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This is a novella, which I think threw a lot of people who were expecting a full length book. What surprised me, is how rounded the characters were in only 132 pages.
The main character, Scott, realises he is losing weight at an alarming weight, and the strange thing is, is that he looks exactly the same. He seeks the advice of a friend - a retired doctor who is as clueless as he is.
Meanwhile, he has an encounter with some new neighbours, a married lesbian couple whose dogs have been using his lawn as their toilet. DeeDee, one of the women, is very defensive, blows it out of proportion and wants nothing to do with him. But after a local 12K race, this all changes.
What happens though, to a man who continues to lose weight? What will happen when he hits zero?
I really enjoyed this. I really liked the characters, and the ending was quite something!!
The main character, Scott, realises he is losing weight at an alarming weight, and the strange thing is, is that he looks exactly the same. He seeks the advice of a friend - a retired doctor who is as clueless as he is.
Meanwhile, he has an encounter with some new neighbours, a married lesbian couple whose dogs have been using his lawn as their toilet. DeeDee, one of the women, is very defensive, blows it out of proportion and wants nothing to do with him. But after a local 12K race, this all changes.
What happens though, to a man who continues to lose weight? What will happen when he hits zero?
I really enjoyed this. I really liked the characters, and the ending was quite something!!
Roxanne (13 KP) rated Maisy Goes to the Library in Books
Nov 14, 2018
Another cute little Maisy book which my daughter enjoyed. My local library has recently reopened after being closed for over a year for refurbishments so I thought I would celebrate with my daughter with a book about the library. It was cute and all done in the original Maisy style. There were only a couple things to do with the storyline which I wasn't so keen on. The book introduced us to some services that may not be available in your local library, so it might be worth having a read through first before reading it to a child as once you say 'oh, we can't do that at ours', you might have a disappointed kiddie. Also, I would of liked if the book focused more on the 'books' part of the library more than just messing around with friends. In my opinion this meant that this book missed some really good opportunities to make libraries more exciting for children.
Jamie (57 KP) rated Only Yours (Fool's Gold, #5) in Books
Nov 26, 2018
I am not big on romance, but while I am healing from my surgery that I had on Friday, I decided to read this book and a couple of other romance books that I have gotten in the mail. Mallery's story line seemed real, more plausible and the goal of Montana was not to find herself a mate, it was to have a healthy relationship with everyone in her life, including the dogs she trains for therapy dogs. I love that part of the story, where she is using therapy dogs in the hospital to help others along in their healing journey. I have met some awesome dogs and their handlers, including my sister in law Kris who helps train the dogs and also some great therapist who use the dogs in support of their work. It is amazing how much an animal can help along with the healing process. Great story and I am glad that I read it.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Hunting the Eagles: 2: Eagles of Rome in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I actually read this in a busy period, as a sort of on-again-off-again kind of deal amongst a couple of other (shorter, less involved) novels.
This is the second in Ben Kane's 'Eagles of Rome' series, that deals with - in the first novel (Eagles at War) perhaps Rome's most famous defeat of all: that which led (according to legend) the Emperor Augustus Caesar to cry 'Varus, give me back my legions' after that general lost three legions and - horror of horrors! - their eagles in the battle (ambush) of Teutoberg Forest.
This novel follows some key characters from that novel (and survivors of the ambush), from a revolt by the Legionaries through to another battle in a forest/bog land and is told from both the point of view of the Romans and from the German war leader Arminius (who successfully carried out that ambush).
Like the previous entry in the series, Ben Kane's knowledge of the period definitely shines through in this!
This is the second in Ben Kane's 'Eagles of Rome' series, that deals with - in the first novel (Eagles at War) perhaps Rome's most famous defeat of all: that which led (according to legend) the Emperor Augustus Caesar to cry 'Varus, give me back my legions' after that general lost three legions and - horror of horrors! - their eagles in the battle (ambush) of Teutoberg Forest.
This novel follows some key characters from that novel (and survivors of the ambush), from a revolt by the Legionaries through to another battle in a forest/bog land and is told from both the point of view of the Romans and from the German war leader Arminius (who successfully carried out that ambush).
Like the previous entry in the series, Ben Kane's knowledge of the period definitely shines through in this!
BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) in Movies
Jul 7, 2019
My favourite Marvel Universe movie to date...
Contains spoilers, click to show
Now I'm a Thor girl myself and if anyone asked me my favourite superhero it would always be him. However.... I watched this movie a couple days ago and I think it changed my life! It really puts into perspective how loved Iron Man really was and how much Peter looked up to him as a father figure. It's quite emotional and if I could cry I'm sure I would have. It was also nice to see some closure for poor little Peter and he can finally be happy with MJ... but that ending! I hate Jake Gyllenhaal so personally I'm pretty glad he died and about 1/3 into the movie I said he would be the bad guy... called it! I think I actually screamed a little in the cinema when I watched the end scene.... how can they do this to me!?!
Also like to add... very sad there was no Stan Lee cameo...
Also like to add... very sad there was no Stan Lee cameo...
