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Deborah (162 KP) rated The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle in Books
Dec 25, 2018
Great page-turning read!
Really enjoyed this! It was my pick for our book club and I think it will generate plenty of discussion. It's just over 500 pages long and we would usually try and stick with a maximum of 400 pages, but this was just so easy to read and so engrossing I got through it really quickly.
It's confusing at first, but I think you are supposed to feel the confusion of the protagonist. There are quite a few characters and the time-travel-body-hoping element can be a little confusing, but there is an internal logic to the book. There were one or two things at the end that weren't quite clear or weren't explained, but overall this is a cracking good read. I think it would be great to read again and try and spot the 'clues' along the way, although I don't think it's a solution you are going to guess, but just enjoy the ride!
It's confusing at first, but I think you are supposed to feel the confusion of the protagonist. There are quite a few characters and the time-travel-body-hoping element can be a little confusing, but there is an internal logic to the book. There were one or two things at the end that weren't quite clear or weren't explained, but overall this is a cracking good read. I think it would be great to read again and try and spot the 'clues' along the way, although I don't think it's a solution you are going to guess, but just enjoy the ride!
ClareR (5686 KP) rated Bumblebee (2018) in Movies
Dec 31, 2018
Worth it just for the soundtrack alone!
Transformers are back!!
The last couple of Transformers movies were a bit lacklustre, but this seems to put them back on track. I loved it! I think I saw at the end of the movie that it was written by a woman, and in that case, you can tell. The main female character is independent, struggling with the loss of her father, and doesn’t feel as though she needs to be impressing anyone else. Her love interest gets a peck on the cheek and told that’s all he’s going to get ‘for now’, and he accepts that. So thanks for that. This story is driven by Bumblebees story, not a love story element (and my 12 and 14 year old boys will be forever grateful!).
We all walked out of the movie saying how Bumblebee always has been and always will be our favourite Transformer. And I went home and found the soundtrack on Spotify, because THAT is what really made the film for me!
The last couple of Transformers movies were a bit lacklustre, but this seems to put them back on track. I loved it! I think I saw at the end of the movie that it was written by a woman, and in that case, you can tell. The main female character is independent, struggling with the loss of her father, and doesn’t feel as though she needs to be impressing anyone else. Her love interest gets a peck on the cheek and told that’s all he’s going to get ‘for now’, and he accepts that. So thanks for that. This story is driven by Bumblebees story, not a love story element (and my 12 and 14 year old boys will be forever grateful!).
We all walked out of the movie saying how Bumblebee always has been and always will be our favourite Transformer. And I went home and found the soundtrack on Spotify, because THAT is what really made the film for me!
Joven (172 KP) rated Kemet in Tabletop Games
Aug 12, 2019 (Updated Aug 12, 2019)
Forces aggressive play creating a fast game with a lot of back and forth (2 more)
Awesome miniature models with great details
Well balanced with a smart combat system
Worship, wars and wrecked plans
Initially Kemet can seem a little intimidating with a big selection of power-up cards with a wide variety of benefits and costs. There are so many paths to victory that it might take a couple of games to get your head around it. Once you do start to figure everything out though it's a really fun game, and the victory conditions and points system force players to be aggressive and lead to a real sense of power struggle between the factions.
I've only played this with the full 5 players and imagine it might be quite different with fewer, but I would definitely recommend people give it a go. It's also a blatant stargate rip-off, but I don't count that against it!
I've only played this with the full 5 players and imagine it might be quite different with fewer, but I would definitely recommend people give it a go. It's also a blatant stargate rip-off, but I don't count that against it!
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated White Christmas Pie in Books
Jul 24, 2019
This story is about Will Henderson and his troubled past. What happen to Will that he feels like he could not feel loved. Will he find answers about what happen to him. We also meet a young woman that is Amish. Will their be a romance between Karen and Will?
We also have a desperate father looking for his son. Who this father and is search for his son. Was ever happen that created Will feel abandonment. The couple that Will is living with seem to have decided to adopt him.
