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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Imposter in Books
Mar 11, 2021
A confusing mess of a thriller
Attorney Sibley Sawyer's life goes down in flames when her drinking finally catches up with her. Forced to take a leave of absence from her firm, Sibley seeks the perceived source of her problems: her mother, Deborah. The two have been estranged since Sibley fled home in her late teens. But when Sibley returns to the Midwestern farm where she grew up, she realizes her mother is acting odd. Perhaps it's due to her recent attack, when an intruder brutally beat her. Either way, as Sidney tries to make peace with Deborah, she starts to recall why she left in the first place--and uncovers even more shocking secrets about long ago happenings on the farm.
Well, the synopsis for this one sounded interesting, but this was a hot mess for me. I did not like much of this book at all, but kept reading because I needed to find out what happened. I think I was as confused as these hapless and unlikable characters, honestly. Deborah is clearly disoriented and bewildered throughout the book--alone and terrified on the farm--and it's nearly impossible to muddle through what's going on in her brain. Sidney is drinking heavily, and while I have complete sympathy for the disease of alcoholism, having lost a beloved relative to it, I'm tired of authors using the trope to give us an unreliable narrator with no real effort for a backstory or anything else.
Neither character comes across as particularly sympathetic, and I got rather tired of reading a book with my brow perpetually furrowed. It was not exciting, just confusing. The plot is truly bizarre, with some weird twists, but I felt I was reading to work out a bad puzzle. Maybe all this befuddlement would have been worth it if the probable "bad guy" had not been telegraphed from a mile away, but I had the outline of this figured out from the start.
Overall, as much as I regret it, this thriller did not work for me at all. It's confusing--but not in an exciting, psychological way, predictable, and filled with narrative threads that never seem to link back together. Others seemed to enjoy it more, so I hope that's the case for you if you pick it up.
I received a copy from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.
Well, the synopsis for this one sounded interesting, but this was a hot mess for me. I did not like much of this book at all, but kept reading because I needed to find out what happened. I think I was as confused as these hapless and unlikable characters, honestly. Deborah is clearly disoriented and bewildered throughout the book--alone and terrified on the farm--and it's nearly impossible to muddle through what's going on in her brain. Sidney is drinking heavily, and while I have complete sympathy for the disease of alcoholism, having lost a beloved relative to it, I'm tired of authors using the trope to give us an unreliable narrator with no real effort for a backstory or anything else.
Neither character comes across as particularly sympathetic, and I got rather tired of reading a book with my brow perpetually furrowed. It was not exciting, just confusing. The plot is truly bizarre, with some weird twists, but I felt I was reading to work out a bad puzzle. Maybe all this befuddlement would have been worth it if the probable "bad guy" had not been telegraphed from a mile away, but I had the outline of this figured out from the start.
Overall, as much as I regret it, this thriller did not work for me at all. It's confusing--but not in an exciting, psychological way, predictable, and filled with narrative threads that never seem to link back together. Others seemed to enjoy it more, so I hope that's the case for you if you pick it up.
I received a copy from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.
tapestry100 (306 KP) rated Invincible, Vol 1: Family Matters in Books
Aug 2, 2017
This was a reread for me, but it had been awhile since I'd read this and the mood struck me. I enjoyed this just as much this time as I had the first time around. I've tried Kirkman's other works, The Walking Dead, Outcast, and Haunt and they all fell flat for me, and to be honest, I'd forgotten that Kirkman had written this too, so I guess it's just his horror titles that I don't like. I thoroughly enjoy the family dynamic in Invincible, with Markus Grayson and his mom, Deborah, fully embracing knowing his dad, Nolan, is the superhero Omni-Man. When Markus' powers manifest, he decides to join his dad in crime fighting as Invincible. I think I like Deborah most of all, as her matter of fact acceptance of the danger her husband and son face on a daily basis hides the concern she actual feels for her family.
This is a quick introduction to the core and supporting cast, and the actual superhero aspect of the story is really just the backdrop to Markus' family and him discovering his powers and how he is learning to balance them with high school. I really liked the minimal line art and color palette used; it's marks a stark contrast from other superhero books and their hyper detail and layered color effects, which I think is the point. This book is a superhero book, but it's different from the rest. I'll definitely be continuing with this series.
This is a quick introduction to the core and supporting cast, and the actual superhero aspect of the story is really just the backdrop to Markus' family and him discovering his powers and how he is learning to balance them with high school. I really liked the minimal line art and color palette used; it's marks a stark contrast from other superhero books and their hyper detail and layered color effects, which I think is the point. This book is a superhero book, but it's different from the rest. I'll definitely be continuing with this series.
