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Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times
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Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of The Year Award A superb book; hilarious, sad, moving and...
Moon Grand Canyon
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Moon Travel Guides: Find Your Adventure! With 1.2 million acres of rocky expanse formed over...
Paper Girls: Volume 1
Cliff Chiang, Brian K. Vaughan, Matthew Wilson and Jared K. Fletcher
8.4
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From Brian K. Vaughan, #1 New York Times bestselling writer of SAGA, and Cliff Chiang, legendary...
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Katherine's Arrangement (Shenandoah Brides #1) in Books
Feb 23, 2021
https://travelingwife4life.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/katherines-arrangement-book-spotlight
Katherine’s Arrangement
by Blossom Turner reminds me very much of a twist on Gone with the Wind for some reason. It is a the first book in a five book series :)
“The reason you feel so close to nature is because God uses creation to speak to people”
After reading the book, I went back and reread it. I liked the book, I really did. I thought that Blossom Turner did a great job showing some of the hardships of life after the Civil War and that her characters show TRUE genuine feelings rather than dumbing them down; It made the book all the more believable. I thought that Katherine shows strength and fortitude to do what was right for her family even though she was not quite happy about it. I also really felt for all that Blossom Turner put Josiah through. I thought he handled everything quite well (mostly) and I liked his maturity in contrast to Katherines. Both characters grew throughout the story and I thought the ending gave a good redeeming quality to both characters.
“The majestic flight of an eagle caught her eye, and she imagined what it would be like to soar high above the complexities of this life – to escape duty and obligation and fly far away from the weight of this decision.”
Blossom Turner writes with detail and imagination that is fun and engaging to read. However, the pace of the story appeared a bit slow and repetitive in places, and things were drawn out a bit more than I thought was necessary. But overall, the story was an interesting read filled with drama, scandal, and forgiveness.
I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars for the creative storyline, the real portrayal of the character's feelings, and for the redemptive story of Christ's forgiveness. I loved Blossom Turner's first book (Anna's Secret) and I will continue to read her books
Katherine’s Arrangement
by Blossom Turner reminds me very much of a twist on Gone with the Wind for some reason. It is a the first book in a five book series :)
“The reason you feel so close to nature is because God uses creation to speak to people”
After reading the book, I went back and reread it. I liked the book, I really did. I thought that Blossom Turner did a great job showing some of the hardships of life after the Civil War and that her characters show TRUE genuine feelings rather than dumbing them down; It made the book all the more believable. I thought that Katherine shows strength and fortitude to do what was right for her family even though she was not quite happy about it. I also really felt for all that Blossom Turner put Josiah through. I thought he handled everything quite well (mostly) and I liked his maturity in contrast to Katherines. Both characters grew throughout the story and I thought the ending gave a good redeeming quality to both characters.
“The majestic flight of an eagle caught her eye, and she imagined what it would be like to soar high above the complexities of this life – to escape duty and obligation and fly far away from the weight of this decision.”
Blossom Turner writes with detail and imagination that is fun and engaging to read. However, the pace of the story appeared a bit slow and repetitive in places, and things were drawn out a bit more than I thought was necessary. But overall, the story was an interesting read filled with drama, scandal, and forgiveness.
I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars for the creative storyline, the real portrayal of the character's feelings, and for the redemptive story of Christ's forgiveness. I loved Blossom Turner's first book (Anna's Secret) and I will continue to read her books
You'll never want to fly again! ;)
Mina is a flight attendant scheduled for the inaugural non-stop flight from London to Sydney. There is much press and fanfare for the big flight, but Mina is mostly relieved it gets her a few days away from Adam, her estranged husband. The two have been torn apart by his cheating and the difficulties of parenting their young daughter. However, once the plane takes off, Mina receives a note telling her that she must make a terrifying decision, one that forces her to choose between her job and her family.
"Everyone wants a piece of Flight 79. Everyone wants to make history."
Whew, what a tense and stressful thriller! It had a slow start to building up all the drama--it is a lie that it all takes place on a plane, as we get some backstory to Mina and Adam's relationship before Mina steps on said fateful plane. For me, that part dragged a bit. Once she's on the plane, things pick up and it's a fairly twisty and taut journey.