Karen is looking for answers but what kind of answers. When she starts looking it seems to have her run into Will Henderson life. What will Karen decide and Will Henderson decide to do? Will Henderson become Amish or will they not.
This sweet story is lovely and done well. Their seem that the White Christmas Pie recipe has a message and the key to this lovely mystery Will Henderson past. This recipe seem to help Karen as well. This is wonderful for the holiday season and how it ends.
We also have a desperate father looking for his son. Who this father and is search for his son. Was ever happen that created Will feel abandonment. The couple that Will is living with seem to have decided to adopt him.
Karen is looking for answers but what kind of answers. When she starts looking it seems to have her run into Will Henderson life. What will Karen decide and Will Henderson decide to do? Will Henderson become Amish or will they not.
This sweet story is lovely and done well. Their seem that the White Christmas Pie recipe has a message and the key to this lovely mystery Will Henderson past. This recipe seem to help Karen as well. This is wonderful for the holiday season and how it ends.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated We Can See You in Books
Jul 7, 2019
Good but not his best
I am a massive Simon Kernick fan and devour his books as soon as I get my hands on them but this one wasn't devoured as much as nibbled on over a couple of days whilst relaxing in the sunshine on my recent holiday.
It's well written, easy to read and a good story but I did find it a little predictable and, at times, stretched reality a little too much even for a work of fiction. The characters are well developed but I didn't find myself becoming invested in them as much I would have liked so wasn't particularly bothered what their ultimate fates would be.
There are the usual twists, turns and surprising revelations that Mr Kernick has a knack of smacking you round the face with which make you keep reading; it just didn't hit the mark quite as much for me as his other books have but it's still enjoyable and worth reading.
My thanks must go to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
It's well written, easy to read and a good story but I did find it a little predictable and, at times, stretched reality a little too much even for a work of fiction. The characters are well developed but I didn't find myself becoming invested in them as much I would have liked so wasn't particularly bothered what their ultimate fates would be.
There are the usual twists, turns and surprising revelations that Mr Kernick has a knack of smacking you round the face with which make you keep reading; it just didn't hit the mark quite as much for me as his other books have but it's still enjoyable and worth reading.
My thanks must go to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Who is The Mystery Reader? in Books
Nov 4, 2019
Reading is a Superpower!
This book is broken up into many parts. The main story involves Zoom Squirrel who gets some help in reading for The Mystery Reader, a costumed superhero. But who is the masked man, er squirrel? And can Zoom enter the world of masked superheroes? After the main story, we get a couple of terrible (and by that, I mean delightful) puns and jokes related to reading. There’s also a section where we see the work that goes into creating a book.
As an adult, I don’t find these picture books as delightful as some of Mo’s other works. They are missing the humor and charm. However, I can see the appeal to young readers, and if the addition of superheroes to reading encourages kids to read, I’m all in favor of it. The multiple sections can make the book disjointed, especially if you are reading the book to a group of kids, but it would be great for kids ready to expand their reading beyond the traditional easy readers.
As an adult, I don’t find these picture books as delightful as some of Mo’s other works. They are missing the humor and charm. However, I can see the appeal to young readers, and if the addition of superheroes to reading encourages kids to read, I’m all in favor of it. The multiple sections can make the book disjointed, especially if you are reading the book to a group of kids, but it would be great for kids ready to expand their reading beyond the traditional easy readers.
Dean (6925 KP) rated The Irishman (2019) in Movies
Nov 17, 2019 (Updated Nov 18, 2019)
I heard you paint houses
With an awesome cast featuring Pacino, De Niro, Pesci and directed by Scorsese you get excited about another Mafia film with these guys. Although weighing in at a hefty 3 hours 20 minutes run time you hope it will be entertaining as their other Mafia films. For the first couple of hours it does a good job. It gets a little bogged down in the politics of Union business and competing presidents at times. It shows the Story of the Irishman played by De Niro and how over the years he becomes involved working for the mafia in a few roles. If they left out the final hour I would score it higher. Sadly at this point the film drags quite badly without the extra hour really adding anything to the story. Watch it for the cast if you are a fan but this is no @GoodFellas (1990) or @Casino (1995)
Ronnie (304 KP) rated I Was Here in Books
Jan 26, 2020
Cody and Meg were inseparable, they knew each other inside out. But how well did Cody really know Meg? And what happens when your best friend leaves you behind?
