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The Perfect Mother
The Perfect Mother
Aimee Molloy | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
8.0 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
I honestly wasn’t sure how much I would like this one since I am not yet a mother, so I can’t relate to all the things these new mothers are going through. However, once I started reading it was pretty difficult to stop! There are a lot of real issues that new mothers go through from wanting to appear perfect to feeling like they aren’t good enough. Then there’s a baby that goes missing, a baby from a mommy group the main characters are a part of, and there’s a ton of whodunnit, crime blog searching, amateur detective work going on. You don’t know who is telling the truth or even whose perspective you are reading from. I thought I knew what was going on and thought I was so smart having figured it all out but I was definitely wrong (about pretty much everything!). This was a good, quick read and actually had an ending that is satisfying and doesn’t feel rushed.
  
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Erika (17789 KP) rated Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) in Movies

May 28, 2018 (Updated May 28, 2018)  
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
2018 | Action, Sci-Fi
I think I liked this film, I'll definitely have to see it at least once more to form a full opinion. But, for now:
The plot was engaging, but fairly predictable. It did a good job of checking off the boxes, how Han met Chewie, the Kessel Run, and winning the ship from Lando.
I don't think I can currently comment on Alden's Han, I'll definitely need to see it again. I don't think he was bad, but he needed to make the character his own. I'm not sure he really had a choice in that though.
I do take a slight issue with Donald Glover's Lando. I'm not particularly a Lando fan, I don't feel one way or another about him. Lando was schmaltzy, corny, and I don't need a stand alone Lando movie.
I think Ron Howard did a good job with fixing the film. And I liked that he threw his bro in as a cameo.
Also, the appearance of ... that character... great.
  
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ClareR (6225 KP) May 28, 2018

I’m hopefully going to see this this week with my children - one of whom is a Star Wars purist. Should be interesting!!

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Andy K (10823 KP) May 28, 2018

I want to see on Thursday or Friday as I am on vacation!

Slumber (2017)
Slumber (2017)
2017 | Horror
Why such bad IMDB rating
I've had this on my watch list for a while but with IMDB only giving it 4 I was reluctant to watch it. I saw on here that it has much better reviews and thought I would give it a go.
A doctor tries helping a family who are all experiencing some kind of sleep walking and becoming dangerous. I liked the idea of that story. So this afternoon I have sat down and watched it. I do not understand why it got such low ratings on IMDB. I thoroughly enjoyed it, from the beginning of the film there was a lot going on, you begin to connect with the family and feel uneasy about what might happen. The acting in my opinion is really good, Maggie Q has a good role to play. I liked the story behind the film and I thought it all added up nicely. I think it was a strong film that has been really underrated.
  
Clown (2016)
Clown (2016)
2016 | Horror
6
7.0 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Well made creature feature, with good effects and high quality visuals (0 more)
Classic Horror Movie decision making (0 more)
This guy ain't clowning around...
Clown is like a classic twilight-zone style curse movie, where a dad puts on an antique clown suit, which turns out to have dire consequences that essentially turn him into a child eating killer clown.

There are some great comedic moments, as you would expect, some gross body horror, gruesome kills and actually pretty good performances.

Despite the b-movie plot, the acting is very solid, and the whole feel is of a well-made, well budgeted horror film, that would not have been out of place on a decent cinema release.

There are plenty of plot holes, bad decisions and parts that drag on a little, but overall this is a pretty entertaining movie, which provides a throwback experience to an 80's style slasher but with modern production values, so what is not to like?
  
The Predator (2018)
The Predator (2018)
2018 | Action, Horror
Gore (3 more)
Special Effects
Jokes
Plot
Rushed in parts (2 more)
Dark shooting
Camera angles
Carry on Predator!
Well! I have been looking forward to this film for so long and although I enjoyed it as a whole, I felt it could've been a lot better.

It felt more of a comedy sci-fi than your usual Predator film with laughable moments all the way through it.