The book flips between Mina and Adam's perspectives, along with some of the plane's passengers. It's a little hard to keep everyone straight, though it's clear from the passenger's narration that something is not right with this flight. Mackintosh, as always, is great at building up the uneasiness. Adam is not the most sympathetic of characters, and I wanted to yell and scream at him during many of his chapters. Their poor child--what parents she has!
It's a unique idea here, and for the most part, it's executed well. Mackintosh gives us a lot to think about, between Mina's situation and some of her other plot points. The story is stressful and intense, leaving you to wonder what on earth will happen next (and perhaps question any desire to take a plane ever again). The ending, too, is excellent. 4 stars.
"Everyone wants a piece of Flight 79. Everyone wants to make history."
Whew, what a tense and stressful thriller! It had a slow start to building up all the drama--it is a lie that it all takes place on a plane, as we get some backstory to Mina and Adam's relationship before Mina steps on said fateful plane. For me, that part dragged a bit. Once she's on the plane, things pick up and it's a fairly twisty and taut journey.
The book flips between Mina and Adam's perspectives, along with some of the plane's passengers. It's a little hard to keep everyone straight, though it's clear from the passenger's narration that something is not right with this flight. Mackintosh, as always, is great at building up the uneasiness. Adam is not the most sympathetic of characters, and I wanted to yell and scream at him during many of his chapters. Their poor child--what parents she has!
It's a unique idea here, and for the most part, it's executed well. Mackintosh gives us a lot to think about, between Mina's situation and some of her other plot points. The story is stressful and intense, leaving you to wonder what on earth will happen next (and perhaps question any desire to take a plane ever again). The ending, too, is excellent. 4 stars.
BookInspector (124 KP) rated In Her Shadow in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The protagonist in this book is Jessica, mom of two kids, who even after five years, still devastated by her sister’s death. Suddenly, her little girl starts telling that she can talk to her auntie and starts revealing very accurate details from Isabel’s past. Did Isabel really died by accident or was she murdered? How does Jessica’s little girl know so much about the aunt she never met? Read the book to find out!
I really loved this book and its characters. The main characters would be Jessica and Isabel, who were telling the story. I really loved the multiple perspectives in this book, it allowed to see what was actually going on, and Isabel’s story made the whole reading experience more suspenseful and intriguing. I really liked the ghost element to it, the author very cleverly incorporated the experiences from the main characters past, to create more mystery. I liked the diversity and variety of other characters, even though their personalities were not discussed in detail, they played vital parts in the “bigger picture”.
The narrative was very absorbing for me. I really wanted to see what Jessica will find out next, and these little clues kept me on the edge all the way through. This novel has plenty of twists and turns, and the transition between chapters is very smartly written.
One thing for sure, Mark Edwards really knows how to write a good psychological thriller. The chapters have a very decent length and they are divided into smaller parts that did not leave me bored. I absolutely loved the culmination of this novel! It was incredibly twisty, rounds up the story nicely, but at the same time still leaves the reader guessing.
So, to conclude, I really enjoyed this dark and entangled family drama, filled with well-written characters, ghosts, and a very engrossing plot filled with unexpected findings. I strongly recommend to give this book a go, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
I really loved this book and its characters. The main characters would be Jessica and Isabel, who were telling the story. I really loved the multiple perspectives in this book, it allowed to see what was actually going on, and Isabel’s story made the whole reading experience more suspenseful and intriguing. I really liked the ghost element to it, the author very cleverly incorporated the experiences from the main characters past, to create more mystery. I liked the diversity and variety of other characters, even though their personalities were not discussed in detail, they played vital parts in the “bigger picture”.
The narrative was very absorbing for me. I really wanted to see what Jessica will find out next, and these little clues kept me on the edge all the way through. This novel has plenty of twists and turns, and the transition between chapters is very smartly written.
One thing for sure, Mark Edwards really knows how to write a good psychological thriller. The chapters have a very decent length and they are divided into smaller parts that did not leave me bored. I absolutely loved the culmination of this novel! It was incredibly twisty, rounds up the story nicely, but at the same time still leaves the reader guessing.
