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Louise (64 KP) rated A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares in Books
Jul 2, 2018
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I read Krystal Sutherland’s debut novel earlier this year for my #beatthebacklist challenge and whilst it wasn’t great I decided to give this writer another chance. I usually give authors a second chance, I like to see how they develop and whether it’s just the story or characters that rubbed me up the wrong way.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book, I definitely think it is an improvement from her debut novel and will read further books of her’s if the blurb intrigues me.
This story follows Esther Solar, she is not your typical 17-year-old, she doesn’t conform to fashion trends and has her very own unique style of dressing up in costumes every day, one day she might be Audrey Hepburn, she might be a cow girl the next. She is not a popular girl and her family would maybe deemed eccentric or different from the norm.
Esther’s grandfather proclaimed that he met death (several times) since this revelation his family has had a bout of bad luck. Esther has a twin who is petrified of the dark and has all the lights and candles going continuously, her father is agoraphobic and hasn’t left the cellar for 6 years and her mother has a fear of bad luck. Esther deems herself as the normal one of the family, however that’s only because she has avoided anything she thinks might induce fear and so she creates a list, these are: Lobsters, small spaces and anything else she thinks of, this is her list of semi-definitive list of worst nightmares.
Esther comes in to contact with Jonah Smallwood, a boy who used to be in her class but then moved away to another school. Jonah seems to take a liking to Esther and keeps turning up at her door or the same part. They develop this friendship,when Jonah discovers Esther’s list he takes it upon himself to help conquer these so-called fears and live life fear free.
There were several things that I enjoyed about the book, one was I thought the characters were good and fleshed out, we got a back story to how they came to their current situation. I liked that there was a magical realism/supernatural element to the book. This book had its quirks and then also some serious topics such a phobia’s,anxiety,depression, gambling,child abuse, dementia, selective mutism and suicide. Whilst you might be thinking that is some heavy stuff, it doesn’t always feel like that through the book. Sutherland has managed to handle these heavy topics with a lot of care.
Sutherland’s writing style is easy to read but the pacing was a bit up and down and sometimes it just didn’t hold my attention. I would definitely recommend reading this book, however there are trigger warnings.
I read Krystal Sutherland’s debut novel earlier this year for my #beatthebacklist challenge and whilst it wasn’t great I decided to give this writer another chance. I usually give authors a second chance, I like to see how they develop and whether it’s just the story or characters that rubbed me up the wrong way.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book, I definitely think it is an improvement from her debut novel and will read further books of her’s if the blurb intrigues me.
This story follows Esther Solar, she is not your typical 17-year-old, she doesn’t conform to fashion trends and has her very own unique style of dressing up in costumes every day, one day she might be Audrey Hepburn, she might be a cow girl the next. She is not a popular girl and her family would maybe deemed eccentric or different from the norm.
Esther’s grandfather proclaimed that he met death (several times) since this revelation his family has had a bout of bad luck. Esther has a twin who is petrified of the dark and has all the lights and candles going continuously, her father is agoraphobic and hasn’t left the cellar for 6 years and her mother has a fear of bad luck. Esther deems herself as the normal one of the family, however that’s only because she has avoided anything she thinks might induce fear and so she creates a list, these are: Lobsters, small spaces and anything else she thinks of, this is her list of semi-definitive list of worst nightmares.
Esther comes in to contact with Jonah Smallwood, a boy who used to be in her class but then moved away to another school. Jonah seems to take a liking to Esther and keeps turning up at her door or the same part. They develop this friendship,when Jonah discovers Esther’s list he takes it upon himself to help conquer these so-called fears and live life fear free.
There were several things that I enjoyed about the book, one was I thought the characters were good and fleshed out, we got a back story to how they came to their current situation. I liked that there was a magical realism/supernatural element to the book. This book had its quirks and then also some serious topics such a phobia’s,anxiety,depression, gambling,child abuse, dementia, selective mutism and suicide. Whilst you might be thinking that is some heavy stuff, it doesn’t always feel like that through the book. Sutherland has managed to handle these heavy topics with a lot of care.
Sutherland’s writing style is easy to read but the pacing was a bit up and down and sometimes it just didn’t hold my attention. I would definitely recommend reading this book, however there are trigger warnings.
Carma (21 KP) rated Just For Fun (Just Everyday Heroes: Day Shift, #4) in Books
Jun 17, 2019
Erin Nicholas incorporates Lori Foster, Castle and Pretty Woman, 3 of my favorite things, into this 5 star novel. Can it get any better? #WhatWouldRichardGereDo
Douglas Dooley Miller was a total ladies man, he didnt do commitment and he liked regular girls. Morgan James was no regular girl. He knew he was in trouble the moment he paid her bail and left her in the jail cell.
