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If you are looking for a book that will last a lifetime for your child or children? The Misadventures of Michael McMichaels is a good one to put on their bookshelf or bookshelves? This time i have read “The Misadventures of Michael McMichaels, The Creepy Campers”.

It about learning that cheating is not always the best to do. Kids feel the pressure sometime to win and then guess what happens. Sometimes kids start thinking that winning is everything. They may end up cheating from the pressure or the need to always win. Winning is not everything. It fine if you win fairly.

There are lessons on lying and bullying and intimidation. Michael is faced with this? What to do and how to go about it. Lying and bullying and intimidation is not all great either when it all winning and getting prizes.

This book teaches you that lesson. It as teachable moments for your child or children. It also mentions about “The Borrowed Bracelet” and “The Angry Alligator”. Those two are books 1 and 2 from this series “The Misadventures of Michael McMichaels.”

Children will enjoy the pictures throughout the book. These books are good for younger readers. Parents can read them to your child. This book is a fast read. The lesson is taught through the book.
  
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Sparks (Shock Me, #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book from Barclay Publicity in return for a fair and honest review.

This book continues where Shock Me finished and you are left not knowing who to trust or where to turn. Donna, Spencer and Rebecca feel that they can only trust each other and Donna also feels the extra responsibility of trying to keep them safe too. There are a few more new players which help keep this book fresh and moving forwards. Donna, Spencer and Rebecca find answers to questions they had but also uncover more secrets. Just how long has this been going on and how widespread is it? Throw into the story the usual self confidence angst and boy troubles that high school brings and you are swept away into Donna's story.

The intriguing part for me about this series isn't so much the story, as fantastic as it is, but the characters themselves. Each character is individual with their own thoughts, feelings and flaws. You are never sure when reading what you will get - a bad boy who decides to be good, a good guy who does something against his conscience, an unknown who acts in a way different to that you expected - it's all here and much more.

A brilliant continuation to the series which leaves you gasping for breath on a cliff hanger ending. Highly recommended.
  
Depraved (2019)
Depraved (2019)
2019 | Horror
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Good but Needed a More Inventive Story
In this intriguing retelling of Frankenstein’s monster, a man finds himself the victim of a kidnapping and gruesome science experiment.

Acting: 10

Beginning: 10

Characters: 10

Cinematography/Visuals: 10

Conflict: 8

Entertainment Value: 4

Memorability: 1

Pace: 10
One of the things Depraved does extremely well is keep you engaged. We move from one scene to the next at a pretty quick clip. Even during scenes with heavier dialogue, there are no lingering moments which I appreciate. Thoroughly enjoyed the speed as the movie didn’t feel like two hours in the slightest.

Plot: 5
The sum of the story’s parts doesn’t really pass the smell test. Fast is good, yes, but there are some speed bumps that are hard to overlook. It felt like it was trying so hard to mirror Frankenstein at times that it never fully tried to do its own thing.

Resolution: 5

Overall: 73
I try to support indie movies as often as I can. And not just Fox Searchlight type of movies but those up and coming from lesser known studios. Films like Depraved can find themselves outgunned and overmatched but I appreciate what directors like Larry Fessenden are able to do with less. I hope to see more of his work in the future.
  
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
1985 | Action, Sci-Fi
Where No Man Has Gone Before
Critics have said that this movie is best one out of the oringal three. That this one, is one of the best movies of all time. And im not sure why. It is a good movie, but that good no. The first one and the second one are the better ones. This one feels less action and more adventure. Also i felt board watching it. I almost feel alseep during it couple of times. I love the action in both the first and second one, this one had little to no action, and more adventure. I still like the post apocytpic setting, but im not sure if i will reccordmend watching it.

The plot: In the third of the "Mad Max" movies, Max (Mel Gibson) drifts into an evil town ruled by Turner. There he becomes a gladiator and gets dumped in the desert where he is rescued by a band of feral orphans who have been looking for help for years. When several of them take his appearance as a sign and go off into the desert, he follows them back to the town.

Like i said i not sure if i will recordmend it, i would recordmend the first and second one. This one has decent action, okay adventure and a nice send off for Max's journey.
  
