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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2173 KP) rated Claws for Suspicion in Books
May 4, 2022
Kari’s Life is Upended Before Murder
The shelter that Kari Stuart bought when she won the lottery is finally in great shape. However, all that is threatened when Kari’s ex-husband shows up in town. Charlie Smith arrives baring the news that there was a mistake with their divorce, and they are technically still married. As a result, he is entitled to half Kari’s winnings. Or, he will settle for the land the pet shelter is on. Kari has no interest in giving Charlie anything, so she starts trying to figure out how to get him to go away. Then he dies, and his death looks like murder. The police view Kari as their prime suspect since she is the only one in town with a motive. Can Kari convince them that someone else killed Charlie?
While the ex coming back to town isn’t a new plot element in a cozy mystery, Charlie’s motives and the complications are definitely fresh here. I did feel the plot stalled a bit before Charlie actually died, although it was setting up motives and suspects before it happened. Once it did, Kari followed a logical set of clues to the climax. I always appreciate how well things are laid out when I reach the end of the books in this series. I love Kari’s circle of friends, and it was wonderful to spend time with them again. The suspects fit wonderfully into the world. Naturally, there’s plenty of animal cuteness here as well. Fans of the series will be happy with this book, and if you haven’t started it yet, you’ll be happy you picked up one of the books.
While the ex coming back to town isn’t a new plot element in a cozy mystery, Charlie’s motives and the complications are definitely fresh here. I did feel the plot stalled a bit before Charlie actually died, although it was setting up motives and suspects before it happened. Once it did, Kari followed a logical set of clues to the climax. I always appreciate how well things are laid out when I reach the end of the books in this series. I love Kari’s circle of friends, and it was wonderful to spend time with them again. The suspects fit wonderfully into the world. Naturally, there’s plenty of animal cuteness here as well. Fans of the series will be happy with this book, and if you haven’t started it yet, you’ll be happy you picked up one of the books.
Gareth von Kallenbach (977 KP) rated War Horse (2011) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
“War Horse” is one of Steven Spielberg’s newest silver screen stories. His flair and panache are present, as ever. This gorgeous film pulls on the heart strings, and plays on several different emotional chords.
The story starts as you might guess: a young British lad, Albert Narracot, who is present at the birth of our four-legged hero, Joey the horse, becomes immediately entranced by the grace and majesty of said equine. As any equestrian will tell you, a bond between person and horse is about as magical and mysterious as this film alludes to.
As Joey the horse comes of age, Albert’s father, a drunk, down-and-out soldier-turned-farmer, also sees the beauty of this animal, and bids exceedingly high at auction to win Joey, but does so against his own landlord.
Albert’s father comes home with the horse, intent upon using this thoroughbred as a workhorse, tilling fields instead of running free. Unfortunately for Albert, demands on the farm soon force the horse to be sold, in order to save the family’s home. The British military purchases Joey, and off starts the wild adventure of one horse through the landscape of World War II.
Though many of the scenarios Joey faces are fantastical, this film mixes moments of great sadness, brutal war scenes and amazing joy, sprinkled throughout with laugh-out-loud humor. The unexpected humor accentuates the film, though it occasionally feels awkward, since the subject matter doesn’t lend itself to laughter and merriment. Perhaps this is what makes it so unique; it’s a delightful departure from sad stories that only have a single uplifting moment at the end.
A word of caution to all horse lovers: Joey the horse experiences what the director wants us to perceive as great physical pain, in various parts of the film. I can imagine for some equestrians this will be a bit much to handle.
The only major flaw I found in this film is that they made the horse appear overly intelligent. While I know horses to be very intelligent creatures, there was one scene in particular where Joey took the place of his buddy (another horse) in such dramatic fashion that it seems far too human-like to be plausible.
All in all, the film is a win. The cinematography alone is captivatingly beautiful. The acting, writing and music make up for whatever the film lacks in realism regarding the horse’s fantastical journey.
The story starts as you might guess: a young British lad, Albert Narracot, who is present at the birth of our four-legged hero, Joey the horse, becomes immediately entranced by the grace and majesty of said equine. As any equestrian will tell you, a bond between person and horse is about as magical and mysterious as this film alludes to.
