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Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated The Returners in Books
Jun 24, 2019
I have a vague recollection of reading this some time in the past which is kind of ironic considering the topic of the book itself. While I felt a repeated deja vu throughout this book, I can't seem to remember when I actually would have read it before. I also couldn't remember much of the main plot, which is pretty weird.
Anyway, the review.
It's a good book. honestly, the opening paragraph of this review sums the book up quite well - it's good, but not overly memorable. When you read it, you often think, "this is good" or "cool" or whatever, but a few months later you'll forget all about it. At least, that's how I felt.
Gemma Malley is an author I used to love when I was in my preteens, and I'm not sure if that's why her books feel very adolescent to me, or if it's because they actually are. Basically, I feel too old for them now. The protagonists are usually "cool" mid-teens, who the reader is supposed to look up to in some way. But I'm older than most characters and actually find their attitudes a bit pathetic and petty.
The story was good but I felt like there were a few loopholes, honestly. The idea of the "Returners" is interesting but not developed enough - who actually 'controls' them? Where did they come from? What is their real purpose? I felt like their purpose was a bit wishy-washy. Douglas's refusal to change his attitude because it "isn't their role" or whatever just sounded a bit... lame. Like a cop-out, I guess. I really would've liked to know more about the Returners and why they actually exist.
It's only short and this may contribute to it feeling quite young, but it is well written and really enjoyable to read. Will is almost an anti-hero, and as the reader I both loved and hated him. His thoughts and attitudes were quite sporadic and it was sometimes hard to keep up, but that may have been the intention. I did like how we learned things at the same time as Will - we followed him through his own story. It was also really interesting how Will decided to handle the life he'd been forced into.
4 stars.
Anyway, the review.
It's a good book. honestly, the opening paragraph of this review sums the book up quite well - it's good, but not overly memorable. When you read it, you often think, "this is good" or "cool" or whatever, but a few months later you'll forget all about it. At least, that's how I felt.
Gemma Malley is an author I used to love when I was in my preteens, and I'm not sure if that's why her books feel very adolescent to me, or if it's because they actually are. Basically, I feel too old for them now. The protagonists are usually "cool" mid-teens, who the reader is supposed to look up to in some way. But I'm older than most characters and actually find their attitudes a bit pathetic and petty.
The story was good but I felt like there were a few loopholes, honestly. The idea of the "Returners" is interesting but not developed enough - who actually 'controls' them? Where did they come from? What is their real purpose? I felt like their purpose was a bit wishy-washy. Douglas's refusal to change his attitude because it "isn't their role" or whatever just sounded a bit... lame. Like a cop-out, I guess. I really would've liked to know more about the Returners and why they actually exist.
It's only short and this may contribute to it feeling quite young, but it is well written and really enjoyable to read. Will is almost an anti-hero, and as the reader I both loved and hated him. His thoughts and attitudes were quite sporadic and it was sometimes hard to keep up, but that may have been the intention. I did like how we learned things at the same time as Will - we followed him through his own story. It was also really interesting how Will decided to handle the life he'd been forced into.
4 stars.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated When It's Real in Books
Apr 4, 2019
Sometimes you just need a story with a ridiculous, rather implausible situation to soothe your soul.
This book was tons of fun and really compelling. I couldn't put it down and read it in 24 hours. Both Vaughn and Oakley were really interesting characters with a lot of depth behind their silly situation. As he was probably supposed to, Oakley irritated me in the beginning; yes, we are supposed to feel sorry for him, but he was also really good in his role of being a jerk.
"Am I already the washed-up pop star before I hit my twenties?"
The first person point of view in this one makes it very easy to read. The chapters alternate between Oakley and Vaughn and just slide by. The book is a slow burner (no immediate romance here) and fun and hot. Sure, it's a little predictable and you know nothing will go smoothly at first, but it's really enjoyable seeing how things play out. For me to enjoy a romance, I have to like the characters, and I have to be invested in their story--both of those things were definitely happening here. I fell for Vaughn and her family and then for Oakley, too, as I got to know him. There was some good depth and background to both characters, and I empathized with Vaughn as she struggled to find herself, especially after her family's tragedy.
"I’m good at pretending, but not so great at living."
There's even some fun twists in this one, with things not always happening exactly as you might think. Overall, it's really fun, with two great main characters and a really humorous supporting cast. The story has its serious moments, and it's easy to get invested in Vaughn and Oakley's romance. It's a fast read and a good one. 4 stars.
