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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2532 KP) rated The Forgotten Man (Elvis Cole, #10) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Normally, a man shot in an alley in downtown Los Angeles wouldn’t cross Elvis Cole’s radar. However, this man claimed that he was the PI’s long-lost father in town to make up for lost time with his son. Could it be true? If so, what was he doing in the alley when he got shot?
At some point, this part of Cole’s past had to come into the foreground in the series, and this book does a great job of using that hook to springboard us into a great mystery. As you’d expect, there are some good twists and an exciting climax. I did feel that a flashback to Elvis as an early teen really didn’t do much for the story other than slow it down. We don’t get to see much of Joe Pike, Elvis’ partner. Instead, the sidekick role is filled with Carol Starkey, but I hated how she came across here. Definitely a step down for her character.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-forgotten-man-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
At some point, this part of Cole’s past had to come into the foreground in the series, and this book does a great job of using that hook to springboard us into a great mystery. As you’d expect, there are some good twists and an exciting climax. I did feel that a flashback to Elvis as an early teen really didn’t do much for the story other than slow it down. We don’t get to see much of Joe Pike, Elvis’ partner. Instead, the sidekick role is filled with Carol Starkey, but I hated how she came across here. Definitely a step down for her character.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-forgotten-man-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Gail (4 KP) rated Do Not Disturb (Resort Romances #1) in Books
Jun 4, 2018
Do Not Disturb by Mary Billiter
Four Stars
The story revolved around a young woman still coming into herself. She wants independence but hasn’t found that dream job to make it happen. She puts herself out there and might have even struck gold. I don’t usually enjoy love triangles because someone always gets hurt. The story was written very tastefully. It wasn’t overly dramatic where there was always something happening. The characters were enjoyable and I feel that Katie was a brave and determined character. It was a little slow at the beginning but it started to pick up after a few chapters. This was a new spin a romance and a woman’s determination to be her own boss. I look up to women who can hold it down on their own but softens when needed. We have too learn how to let go of the reins when someone else comes a long to be that support we need. The author did a really good job on bringing flaws and personality to the characters.
Four Stars
The story revolved around a young woman still coming into herself. She wants independence but hasn’t found that dream job to make it happen. She puts herself out there and might have even struck gold. I don’t usually enjoy love triangles because someone always gets hurt. The story was written very tastefully. It wasn’t overly dramatic where there was always something happening. The characters were enjoyable and I feel that Katie was a brave and determined character. It was a little slow at the beginning but it started to pick up after a few chapters. This was a new spin a romance and a woman’s determination to be her own boss. I look up to women who can hold it down on their own but softens when needed. We have too learn how to let go of the reins when someone else comes a long to be that support we need. The author did a really good job on bringing flaws and personality to the characters.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2532 KP) rated Fiction Can be Murder in Books
Jun 6, 2018
Mystery Author Framed for Murder by Her Own Manuscript
Melinda has a reputation for taking pleasure in being mean to people. Even though Charlee Russo is an author this agent represents, she’s seen Melinda’s mean streak before. So it isn’t necessarily a surprise when Melinda winds up murdered. What is a surprise is the method – straight out of Charlee’s just submitted book. Clearly, someone in her life is trying to frame her for murder. But which of her friends could it be?
Early on, I was worried that I was about to be flooded with suspects. While there are a lot, they were presented in a way that it was easy to remember them as the book went along. It also helped that potential series regulars are also suspects and that the characters are distinct. I did feel like the plot focused on one aspect of the mystery over some of the others, but there was still a good twist or two and the ending had me turning pages as quickly as possible.
