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Nellie (The Brides of San Francisco Book 1)
8.0
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Nellie Wallace is a young widow with two children. In post civil-war New York, the men are scarce...
ClareR (5885 KP) rated Amy and Lan in Books
Dec 7, 2022
I was really looking forward to reading Amy and Lan after having read and really enjoyed Sadie Jones’ previous book The Snakes. I now realise that I have more books by the author to read (a 2023 challenge, perhaps?!), because if Amy and Lan and The Snakes are anything to go by, I’ll love them.
Amy and Lan have what appears to be the perfect childhood. They live on a small farm with their families and friends, and are striving for self-sufficiency. The children are left to run free, playing with axes, climbing on haystacks, and playing in woodland. There’s the odd bit of helping on the farm as well. It’s idyllic, and I loved reading about it.
The only “Spanners” in the works are their parents. The problem with living and working in such close proximity is that old saying “familiarity breeds contempt”. Well, in this case, it breeds contempt, dissatisfaction and marital strife. The children probably come off worse when their parents start to argue. And their lives begin to change.
This is such a touching, funny, emotional book - Amy and Lan’s relationship especially. But relationships change, especially when little girls and boys grow up, and Lan describes these changes so well.
This doesn’t read like a children’s book, even thought the main characters are children. They are in an adults world that impacts on them to a life-changing extent.
Highly recommended.
Amy and Lan have what appears to be the perfect childhood. They live on a small farm with their families and friends, and are striving for self-sufficiency. The children are left to run free, playing with axes, climbing on haystacks, and playing in woodland. There’s the odd bit of helping on the farm as well. It’s idyllic, and I loved reading about it.
The only “Spanners” in the works are their parents. The problem with living and working in such close proximity is that old saying “familiarity breeds contempt”. Well, in this case, it breeds contempt, dissatisfaction and marital strife. The children probably come off worse when their parents start to argue. And their lives begin to change.
This is such a touching, funny, emotional book - Amy and Lan’s relationship especially. But relationships change, especially when little girls and boys grow up, and Lan describes these changes so well.
This doesn’t read like a children’s book, even thought the main characters are children. They are in an adults world that impacts on them to a life-changing extent.
Highly recommended.
Of Hoaxes and Homicide
8.0
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The second in the delightful Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings—when you...
Ross (3284 KP) rated Captain Underpants (2017) in Movies
Oct 9, 2017
This rating is based on the general consensus of my family (me, my wife and my three children).
We were already somewhat aware of Captain Underpants before we saw the movie - I bought my eldest the boxset of books which are admittedly still in their shrinkwrap.
The film is obviously aimed at children, probably aged 3 to 7. The potty humour got a bit stale for my 9 year old, but the 3 and 6 year olds were still amused throughout. I normally expect a few more clever jokes for the parents from a film like this, but was sadly disappointed that there weren't any. The humour really is restricted to a man in his pants and the name Professor Poopypants. There really isn't much more to it than that.
I liked the idea of the storyline, but would have liked more levels of humour.
I think we were all a bit bored of it by the end.
We were already somewhat aware of Captain Underpants before we saw the movie - I bought my eldest the boxset of books which are admittedly still in their shrinkwrap.
The film is obviously aimed at children, probably aged 3 to 7. The potty humour got a bit stale for my 9 year old, but the 3 and 6 year olds were still amused throughout. I normally expect a few more clever jokes for the parents from a film like this, but was sadly disappointed that there weren't any. The humour really is restricted to a man in his pants and the name Professor Poopypants. There really isn't much more to it than that.
I liked the idea of the storyline, but would have liked more levels of humour.
I think we were all a bit bored of it by the end.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated The Surrendered in Books
Dec 12, 2017
This was a well written and fast paced story that grips you and keeps you wanting to continue reading this book. The world building was outstanding and the characters were beautiful and heartbreaking. It is full of unexpected twists and turns and I went through a range of emotions while reading this book. I felt anger towards the parents that kept having children knowing they couldn't afford the tax and then I would feel guilt for thinking that way because maybe they thought they'd be able to afford the tax. I felt sadness and heartache for the children as they are the ones that suffer the consequences of the imposed tax. They didn't ask to be brought into this world.
This author is indeed creatively gifted and I highly recommend this book to one and all.
{I received an eARC via the publisher. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
This author is indeed creatively gifted and I highly recommend this book to one and all.
{I received an eARC via the publisher. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Cleaning Nabokov's House in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I won this book on First Reads. The write up caught my attention so I entered, with very few expectations on winning a copy or for the book itself. I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised!