I understand that there were some requirements to cut parts of the film and edit a lot of the scenes because of this so I think I would've been happier with a delayed release than the final product if it meant honing a few things but it won't stop me from buying it when it comes out and it made for a good night out to the cinema.

Overall it is well worth the watch and is a good film but I just feel that if people are going to compare to the original then they are going to be upset!
  
Girls & Boys
Girls & Boys
Dennis Kelly | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Gut Wrenching
Review I just finished this book and I'm not even sure what to think. This review might just be a spew of words on a page because right now, I'm processing.

I got this audiobook from Audible through their audible originals program. I probably would have never in my life picked this up if it weren't for getting it for free. This book started off with a cute story about the main characters meeting and ends with a horrific gut wrenching ending. This is not a cute love story. This is not uplifting. It is heart wrenching but it is so beautifully done that I wasn't able to put it down.

The narrator truly put on a wonderful performance. She had a way to force you into the story & make you feel like this was a friend telling you the story.

All in all, it was good. Heart wrenching but good.
  
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
Hank Green | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
9.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cliffhanger (0 more)
I read this because I'm a big fan of John Green. I love his writing style and have watched him and Hank on YouTube. I hoped Hank would be as good at writing as his brother. I was not disappointed.

This book, however, is nothing like a John Green story. The characters are in their twenties rather than their teens and the storyline is science fiction. Hank's writing style is also different, however, it is different in a good way. It is captivating, easy to understand and makes you think and feel a whole variety of things.

So, if you like John Green and want to see what Hank can do, you won't be disappointed. Likewise, if you're not John Green fan, you'll still love An Absolutely Remarkably Thing. It's a win-win situation.

The only negative? A cliffhanger. The story ends on a BIG question mark and it is unlikely we will ever find out what happened. I guess it's up to our own imaginations.
  
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Amazon Fire TV Stick
TV & Video > Streaming Media Players
You can stream content easily (3 more)
Various apps are supported
No loud noises coming from the device
Alexa is a nice touch, although a bit of a gimmick to me personally
It can feel quite slow at times (1 more)
Some of the apps designs are often trudged and unappealing. But that's not the devices fault
Good price for a good product
I use the fire stick every day and it has relived much stress from my life. I grew up watching things on my laptop, then xbox 360, then ps4. So, to have something that isn't constantly blowing hot air in to the room is pure relief.
Typing in to the search bar is a pain in the a*** when you use the accompanying remote, so I downloaded the Fire TV app and it has made the experience a hell of a lot easier. Especially considering my phone is always by my bedside, and the remote always seems to get lost in the sheets.
  
Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?
Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?
Holly Bourne | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
8
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
A moving insight into mental health
While it has a fairly fun and playful sounding title, this book is far from being fun and playful. It’s a very interesting but definitely serious take on mental health in teenagers. I’d dare anyone to read this and not find something in common with one of the characters currently residing at Camp Reset. Olive herself is a tormented yet intriguing main character, however she does make for difficult reading at times. As a reader, you can see what’s going on with her even thought she can’t see it herself, and it makes reading quite frustrating, although this is the true reality of mental illness. The book also has a very good message, and almost had me in tears at the end, especially with the letter from the writer Holly Bourne. This is definitely not a feel good story, but definitely one that gets you thinking.
  
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CKD (37 KP) rated The Good House in Books

Dec 7, 2018  
TG
The Good House
Ann Leary | 2013
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hildy Good is a real estate broker in Wendover, MA - a (fictional) town located north of Boston. Her husband left her for a man and she has 2 daughters with him. She is a grandmother. This story starts after she's been released from rehab for drinking (her daughters put her in rehab). It tells Hildy's story once she's home and trying to work and get through the day without drinking. Rebecca and her husband move to Wendover and Rebecca and Hildy become good friends. Hildy is happy (although she's started drinking secretly) until she discovers a secret about Rebecca and someone else in town. When the secrets start to unravel and there is a mysterious disappearance in town, Hildy begins to question some of her actions. At times funny, sad and poignant, the book is well written and you feel for all of the characters in the story. Ann Leary is the wife of Denis Leary, the comedian.