Morgan James couldnt believe she was searching out Doug Miller again after he left her to rot in the jail cell. Ok so it was only for 30 more minutes after he left and they didnt charge her or make her pay bail money but still. She needed his help, and it needed to be him and only him to help her out with a problem.
Dooley isnt one that his friends go to first for help or advice so when Morgan tracks him down and asks for a favor he has no idea what to do. I mean who doesnt want to help a gorgeous woman asking for a favor but he is still unsure he wants to accept this task.
Morgan likes Dooley and knows he is just the man to help. Their attraction is undeniable so there shouldnt be an issue in him helping her out for a few days. She just needs him to come with her on a business trip, and maybe keep her nights entertained. She doesnt know who else to ask, and honestly doesnt want anyone else for the job.
Dooley takes Morgan up on her offer and tries his best to not get involved. Dont get to know her, according to Sam and his buddies, or youll never want to let go. Too bad he has felt like that for the month hes already known her. Could she ever feel the same?
Once again the author takes us on a trip with the Bradford family and their friends. Each book references past characters but it never really totally involves them unnecessarily. That is one of the things I love about this author, funny enough following in the steps of the referenced Lori Foster who does the same. You get involved and invested in these characters and want to know all about them. Dooley was already a favorite of mine with his quick wit and passing advice. Knowing he needed a good match to keep up with him had me wondering who could possibly fill those shoes. Enter Morgan, his opposite on paper (so it seemed), but perfect to keep up with Dooley and all hes about.
It was nice getting to know Dooleys family dynamic and more about Kevin (who is the next book in the series) and I cant wait to continue on with my Bradford adventure.
Douglas Dooley Miller was a total ladies man, he didnt do commitment and he liked regular girls. Morgan James was no regular girl. He knew he was in trouble the moment he paid her bail and left her in the jail cell.
Morgan James couldnt believe she was searching out Doug Miller again after he left her to rot in the jail cell. Ok so it was only for 30 more minutes after he left and they didnt charge her or make her pay bail money but still. She needed his help, and it needed to be him and only him to help her out with a problem.
Dooley isnt one that his friends go to first for help or advice so when Morgan tracks him down and asks for a favor he has no idea what to do. I mean who doesnt want to help a gorgeous woman asking for a favor but he is still unsure he wants to accept this task.
Morgan likes Dooley and knows he is just the man to help. Their attraction is undeniable so there shouldnt be an issue in him helping her out for a few days. She just needs him to come with her on a business trip, and maybe keep her nights entertained. She doesnt know who else to ask, and honestly doesnt want anyone else for the job.
Dooley takes Morgan up on her offer and tries his best to not get involved. Dont get to know her, according to Sam and his buddies, or youll never want to let go. Too bad he has felt like that for the month hes already known her. Could she ever feel the same?
Once again the author takes us on a trip with the Bradford family and their friends. Each book references past characters but it never really totally involves them unnecessarily. That is one of the things I love about this author, funny enough following in the steps of the referenced Lori Foster who does the same. You get involved and invested in these characters and want to know all about them. Dooley was already a favorite of mine with his quick wit and passing advice. Knowing he needed a good match to keep up with him had me wondering who could possibly fill those shoes. Enter Morgan, his opposite on paper (so it seemed), but perfect to keep up with Dooley and all hes about.
It was nice getting to know Dooleys family dynamic and more about Kevin (who is the next book in the series) and I cant wait to continue on with my Bradford adventure.
Jessica - Where the Book Ends (15 KP) rated Leah on the Offbeat in Books
Jan 30, 2019
**** SPOILER ALERT ****
Actual rating: 1.5 -- I have the unpopular opinion.
I was super excited to read this book when it came out especially after I read and loved Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda. A lot of people read this and were sharing their love of it on Bookstagram and Booktube. With all the hype I decided to put off reading it a bit so that it would be fresh and new for me and I could form my own opinion and not be swayed by the masses. I'm glad I did but at the same time kind of wish I hadn't waited.
Honestly, I didn't like this book. I loved Simon vs. the Homosapien's Agenda, and I gave that book 5 stars. I loved Leah in that book and I really related with her (the little bit we had of her), and I was super pumped when I found out she was getting her own book. To be honest, I didn't like Leah in this book. I thought she was bitchy and bratty. I didn't like the way she treated people and I especially didn't like the fact that this book was just sooooooo predictable.
Lets first start with her love interest Garrett. I thought he was great! He obviously liked Leah and I thought their interactions were wonderful. I know Leah was trying to figure out her feelings and where she stood with her sexuality, but honestly, I would have been happier if she'd ended up with Garrett, the relationship seemed more real to me and less forced.