As Joey the horse comes of age, Albert’s father, a drunk, down-and-out soldier-turned-farmer, also sees the beauty of this animal, and bids exceedingly high at auction to win Joey, but does so against his own landlord.
Albert’s father comes home with the horse, intent upon using this thoroughbred as a workhorse, tilling fields instead of running free. Unfortunately for Albert, demands on the farm soon force the horse to be sold, in order to save the family’s home. The British military purchases Joey, and off starts the wild adventure of one horse through the landscape of World War II.
Though many of the scenarios Joey faces are fantastical, this film mixes moments of great sadness, brutal war scenes and amazing joy, sprinkled throughout with laugh-out-loud humor. The unexpected humor accentuates the film, though it occasionally feels awkward, since the subject matter doesn’t lend itself to laughter and merriment. Perhaps this is what makes it so unique; it’s a delightful departure from sad stories that only have a single uplifting moment at the end.
A word of caution to all horse lovers: Joey the horse experiences what the director wants us to perceive as great physical pain, in various parts of the film. I can imagine for some equestrians this will be a bit much to handle.
The only major flaw I found in this film is that they made the horse appear overly intelligent. While I know horses to be very intelligent creatures, there was one scene in particular where Joey took the place of his buddy (another horse) in such dramatic fashion that it seems far too human-like to be plausible.
All in all, the film is a win. The cinematography alone is captivatingly beautiful. The acting, writing and music make up for whatever the film lacks in realism regarding the horse’s fantastical journey.
Ophthalmology: The Official Journal of the AAO
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Ice Age Village
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Richard Hell recommended Kiss Me Deadly (2008) in Movies (curated)
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Debbiereadsbook (1171 KP) rated Haka Ever After (The Sin Bin #7) in Books
Aug 18, 2018
a really fitting end!
There comes along, once in a rare while, a book that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzie inside. A book that is far too stinking cute for its own good. A book that wraps up an ENTIRE series in so few pages. A book that is simply, brilliant.
This is book 7 in the Sin Bin series, and if you are just coming across this book, you should at the very LEAST read book two, The Caretaker, which is where Freddie and Taine meet. You should read them all, though!
Taine plucks up the courage to ask Freddie to marry him, but first he asks for Freddie's fathers permission. Since their first meeting wasn't exactly a tea party, Taine has reservations they won't chop him up and hide the pieces! But the fathers surprise him, and then Taine has to actually propose.
The proposal delivers, for me, the best line of the book!
Freddie asks, "why marriage?" Taine replies, "When they write our story after we're gone, it should read that I loved you more than anything else in the world. More than rugby. More than you love cheese. I want our names connected - intertwined. Legally. So no knobdobbers can claim I wasn't dedicated to you. So, will you marry me?"
The wedding plans are amusing, with all the previous characters taking part. So you can imagine what they all get up to! There is, of course, some messing about with food, cos ya'll know Ms Donovan's boys like to play with their food!
Bit that made me cry?? When all of Taine's rugby team mates perform the Haka at the wedding. That bit made me cry more that what happened on the honeymoon!
It's always sad to see a series end, but what a way to go!
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
This is book 7 in the Sin Bin series, and if you are just coming across this book, you should at the very LEAST read book two, The Caretaker, which is where Freddie and Taine meet. You should read them all, though!
Taine plucks up the courage to ask Freddie to marry him, but first he asks for Freddie's fathers permission. Since their first meeting wasn't exactly a tea party, Taine has reservations they won't chop him up and hide the pieces! But the fathers surprise him, and then Taine has to actually propose.
The proposal delivers, for me, the best line of the book!
Freddie asks, "why marriage?" Taine replies, "When they write our story after we're gone, it should read that I loved you more than anything else in the world. More than rugby. More than you love cheese. I want our names connected - intertwined. Legally. So no knobdobbers can claim I wasn't dedicated to you. So, will you marry me?"
The wedding plans are amusing, with all the previous characters taking part. So you can imagine what they all get up to! There is, of course, some messing about with food, cos ya'll know Ms Donovan's boys like to play with their food!
