilities, using them to heal a wolf scratch on the chest of one of the men.
Robyn has dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a hunter as she practices her crossbow skills. So rather than work all day in the scullery, she decides to slip past the guards at the outer gate (no children are allowed beyond the town walls) and secretly follow her father out into the forest, watching him as he sets traps for the wolves. When she comes face to face with a wolf, it’s much smaller and a lot cuter than the ones we’ve seen before, and Robyn learns that it is, in fact, a young Wolfwalker named Mebh.
Robyn forms a bond with Mebh and discovers that when the Wolfwalkers sleep, they assume the body of a wolf, leaving their human body to sleep until they return in order to wake it up. Mebh is worried because her mother has been asleep for some time and her wolf form has not yet returned. Robyn learns that the Wolfwalkers are simply trying to defend the animals from the modern world that is encroaching on their forest and Robyn vows to help find her mother. A difficult task when the Lord Protector has given her father 2 days to clear the forest of wolves, and he isn’t listening to his daughter as she pleads with him to stop.
I found Wolfwalkers to be simply wonderful, with a captivating story full of twist and turns for both kids and adults to enjoy. It’s beautiful to look at too, utilising a watercolour style with rough pencil sketches visible in most of the characters and scenery only adding to its visual appeal. I was completely taken by surprise and just couldn’t fault it.
Wolfwalkers is set in Kilkenny, Ireland (which is also the home of Cartoon Saloon!) during the 17th century. Robyn (Honor Kneafsey) has moved from Yorkshire with her father, Bill (Sean Bean) to the walled town, where Bill has been tasked by the rather menacing Lord Protector (Simon McBurney) to clear the surrounding forest of wolves. Once the forest is clear, the woodsmen can fell the trees and the farmers can start working the land.
There are signs everywhere, throughout the town and pinned to trees in the forest, showing a snarling wolf with a red cross drawn over it. A wolf attack on some woodsmen early on shows us just how dangerous the wolves are, and also introduces us to the Wolfwalkers that walk among them. With blazing eyes and fiery red hair, the Wolfwalkers are able to communicate with and control the wolves, calling them off their attacks on the humans. They also appear to possess magical healing abilities, using them to heal a wolf scratch on the chest of one of the men.
Robyn has dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a hunter as she practices her crossbow skills. So rather than work all day in the scullery, she decides to slip past the guards at the outer gate (no children are allowed beyond the town walls) and secretly follow her father out into the forest, watching him as he sets traps for the wolves. When she comes face to face with a wolf, it’s much smaller and a lot cuter than the ones we’ve seen before, and Robyn learns that it is, in fact, a young Wolfwalker named Mebh.
Robyn forms a bond with Mebh and discovers that when the Wolfwalkers sleep, they assume the body of a wolf, leaving their human body to sleep until they return in order to wake it up. Mebh is worried because her mother has been asleep for some time and her wolf form has not yet returned. Robyn learns that the Wolfwalkers are simply trying to defend the animals from the modern world that is encroaching on their forest and Robyn vows to help find her mother. A difficult task when the Lord Protector has given her father 2 days to clear the forest of wolves, and he isn’t listening to his daughter as she pleads with him to stop.
I found Wolfwalkers to be simply wonderful, with a captivating story full of twist and turns for both kids and adults to enjoy. It’s beautiful to look at too, utilising a watercolour style with rough pencil sketches visible in most of the characters and scenery only adding to its visual appeal. I was completely taken by surprise and just couldn’t fault it.
The Boomerang app is great for fans of classic cartoons. Their content includes the entirety of The Flintstones and The Jetsons as well as other Hanna-Barbera classics. They also have plenty of Looney Tunes and WB content. I'm hoping they continue to add to the catalog because no other streaming service carries much of this kind of content. They also stream some modern cartoons which some may be interested in.
I've tried the app on both my Android phone and my Fire Stick. I've had no issue with the streaming and it seems to run very smoothly. I also think the app looks great. The design is clean and colorful. I only have a couple of minor complaints about the app. First, it has a startup screen that has sound that you cannot turn off. This can be somewhat annoying. Second, when selecting a cartoon it automatically starts playing the first episode, or whichever episode you're on rather than taking you to a screen that shows all episodes. If you want to see all of the episodes you have to hit a tiny information button very precisely. I'd rather it just take me to the episode screen immediately.
At only $4.99 a month, I'm really happy with this service. It's pretty inexpensive and I've probably watched more on it than a lot of my other streaming subscriptions (which, as an adult with no children, I probably should be embarrassed by). They also have a 7-day free trial, so I recommend giving it a try!