Early on, I was worried that I was about to be flooded with suspects. While there are a lot, they were presented in a way that it was easy to remember them as the book went along. It also helped that potential series regulars are also suspects and that the characters are distinct. I did feel like the plot focused on one aspect of the mystery over some of the others, but there was still a good twist or two and the ending had me turning pages as quickly as possible.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Star Trek Generations (1994) in Movies
Jun 6, 2018
Seventh big-screen Trek has a kind of contractually-obligatory, cobbled-together feel to it: everyone was expecting them to do something where the old lot met the new lot, so they did, even if it seems like they couldn't come up with much of an actual story to go with it. Various attempts are made to give this story added significance - Data gets his emotion chip, the ship blows up, Worf gets a promotion, recurring characters are killed off - but it all boils down to putting Picard and Kirk together, which happens late on and only quite briefly (that said, the two of them don't exactly have chemistry, so maybe this is for the best). William Shatner is oddly subdued as James T and the writers don't have the best handle on the character, either.
Still, looks nice and Malcolm McDowell is always good fun as a scenery-gobbling bad guy. But it adds to the impression that, as far as Paramount are concerned, the Trek movies in particular are more about maintaining a profitable franchise than actually doing something creatively interesting.
Still, looks nice and Malcolm McDowell is always good fun as a scenery-gobbling bad guy. But it adds to the impression that, as far as Paramount are concerned, the Trek movies in particular are more about maintaining a profitable franchise than actually doing something creatively interesting.
Lou Grande (148 KP) rated Dans ma peau (2002) in Movies
Jun 27, 2018
"Dans ma peau" is a film that got me into French cinema (along with Martyrs, but this is a different breed of film). It's both horrific and real. An allegory about the pressure of life, specifically as a woman, protagonist Esther injures her leg at a party and develops a fixation on the wound. She begins to mutilate the wound further, using the pain as a distraction from office politics and a hard decision in her romantic life.
Brief interlude: if you struggle with self harm, do yourself a favor and either avoid this film, or watch when you're in a good frame of mind.
This movie is filmed in an innocuous way. That is to say, it doesn't FEEL like a horror movie. In fact, it's hard to even call it that, despite the horrific content. There are scenes which stretch on to the point where the audience is horribly uncomfortable. But they're also REAL. How many times have you felt inadequate or embarrassed and wished you could disappear? That's what this film embodies.
Brief interlude: if you struggle with self harm, do yourself a favor and either avoid this film, or watch when you're in a good frame of mind.
This movie is filmed in an innocuous way. That is to say, it doesn't FEEL like a horror movie. In fact, it's hard to even call it that, despite the horrific content. There are scenes which stretch on to the point where the audience is horribly uncomfortable. But they're also REAL. How many times have you felt inadequate or embarrassed and wished you could disappear? That's what this film embodies.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2532 KP) rated Death by Dumpling in Books
Jul 18, 2018
Lana Finds Herself Delivering Death
Lana Lee has landed back at her parents’ Chinese restaurant as a waitress in an effort to get her life back together. She thinks she’s hit rock bottom, but she’s wrong. Not too long after delivering Mr. Feng his usual order of dumplings, the man is found dead. Somehow, he got shellfish dumplings instead of the pork he ordered. With the police looking at everyone at the restaurant, Lana starts poking around to clear herself and the rest of the employees. But is one of them really guilty?
This was a very fun debut. The mystery is good, although the pacing does lag a bit in the middle. It does pick up again in the final third, giving us some great twists and turns before we reach the logical climax. The characters are mostly strong, which some room to grow as the series progresses. I did feel that Lana’s mother was the weakest characters, and I hope she is fleshed out more as the series progresses. I will definitely be back for seconds.
This was a very fun debut. The mystery is good, although the pacing does lag a bit in the middle. It does pick up again in the final third, giving us some great twists and turns before we reach the logical climax. The characters are mostly strong, which some room to grow as the series progresses. I did feel that Lana’s mother was the weakest characters, and I hope she is fleshed out more as the series progresses. I will definitely be back for seconds.
Aasiyah Sidat (34 KP) rated The Undomestic Goddess in Books
Jul 5, 2018
Would you like some cheese with that?
Hello all you beautiful people!
Let's all rejoice for regular posting on the blog and Youtube!!! I am officially back and all my attention is now on all you followers, readers and commenters! There are going to be a mix of food and book focused content which I am really excited to get out to all of you and content I have had so much fun creating so here's hoping you will have as much fun reading and watching it!