This book was tons of fun and really compelling. I couldn't put it down and read it in 24 hours. Both Vaughn and Oakley were really interesting characters with a lot of depth behind their silly situation. As he was probably supposed to, Oakley irritated me in the beginning; yes, we are supposed to feel sorry for him, but he was also really good in his role of being a jerk.
"Am I already the washed-up pop star before I hit my twenties?"
The first person point of view in this one makes it very easy to read. The chapters alternate between Oakley and Vaughn and just slide by. The book is a slow burner (no immediate romance here) and fun and hot. Sure, it's a little predictable and you know nothing will go smoothly at first, but it's really enjoyable seeing how things play out. For me to enjoy a romance, I have to like the characters, and I have to be invested in their story--both of those things were definitely happening here. I fell for Vaughn and her family and then for Oakley, too, as I got to know him. There was some good depth and background to both characters, and I empathized with Vaughn as she struggled to find herself, especially after her family's tragedy.
"I’m good at pretending, but not so great at living."
There's even some fun twists in this one, with things not always happening exactly as you might think. Overall, it's really fun, with two great main characters and a really humorous supporting cast. The story has its serious moments, and it's easy to get invested in Vaughn and Oakley's romance. It's a fast read and a good one. 4 stars.
Lose Weight for Good: Full-flavour Cooking for a Low-Calorie Diet
Book
`It's impossible to stick to a diet if the food you're expected to eat is boring and doesn't fill...
Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated Spider-Men in Books
Nov 30, 2020
So, here's the thing.. Brian Michael Bendis . When his writing is good, like on ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN or his own creator-owned projects like JINX and POWERS, the man is quite good. When he is regrettable, like he was on his run on ALL-NEW X-MEN and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (Peter Quill + Kitty Pryde? Really?!? Um, no..), his writing stank like yesterday's diapers! Fortunately, that was not the case with this little gem!
Let me frank here: THIS WAS A FUN READ! It was great to see Miles Morales and Earth-616's Peter Parker, <b>our/my</b> Double-P, working together. Still riding on the good++ vibe generated by INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (seriously, if you have not seen it yet, you totally need to see it), this was just what I wanted.
And that art? Wowwowwoweeewow! I sure do love me some Sara Pichelli! I never really tire of seeing her work! And the perfect compliment to her art? The always-perfect coloring by the late Justin Ponsor! Man, I am gonna miss him! Rest in peace, Justin! #cancersucks
If there was anything I could find wrong with the story as a whole was Mysterio. Look, I am a 50-year-old comic fan who got all sorts of happy when I saw the clip of SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME and Mysterio was in it -- with his fishbowl head! But, here in this story, while cool to see him used, I felt he was not really memorable. His performance in the story didn't really feel like Mysterio, you know? Other than that, the book was all aces for me!
If you are looking for a Spider-Fix, and you want to read some of the good Bendis, look no further than this one! Enjoy!
Let me frank here: THIS WAS A FUN READ! It was great to see Miles Morales and Earth-616's Peter Parker, <b>our/my</b> Double-P, working together. Still riding on the good++ vibe generated by INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (seriously, if you have not seen it yet, you totally need to see it), this was just what I wanted.
And that art? Wowwowwoweeewow! I sure do love me some Sara Pichelli! I never really tire of seeing her work! And the perfect compliment to her art? The always-perfect coloring by the late Justin Ponsor! Man, I am gonna miss him! Rest in peace, Justin! #cancersucks
If there was anything I could find wrong with the story as a whole was Mysterio. Look, I am a 50-year-old comic fan who got all sorts of happy when I saw the clip of SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME and Mysterio was in it -- with his fishbowl head! But, here in this story, while cool to see him used, I felt he was not really memorable. His performance in the story didn't really feel like Mysterio, you know? Other than that, the book was all aces for me!
If you are looking for a Spider-Fix, and you want to read some of the good Bendis, look no further than this one! Enjoy!
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
There's a fun bunch of actors in the cast of this one. I was a little disappointed that Jack Black wasn't doing the whole film, but his little piece in it is entertaining. There's also a fun little cameo by R.L. Stine in there too. It was a little off putting seeing Chris Parnell, it hurt my brain a bit. Walter was a great character but all I could hear were Jerry and Cyril Figgis.
I always feel like I'm getting old when I watch a kids film and think, "that's quite scary for little 'uns". But there are a few good moment that give you a little jump.It's exactly what you'd expect from the film, fun spooky stuff. Nothing more, nothing less.
