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Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Doll Factory in Books
Feb 7, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
The Doll Factory is the debut novel of Elizabeth Macneal. It is not a children's book. Before reading it, some reviewers thought it could be because of the cover. Afterward, they realized they were mistaken.
It is a historical fiction novel set in 1850 London. It revolves around Iris, a doll maker, who dreams of a better life. Iris knows her life drastically changes when she meets Louis Frost, a painter, who agrees to teach her to paint in exchange for sitting as his model. What she does not know is it also drastically changes with a brief exchange with Silas, a strange collector who is entranced and quickly becomes obsessed with Iris.
The story is a slow burn and took a while for me to really get into it. It was because of this, the story felt longer than 336 pages. Macneal's description of Silas's increasing obsession with Iris is creepy, dark, and extremely believable. What made it creepier is that Iris does not even remember meeting Silas. Yet, he believes Iris is as infatuated with him as he is with her. This theme has been done before but the 1850 London setting helps make the obsession even darker.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/6/2020.
The Doll Factory is the debut novel of Elizabeth Macneal. It is not a children's book. Before reading it, some reviewers thought it could be because of the cover. Afterward, they realized they were mistaken.
It is a historical fiction novel set in 1850 London. It revolves around Iris, a doll maker, who dreams of a better life. Iris knows her life drastically changes when she meets Louis Frost, a painter, who agrees to teach her to paint in exchange for sitting as his model. What she does not know is it also drastically changes with a brief exchange with Silas, a strange collector who is entranced and quickly becomes obsessed with Iris.
The story is a slow burn and took a while for me to really get into it. It was because of this, the story felt longer than 336 pages. Macneal's description of Silas's increasing obsession with Iris is creepy, dark, and extremely believable. What made it creepier is that Iris does not even remember meeting Silas. Yet, he believes Iris is as infatuated with him as he is with her. This theme has been done before but the 1850 London setting helps make the obsession even darker.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/6/2020.
Nightmare in Berlin
Hans Fallada and Allan Blunden
Book
Available for the first time in English, here is an unforgettable portrayal by a master novelist of...
Rickey A. Mossow Jr. (689 KP) rated Child's Play (2019) in Movies
Sep 14, 2019
A good modernization of the cult classic killer doll film.
As a man in my 30s, I grew up on the original Child's Play and the sequels that followed. So, I was half excited and half worried when this reboot/remake was announced. So many attempts by Hollywood to bring back beloved and cult classics have failed miserably and ruined the magic of the originals. Through the first 20 or so minutes of this one, I was worried this one would fall into this category. And while I wasn't completely thrilled with the film's liberties taken with the doll's origin story, it was easy to set aside due to some decent storytelling. You get to know Chucky in these scenes and a basis for his later acts is laid. You feel for him, and you laugh (a thing done often in the Child's Play canon.) Then, the 2nd and 3rd acts of the film ramp up and continue to build in an understandable, graphic gorefest with a horror plot to keep you riveted. Although I am a purist and would have preferred they stick closer to the original, I thoroughly enjoyed this modernization of the killer doll tale. (But I'll never forget Charles Lee Ray or the chant of dooey de dim bella, give me the power I beg of you!)
Rozen Maiden
5.5
Rate It
TV Show
Traumatized by school, Jun Sakurada spends his days at home as a shut-in, purchasing things online,...
Magic Seinen
Having read a number of scathing reviews of this book, I have to admit that I was a little worried - I really dislike having to give someones hard work a poor rating but, fear not, it was quite good although as many have said, it could have been better which just goes to show that us readers are fickle human beings and what one person dislikes, another will absolutely love
well, if we all liked the same things, it would be a pretty boring world!
Full review - <a href="https://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/baby-doll-by-hollie-overton_31.html">Reading Stuff 'n' Things</a>
Full review - <a href="https://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/baby-doll-by-hollie-overton_31.html">Reading Stuff 'n' Things</a>
Ruth Frampton (577 KP) rated Clara in Books
Apr 10, 2018
A translated French graphic novel, Clara is a little girl whose life is turned upside down. Told from her point of view, the sense of confusion is real with the reader having to work out what has happened to the little girl's life along with her and that journey tugs on the heart-strings of even the most callous reader. The gift of the doll starts off this confusion, the reader will understand the significance of the gift from an adults perspective but be wrenched by Clara's reaction to it. A good read, a good thought provoking narrative, a story that is likely to stay with you for many years.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Rag Doll in Books
Nov 25, 2019
On a family holiday Jeremy takes his son out for the day. His marriage isn't doing too well and he's been having an affair, which triggers a sequence of events when his son finds something unexpected...
Rag Doll is a short story that plays with the reader as much as with the characters, in the same way a cat will play with an unfortunate mouse. This is a quick read but Scarberry uses the format well, in essence providing a sketch of the story and getting the reader to fill in the details.
Hard to say more without giving anything away. But definitely worth a read. Very thought provoking.
Rag Doll is a short story that plays with the reader as much as with the characters, in the same way a cat will play with an unfortunate mouse. This is a quick read but Scarberry uses the format well, in essence providing a sketch of the story and getting the reader to fill in the details.
Hard to say more without giving anything away. But definitely worth a read. Very thought provoking.
Art & Lies: A Piece for Three Voices and a Bawd
Book
'There is no such thing as autobiography, there is only art and lies'. Set in a London of the near...
Bowmasters - Multiplayer Game
Games
App
A brand new version of the world-famous multiplayer game with bowmen — a hotsy-totsy aim and...