This book was an easy read, but not one of those reads that is so easy you breeze through without paying attention to the plot. The book tells the story of newly divorced Barbara. In the divorce she lost custody of her 2 children & soon found herself living in a dive motel in the small town her "experson" had moved to her to. It goes through the story of Barb regaining her confidence, her children, & in the process herself.
The writing was poetically simple & often laugh out loud funny or tears streaming touching. I found myself rooting for Barb all the way through this book. I look forward to reading more from Leslie Daniels in the future!
This book was an easy read, but not one of those reads that is so easy you breeze through without paying attention to the plot. The book tells the story of newly divorced Barbara. In the divorce she lost custody of her 2 children & soon found herself living in a dive motel in the small town her "experson" had moved to her to. It goes through the story of Barb regaining her confidence, her children, & in the process herself.
The writing was poetically simple & often laugh out loud funny or tears streaming touching. I found myself rooting for Barb all the way through this book. I look forward to reading more from Leslie Daniels in the future!
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Captain Fantastic (2016) in Movies
Aug 24, 2017
Viggo Mortensen and fabulous acting all round (1 more)
Great heartwarming story
The captain is genuinely fantastic
Viggo Mortensen is truly Captain Fantastic in this quirky, indie film about bringing up six children in the wilderness. Isolated from society, he devotes his existence to raising his kids - educating them to think critically, training them to be physically fit and athletic, guiding them in the wild without technology and demonstrating the beauty of co-existing with nature. That's before his wife suddenly dies, and the family journey together out in the real world for her funeral. It raises a lot of thoughtful questions such as is it good to socially isolate children, especially if they can't fit in the future? Or is it better to keep them away from a consumerist, dumbed down society? Interesting, thought-provoking, like an intelligent version of Little Miss Sunshine.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated My Sister's Bones in Books
Sep 7, 2017
Predictable, what an anti-climax!
If I ever hear that another book is the "next Gone Girl" or the "next Girl On A Train", I'm going to rate it 0.
The genre has become predictable. There are three elements to look out for in these books:
1. Neurotic women are usually right
2. Nice men are psychopaths
3. The women won't be believed by authorities until the very end
And so goes this tale of two sisters, one who became a war correspondent suffering from post-traumatic stress, and the other an alcoholic - both abused as children. One's high functioning, the other is a deadbeat mother. In between are the stories of mysterious children appearing here, there and everywhere. And the women not being believed.
The writer attempts to make a difference by bringing in stories of the horrors of the Middle East, which was a nice change - but it seemed more like a tool to follow exactly the pattern. It seemed promising but it falls short.
The genre has become predictable. There are three elements to look out for in these books:
1. Neurotic women are usually right
2. Nice men are psychopaths
3. The women won't be believed by authorities until the very end
And so goes this tale of two sisters, one who became a war correspondent suffering from post-traumatic stress, and the other an alcoholic - both abused as children. One's high functioning, the other is a deadbeat mother. In between are the stories of mysterious children appearing here, there and everywhere. And the women not being believed.
The writer attempts to make a difference by bringing in stories of the horrors of the Middle East, which was a nice change - but it seemed more like a tool to follow exactly the pattern. It seemed promising but it falls short.
Diane Marsh-Neuman (2 KP) rated The Help (2011) in Movies
Mar 3, 2019
Eye opening !
Love this film! It takes you to a time where you get to peek into what life was like for white and black people. It shocks me to see the white folk so oblivious to the mistreatment of another human especially when most these ladies just wanted a job to feed their children families. This film shows how one person can change the course of history through persistence, bravery and the coersive ability to show others there is a willingness and need to change. The characters are genuine and the lessons they shared with the children and families are timeless...id reccomend this movie 110%
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated A Season of Love (Kauffman Amish Bakery #5) in Books
Feb 15, 2018
This is one of my favorite book. I really enjoyed this series altogether and I will miss it. I love this one for it get you see three friends find what they were looking for. Lindsay finally get what she wants and she also gets her dreams with Matthew Glick. Katie though she get what see want in the end. She struggles mostly though it. Her friend Lizzie Annie get her wish as well. Though you will be surprise with who and how soon.
Mainly this story sit around Katie. Though it is also surrounded by Lindsay as well. You get to see two woman love struggles and blooms. Find out more about it and read the story of how it ends. Though I hope there some more novel that surrounds this family and I hope to find out if Lindsay and Katie get married and have children. I like to find out if Lizzie Annie has children as well.
Mainly this story sit around Katie. Though it is also surrounded by Lindsay as well. You get to see two woman love struggles and blooms. Find out more about it and read the story of how it ends. Though I hope there some more novel that surrounds this family and I hope to find out if Lindsay and Katie get married and have children. I like to find out if Lizzie Annie has children as well.