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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2426 KP) rated Scoop to Kill in Books
Jul 6, 2019
Here’s the Scoop – This is a Tasty Mystery
A reception to honor outstanding achievement at the local college turns tragic when Tally Jones’s niece, Alice, finds the body of grad student Bryan. Bryan was another local attending the college, although he had clearly been making some enemies along the way. With Alice in the thick of things, Tally starts spending a little less time at her ice cream shop, Remember the A-La-Mode, and more time at the college looking for clues. Will she find the killer?
While the mystery starts strongly with the discovery of Bryan’s body just a few pages in, the book still seems to wander a bit. We are gathering clues and information on the suspects, but it isn’t until the second half that it feels like Tally is truly investigating and we are beginning to find clues and disregard the red herrings. Once this happens, the book gets very good, and I was fully hooked. Tally and her immediate circle are a fun group, and I enjoyed spending time with them. I also enjoyed the cameos by some of the supporting cast from the first book. The suspects were strong enough to help us tell them apart, but they could have spent a little more time on the page to be fully developed. I had forgotten that there is a love triangle in this series, although it looks like that is coming to a head, which I appreciated. There is more language scattered throughout this book than is typical for a cozy, but this is still a light, fun cozy sure to keep you cool on a warm summer day. You might want to make sure you have some ice cream on hand first, however, to satisfy any cravings.
While the mystery starts strongly with the discovery of Bryan’s body just a few pages in, the book still seems to wander a bit. We are gathering clues and information on the suspects, but it isn’t until the second half that it feels like Tally is truly investigating and we are beginning to find clues and disregard the red herrings. Once this happens, the book gets very good, and I was fully hooked. Tally and her immediate circle are a fun group, and I enjoyed spending time with them. I also enjoyed the cameos by some of the supporting cast from the first book. The suspects were strong enough to help us tell them apart, but they could have spent a little more time on the page to be fully developed. I had forgotten that there is a love triangle in this series, although it looks like that is coming to a head, which I appreciated. There is more language scattered throughout this book than is typical for a cozy, but this is still a light, fun cozy sure to keep you cool on a warm summer day. You might want to make sure you have some ice cream on hand first, however, to satisfy any cravings.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated The Tigger Movie (2000) in Movies
Jan 20, 2020
Decent Movie Carried By Characters We All Know and Love
In The Tigger Movie, the bouncing tiger Tigger is on a quest to find his family. While pretty predictable overall, it’s still endearing enough to be enjoyable.
Acting: 10
The Winnie the Pooh voiceover cast is always a treat to listen to. I’ve always loved that they really embody the personalities of their characters. You can feel how timid Piglet is while Tigger’s voice gives you the feeling that he is going to bounce straight through a wall. They are all extremely original.
Beginning: 5
A bit of a slow start. It’s almost like Disney is trying to justify why Tigger needs his own movie in the first place. The movie isn’t a long one, however, and things quickly pick up not too long after the first ten minutes.
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 2
Entertainment Value: 4
Memorability: 5
It’s a cute movie with a touching message, but nothing to write home about. It’s something I would want my kids to see, but not something I would watch on my own multiple times like Up. There are some strong moments here and there like Tigger’s montage song of his family. I also like the concept of what family really means.
Pace: 10
Plot: 9
Interesting story with enough meat to carry a movie. It is pretty linear and you can see the ending coming a mile away, but it was creative enough to hold my attention. I rather enjoyed the small adventure.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 75
The Tigger Movie is decent overall with fun familiar characters and an endearing story. It’s not the best of the Disney bunch, but I would say it’s worth a watch. It’s little gems like these that make Disney+ all the more worth it.
Acting: 10
The Winnie the Pooh voiceover cast is always a treat to listen to. I’ve always loved that they really embody the personalities of their characters. You can feel how timid Piglet is while Tigger’s voice gives you the feeling that he is going to bounce straight through a wall. They are all extremely original.
Beginning: 5
A bit of a slow start. It’s almost like Disney is trying to justify why Tigger needs his own movie in the first place. The movie isn’t a long one, however, and things quickly pick up not too long after the first ten minutes.
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 2
Entertainment Value: 4
Memorability: 5
It’s a cute movie with a touching message, but nothing to write home about. It’s something I would want my kids to see, but not something I would watch on my own multiple times like Up. There are some strong moments here and there like Tigger’s montage song of his family. I also like the concept of what family really means.
Pace: 10
Plot: 9
Interesting story with enough meat to carry a movie. It is pretty linear and you can see the ending coming a mile away, but it was creative enough to hold my attention. I rather enjoyed the small adventure.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 75
The Tigger Movie is decent overall with fun familiar characters and an endearing story. It’s not the best of the Disney bunch, but I would say it’s worth a watch. It’s little gems like these that make Disney+ all the more worth it.