Lauren (4 KP) rated The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4) in Books
Jan 25, 2019
Storyline (1 more)
Suspense
I would rate this book up there alongside 'And then there were none', as one of the best Christie book I've read. The storyline was the classic who-dun-it you would expect from the Author but where a couple of the other books in the stand alone, or Marple Catalogue can fall short towards the end and leave you feeling a little dissatisfied, this shines. It makes it into many '100 best books' or 'books to read before you die' lists and quite rightly so.
If you enjoy the crime/suspense genre and maybe coming to Christie fresh faced and wanting the best she has to offer, then I would recommend this as a great start. It might not be the first in the Poirot collection but you can get away with reading out of order. I'm jealous of everyone coming to this without knowing the plot and who gets to relish the twists and turns that come.
If you enjoy the crime/suspense genre and maybe coming to Christie fresh faced and wanting the best she has to offer, then I would recommend this as a great start. It might not be the first in the Poirot collection but you can get away with reading out of order. I'm jealous of everyone coming to this without knowing the plot and who gets to relish the twists and turns that come.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Good Liar (2019) in Movies
Nov 13, 2019
Roaringly bonkers British movie probably thinks that it's a dark and convoluted psychological thriller but is undone by a couple of overcooked lead performances and a frankly ludicrous script. Career con man Roy Courtnay (McKellen) sets his sights on rich widow Betty (Mirren). But as his activities draw near to their climax, could it be that the old rogue is suffering from pangs of conscience? Can he bring himself to go through with it?
Sounds fairly ordinary, but this does not take into account quite how nutty the various twists in the tale turn out to be, nor the sheer relish with which the stars attack their roles: to say that McKellen, in particular, carves himself off a thick slice of ham is probably to understate things considerably. Still, very easy to watch (though it has an unexpectedly hard and vicious edge to it in places), and a lot of fun, provided you don't take it too seriously.
Sounds fairly ordinary, but this does not take into account quite how nutty the various twists in the tale turn out to be, nor the sheer relish with which the stars attack their roles: to say that McKellen, in particular, carves himself off a thick slice of ham is probably to understate things considerably. Still, very easy to watch (though it has an unexpectedly hard and vicious edge to it in places), and a lot of fun, provided you don't take it too seriously.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Ordinary Love (2019) in Movies
Dec 12, 2019
Rare sighting of the species Liamneesonus Seriousactorii, which has become increasingly elusive in recent years due to excessive Bessoning of its habitat. Here Neeson plays Tom, husband of Joan (Manville): they are a quietly devoted couple of many years' standing, whose world is understandably rocked when she is diagnosed with breast cancer.
Not quite your typical movie on this topic, for it concerns the impact of the follow-up treatment as much as the disease itself. The question is what new can be brought to this genre, or indeed this subject, by a new film - everyone's experience of cancer is necessarily personal, after all, and the more general the statement, the greater the danger of saying something fatuous or inane. The film mostly gets away with it, thanks to strong performances, but one subplot in particular does threaten to overegg the pudding and turn an affecting movie into melodrama. But overall a strong and moving film.
Not quite your typical movie on this topic, for it concerns the impact of the follow-up treatment as much as the disease itself. The question is what new can be brought to this genre, or indeed this subject, by a new film - everyone's experience of cancer is necessarily personal, after all, and the more general the statement, the greater the danger of saying something fatuous or inane. The film mostly gets away with it, thanks to strong performances, but one subplot in particular does threaten to overegg the pudding and turn an affecting movie into melodrama. But overall a strong and moving film.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Queen & Slim (2019) in Movies
Feb 6, 2020
Another powerful film about racial tensions in America; this one is unusually subtle and sophisticated, too. A young couple are forced to kill a racist cop and go on the run from the authorities, falling in love as they go. The subtext - that the bias in the system inevitable ends up criminalising decent young folk - is obvious, but the film finds nuance as well. There are decent white people and corrupt black people, while the protagonists have no interest in bigger political issues - but find themselves being claimed as symbols or representatives of some dubious political movements.
The film seems to be suggesting that in a conflicted and corrupt world, the best thing is to find joy where you can, and the developing romance between the two leads is as memorable as any of the political or dramatic content. Possibly a bit overlong at two and a quarter hours, but an engaging, intelligent and moving film from the first moment to the last.
The film seems to be suggesting that in a conflicted and corrupt world, the best thing is to find joy where you can, and the developing romance between the two leads is as memorable as any of the political or dramatic content. Possibly a bit overlong at two and a quarter hours, but an engaging, intelligent and moving film from the first moment to the last.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Psycho (1960) in Movies
Jan 12, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
I had never seen this film and just watched it for the first time a couple of days ago. Going into it, I was vaguely familiar with Norman Bates and who he was and what his story was. I haven't seen Bates Motel or read the book, so I was pretty surprised overall to not only enjoy this film, but have it keep me interested. I was surely convinced that by the end of it, Marion's sister was going to die too and then to find Norman's mother in the fruit cellar and have Norman come after her and then Sam save her, it was a rush and the perfect climax to the film. Then to have Norman's mother's voice at the end when Norman is just sitting, wrapped in a blanket, in an empty room - incredible. I'm not very familiar with Hitchcock's work but am excited to see what else he has to offer as I move through his filmography.