I've tried the app on both my Android phone and my Fire Stick. I've had no issue with the streaming and it seems to run very smoothly. I also think the app looks great. The design is clean and colorful. I only have a couple of minor complaints about the app. First, it has a startup screen that has sound that you cannot turn off. This can be somewhat annoying. Second, when selecting a cartoon it automatically starts playing the first episode, or whichever episode you're on rather than taking you to a screen that shows all episodes. If you want to see all of the episodes you have to hit a tiny information button very precisely. I'd rather it just take me to the episode screen immediately.
At only $4.99 a month, I'm really happy with this service. It's pretty inexpensive and I've probably watched more on it than a lot of my other streaming subscriptions (which, as an adult with no children, I probably should be embarrassed by). They also have a 7-day free trial, so I recommend giving it a try!
Merissa (12929 KP) rated Overland in Books
Mar 31, 2021 (Updated Aug 2, 2023)
OVERLAND is a compelling story about a woman whose actions come back to bite her. Not that she did anything wrong, but it had far-reaching consequences that never occurred to her.
It is very well-written, with the scenes between Skyla and the children particularly heart-rending. The big bad is just that - bad, through and through. The same as Edmond, he just had no redeeming qualities at all. Although the reader was supposed to want Skyla and Troy to get together at the end, it was just a bit too easy. If Edmond had been a bit more involved, I believe it would have added a bit more to the story, rather than him being a two-bit cartoon character.
Saying that, the whole story takes you along at a fair pace, with suspense and horror/disgust in equal measure. Part of me is sad that Bjorn got off so easy, but then I also think it was the perfect ending.
Although this says it is romantic suspense, I don't feel that it is. The romance part of it is definitely secondary to the thriller side, just a mention before and after the main event.
A great read and definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 31, 2021
It is very well-written, with the scenes between Skyla and the children particularly heart-rending. The big bad is just that - bad, through and through. The same as Edmond, he just had no redeeming qualities at all. Although the reader was supposed to want Skyla and Troy to get together at the end, it was just a bit too easy. If Edmond had been a bit more involved, I believe it would have added a bit more to the story, rather than him being a two-bit cartoon character.
Saying that, the whole story takes you along at a fair pace, with suspense and horror/disgust in equal measure. Part of me is sad that Bjorn got off so easy, but then I also think it was the perfect ending.
Although this says it is romantic suspense, I don't feel that it is. The romance part of it is definitely secondary to the thriller side, just a mention before and after the main event.
A great read and definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 31, 2021
Fred (860 KP) rated Justice League (2017) in Movies
Jul 26, 2018
Flash, Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Aquaman, Cyborg (3 more)
Steppenwolf is great!
Action was great
Story was good
Horrendous special effects. Cyborg looks terrible. (1 more)
Dialogue was iffy
Was surprised by this one. It's good!
I have to admit. Most time I avoid reviews of movies, because quite frankly, they may affect my feelings towards a film. However, I heard only bad things about Justice League & was totally going to skip it, considering what I did hear about it & my disappointment with the recent string of superhero films. So, when a friend of mine said it was actually good, I gave it a shot. I'm happy I did.
The film is very good. Not great, but when put up against Wonder Woman, Black Panther & Superman v Batman, it shines.
The chemistry between the actors is great. They really come across as a team, unlike the Avengers. The new guys are great! Flash is funny, as he should be. Aquaman is a badass, because if he wasn't, he'd be boring "Superfriends" Aquaman. And Cyborg, well...Cyborg let's just say, is a great character & acted well, but special effects that bring his body to life aren't so...special. He looks out of place, like a cartoon put against a real background. When he moves his head, it floats around on his neck. It's not just one time, but every time. And the end battle takes place in a CGI town that looks worse than the first season of Beast Wars:Transformers.
But I can overlook that, because besides the flaws, we got a fun film to watch. And stay after the credits. You won't be disappointed.
The film is very good. Not great, but when put up against Wonder Woman, Black Panther & Superman v Batman, it shines.
The chemistry between the actors is great. They really come across as a team, unlike the Avengers. The new guys are great! Flash is funny, as he should be. Aquaman is a badass, because if he wasn't, he'd be boring "Superfriends" Aquaman. And Cyborg, well...Cyborg let's just say, is a great character & acted well, but special effects that bring his body to life aren't so...special. He looks out of place, like a cartoon put against a real background. When he moves his head, it floats around on his neck. It's not just one time, but every time. And the end battle takes place in a CGI town that looks worse than the first season of Beast Wars:Transformers.
But I can overlook that, because besides the flaws, we got a fun film to watch. And stay after the credits. You won't be disappointed.