A Bibliophagist (113 KP) rated Suburbia in Tabletop Games
Feb 5, 2020 (Updated Feb 5, 2020)
Replayability (2 more)
Multiple strategies
Easy to play
Seems complex (1 more)
Very similar to Castles of the Madking Ludwig
More simple than it seems
I've been wanted this game for years, however after being terrible at the app versiom, I was worried it'd be too complex. However, I got it as part of BGG's secret santa and finally got around to playing it.
At first I was overwhelmed by just how many components there are, and how complex the rules were, but once I got playing and saw how it was just Castles of the Madking Ludwig and even had similarities to the house favorite Terraforming Mars, it became extremely simple. This is definitely a play to learn game, as we played it got easier and easier. My partner and I adopted different strategies and it's the first time I've seen him be such a poor loser (I did destroy him).
Unlike Castles, the players are building a town buying properties from the board (each property rejected gets cheaper each round) and creating combos that benifet the plauers end goals and the boards end goals. The players try and raise (or lower) their reputation and towns population while generating enough income for growth. It really tickled my management game itch, as I love those silly kairosoft games and played SimTower like it was noones business back in the day. Striving to not just reach my goals but create a realistic town. My partner and I found ourselves roleplaying a little, making jokes as he placed his trailer park by the city dump, or how he sectioned his wealthy side off from the unsavory side with a series of lakes. We really got into it and I look forward to playing it again! Also, I promise, it's not nearly as complex as it looks!
At first I was overwhelmed by just how many components there are, and how complex the rules were, but once I got playing and saw how it was just Castles of the Madking Ludwig and even had similarities to the house favorite Terraforming Mars, it became extremely simple. This is definitely a play to learn game, as we played it got easier and easier. My partner and I adopted different strategies and it's the first time I've seen him be such a poor loser (I did destroy him).
Unlike Castles, the players are building a town buying properties from the board (each property rejected gets cheaper each round) and creating combos that benifet the plauers end goals and the boards end goals. The players try and raise (or lower) their reputation and towns population while generating enough income for growth. It really tickled my management game itch, as I love those silly kairosoft games and played SimTower like it was noones business back in the day. Striving to not just reach my goals but create a realistic town. My partner and I found ourselves roleplaying a little, making jokes as he placed his trailer park by the city dump, or how he sectioned his wealthy side off from the unsavory side with a series of lakes. We really got into it and I look forward to playing it again! Also, I promise, it's not nearly as complex as it looks!
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Winter Stroll in Books
Mar 19, 2020
I read this ages ago, it seems, back in April while on vacation in snowy Vermont. I've been on an Elin Hilderbrand kick all year. Even though this series actually takes place in Nantucket, somehow reading this Christmas-themed novel in snow-covered Vermont seemed appropriate.
In book two (don't keep reading if you don't want spoilers!), Kelley Quinn is still running the Winter Street Inn in Nantucket. He's now single and actually on better terms with his first wife, Margaret, the mother of his first three children. One of them, Kevin, has a new baby, Genevieve, with his girlfriend, Isabelle. More worrisome is the fact that Kelley's youngest son--with his second ex-wife, Mitzi--is still deployed.
This is typical enjoyable fare from Elin Hilderbrand--I love this entire series. In this book, we hear from Mitzi's point of view, as well as Drake, Margaret's boyfriend. Each book is told from various viewpoints (usually just the Quinn family), so it was nice to expand whom we hear from. Ava, Kelley's only daughter, is her usual mess, even though she's dating someone supposedly more stable. And Kelley's son Patrick, is in jail, causing much turmoil for his wife, Jennifer (whom we also get to hear from) and the entire family.
I found this to be an easy read--I read it in a day on vacation and it's really fun. What isn't delightful about the messed up lives of other, fictional people? Even better is that Hilderbrand writes these as a series, so you really get to know the family and their issues. I can get lost in their lives. This was the perfect Vermont vacation read. 3.5 stars.
In book two (don't keep reading if you don't want spoilers!), Kelley Quinn is still running the Winter Street Inn in Nantucket. He's now single and actually on better terms with his first wife, Margaret, the mother of his first three children. One of them, Kevin, has a new baby, Genevieve, with his girlfriend, Isabelle. More worrisome is the fact that Kelley's youngest son--with his second ex-wife, Mitzi--is still deployed.
This is typical enjoyable fare from Elin Hilderbrand--I love this entire series. In this book, we hear from Mitzi's point of view, as well as Drake, Margaret's boyfriend. Each book is told from various viewpoints (usually just the Quinn family), so it was nice to expand whom we hear from. Ava, Kelley's only daughter, is her usual mess, even though she's dating someone supposedly more stable. And Kelley's son Patrick, is in jail, causing much turmoil for his wife, Jennifer (whom we also get to hear from) and the entire family.
I found this to be an easy read--I read it in a day on vacation and it's really fun. What isn't delightful about the messed up lives of other, fictional people? Even better is that Hilderbrand writes these as a series, so you really get to know the family and their issues. I can get lost in their lives. This was the perfect Vermont vacation read. 3.5 stars.
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