Her second love interest and ultimately who Leah chose to be with... Abby Suso. Don't like her... at all. Disliked her completely in Simon's book and couldn't stand her in this book. If we're keeping score I called this relationship back when initially reading Simon vs. I thought about how Abby and Leah interacted and about how "straight" Abby was and I just knew these two would be forced together. I don't like Abby. She doesn't seem genuine her interactions seemed forced and she just doesn't fit with the other characters. Most importantly I feel like this was an insta-love relationship. It was like one minute Abby was straight and in love with Nick and then when she realized that her and Nick would have to do the long distance thing or break up due to going to different colleges; Leah was suddenly an option and she was suddenly good enough. This whole relationship just infuriated me.
All in all, I am extremely disappointed in this book. I love Becky Albertalli and her writing, but this book was a big miss for me. It seemed rushed and almost like she threw it together because she needed a sequel to Simon. I will read her future books but I just can't side with the masses on this one.
Actual rating: 1.5 -- I have the unpopular opinion.
I was super excited to read this book when it came out especially after I read and loved Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda. A lot of people read this and were sharing their love of it on Bookstagram and Booktube. With all the hype I decided to put off reading it a bit so that it would be fresh and new for me and I could form my own opinion and not be swayed by the masses. I'm glad I did but at the same time kind of wish I hadn't waited.
Honestly, I didn't like this book. I loved Simon vs. the Homosapien's Agenda, and I gave that book 5 stars. I loved Leah in that book and I really related with her (the little bit we had of her), and I was super pumped when I found out she was getting her own book. To be honest, I didn't like Leah in this book. I thought she was bitchy and bratty. I didn't like the way she treated people and I especially didn't like the fact that this book was just sooooooo predictable.
Lets first start with her love interest Garrett. I thought he was great! He obviously liked Leah and I thought their interactions were wonderful. I know Leah was trying to figure out her feelings and where she stood with her sexuality, but honestly, I would have been happier if she'd ended up with Garrett, the relationship seemed more real to me and less forced.
Her second love interest and ultimately who Leah chose to be with... Abby Suso. Don't like her... at all. Disliked her completely in Simon's book and couldn't stand her in this book. If we're keeping score I called this relationship back when initially reading Simon vs. I thought about how Abby and Leah interacted and about how "straight" Abby was and I just knew these two would be forced together. I don't like Abby. She doesn't seem genuine her interactions seemed forced and she just doesn't fit with the other characters. Most importantly I feel like this was an insta-love relationship. It was like one minute Abby was straight and in love with Nick and then when she realized that her and Nick would have to do the long distance thing or break up due to going to different colleges; Leah was suddenly an option and she was suddenly good enough. This whole relationship just infuriated me.
All in all, I am extremely disappointed in this book. I love Becky Albertalli and her writing, but this book was a big miss for me. It seemed rushed and almost like she threw it together because she needed a sequel to Simon. I will read her future books but I just can't side with the masses on this one.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Instant Family (2019) in Movies
Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)
Going in to Instant Family I had some reservations. I'm a big fan of Rose Byrne, her performance in last year's Juliet, Naked was a delight to watch, but on the flipside Mark Wahlberg and comedy don't come high on my must see list. Thankfully those thoughts were quickly dismissed as the times I laughed out loud soared into the double digits.
This is a genuinely good film with just a couple of things that made me pause a little, I'll mention those later. The moments where I laughed it was out loud, like almost everyone else at the screening, and when I wasn't laughing I was probably crying, sometimes ugly crying.
Byrne and Wahlberg worked so well together and with Isabela Moner in the mix too we were treated to some great on screen chemistry. I'm hoping we'll see a lot more of Moner on our screens as she was able to pull her weight really well with all the fantastic actors in this.
A lot is obviously focused around Ellie, Pete and the kids, but outside of that dynamic I've got to give some love to Karen and Sharon. Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro are such a fun double act, although for me Spencer will always steal the show. Their dynamic running the fostering program brought a smile to my face and while the reactionary humour may be predictable it lands so well that I couldn't care less that I knew it was coming.
My negatives about the films are so minute that they hardly seem worth mentioning. Pete (Wahlberg) has a tendency to be blunt and externalise what most of us would keep as inner dialogue. His script gives you those moments where you take a sharp breath and say "you shouldn't say that!" Ellie counteracts this by being the slight voice of reason so while you're taken aback by Pete's honesty you quickly come back to the normal flow of the film.
Out of my two quibbles this one caused me the most issues. Joan Cusack. She's great, I enjoy her work, but I really don't understand her inclusion in this. She pops up as a sort of cameo role near the end and it feels a little invasive on the dramatic moment we're witnessing, it just seems awkward and forced. It does at least lead to an amusing moment for Spencer so I think that probably gets it the pass.
Instant Family is definitely chock full of laughs and feels, despite my grumbles I still feel it deserves these five stars.
What you should do
It's a very entertaining film and perhaps surprisingly based on a true story, it's well worth a watch. I really think that everyone will get some entertainment out of this.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
If you could send Pete and Ellie round with their renovation skills it would be much appreciated.