My favourite part of the whole movie is the last red gummy bear... keep and eye out for it.
Sorry this is such a short review, but honestly there isn't much to say about it. That's not a bad thing. The acting was good for this sort of film, it's a fun story line, the effects are quite good (thankfully no baby Jack Black like his last film) and you come away feeling like you've been entertained.
What you should do
A good halloween movie to see as a family, it's worth seeing but you could probably wait until it's out for home viewing.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I'd say a talking gummy bear, but they're a little homicidal, and if they weren't I'd probably be in danger of eating the squishy little thing anyway. If it were possibly to get something from the film that wasn't actively trying to kill me then I'd probably books that bring things to life.
I always feel like I'm getting old when I watch a kids film and think, "that's quite scary for little 'uns". But there are a few good moment that give you a little jump.It's exactly what you'd expect from the film, fun spooky stuff. Nothing more, nothing less.
My favourite part of the whole movie is the last red gummy bear... keep and eye out for it.
Sorry this is such a short review, but honestly there isn't much to say about it. That's not a bad thing. The acting was good for this sort of film, it's a fun story line, the effects are quite good (thankfully no baby Jack Black like his last film) and you come away feeling like you've been entertained.
What you should do
A good halloween movie to see as a family, it's worth seeing but you could probably wait until it's out for home viewing.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I'd say a talking gummy bear, but they're a little homicidal, and if they weren't I'd probably be in danger of eating the squishy little thing anyway. If it were possibly to get something from the film that wasn't actively trying to kill me then I'd probably books that bring things to life.
Debbiereadsbook (1795 KP) rated The Princess of Draga (Draga Court #1) in Books
Feb 28, 2018
a slow burner
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
A bit of a slow burner, long build up kinda book, this one!
It reminds me a little of reading Game of Thrones, NOT in the content, not at all but in the way the stage is set with many players, who have their own agendas. Many players who have a say. Many players who did NOT get a say too!
But my overwhelming reaction to finishing this was, I missed something. Something was missing and I cannot figure out what.
There is a book before this one, Royal Guard of Draga, but reading the blurb, it isn't what I'm missing. I think what I'm missing is more history of Draga, more about the original invasion of the Neprijat monsters who have returned to take over the galaxy. We get bits and pieces, but not enough for me to get the whole picture, the whole history. Maybe that will come with future books, I dunno. That's just how I feel, and ya'll know I love to share how I feel!
I did think it would be a little more on the explicit side, given how we are introduced to Nadyah and why she is in court with Adelina, but it isn't overly.
It's a GOOD book, well written from lots of those players, it just didn't grab me and it took far longer for me to read the 276 pages than it should have. Maybe book two will be better. Off to read it now!
A good solid 3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
A bit of a slow burner, long build up kinda book, this one!
It reminds me a little of reading Game of Thrones, NOT in the content, not at all but in the way the stage is set with many players, who have their own agendas. Many players who have a say. Many players who did NOT get a say too!
But my overwhelming reaction to finishing this was, I missed something. Something was missing and I cannot figure out what.
There is a book before this one, Royal Guard of Draga, but reading the blurb, it isn't what I'm missing. I think what I'm missing is more history of Draga, more about the original invasion of the Neprijat monsters who have returned to take over the galaxy. We get bits and pieces, but not enough for me to get the whole picture, the whole history. Maybe that will come with future books, I dunno. That's just how I feel, and ya'll know I love to share how I feel!
I did think it would be a little more on the explicit side, given how we are introduced to Nadyah and why she is in court with Adelina, but it isn't overly.
It's a GOOD book, well written from lots of those players, it just didn't grab me and it took far longer for me to read the 276 pages than it should have. Maybe book two will be better. Off to read it now!
A good solid 3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
CassidyTristyn (189 KP) rated Step Sisters (2018) in Movies
Aug 8, 2018
Netflix Original
I have seen very good movies on Netflix and I have seen very bad movies on Netflix. This one lands somewhere in between. The overall plotline of the movie was good to me. A girl from one sorority is charged with helping another flailing sorority by teaching them how to "step" as they call it, and clear up their name. If the girl succeeds in helping them she gets a recommendation to Harvard Law. However, along the way she faces many difficulties, obstacles, and choices that help her come to realize that maybe she isn't living the life she wants afterall. This movie uses college situations and sorority ideals to delve into societal and racial issues that we see in the world today. At some points the arguments got kind of hazy and confusing, but overall the message remained clear. Putting aside racial boundaries and focusing on strengthening each other can form a bond between the most unlikely people. Sure this theme is a little played out, but nonetheless I enjoyed the movie. The music was a great addition and the cast performed very well. The overall comedic factor was great as well. Not the best of movies, but definitely worth the watch if you are interested. *If racial issues and arguments offend you i would be cautious while watching this movie. While it is not a serious movie at all, i do feel that stereotypes were made and used throughout that might trigger some people. While i do not support such stereotypes, I do feel like this movie was still an alright movie that some people may enjoy watching.
