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Rachel King (13 KP) rated Specials (Uglies, #3) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
I loved this book and thought it was the best of the trilogy. The excitement of Tally and Shay's destruction of the Armory, Tally helping to defend Diego from attack, and other scenes - written so well that I could almost feel the adrenaline pumping through my own veins. The feel and speed of the book had a cinematic quality. I imagine Westerfeld wrote in this style on purpose to capture the style of the Specials, just as the second book had an "airhead" style of writing. The vocabulary also reflects the subculture of the Specials with words such as icy, which indicates the state of being clear-headed. I was saddened by Zane's death and disappointed that Tally could not have had more of a good-bye with him before he died, but I did like that she was reunited with David. I'm rather split as to which boyfriend of hers I prefered, since Zane and David are both very different and compliment Tally in different ways. Fortunately, Westerfeld made that decision for me.
Sam (74 KP) rated Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars, #1) in Books
Mar 27, 2019
I was really excited to start this because it is a universally known fact that the book is always better than the film or TV adaptation. I don’t think that rule applies to Pretty Little Liars.
I definitely feel that the series is much better than the books. The series is always gripping, gives plenty of time for the plot to develop, and has likeable characters. I was addicted to it for a year of binging.
I had a few issues with the book.
If I had read the book before watching the series, I wouldn’t have gone onto Netflix and binged on it. I feel like the book was too small and the plot was too condensed. This made the characters very two-dimensional.
The characters in the book are also all unlikable. They are all really bratty and spoiled and they really annoyed me. The creators of the series completely changed them for the good.
It is still getting two stars because I did manage to finish the book. I was just really disappointed that it wasn’t any better.
I definitely feel that the series is much better than the books. The series is always gripping, gives plenty of time for the plot to develop, and has likeable characters. I was addicted to it for a year of binging.
I had a few issues with the book.
If I had read the book before watching the series, I wouldn’t have gone onto Netflix and binged on it. I feel like the book was too small and the plot was too condensed. This made the characters very two-dimensional.
The characters in the book are also all unlikable. They are all really bratty and spoiled and they really annoyed me. The creators of the series completely changed them for the good.
It is still getting two stars because I did manage to finish the book. I was just really disappointed that it wasn’t any better.
Ashley Catron (66 KP) rated A List of Cages in Books
Mar 7, 2018
I read this while at work, and I still finished this book in under 4 hours. It is seriously that good that you just can't put it down. For Robin Roe's first novel, he hit it out of the park. The book is about two teenagers, Adam and Julien, and the viewpoint switches seamlessly between the two throughout the book. There is never any confusion on who is talking or what is going on. Now, the book does revolve around child abuse, so for those sensitive to this type of plot, this story may not be the best for you. While the story of child abuse is devastating (I definitely caught myself trying to hold back tears a few times), the way the story is told will make you feel like you're in the situation that the characters are in. You can feel elation, fear, love, and everything in between with this novel. Everything about this book was great and I would definitely recommend it to others who aren't sensitive to child abuse.
Kate (496 KP) rated The Unravel in Books
Oct 27, 2019
Loved this book
I loved this book. It was such a good read. It kept me gripped from page 1. There was a few stories going on but they were all connected. There wasn't really anything I didn't like except it took me a few lines of each chapter to realise which person that chapter related to.
It sounded like a book I would normally read and enjoy and it exceeded the blurb.
I really got to understand the characters and their different traits and personalities. I really started to feel for Soul and the book made me really feel.
The book explained why Soul did these things and I really understood but at the same time I wanted to say to her that she is all these people.
If there a sequel I would definitely read this but I don't see how there could be another book with Soul as the genre would have to change. There are more books in regards to the 2nd main character. The police lady.
It sounded like a book I would normally read and enjoy and it exceeded the blurb.
I really got to understand the characters and their different traits and personalities. I really started to feel for Soul and the book made me really feel.
The book explained why Soul did these things and I really understood but at the same time I wanted to say to her that she is all these people.
If there a sequel I would definitely read this but I don't see how there could be another book with Soul as the genre would have to change. There are more books in regards to the 2nd main character. The police lady.
Deborah (162 KP) rated Hungry Hill in Books
Dec 21, 2018
I really got stuck into this family saga from Daphne du Maruier, following five generations of a family and their relationship with the mine at Hungry Hill. With du Maurier you know there's going to be tragedy in there somewhere and there are senseless deaths and senseless happenings a plenty. Despite being beautifully written, I felt somewhat depressed at the end of the novel because I didn't feel it was concluded very well and a lot of very bad things happened to people who frankly didn't deserve it! I feel John-Henry's story wasn't properly tied up and he was just left almost hanging there. The Donovans also seem to come out of things rather well despite their atrocious, murdering behaviour! I think I'm one who likes a good bit of poetic justice in my reading as real life is so unfair to some people!