This is a genuinely good film with just a couple of things that made me pause a little, I'll mention those later. The moments where I laughed it was out loud, like almost everyone else at the screening, and when I wasn't laughing I was probably crying, sometimes ugly crying.
Byrne and Wahlberg worked so well together and with Isabela Moner in the mix too we were treated to some great on screen chemistry. I'm hoping we'll see a lot more of Moner on our screens as she was able to pull her weight really well with all the fantastic actors in this.
A lot is obviously focused around Ellie, Pete and the kids, but outside of that dynamic I've got to give some love to Karen and Sharon. Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro are such a fun double act, although for me Spencer will always steal the show. Their dynamic running the fostering program brought a smile to my face and while the reactionary humour may be predictable it lands so well that I couldn't care less that I knew it was coming.
My negatives about the films are so minute that they hardly seem worth mentioning. Pete (Wahlberg) has a tendency to be blunt and externalise what most of us would keep as inner dialogue. His script gives you those moments where you take a sharp breath and say "you shouldn't say that!" Ellie counteracts this by being the slight voice of reason so while you're taken aback by Pete's honesty you quickly come back to the normal flow of the film.
Out of my two quibbles this one caused me the most issues. Joan Cusack. She's great, I enjoy her work, but I really don't understand her inclusion in this. She pops up as a sort of cameo role near the end and it feels a little invasive on the dramatic moment we're witnessing, it just seems awkward and forced. It does at least lead to an amusing moment for Spencer so I think that probably gets it the pass.
Instant Family is definitely chock full of laughs and feels, despite my grumbles I still feel it deserves these five stars.
What you should do
It's a very entertaining film and perhaps surprisingly based on a true story, it's well worth a watch. I really think that everyone will get some entertainment out of this.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
If you could send Pete and Ellie round with their renovation skills it would be much appreciated.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Happy Death Day 2U (2019) in Movies
Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)
Hands up if you laughed your way through this one? *throws hands up in the air*
This is where I love the horror genre, although I wouldn't really say this is horror. It's light-hearted and knows it doesn't need to take itself too seriously. It's sort of a horror comedy... A homedy? A corror? Definitely a homedy.
The trailer was a little misleading, I went in thinking that we were going to see them all stuck in the time loop which isn't the case. I'm probably happy that it ended up being different because I couldn't work out how they were going to do it otherwise.
When the original came out I was so happy to have discovered it. Horror is probably my least favourite genre but throw some homedy (it's happening people, go with it!) at me and I'm there for it. It's why I love the Screams and Final Destinations. HDD2U took it to another level, or should I say dimension?
While I loved this we could now have a potential problem, the third one could step over into Sharknado territory and become the parody but we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it... and if I'm honest, this one was pretty close to that line anyway.
There's no way to deny the fact that 2 is riding on the coattails of its predecessor. It concentrates more on solving the cause of the loop rather than the mystery of who the killer is now and it isn't quite as compelling to watch. Neither is the fact that in this new loop we're given altered versions of the existing characters. We see a lot more of Danielle which if I'm honest isn't a good thing. She's still totes annoying but this time she brings a thespian side that leads to a truly terrible slapstick scene.
For sheer enjoyment as a follow on film it's brilliant but taken on its own merit it wouldn't get such high praise, but I had fun and that's what counts. I did see this for a second time and it unfortunately gave me more time to consider all the slightly dubious bits of it. It really hits hard on the sci-fi side of things, particularly in the mid-credit scene, and it doesn't feel quite right... now I'm wondering if it has already become its own parody...
What you should do
If you enjoyed the first one then you should totally see it, it's entertaining and much less serious about itself than the first but it's also much more ridiculous. Do remember to stay for the credit scene, you'll be able to see why I'm a little worried about any future endeavours.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I'd probably still want Tree's fearlessness and resilience, but without having to die repeatedly to attain it.
This is where I love the horror genre, although I wouldn't really say this is horror. It's light-hearted and knows it doesn't need to take itself too seriously. It's sort of a horror comedy... A homedy? A corror? Definitely a homedy.
The trailer was a little misleading, I went in thinking that we were going to see them all stuck in the time loop which isn't the case. I'm probably happy that it ended up being different because I couldn't work out how they were going to do it otherwise.
When the original came out I was so happy to have discovered it. Horror is probably my least favourite genre but throw some homedy (it's happening people, go with it!) at me and I'm there for it. It's why I love the Screams and Final Destinations. HDD2U took it to another level, or should I say dimension?
While I loved this we could now have a potential problem, the third one could step over into Sharknado territory and become the parody but we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it... and if I'm honest, this one was pretty close to that line anyway.
There's no way to deny the fact that 2 is riding on the coattails of its predecessor. It concentrates more on solving the cause of the loop rather than the mystery of who the killer is now and it isn't quite as compelling to watch. Neither is the fact that in this new loop we're given altered versions of the existing characters. We see a lot more of Danielle which if I'm honest isn't a good thing. She's still totes annoying but this time she brings a thespian side that leads to a truly terrible slapstick scene.