Kathleen Hanna recommended Santogold by Santigold in Music (curated)
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated A Prayer Before Dawn (2018) in Movies
May 13, 2019
There will be blood
#aprayerbeforedawn is a relentless, hard hitting, dizzying trip into the world of addiction while incarcerated in a #notorious foreign prison. #prayerbeforedawn is the true story of #english #boxer #billymoore who is sent prison in #thailand?? & the film uses real #prisoners as cast. More like an experience than a film prayer is exhausting, relentless & at times a tuff watch. Everything intimidates here & with most of the dialog spoken not being in english or having subtitles we are made to feel as alone, frightened & intimidated as Billy. #violence is kept mostly off screen but to good effect giving it a more raw, savage & disturbing feel leaving the worst to your imagination. Sound design is incredible too be it the dread filled #soundtrack or the seemingly ramped up unnerving volume of #prison life around Billy everything seems to make you #anxious & under threat. Billy is #strong physically but his mind is #damaged/tortured & its almost as if #fighting & #drugs are his only escapism. Its depressing seeing him go from seemingly untouchable to a weak/#scared kid & with physical danger everywhere his mind starts to become more & more unstable. #joecole gives such a mesmerising performance here, you feel his #pain, #fear, paranoia & torture & admire what little #fight he has left in him. Infact whats going on in the prison could essentially be a metaphore for the stuggles going on in his head. Visually depressing but stunningly #gorgeous its almost like the director took inspiration from #nicholaswindingrefn #onlygodforgives & even uses some of its talented cast too. I really cant recommend this film enough it truly is a remarkable film & such an incredible, sad & powerful #truestory. #odeon #odeonlimitless #thursdaythoughts #fighter #boxing
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated All Your Perfects in Books
Aug 18, 2018
Emotional & Heavy
I've read a few of Colleen Hoover's books back in college but I have yet to pick up one of her newer ones. I've enjoyed them but I have to be honest, many of her books are what I would consider emotional porn. They're made to bring you intense emotions and I swear they're made to make you cry.
Going into this book I only knew the bare minimum about this book. I saw a few quotes here and there and I knew that it was about a failing marriage. What I did know is that I wanted to finally pick up another Colleen Hoover book. When I saw this book on Netgalley as a "wish" I knew I needed to click that button. I was lucky enough to be approved for this book.
I have to admit, I struggled with this book. I struggled with some of the actions of characters and honestly the characters themselves. I never truly felt connect with the characters. Now, Graham & Quinn were wonderful characters that were flawed and realistic, but I couldn't connect with them. Their story was tragic and beautiful at times and I can see why so many people have grabbed onto their story. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect how I normally do.
As expected with any Colleen Hoover novel, it is well written. You are going to feel emotions and you're going to feel them very deeply. Colleen Hoover does emotions well, I may not have felt connected to the characters but I did feel emotions and even tear up a bit at moments.
All in all, it was a good book & well written.
Going into this book I only knew the bare minimum about this book. I saw a few quotes here and there and I knew that it was about a failing marriage. What I did know is that I wanted to finally pick up another Colleen Hoover book. When I saw this book on Netgalley as a "wish" I knew I needed to click that button. I was lucky enough to be approved for this book.
I have to admit, I struggled with this book. I struggled with some of the actions of characters and honestly the characters themselves. I never truly felt connect with the characters. Now, Graham & Quinn were wonderful characters that were flawed and realistic, but I couldn't connect with them. Their story was tragic and beautiful at times and I can see why so many people have grabbed onto their story. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect how I normally do.
As expected with any Colleen Hoover novel, it is well written. You are going to feel emotions and you're going to feel them very deeply. Colleen Hoover does emotions well, I may not have felt connected to the characters but I did feel emotions and even tear up a bit at moments.
All in all, it was a good book & well written.