So, to conclude, I really enjoyed this dark and entangled family drama, filled with well-written characters, ghosts, and a very engrossing plot filled with unexpected findings. I strongly recommend to give this book a go, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Kelly Knows (95 KP) rated Ready Player One (2018) in Movies
Jun 27, 2019
Press Start to Join The Rebellion
A truly excellent movie for the whole family to enjoy. Ready Player One has all of the elements required for a movie to truly excel in the telling of its story. The action is epic, the heroes are cool, and oh boy the fun and laughs you'll have along the way. The voice acting cast was well handled, but is probably the main reason I did not give this one full points. The studio could have gotten higher level actors to sell the more emotional plot points. Olivia Cooke and Tye Sheridan still do a masterful job with their roles, but some lines were delivered with a Spy Kids level of corniness. In truth, you have to hunt for flaws in this movie as if they were easter eggs themselves. Parzival, and the rest of the hunters on the quest, weave a beautiful tapestry of tropes that blends modern gaming escapism with social revolution. Not all the characters are super deep, nor do they have to be. You will find yourself cheering for the good guys, and jeering the bad. That's the beauty of this movie. It is a perfect chance to enjoy a thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and world domination, without having to buckle in for an Oscar level drama. The best of this movie however, and the reason I would ultimately recommend it to just about anyone is the sheer beauty and power of the visual effects, and the warm nostalgia that permeates every aspect of the plot. Pop culture references that are sure to make you grin are peppered throughout as the story unfolds. Any gamer, movie buff, rebel at heart, or really just about anyone who has ever had any kind of electronic fun since the 60s will find a note in the proverbial song meant just for them. Get your game face on, this is a good one.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) in Movies
Aug 16, 2020
Luck was not with me when it came to seeing this, I turned down an opportunity to see it and then Rona cancelled the ticket I booked for it. I finally managed to see it on one of the many free trials for streaming services I picked up while I was confined to the house.
Marianne is hired to paint a wedding portrait of Héloïse in secret after a failed attempt has left her against the whole idea. Marianne is presented as a companion and spends her days observing the bride to be before taking to her chamber to paint at night. As her deadline approaches the pair's bond goes from strength to strength despite their future being set in stone.
Portrait is simple in so many ways and yet utterly complex. Set mostly in a desolate island location in a large family home you would expect to have the ornate and busy look of a period drama, but this is the unfussiest film I've seen in this genre. There's no clutter, no excess characters, no frivolous dialogue or scenes, their relationship is all that needs to be focused on, everything else just happens to be there.
It's difficult to describe how this film made me feel, it's serene even in the chaotic moments and I keep finding myself at a loss when it comes to putting that down in words.
I could gush on about Portrait for ages but I don't want to take away from you seeing it, the fact is that it's breathtaking. The shots, the dynamics of the cast, the fact that the film doesn't need filler... I was unsure going in (even though I wanted to watch it) but by the end I was a devastated wreck who wanted to see it all over again.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/08/portrait-of-lady-on-fire-movie-review.html
Marianne is hired to paint a wedding portrait of Héloïse in secret after a failed attempt has left her against the whole idea. Marianne is presented as a companion and spends her days observing the bride to be before taking to her chamber to paint at night. As her deadline approaches the pair's bond goes from strength to strength despite their future being set in stone.
Portrait is simple in so many ways and yet utterly complex. Set mostly in a desolate island location in a large family home you would expect to have the ornate and busy look of a period drama, but this is the unfussiest film I've seen in this genre. There's no clutter, no excess characters, no frivolous dialogue or scenes, their relationship is all that needs to be focused on, everything else just happens to be there.
It's difficult to describe how this film made me feel, it's serene even in the chaotic moments and I keep finding myself at a loss when it comes to putting that down in words.
I could gush on about Portrait for ages but I don't want to take away from you seeing it, the fact is that it's breathtaking. The shots, the dynamics of the cast, the fact that the film doesn't need filler... I was unsure going in (even though I wanted to watch it) but by the end I was a devastated wreck who wanted to see it all over again.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/08/portrait-of-lady-on-fire-movie-review.html
Only Mostly Devastated
8.0
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Ollie and Will were a summer fling; now they're classmates. But only one of them is out...SIMON VS...
True History of the Kelly Gang (2019)
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A fictionalized re-telling of the life and crimes of infamous 19th-century Australian outlaw Ned...