So, brilliantly written, but I'm not sure I'd want to put myself through reading it again, with all the agonies and the ending which I found unsatisfactory.
So, brilliantly written, but I'm not sure I'd want to put myself through reading it again, with all the agonies and the ending which I found unsatisfactory.
Kate (496 KP) rated The Christmas Invitation in Books
Jan 6, 2020
This was a good story and I like reading romances. There were quite a few similarities between the book and Cindrella. I'm not a massive fan when books use bits and pieces from other stories as it doesn't feel very original.
I was hooked from the first chapter and it got my attention. It also kept me entertained.
The book was well written and I got a feel for the characters and their voices.
The story made me smile and also made me sad in some parts which added to the book.
Any age could read this book but it maybe is for late teens - early twenties.
It was a really nice chistmassy book to read over the Christmas holidays.
I would definitely read a second book if there was one as it would be nice to see the next chapter in their lives.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I was hooked from the first chapter and it got my attention. It also kept me entertained.
The book was well written and I got a feel for the characters and their voices.
The story made me smile and also made me sad in some parts which added to the book.
Any age could read this book but it maybe is for late teens - early twenties.
It was a really nice chistmassy book to read over the Christmas holidays.
I would definitely read a second book if there was one as it would be nice to see the next chapter in their lives.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Modern Living: Chalet Style
Book
Home has become the most important source of comfort for many people. Rarely have people invested so...
Troye Sivan recommended The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) in Movies (curated)
ClareR (6129 KP) rated Lost Property in Books
Apr 1, 2021
Lost Property was not at all what I expected. I thought it was going to be a light, cheery read about people being reunited with their lost property. This book is so much more than that.
Dot is a person who has become lost. Her loneliness seeps out of every page, her feelings of guilt are relatable (if misguided) and the fact that she doesn’t feel good enough about herself to live the life that she wants to live, is heartbreaking.
The writing is beautiful.
There was more than one occasion where I found myself close to tears. Dot is a character who does her best to make other people feel better - whether that’s her co-workers, those looking for their lost items, her mother in a nursing home, or her seemingly interfering older sister. But she neglects herself.
This book is about Dots journey to finding herself again, and it is wonderful.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this, and to Helen Paris for reading along.
Dot is a person who has become lost. Her loneliness seeps out of every page, her feelings of guilt are relatable (if misguided) and the fact that she doesn’t feel good enough about herself to live the life that she wants to live, is heartbreaking.
The writing is beautiful.
There was more than one occasion where I found myself close to tears. Dot is a character who does her best to make other people feel better - whether that’s her co-workers, those looking for their lost items, her mother in a nursing home, or her seemingly interfering older sister. But she neglects herself.
This book is about Dots journey to finding herself again, and it is wonderful.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this, and to Helen Paris for reading along.
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated The Theory of Everything (2014) in Movies
Sep 4, 2020
Unless you have been living in a cave you will have heard of Stephen Hawking, this movie is the story of how he met and came to rely on his wife Jane.
It starts in the 1960s, Stephen is an awkward and nerdy college student attending classes, wondering about the universe and meeting the love of his life. Straight away it is evident from little things that his disease is taking a hold on him even before his diagnosis. Eddie Redmayne does such a good job of portraying him that his decline is hard to watch and you feel the frustration he must have felt too. It not only shows Stephens struggles with his motor neurons disease, but also Jane's struggles with helping him, which understandably pushes her into the arms of another man.
The film has its ups and downs, you feel for Stephen and the people around him, but you also laugh as despite his disease his personality remained intact. It is a long movie (just over 2 hours) and very intense, but worth every minute.
It starts in the 1960s, Stephen is an awkward and nerdy college student attending classes, wondering about the universe and meeting the love of his life. Straight away it is evident from little things that his disease is taking a hold on him even before his diagnosis. Eddie Redmayne does such a good job of portraying him that his decline is hard to watch and you feel the frustration he must have felt too. It not only shows Stephens struggles with his motor neurons disease, but also Jane's struggles with helping him, which understandably pushes her into the arms of another man.
The film has its ups and downs, you feel for Stephen and the people around him, but you also laugh as despite his disease his personality remained intact. It is a long movie (just over 2 hours) and very intense, but worth every minute.