Melika Jeddi (1145 KP) rated The Brave Little Toaster (1987) in Movies
Nov 8, 2019
Adorable storyline (4 more)
Engaging characters
Surprisingly believable plot given the basic premise
Cute friendships
A strong message to children about loyalty and bravery
Animation style doesn't hold up to time (1 more)
Can be a bit boring and slow paced in places
Nostalgia For Dayssss
I want to give this a higher rating, I really do. If I was going on nostalgia alone then I would give it a 10 as I absolutely LOVED this movie as a kid, but rewatching as an adult just doesn't pack quite the same punch, as is the case with most of my childhood movies.
Having said that, I still think this is a really fun movie, and while I probably wouldn't stick on the DVD, I would definitely watch it if I saw it whilst flicking through channels.
The basic premise is that the old appliances left behind after the owners move house decide to travel across the country to find their 'master'. This means that we get an odd assortment of characters including a vacuum, an electric blanket, and of course the titular toaster. However, this movie animates them in such a way that you find yourself emotionally attached to the usually inanimate objects, and you fall in love with their unique personalities.
I won't put any spoilers, but the plot is pretty solid with plenty of obstacles for them to overcome, and the 'junkyard scene' is still one of the most powerful scenes of any cartoon in my opinion.
All in all, this is a great fun kids movie, and definitely worth a watch if you have the time.
Having said that, I still think this is a really fun movie, and while I probably wouldn't stick on the DVD, I would definitely watch it if I saw it whilst flicking through channels.
The basic premise is that the old appliances left behind after the owners move house decide to travel across the country to find their 'master'. This means that we get an odd assortment of characters including a vacuum, an electric blanket, and of course the titular toaster. However, this movie animates them in such a way that you find yourself emotionally attached to the usually inanimate objects, and you fall in love with their unique personalities.
I won't put any spoilers, but the plot is pretty solid with plenty of obstacles for them to overcome, and the 'junkyard scene' is still one of the most powerful scenes of any cartoon in my opinion.
All in all, this is a great fun kids movie, and definitely worth a watch if you have the time.
JT (287 KP) rated Iron Sky (2012) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
When a pair of astronauts set foot on the moon having not been back in over five decades they get a nasty surprise in the shape of a Nazi soldier.
If you thought the premise of Snakes on a Plane was nuts then this is surely right up there for insanity, the film has it’s moments but doesn’t have any A-listers big enough to pull in an audience.
After discovering that the Nazi’s have won the space race (we’re never enlightened as to how they come to arrive there) and set up a huge base on the dark side of the moon, it’s up to a lone astronaut (Kirby) to stop a potential invasion of Earth.
The base is like something out of a cartoon and is in the shape of a huge Swastika which gives you some indication about just how insane this film is? Couple that with big hats and large trousers, along with turning a black man white and you’ll see what you’ve let yourself in for.
The battling US President is a Sarah Palin wanna be, (in all honesty they might as well have got the real one) complete with a gung-ho approach and deer heads on the wall of the Oval office.
It doesn’t get much better, but ironically there is enough to keep you interested. Oddly the visuals featuring battling ships in space is quite effective.
This is one film that you’ll probably watch just for the title of it, when it’s finished you’ll wonder why the hell you ever put it on in the first place?
If you thought the premise of Snakes on a Plane was nuts then this is surely right up there for insanity, the film has it’s moments but doesn’t have any A-listers big enough to pull in an audience.
After discovering that the Nazi’s have won the space race (we’re never enlightened as to how they come to arrive there) and set up a huge base on the dark side of the moon, it’s up to a lone astronaut (Kirby) to stop a potential invasion of Earth.
The base is like something out of a cartoon and is in the shape of a huge Swastika which gives you some indication about just how insane this film is? Couple that with big hats and large trousers, along with turning a black man white and you’ll see what you’ve let yourself in for.
The battling US President is a Sarah Palin wanna be, (in all honesty they might as well have got the real one) complete with a gung-ho approach and deer heads on the wall of the Oval office.
It doesn’t get much better, but ironically there is enough to keep you interested. Oddly the visuals featuring battling ships in space is quite effective.
This is one film that you’ll probably watch just for the title of it, when it’s finished you’ll wonder why the hell you ever put it on in the first place?
Kristin (149 KP) rated 'Till the Last Petal Falls (Once Upon a Reality #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
"Never settle for a fairytale."
During my Psychology classes in college, we discussed how various characters have psychological issues: popular cartoon characters, the cast of "Winnie the Pooh," and the vast majority of the Disney Princesses. Belle is no exception, and this book explores that idea beautifully, no pun intended.
Jolee answers a Craigslist ad which sounds too good to be true, and she finds herself in the mountains of Aspen, tutoring a shut-in with some very serious issues of his own. As time goes by, she learns for and more about this man, and most of it is not good. However, she sticks by him, hoping to "fix" him with her love.