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Amanda Palmer recommended Into the Gap by Thompson Twins in Music (curated)

 
Into the Gap by Thompson Twins
Into the Gap by Thompson Twins
1984 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I recently realised that I was leaving the Thompson Twins out of my list of influences because I subconsciously felt they were embarrassing. But I listened to a lot of Thompson Twins. Into the Gap was my favourite when I was 12 or 13. When I go back and revisit those records, some of it sounds a little dated, but actually they hold up really well. I feel like the songwriting of the Thompson Twins is one of the overlooked treasures of the 80s. It's really, really good. There are songs that tend towards the cheesy side, like 'Doctor Doctor', but if you listen to the deep songs on those records, the songwriting is fantastic. The lyrics are really, really good. That's what was on repeat when I was just starting to write songs. The ages 12 through 17 were when I felt I was completely defined by music, completely engulfed by it. You rarely saw me without a set of headphones on because I was trying to block out the rest of the world. Which is funny now – the only time nowadays I put a set of headphones on is to listen to mixes. I don't ever, ever wear an iPod. I barely even listen to music, which is no joke. But back then I was soaking up music like a sponge."

Source
  
Hitting the Books
Hitting the Books
Jenn McKinlay | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Was the Hit and Run a Murder Attempt?
Spring has arrived in Briar Creek, and it’s such a beautiful day that Lindsey Norris can’t help but spend a few minutes looking out the window of the library. However, what she sees is someone hit tennis coach Theresa Huston and then drive off. It sure seemed to Lindsey that the car sped up as it approached the crosswalk. When the investigation points to the library, Lindsey can’t help but get involved. But was this a case of negligent driving? Or was it attempted homicide?

The book does a good job of slipping us back into the world of the series while also setting up the mystery. However, I did feel the pace lagged a bit in the middle before wrapping the major questions up with the climax. A couple things could have been explained better, but they were minor. On the other hand, I loved how the library came into play in the plot. We don’t see as much of the series regulars, but that allows us to really get to know Theresa and those in her life, which I enjoyed. Plus, we get some good development for Lindsey and Sully. The book has the usual classic book discussion questions, craft, and three recipes at the end. Fans will enjoy this book; I know I did.
  
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Merissa (13942 KP) rated Eira in Books

Aug 5, 2021  
Eira
Eira
Adrian J. Smith | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
EIRA is a standalone novella giving The Snow Queen a FF fairytale retelling.

The descriptions of the national park, the weather, the hut, all those sorts of things were absolutely brilliant. I could see them so clearly in my mind as I read, which is always a good thing.

What I didn't like so much were the main characters themselves, which kinda makes it awkward! I didn't really feel any connection between them, not helped by the long periods of time that slipped them both by without them being in contact.

The other thing was when Kay had been told about the curse. She goes to the library and searches out information on Gwyn, finding out she was a historical figure who just disappeared. Then she makes a connection to fairy tales and decides - with no real proof, just a hunch - that Gwyn is The Snow Queen and she knows how to save her. I love fantasy and paranormal but even I found this to be a stretch of the imagination.

Overall, this was a nice coffee break book that I enjoyed but it is a one-and-done for me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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Colin Newman recommended Church Of Anthrax by John Cale in Music (curated)

 
Church Of Anthrax by John Cale
Church Of Anthrax by John Cale
1971 | Jazz
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I'm an enormous Terry Riley fan. For me, Steve Reich and Terry Riley are the twin pillars of minimalism. Simplicity, harmony and repetition: they're very important things in what I do and what I really like. And I chose this album as opposed to A Rainbow In Curved Air because I heard that both John Cale and Terry Riley hated it, and I think it's a record that deserves love. 'The Mirrors In The Great Hall of Versailles' is a fantastic track and one which I just listen to over and over again. It's a really beautiful record. For years I hated the song. There's a song called 'The Soul of Patrick Lee' on it. But then I heard it somewhere and I thought it was quite good. But it's a strange hybrid record, and you can see how Terry could be dissatisfied with hearing something that has repetitive riffs and drums playing underneath it, and how John would feel like it didn't really accord with anything he was doing. Someone had obviously decided that they would make a good pairing because of their history. But they never made another record together which kind of tells you quite a lot. There hasn't been a Church Of Anthrax Revisited. Also it's a fantastic title. It's very dystopian."

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