For sheer enjoyment as a follow on film it's brilliant but taken on its own merit it wouldn't get such high praise, but I had fun and that's what counts. I did see this for a second time and it unfortunately gave me more time to consider all the slightly dubious bits of it. It really hits hard on the sci-fi side of things, particularly in the mid-credit scene, and it doesn't feel quite right... now I'm wondering if it has already become its own parody...
What you should do
If you enjoyed the first one then you should totally see it, it's entertaining and much less serious about itself than the first but it's also much more ridiculous. Do remember to stay for the credit scene, you'll be able to see why I'm a little worried about any future endeavours.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I'd probably still want Tree's fearlessness and resilience, but without having to die repeatedly to attain it.
Merissa (12914 KP) rated Petrus (Fueled By Lust #12) in Books
Oct 30, 2019
Petrus is the twelfth book in the Fueled by Lust series, and I would certainly recommend you read them in order. Not only will that give you a better understanding of the overall story arc, but you will get to meet the characters in greater detail, helping you to know them more.
Petrus was one of the unfortunate Insedi who had a faulty necklace. This meant that when he kissed Ireland for the first time, nothing happened, much to his distress. Ireland, of course, knows nothing about the Insedi or necklaces, so she wondered what the hell was going on. To try and protect her, Petrus was cruel to be kind, which then backfired when he found out about the faulty necklaces. So now he has to try and coax her back to him.
I love this series, I really do. I have loved each and every one of the Insedi warriors, and this book is no different in that regard. What I didn't love as much were the other men in this. I can sort of understand Ludo, especially once you learn of the near-miss between him and Ireland, although I much preferred Makar and Baruch because they were already a 'couple' (so to speak). It was Damon who didn't do it for me though. I loved how it was written with a human being included into a triad but I would have loved more from him during the book. He was there at the beginning, bam, I love you's to Ireland, but then he disappears until near the end. One evening (or so it seemed) and he's into the triad, now quadrat! And then throw in the BDSM elements that Petrus and Ludo are happy for him to take the lead on... I don't know. It just didn't feel right to me, and I pains me to write that!
There were no errors in this book that disrupted my reading, and I found myself to be just as lost within the Insedi world as ever. It just didn't move in the same way as the previous books have. And Cato is still hands-down my favourite!!!
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! Because it is part of an amazing world full of interesting and intriguing characters. It isn't just the warriors who will delight you, but their partners too. Trust me, the women are just as badass in their own ways, and Makenna and Ireland's quips and witticisms to each other were fantastic to read. So yes, I recommend it. Just start from the beginning and you will love the Insedi just as much as I do!
* 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!
Petrus was one of the unfortunate Insedi who had a faulty necklace. This meant that when he kissed Ireland for the first time, nothing happened, much to his distress. Ireland, of course, knows nothing about the Insedi or necklaces, so she wondered what the hell was going on. To try and protect her, Petrus was cruel to be kind, which then backfired when he found out about the faulty necklaces. So now he has to try and coax her back to him.
I love this series, I really do. I have loved each and every one of the Insedi warriors, and this book is no different in that regard. What I didn't love as much were the other men in this. I can sort of understand Ludo, especially once you learn of the near-miss between him and Ireland, although I much preferred Makar and Baruch because they were already a 'couple' (so to speak). It was Damon who didn't do it for me though. I loved how it was written with a human being included into a triad but I would have loved more from him during the book. He was there at the beginning, bam, I love you's to Ireland, but then he disappears until near the end. One evening (or so it seemed) and he's into the triad, now quadrat! And then throw in the BDSM elements that Petrus and Ludo are happy for him to take the lead on... I don't know. It just didn't feel right to me, and I pains me to write that!
There were no errors in this book that disrupted my reading, and I found myself to be just as lost within the Insedi world as ever. It just didn't move in the same way as the previous books have. And Cato is still hands-down my favourite!!!
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! Because it is part of an amazing world full of interesting and intriguing characters. It isn't just the warriors who will delight you, but their partners too. Trust me, the women are just as badass in their own ways, and Makenna and Ireland's quips and witticisms to each other were fantastic to read. So yes, I recommend it. Just start from the beginning and you will love the Insedi just as much as I do!
* 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!
Darren (1599 KP) rated Goldfinger (1964) in Movies
Nov 7, 2019
Characters – James Bond is the guy we know, he breaks into hotel rooms to sleep with women, uses his charm to seduce others. This time he starts his own investigation into a mysterious smuggler, getting up close and personal to him hoping to let the rest of team to follow the trails he leaves. Goldfinger is a competitive gold smuggler who has grabbed the attention of the governments across the globe, we learn early on that he will kill the people that cross him including leaving his trademark gold paint behind, his latest job will see him take on the world’s biggest gold reserve. Pussy Galore is a pilot that is instrumentally to Goldfinger’s plans which will includes her skill set. Oddjob is the henchman for Goldfinger, he uses his hat to kill people, making him one of the first and most memorable of all of the henchmen.