Sound like a recipe for disaster?
I used to teach a rehabilitation class for men convicted of domestic violence, and this book definitely delves into that dynamic head-first. It's a real eye-opener into the lives of those involved in those situations, from both sides of the coin as well as an outsider's perspective. Comparing it to the story of "Beauty and the Beast" really adds a whole new layer to it, as most of us either grew up with that story/movie or fell in love with it because of our kids/grandkids/etc. It's a crazy thought, but the more you think about it, the more you realize Belle suffered from Stockholm syndrome as well as battered-woman syndrome, and that HEA Disney ending is not the one generally associated with those situations.
Bravo to the author for writing this cross-examination of a beloved children's story and shedding some light on this serious issue while also maintaining a gripping novel.
5 stars
"Never settle for a fairytale."
During my Psychology classes in college, we discussed how various characters have psychological issues: popular cartoon characters, the cast of "Winnie the Pooh," and the vast majority of the Disney Princesses. Belle is no exception, and this book explores that idea beautifully, no pun intended.
Jolee answers a Craigslist ad which sounds too good to be true, and she finds herself in the mountains of Aspen, tutoring a shut-in with some very serious issues of his own. As time goes by, she learns for and more about this man, and most of it is not good. However, she sticks by him, hoping to "fix" him with her love.
Sound like a recipe for disaster?
I used to teach a rehabilitation class for men convicted of domestic violence, and this book definitely delves into that dynamic head-first. It's a real eye-opener into the lives of those involved in those situations, from both sides of the coin as well as an outsider's perspective. Comparing it to the story of "Beauty and the Beast" really adds a whole new layer to it, as most of us either grew up with that story/movie or fell in love with it because of our kids/grandkids/etc. It's a crazy thought, but the more you think about it, the more you realize Belle suffered from Stockholm syndrome as well as battered-woman syndrome, and that HEA Disney ending is not the one generally associated with those situations.
Bravo to the author for writing this cross-examination of a beloved children's story and shedding some light on this serious issue while also maintaining a gripping novel.
5 stars
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated Geek Girl (Geek Girl, #1) in Books
Nov 1, 2018
Full review can also be found on my blog: www.diaryofdifference.com
Even though I kept hearing great things about Geek Girl, I never really happened to read it. A month ago, my teen sister borrowed the whole Geek Girl series and told me this is something I must check off my list. And here I am one month later - loving the first book!
Geek Girl tells the story of a young teen Harriet, who is a geek and gets bullied at her school. She might know all the science answers, but she has no clue why people are laughing at her when she goes outside with a cartoon hoodie.
But when Harriet gets discovered by a modelling agency,she realises how things can get different, and she has to choose whether she wants to risk losing everything by changing who she really is.
A very funny and geeky read, where I couldn’t stop but giggle a few times. One moment really got me though:
‘’If somebody offers to shave your legs,’’ she snaps, ‘’let them.’’
Harriet is a typical geeky high-school character, and you can’t help but love her weirdness, her silliness and the ways she believes in.
The read was somewhat predictable from the beginning, and there wasn’t any big plot twist or cliff-hanger, but I believe that this book didn’t really want to achieve that anyways.
This was a perfect read for me to relax and enjoy reading - reminded me of my high-school days and made me remember a lot of similar moments.
I am recommending it to all of you out there - that love being different and are not afraid to stand up for yourselves, no matter how much people laugh at you.
Even though I kept hearing great things about Geek Girl, I never really happened to read it. A month ago, my teen sister borrowed the whole Geek Girl series and told me this is something I must check off my list. And here I am one month later - loving the first book!
Geek Girl tells the story of a young teen Harriet, who is a geek and gets bullied at her school. She might know all the science answers, but she has no clue why people are laughing at her when she goes outside with a cartoon hoodie.
But when Harriet gets discovered by a modelling agency,she realises how things can get different, and she has to choose whether she wants to risk losing everything by changing who she really is.
A very funny and geeky read, where I couldn’t stop but giggle a few times. One moment really got me though:
‘’If somebody offers to shave your legs,’’ she snaps, ‘’let them.’’
Harriet is a typical geeky high-school character, and you can’t help but love her weirdness, her silliness and the ways she believes in.
The read was somewhat predictable from the beginning, and there wasn’t any big plot twist or cliff-hanger, but I believe that this book didn’t really want to achieve that anyways.
This was a perfect read for me to relax and enjoy reading - reminded me of my high-school days and made me remember a lot of similar moments.
I am recommending it to all of you out there - that love being different and are not afraid to stand up for yourselves, no matter how much people laugh at you.