Now back to business. Today I am going to be reviewing a book by a very famous author that I picked up while doing my weekly shop in Tesco (2 for £7, can't go wrong!). Honestly, I have never read any Sophie Kinsella before but I mostly associate her works with chick lit, contemporary feel-good reads so I was looking forward to getting back into reading with a nice easy read.
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2018/06/would-you-like-some-cheese-with-that.html
Let's all rejoice for regular posting on the blog and Youtube!!! I am officially back and all my attention is now on all you followers, readers and commenters! There are going to be a mix of food and book focused content which I am really excited to get out to all of you and content I have had so much fun creating so here's hoping you will have as much fun reading and watching it!
Now back to business. Today I am going to be reviewing a book by a very famous author that I picked up while doing my weekly shop in Tesco (2 for £7, can't go wrong!). Honestly, I have never read any Sophie Kinsella before but I mostly associate her works with chick lit, contemporary feel-good reads so I was looking forward to getting back into reading with a nice easy read.
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2018/06/would-you-like-some-cheese-with-that.html
Crystal (9 KP) rated Some Fine Day in Books
Jul 4, 2018
At first I wasn't quite sure what to expect. In the beginning it seemed a basic story of underground girl going on vacation above ground. After she emerges from her underground world though things are not as they seem. The main character is developed well, and grows, but the other characters are supporting but don't really grow on their own. The main love interest is said to have changed, but I don't feel we know him well enough in the beginning to see such change. I would like to have been able to see more in the beginning, to see who the main character was before she discovered the world for what it was. Also, she has a relationship in the beginning that we know very little about, and I felt that could have been developed more as well. The ending is good for the most part, but is frustrating because as it ties up the main storyline, there are many loose ends and it leaves it as a cliffhanger, leaving me wondering about the fate of the main characters.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Mountain Between Us (2017) in Movies
Aug 12, 2018
Would've been better without the romance
I like both Idris Elba and Kate Winslet, however I feel like this film could've been much better without a pointless romance between them.
This should've been a survival film only, and it would've been much more endearing. The love story was a little ridiculous and unnecessary, and the ending too was just predictable and cheesy. As purely a survival film though, this could have actually been quite good. There are parts of this where they appear to survive fairly harsh conditions and situations without any real consequences, which seems a little farfetched - they spend 3 weeks in the mountains but barely seem knackered at all. There also seem to be a few nuances and plot holes. I also get very annoyed with survival films when one of the characters is always a doctor! It's awfully convenient.
To be fair this was an alright film to watch until it started on the romance. I'm just glad nothing bad happened to the dog.
This should've been a survival film only, and it would've been much more endearing. The love story was a little ridiculous and unnecessary, and the ending too was just predictable and cheesy. As purely a survival film though, this could have actually been quite good. There are parts of this where they appear to survive fairly harsh conditions and situations without any real consequences, which seems a little farfetched - they spend 3 weeks in the mountains but barely seem knackered at all. There also seem to be a few nuances and plot holes. I also get very annoyed with survival films when one of the characters is always a doctor! It's awfully convenient.
To be fair this was an alright film to watch until it started on the romance. I'm just glad nothing bad happened to the dog.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Lord of the Flies in Books
Aug 14, 2018
Not sure how this became a classic.
My school never required me to read this so I just never got around to it until a few years ago and I have to say I was not a fan. I found the entire book boring the characters terrible or writing wasn't really that great either, for the life of me I really cannot figure out how this book has made it into being a classic and it's still extremely popular. The whole idea of the book is really good but just the execution I found terrible I hated every single freaking character not even over exaggerating there.
I think if I would have been required to read this at a younger age like most people I may have liked it a lot more but reading it as an adult for the first time I feel really just spoil the whole thing for me plus you have to kind of be living under a rock and not to know what the books about and what happens in it.
I think if I would have been required to read this at a younger age like most people I may have liked it a lot more but reading it as an adult for the first time I feel really just spoil the whole thing for me plus you have to kind of be living under a rock and not to know what the books about and what happens in it.