Performances –Sean Connery in the leading role once again is good for the most part, he has the charm needed for the whole film. Gert Frobe brings us a different type of villain to the franchise, he makes the character seem likable on the outside while having his motive kept below a smile. Honor Blackman does a solid job even if for some reason we get a total of three bond girls in this film. Harold Sakata brings us the first truly memorable henchman which soon became the key to the success of the Bond franchise.
Story – The story here puts James Bond on his latest mission, this time there isn’t a connection to the previous two like the last two and this is refreshing because this being a solo story we get to see how James operates. The negatives in the story come from seeing him so close to the villain for most of the film with most of the film being him trying to get a message out about where he is. It is strange though because I did enjoy this one more than the last two because this is one that can be picked up without needing to see anything in the franchise before. Simply put this is one that can be enjoyed as a casual viewer because of how simple the story unfolds.
Action/Adventure – The action in this film does feel toned down from the previous films, simple enough action related material, while the adventure does take Bond around the world next to the Goldfinger.
Settings – We get plenty of settings which all relate to the idea of where you would find gold, this is perfect for the idea the film is needed.
Scene of the Movie – Oddjob.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The final twist
Final Thoughts – This is one of the fun James Bond movies, it isn’t connected to the rest of the franchise which does help make it enjoyable.
Overall: Fun Bond movie.
Performances –Sean Connery in the leading role once again is good for the most part, he has the charm needed for the whole film. Gert Frobe brings us a different type of villain to the franchise, he makes the character seem likable on the outside while having his motive kept below a smile. Honor Blackman does a solid job even if for some reason we get a total of three bond girls in this film. Harold Sakata brings us the first truly memorable henchman which soon became the key to the success of the Bond franchise.
Story – The story here puts James Bond on his latest mission, this time there isn’t a connection to the previous two like the last two and this is refreshing because this being a solo story we get to see how James operates. The negatives in the story come from seeing him so close to the villain for most of the film with most of the film being him trying to get a message out about where he is. It is strange though because I did enjoy this one more than the last two because this is one that can be picked up without needing to see anything in the franchise before. Simply put this is one that can be enjoyed as a casual viewer because of how simple the story unfolds.
Action/Adventure – The action in this film does feel toned down from the previous films, simple enough action related material, while the adventure does take Bond around the world next to the Goldfinger.
Settings – We get plenty of settings which all relate to the idea of where you would find gold, this is perfect for the idea the film is needed.
Scene of the Movie – Oddjob.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The final twist
Final Thoughts – This is one of the fun James Bond movies, it isn’t connected to the rest of the franchise which does help make it enjoyable.
Overall: Fun Bond movie.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Queen & Slim (2019) in Movies
Feb 2, 2020
Queen and Slim share a nice, if odd, first date. Driving her home after dinner their night takes a turn as they're pulled over by a police officer. It's clear that he's less than happy, and when he asks Slim to step out of the car with no real reason Queen, as a lawyer, tries to stand for what's right. What happens next leaves them both changed and they need to escape what's coming, but neither are prepared for what it'll lead them to.
Queen and Slim was interesting and yet at times boring. The basic idea is that these two are on the run after committing a crime, that can be a thrilling ride to be on, but between the thrilling, there was a lot of filler. It wasn't bad, it's artistically shot, but at some point that doesn't make up for the lack of scene.
There's also a technique employed that really didn't sit well with me. In those in-between bits when we're shown characters there's a voiceover when they're sitting looking intense. The first time it happened I honestly thought something had gone wrong with the audio but it all went back to normal fairly quickly. Then it happened a second time and I suddenly realised... this is a thing. I didn't feel like it added anything to the film, rather it took me out of the scenes every time.
Our peripheral characters are all solid and I was particularly impressed with the lad playing the mechanics son, Jahi Di'Allo Winston. While he wasn't in a lot of the film his moments were important and held an interesting message about what was occurring in the film.
With our main characters there was a big issue I had from the very beginning. I didn't particularly like Queen as a character. Even considering the events that take place for her outside of the film's main timeline I found her actions to be unbelievable compared to the image of her as a person that we'd already gleaned. In turn, I found the reactions of Slim to be against character too. This led to a lot of other similar issues through the whole film.
Jodie Turner-Smith's performance felt a little flat, while some of that will be to do with the way Queen was written I didn't get any flashes of something unique to latch on to. Daniel Kaluuya also might not have had the best writing to deal with but his performance was much more impressive.