Cody searches desperately for answers to why Meg would take her own life. Surely she could never do that?
I have been looking forward to reading this book for a long time and was really excited to finally start it. Usually I would only take a couple of days to read a book like this, but I took a lot longer than that for me.
I think this is an amazing idea for a book but something about the way it was written put me off. About halfway through I started to enjoy it more but that quickly faded away. I’m usually disappointed by endings but I was more disappointed by this one than I usually am.
I felt this book was quite boring and badly written. I wish I could say I had enjoyed it, but I can’t.
Cody searches desperately for answers to why Meg would take her own life. Surely she could never do that?
I have been looking forward to reading this book for a long time and was really excited to finally start it. Usually I would only take a couple of days to read a book like this, but I took a lot longer than that for me.
I think this is an amazing idea for a book but something about the way it was written put me off. About halfway through I started to enjoy it more but that quickly faded away. I’m usually disappointed by endings but I was more disappointed by this one than I usually am.
I felt this book was quite boring and badly written. I wish I could say I had enjoyed it, but I can’t.
_RainAllTheTime (17 KP) rated A Quiet Place (2018) in Movies
Jan 9, 2020
So I am very late into the game of watching this film and honestly, I'm so glad I did!
This film was not at all what I expecting.
Firstly, the whole film has only two short scenes of actual dialogue.
The film centres around a couple and their kids trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world with creatures that will eat you if you make a sound.
The creatures are blind but have supersonic hearing so will hear the littlest of sounds, even from very far away, and will devour anything in their path.
Even with the lack of dialogue, the film hits a very emotional punch, but honestly, the film doesn't need any dialogue as it already portrays the perfect atmosphere without them.
The family communicate through sign language, something I assume they knew post apocalypse, as their daughter is deaf.
Everyone in the film plays such great parts and conveys such raw emotions.
If you are a horror or even a thriller fan, I HIGHLY recommend this film.
This film was not at all what I expecting.
Firstly, the whole film has only two short scenes of actual dialogue.
The film centres around a couple and their kids trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world with creatures that will eat you if you make a sound.
The creatures are blind but have supersonic hearing so will hear the littlest of sounds, even from very far away, and will devour anything in their path.
Even with the lack of dialogue, the film hits a very emotional punch, but honestly, the film doesn't need any dialogue as it already portrays the perfect atmosphere without them.
The family communicate through sign language, something I assume they knew post apocalypse, as their daughter is deaf.
Everyone in the film plays such great parts and conveys such raw emotions.
If you are a horror or even a thriller fan, I HIGHLY recommend this film.
David Betteridge (327 KP) rated The Stranger in TV
Feb 28, 2020 (Updated Feb 29, 2020)
Acting (3 more)
Interwoven story
Mystery
Giles!
Ending (2 more)
Slightly unbelievable actions
Under use of some great actors
Good short season, with a slight dip at the end
I started to watch this because people at work were talking about it, I'd never read the book so had no concept of the story or characters. Once I started watching episode 1 I was hooked and would find myself just letting another episode start even though it was way passed midnight!
I think The Stranger does keep you genuinely guessing with all the mysteries and secrets, and only let's you in, when it wants to, the acting was great and they do keep you intrigued until the final episode. However the final episode is where I have my issue, so much happens here that it could have done with splitting out into a couple more episodes, this would have fleshed out characters that could have had a bigger emotional impact and wouldn't have felt so rushed.
I think it would be nice if they have left things set up for another season.
I think The Stranger does keep you genuinely guessing with all the mysteries and secrets, and only let's you in, when it wants to, the acting was great and they do keep you intrigued until the final episode. However the final episode is where I have my issue, so much happens here that it could have done with splitting out into a couple more episodes, this would have fleshed out characters that could have had a bigger emotional impact and wouldn't have felt so rushed.
I think it would be nice if they have left things set up for another season.