True Blood - Season 1
5.8
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TV Season
In the not-too-distant future, vampires have come out of the coffin...no longer in need of a human...
Swimming Home
6.0
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Book
Swimming Home is a subversive page-turner, a merciless gaze at the insidious harm that depression...
Emergency Poet: An Anti-Stress Poetry Anthology
6.0
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Book
A brilliant new anthology of poems that will help you to overcome stress, depression and other...
Black Vodka: Ten Stories
Book
'Kissing you is like new paint and old pain. It is like coffee and car alarms and a dim stairway and...
I absolutely love Mexican cuisine! Spicy, hot, wonderful goodness for my taste buds. But, I love my Crock-Pot even more! Combine the two and you have an incredible cookbook that not only delivers delicious recipes, but takes a load of time off of prep work as well.
The contents of this cookbook include Soups, Mains, Street Food Favorites, Sides and Desserts. Deborah Schneider gives us a wonderful introduction with tips for using a slow cooker, using chilies and kitchen basics. I have already made the Enchiladas Suizas with Shredded Chicken. In one word it was: Divine! I am most excited to try Burrito Ahogado ("Wet" Burrito), Tamales with Carnitas and Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas with Salsa Verde. I enjoy reading the descriptions and notes for each section and recipe. Deborah gives us information and history regarding Mexican cuisine, tips about the ingredients used as well as substitutes and modification ideas. Most of the recipes do require more work than simply turning on the slow cooker and leaving it all day. But it takes a lot of the stress out of preparing a Mexican dish. For a lot of the recipes the meat is cooked in the slow cooker and then you must put the finishing touches on the particular dish. I am excited to have this in my arsenal of Slow Cooker Cookbooks. I know without a doubt that it will be one of my most used.
I received a free print copy of The Mexican Slow Cooker from the publisher through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
The contents of this cookbook include Soups, Mains, Street Food Favorites, Sides and Desserts. Deborah Schneider gives us a wonderful introduction with tips for using a slow cooker, using chilies and kitchen basics. I have already made the Enchiladas Suizas with Shredded Chicken. In one word it was: Divine! I am most excited to try Burrito Ahogado ("Wet" Burrito), Tamales with Carnitas and Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas with Salsa Verde. I enjoy reading the descriptions and notes for each section and recipe. Deborah gives us information and history regarding Mexican cuisine, tips about the ingredients used as well as substitutes and modification ideas. Most of the recipes do require more work than simply turning on the slow cooker and leaving it all day. But it takes a lot of the stress out of preparing a Mexican dish. For a lot of the recipes the meat is cooked in the slow cooker and then you must put the finishing touches on the particular dish. I am excited to have this in my arsenal of Slow Cooker Cookbooks. I know without a doubt that it will be one of my most used.
I received a free print copy of The Mexican Slow Cooker from the publisher through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
A Disappearance in Damascus
Book
In the midst of an unfolding international crisis, renowned journalist Deborah Campbell finds...
Biography memoir social issues politics
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Denial (2016) in Movies
Aug 18, 2017
Story is vital especially after recent events
A very important film given the spate of holocaust denial in recent days. This is about the renowned libel case brought by the Holocaust denier and self- proclaimed historian David Irving against American academic Deborah Lipstadt. Lipstadt referred to Irving as such in a book and was subsequently sued and taken to court in the UK. It's a powerful account of how such bogus offensive claims about the Holocaust are allowed to be published without any accountability. Having visited Auschwitz and Birkenau, watching this film was emotional enough for me let alone the survivors which I can't even compare or imagine. So it's great that a film can counteract such ludicrous claims in this day and age. Fabulous acting all round.
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated Snowfall at Moonglow in Books
Nov 9, 2019
This was done well. It seems everyone is waiting for a big snowstorm that is to be predicted. As some of the guests arrive for the holiday season. Mist just let them all settle in and get to know them at their own pace.
This seems to be a special activity that Mist seems to have pulled together for the guest at the hotel. That she gets some of the townsfolk to help out. What is this activity she has planned? Well, you will need to find out by reading.
The guests are Clara and Andrew, Michael, Max and Kinsley and Allison and the Professor. The story is heartfelt and sweet. It is a fun and enjoyable read. It loves it. Deborah Garner does a wonderful job of creating a special time for getting together.
This seems to be a special activity that Mist seems to have pulled together for the guest at the hotel. That she gets some of the townsfolk to help out. What is this activity she has planned? Well, you will need to find out by reading.
The guests are Clara and Andrew, Michael, Max and Kinsley and Allison and the Professor. The story is heartfelt and sweet. It is a fun and enjoyable read. It loves it. Deborah Garner does a wonderful job of creating a special time for getting together.