While the story was an interesting one and brings up a lot to think about when it comes to social justice I was almost instantly taken out of it by Queen's actions, and then put off again by the strange voiceovers. I don't think I will need to watch this one again, while there are good bits in Queen and Slim there was way too much that was just okay between them.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/02/queen-slim-movie-review.html
Queen and Slim was interesting and yet at times boring. The basic idea is that these two are on the run after committing a crime, that can be a thrilling ride to be on, but between the thrilling, there was a lot of filler. It wasn't bad, it's artistically shot, but at some point that doesn't make up for the lack of scene.
There's also a technique employed that really didn't sit well with me. In those in-between bits when we're shown characters there's a voiceover when they're sitting looking intense. The first time it happened I honestly thought something had gone wrong with the audio but it all went back to normal fairly quickly. Then it happened a second time and I suddenly realised... this is a thing. I didn't feel like it added anything to the film, rather it took me out of the scenes every time.
Our peripheral characters are all solid and I was particularly impressed with the lad playing the mechanics son, Jahi Di'Allo Winston. While he wasn't in a lot of the film his moments were important and held an interesting message about what was occurring in the film.
With our main characters there was a big issue I had from the very beginning. I didn't particularly like Queen as a character. Even considering the events that take place for her outside of the film's main timeline I found her actions to be unbelievable compared to the image of her as a person that we'd already gleaned. In turn, I found the reactions of Slim to be against character too. This led to a lot of other similar issues through the whole film.
Jodie Turner-Smith's performance felt a little flat, while some of that will be to do with the way Queen was written I didn't get any flashes of something unique to latch on to. Daniel Kaluuya also might not have had the best writing to deal with but his performance was much more impressive.
While the story was an interesting one and brings up a lot to think about when it comes to social justice I was almost instantly taken out of it by Queen's actions, and then put off again by the strange voiceovers. I don't think I will need to watch this one again, while there are good bits in Queen and Slim there was way too much that was just okay between them.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/02/queen-slim-movie-review.html
Anger Management: The Complete Guide to Achieve Self-Control, Overcome Impulsiveness, and Managing Your Emotions by Tommy Foster has a title (or rather a subtitle) that is a little on the long side, but I am pleased to say that this is not a long winded book. The book can be finished in a day or two but I encourage those looking to benefit from it to read it slower.
This book rightly starts out with a disclaimer that it is not responsible for anything that someone may decide to do after reading it. It then moves onto an introduction and explains what anger is and where it comes from. These ideas will continue to pop up through the remainder of the book. It talks about the different types of anger that someone can have depending on what is going on internally and what caused the anger in the first place. Once of the main focuses of this book was how anger can effect our lives and relationships in both a positive and negative way depending on how we handle the anger itself. The ways that anger can do damage to our own self-image and even cause an endless loop of brooding and depression are also discussed at length.
Once the background information has been well established the book moves on to different ways of managing anger. Multiple ideas are offered. Some such ideas are to try to see things through the eyes of the person you are angry at or to actively listen because miscommunication could be an underlying cause. There is even an entire section towards the end devoted towards anger in the home and how to fix it before it gets out of hand and tears the family apart.
I liked how this book presented anger as a natural and healthy emotion. All too often anger is seen as a negative emotion and this book works to dispel that myth. The tone is also understanding and offering explanation instead of condescending, a welcome change. What I didnt like is that unfortunately this book is in desperate need of a good editor. I am not typically one to complain about spelling or grammar but this book had issues that I could not ignore. In spots it actually becomes difficult to read because of these errors and the wording.
People wanting to get a handle on their anger will benefit from this book the most. At the same time those who find themselves frequently around someone who has problems with how they express anger will benefit by learning where that anger comes from. I rate this book a 2 out of 4. While this book really could be a helpful guide I can not give it a higher score in its present state. People that feel they could benefit from a self-help book such as this one are encouraged to ignore the errors and read it anyway.
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This book rightly starts out with a disclaimer that it is not responsible for anything that someone may decide to do after reading it. It then moves onto an introduction and explains what anger is and where it comes from. These ideas will continue to pop up through the remainder of the book. It talks about the different types of anger that someone can have depending on what is going on internally and what caused the anger in the first place. Once of the main focuses of this book was how anger can effect our lives and relationships in both a positive and negative way depending on how we handle the anger itself. The ways that anger can do damage to our own self-image and even cause an endless loop of brooding and depression are also discussed at length.
Once the background information has been well established the book moves on to different ways of managing anger. Multiple ideas are offered. Some such ideas are to try to see things through the eyes of the person you are angry at or to actively listen because miscommunication could be an underlying cause. There is even an entire section towards the end devoted towards anger in the home and how to fix it before it gets out of hand and tears the family apart.
I liked how this book presented anger as a natural and healthy emotion. All too often anger is seen as a negative emotion and this book works to dispel that myth. The tone is also understanding and offering explanation instead of condescending, a welcome change. What I didnt like is that unfortunately this book is in desperate need of a good editor. I am not typically one to complain about spelling or grammar but this book had issues that I could not ignore. In spots it actually becomes difficult to read because of these errors and the wording.