Bit that made me cry?? When all of Taine's rugby team mates perform the Haka at the wedding. That bit made me cry more that what happened on the honeymoon!
It's always sad to see a series end, but what a way to go!
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Kyera (8 KP) rated Morning Star in Books
Feb 1, 2018
As with the two previous books in the series, Morning Star is brutally violent and honest in its portrayal of the darkness of humanity. It's a strange series that I don't quite know how I feel. While overall the plot and storytelling are good and I enjoy reading the series, for the most part, I am also frequently horrified by events and actions. As a result, I would recommend again that younger teen readers do not pick this up. Wait until you are older to read the series.
Sevro is such a strange character, but I love him. Some of the things he said, although unintentionally funny, had me laughing aloud (and probably sounding like a crazy person because I was by myself). Sadly, the course of the war and things that he has experienced seem to change him - as the war alters all of the characters. In the third book, he is just as funny and strangely likable as he was in the previous two books despite the horrors that he has endured.
I love the honest wonder of Ragnar, despite his fierce size and fighting skills he was not born to the same world as Darrow. He is genuinely pleased or fascinated by things most would take for granted in that world. Despite the fact that Ragnar is a terrifying killing machine - you can't help but like him.
Although there is a lot of death and destruction in these books, it is not until halfway through the third book that the pain of a character affected me. I got a little teary-eyed because it was one of the characters that I had grown to care about. I don't feel a very strong connection to them in general, which I feel is probably the main weakness of this series for me.
The second book fell prey to the typical slow nature of a middle book in a trilogy. In general, I feel that these books take some time to get into but become very engaging eventually. The third book was a little slower to start than even the others, although there were some enjoyable moments early on it wasn't until a little over halfway through the book that I really thought 'wow this is where things start happening.'
Once I was in the second half of the book, I felt like this was my favorite of the books in the series. I think Pierce Brown does his best work when he's talking about a battle. So the fighting you see in this part of the book really shines.
While it is very authentic to a war scenario, I don't personally like that so many characters die. I know people would complain if no one died because then the stakes wouldn't be as high for the characters but it makes me so sad when a character I like doesn't make it.
Despite the slow start of the third book, by the end, I had completely forgotten about it and felt that this was my favorite book in the series. The action, the schemes, everything just pulled me in and I was riveted, guessing, gasping and cheering until the very last page.
Sevro is such a strange character, but I love him. Some of the things he said, although unintentionally funny, had me laughing aloud (and probably sounding like a crazy person because I was by myself). Sadly, the course of the war and things that he has experienced seem to change him - as the war alters all of the characters. In the third book, he is just as funny and strangely likable as he was in the previous two books despite the horrors that he has endured.
I love the honest wonder of Ragnar, despite his fierce size and fighting skills he was not born to the same world as Darrow. He is genuinely pleased or fascinated by things most would take for granted in that world. Despite the fact that Ragnar is a terrifying killing machine - you can't help but like him.
Although there is a lot of death and destruction in these books, it is not until halfway through the third book that the pain of a character affected me. I got a little teary-eyed because it was one of the characters that I had grown to care about. I don't feel a very strong connection to them in general, which I feel is probably the main weakness of this series for me.
The second book fell prey to the typical slow nature of a middle book in a trilogy. In general, I feel that these books take some time to get into but become very engaging eventually. The third book was a little slower to start than even the others, although there were some enjoyable moments early on it wasn't until a little over halfway through the book that I really thought 'wow this is where things start happening.'
Once I was in the second half of the book, I felt like this was my favorite of the books in the series. I think Pierce Brown does his best work when he's talking about a battle. So the fighting you see in this part of the book really shines.
While it is very authentic to a war scenario, I don't personally like that so many characters die. I know people would complain if no one died because then the stakes wouldn't be as high for the characters but it makes me so sad when a character I like doesn't make it.
Despite the slow start of the third book, by the end, I had completely forgotten about it and felt that this was my favorite book in the series. The action, the schemes, everything just pulled me in and I was riveted, guessing, gasping and cheering until the very last page.
Order & Chaos Online
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