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A Very Large Expanse of Sea
A Very Large Expanse of Sea
Tahereh Mafi | 2018 | Religion, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
6
5.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I figured with today's current events, I'd give this a read. I can't say I've never seen (or heard) acts (or words) of racism, but I will admit that, for the most part, it hasn't truly been directed at me. Reading this hurt my heart and made me angry in a very violent way. Stupidity is everywhere. Unfortunately, racism is everywhere. However, as someone who's been privileged enough to not have true, memorable experience with it, I was shocked and disgusted by the acts of the people in this fictional community. And while the story itself, characters included, may be storybook fake, the feelings and harassment within are likely based on true acts. Hatred is a horrible thing and Shirin is literally so used to it that she feels it's safer to assume everyone is after her, everyone hates her, everyone is wilfully ignorant and therefore deliberately prejudice towards her - it's her coping mechanism; see the absolute worst in others, keep your distance, and maybe it'll hurt less. We need more people like Ocean, who was so adorably awkward and sweet, and genuinely interested in learning more!
  
The Secrets We Keep
The Secrets We Keep
Rick R. Reed | 2019 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Secrets We Keep is a story that deals with the aftermath of suicide, with the addition of a May-to-December couple of main characters. This is NOT a light read. It is somber and full of reflection.

That side of the story is really well written. The emotions that pour off each page with make you stop and think. However, for me, I found it overshadowed the romance side of things. I didn't really feel a connection between our main two. There was no build up to them individually, rather just a carry on from the feelings they were dealing with regarding Lacy. There is an epilogue with them, so you do get something, it just didn't exactly work for me.

The writing, though, is wonderful, and there were no mistakes that disrupted my reading. The story is a great one, and the pacing is smooth. The characters themselves will interest and intrigue you. I have no hesitation in recommending this book!

* 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!
  
HH
Hot Head (Head #1)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'm probably the odd one out with my rating of three stars but I didn't feel the romance (and that's what I read books for). Not right from the start, anyway. Maybe from around the 75% mark but not before.
 
Seeing it from only Griff's POV helped us realise that he had feelings for his best friend but he fought against it with everything he had. We never really saw anything from Dante to know if he wanted Griff the same way until the second porn video was made--maybe not even then--and that had to be at the half way point.
 
Maybe if the romance had started a little sooner I'd have given it a better rating.
 
Another thing that I found a little strange was all the sound effects wrote into the book: "lub-lub" "thwack-thwack". Gave me a few WTF? moments.
 
One thing I liked the authenticity of the fires and the guys in action; the teasing, the teamwork, the fire fighting.
  
The Perseverence
The Perseverence
Raymond Antrobus | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I’m not quite sure how to review a collection of poetry, so I think I’ll start by saying that I really enjoyed it. The themes centre around feelings of duality, I thought: being deaf in a hearing world, being mixed race, the poet feeling that he doesn’t belong in Jamaica with his relatives telling him just that, a feeling that he doesn’t belong in the UK either.
It made me really think about what it is to have an invisible disability too. In ‘Miami Airport’, the official says:
“You don’t look deaf?
can you prove it?”
This reminded me of the times when I would have to pull up my sons trouser leg to show his splints when challenged about queuing for the disabled toilet (please don’t do this, it’s not cool) - something he rightly wont let me do anymore, I should add!
It was really good to read this on The Pigeonhole, too, and to have some discussion about the poems. I do hope they repeat this soon. Oh, and I bought the book as well, because I really like to read poetry again (and again!). I’m a bit of a ‘poetry dipper’ 😉
  
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
2019 | Adventure
Amazing, with Feelings...
353. The Peanut Butter Falcon. An amazing movie! We meet a guy named Zak, he has Down Syndrome, lives in a nursing, no family, has Bruce Dern as a roommate and he loves wrestling, so much so, that he plans to break free of his forced housing, go on the run to The Salt Water Redneck's Wrestling School, and with the help of some friends at the home... hint: Bruce Dern... he breaks free. While on the run, he hides on a boat that belongs to Tyler, a fisherman, hobo with a shotgun, and also on the run from a few locals, because Tyler may or may not have destroyed several thousand dollars worth of their equipment. ONce he discovers Zak crashing on his boat, hears his tale, Tyler decides to help him out with the journey. Zak of course has someone looking out for him as well, in this case the nursing home bypasses authorities and just sends a lone aide, Eleanor, out to find him. A touching tale of two guys on the run that form a friendship that feels more like family. Filmbufftim on FB
  
The Discovery (2017)
The Discovery (2017)
2017 | Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Sci Fi With Feelings
143. The Discovery. Good pick on my part I really must say! Its a drama with a bit of sci fi thrown in. And I'll admit, its a little on the sad side, but... So Robert Redford is Thomas a scientist who discovers proof of an afterlife, well actually he calls it another plane of existence, but ya know the media...lol... But unfortunately upon hearing this, 1 million people commit suicide... freaky right... but now quite some time later he's called his son Will, Jason Segel, and tells him that he's created something even greater... on the journey to see his dad Will meets Isla, Rooney Mara, looking like the Mother of Dragons, on a ferry to the very island where his dad has his new, umm, compound, saves her from a horrible mistake and forms a pretty tight bond, but... It was really cool flick, filmed in... The Biggest Little State in the Union. Like I said its on the sadder side, but I thought it was pretty cool concept and well executed, so there... filmbufftim on FB
  
Death Be Charmed (Terra Vane #2)
Death Be Charmed (Terra Vane #2)
Katie Epstein | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
My name is Terra, and I’m a Psychic. My gift is my visions, and these visions are my weapon. Alongside my wolf shifter partner Kaleb, we hunt down the most dangerous criminals of all and put them behind bars.

But things are getting more complicated. My feelings for my boss are growing, my partner is more annoying than ever, and now there’s been a jailbreak. Twelve deadly prisoners are on the run after escaping from Portiside Prison, and it’s our job to chase them down. With our only lead being on a serial killing vampire, we’re headed to Darkwood, the killer’s homeland. But with our only way in through my vampire ex-boyfriend, things are more awkward than ever.

This is fast becoming one of my favourite series Terra Vane is just brilliant! I love the way these books are written. Terra once again finding herself in a tricky situation with vampires this time! The men have so many different roles for Terra and I love each one of them. She has yet to show us what she is capable of and I can't wait to see her develop.