People wanting to get a handle on their anger will benefit from this book the most. At the same time those who find themselves frequently around someone who has problems with how they express anger will benefit by learning where that anger comes from. I rate this book a 2 out of 4. While this book really could be a helpful guide I can not give it a higher score in its present state. People that feel they could benefit from a self-help book such as this one are encouraged to ignore the errors and read it anyway.
https://nightreaderreviews.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nightreaderreviews/
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated American Horror Story - Season 7 in TV
Mar 8, 2020
Season 7 of American Horror Story, subtitled Cult, is a weird one. Instead of focusing on the supernatural, ghosts, witches, haunted houses, Cult is a trip through the delicacy of the human mind. It instead looks at fears, real world issues, and of course, the presence of an all too familiar cult like family.
This makes for some of the best and worst aspects of AHS Cult. The plot leans heavily into politics this time around, originally airing not long Donald Trump was sworn in. I personally like that this season takes this real world event, and explores the horror that some people experienced during this time. Others would argue that it's very on-the-nose, which is somewhat true. Some of the political leanings carry all the subtlety of a stampeding cattle herd, andnat times can feel heavy handed.
Underneath all of the IRL shit that's going on, we also have a plot of intrigue and mystery, as the main character Ally (Sarah Paulson) is being apparently being stalked and pursued by clowns - her worst fear. We are given reason to believe that perhaps Ally is losing her mind, off her meds, upset with the election result, but as the season continues, you find yourself questioning whether she is in fact being gaslighted. Manipulation of what you believe to be true or false is a terrible horror all on its own, and a big reason why I rate this season highly.
The star of Cult for me though was of course Evan Peters. Playing a deranged political candidate called Kai Anderson, it's not long before his extreme right views Garner him a following, and the titular cult is created. To say anymore would be considered spoilers, but rest assured that all of these plot strands weave together by the time the story climaxes.
Evan Peters role in Cult is my favourite performance if his to date. His character is simultaneously charming, terrifying, smart, and unhinged, and he does a fantastic job in bringing him to life.
The plot also touches upon other real world figures, such as Charles Manson. Those parts were pretty interesting, but when the show flashes back and focuses on Valerie Solanis (Lena Dunham), it lost me a bit. I like when AHS includes real life characters, and it's always fun to see how they are interpreted in this kind of media, but it goes a bit overboard with it's hammy stuff (again) at times - the whole Andy Warhol plot was a massive eye roll in my book - and the Solanis stuff is just plain unenjoyable to watch.
This whole side plot really drags down the quality of cult to me, but the strong performances by Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters is enough to keep it in a higher placing for me.
Certainly not my favourite, and certainly not my least, Cult sits somewhere in the middle, and I can only praise the writers for trying something new with the horror element. Good stuff.
This makes for some of the best and worst aspects of AHS Cult. The plot leans heavily into politics this time around, originally airing not long Donald Trump was sworn in. I personally like that this season takes this real world event, and explores the horror that some people experienced during this time. Others would argue that it's very on-the-nose, which is somewhat true. Some of the political leanings carry all the subtlety of a stampeding cattle herd, andnat times can feel heavy handed.
Underneath all of the IRL shit that's going on, we also have a plot of intrigue and mystery, as the main character Ally (Sarah Paulson) is being apparently being stalked and pursued by clowns - her worst fear. We are given reason to believe that perhaps Ally is losing her mind, off her meds, upset with the election result, but as the season continues, you find yourself questioning whether she is in fact being gaslighted. Manipulation of what you believe to be true or false is a terrible horror all on its own, and a big reason why I rate this season highly.
The star of Cult for me though was of course Evan Peters. Playing a deranged political candidate called Kai Anderson, it's not long before his extreme right views Garner him a following, and the titular cult is created. To say anymore would be considered spoilers, but rest assured that all of these plot strands weave together by the time the story climaxes.
Evan Peters role in Cult is my favourite performance if his to date. His character is simultaneously charming, terrifying, smart, and unhinged, and he does a fantastic job in bringing him to life.
The plot also touches upon other real world figures, such as Charles Manson. Those parts were pretty interesting, but when the show flashes back and focuses on Valerie Solanis (Lena Dunham), it lost me a bit. I like when AHS includes real life characters, and it's always fun to see how they are interpreted in this kind of media, but it goes a bit overboard with it's hammy stuff (again) at times - the whole Andy Warhol plot was a massive eye roll in my book - and the Solanis stuff is just plain unenjoyable to watch.
This whole side plot really drags down the quality of cult to me, but the strong performances by Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters is enough to keep it in a higher placing for me.
Certainly not my favourite, and certainly not my least, Cult sits somewhere in the middle, and I can only praise the writers for trying something new with the horror element. Good stuff.