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ArecRain (8 KP) rated Share and Share Alike (Aspen Valley, #3) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
The third in the series has more of suspense feel to it than the others, I have to say it didnt work for me. I dont really do suspense even when its paired with romance, so I found myself enjoying this novel less than the first two. I did enjoy how much love these characters had for animals. As someone who loves all animals (I am that person who wont step on a spider!), it warmed my heart to see their devotion.
The bottomline is that, despite not enjoying the mystery/suspense aspect, it was an enjoyable read. The characters are easy to like and their actions make more sense than those of characters in the previous installment. This was one of those novels where I enjoyed reading about the journey rather than reading towards the goal.
Its also much easier to pick up on the language after read a few of these novels. If you are not used to European, particularly British, terms, then it could throw you off. The author makes sure these dont actually interfere with the story, however.
_ Arec
<a href="https://rainythursdays.wordpress.com">Rainy Thursdays</a>
The third in the series has more of suspense feel to it than the others, I have to say it didnt work for me. I dont really do suspense even when its paired with romance, so I found myself enjoying this novel less than the first two. I did enjoy how much love these characters had for animals. As someone who loves all animals (I am that person who wont step on a spider!), it warmed my heart to see their devotion.
The bottomline is that, despite not enjoying the mystery/suspense aspect, it was an enjoyable read. The characters are easy to like and their actions make more sense than those of characters in the previous installment. This was one of those novels where I enjoyed reading about the journey rather than reading towards the goal.
Its also much easier to pick up on the language after read a few of these novels. If you are not used to European, particularly British, terms, then it could throw you off. The author makes sure these dont actually interfere with the story, however.
_ Arec
<a href="https://rainythursdays.wordpress.com">Rainy Thursdays</a>
ClareR (5681 KP) rated Icebreaker: A Voyage Far North in Books
Feb 8, 2018
There's a lot of ice....
Firstly, I have to admit that this would not have been my first choice of reading material. You see, I'm doing my local library's reading challenge at the moment, and I picked this book up for the 'not my bag' element. I really thought that it wouldn't be 'my bag' at all - but I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the interactions with the sailors, and the little history lessons were really interesting. There was a lot of description though. In a 220 page book, you would think that there would be only so many ways to describe ice: what it looks like, what it sounds like, what it smells like, how it breaks up, how it doesn't break up. You name it, he described it. I have to admit to skim reading a fair bit of this. There's only so much one person can take.
Would I recommend it? I don't know. I don't think I know anyone who is that into ice, to be honest.
I do have a confession to make, though. I'm going to Finland in the summer for a long weekend, so I might just try and check out some of this history for myself!
Would I recommend it? I don't know. I don't think I know anyone who is that into ice, to be honest.
I do have a confession to make, though. I'm going to Finland in the summer for a long weekend, so I might just try and check out some of this history for myself!
ClareR (5681 KP) rated A State of Freedom in Books
Jun 17, 2018
A series of interconnecting stories.
I very much like books set in Asia, and in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in particular. The stories they tell are far from the world that I live in, and I like to think that I'm going to learn something about those worlds and peoples.
This novel follows the lives of multiple people who are all connected in some way (even the first person we meet is connected, albeit in a very tenuous way). The stories are fascinating: from the privileged son of a couple who live in Calcutta who is visiting from London for a month, to the young girl (a child) who is sent to work in other people's houses and is treated like a slave in one of the houses she works in. I won't say any more about the stories of these people, but I loved where their stories led them, no matter how uncomfortable it was for me to read.
The writing is beautifully descriptive: it gave a feel for the sights, sounds and smells of where these people lived. It described the caste/ class system of India, the slums and the places where the better off lived. I really enjoyed this book, it really is well worth reading.
This novel follows the lives of multiple people who are all connected in some way (even the first person we meet is connected, albeit in a very tenuous way). The stories are fascinating: from the privileged son of a couple who live in Calcutta who is visiting from London for a month, to the young girl (a child) who is sent to work in other people's houses and is treated like a slave in one of the houses she works in. I won't say any more about the stories of these people, but I loved where their stories led them, no matter how uncomfortable it was for me to read.
The writing is beautifully descriptive: it gave a feel for the sights, sounds and smells of where these people lived. It described the caste/ class system of India, the slums and the places where the better off lived. I really enjoyed this book, it really is well worth reading.
Lou Grande (148 KP) rated Tau (2018) in Movies
Jul 5, 2018
I had heard little whispers about this movie before it came out, comparing it to Upgrade (2018), only less gory. First of all, it was nothing like that, but it was very good. The premise is interesting--a young woman is kidnapped and held for experimentation by a sociopathic computer genius, who has created an AI named Tau to run his house. Only he's kept Tau in the dark about a lot of stuff. Like that there's more than just the house and other humans exist. I think lately, movies have skewed more towards negative depictions of AI, but Tau is actually rather positive. Without revealing anything, both Julia (the kidnapee) and Tau learn things about themselves and each other. The whole film brings up the question of what it is to be a person, how much empathy we can grant to non-human sentience, and what it means to be a prisoner.
Very good, and visually appealing as well. I loved the way Tau "looked," but there were times when the CG got a little shaky. Nothing unexpected for a movie with this kind of budget. If you enjoyed Dean Koontz's "Demon Seed" or the film adaptation, I think you'll like this.
Very good, and visually appealing as well. I loved the way Tau "looked," but there were times when the CG got a little shaky. Nothing unexpected for a movie with this kind of budget. If you enjoyed Dean Koontz's "Demon Seed" or the film adaptation, I think you'll like this.
Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated Resident Evil: Damnation (2012) in Movies
Jul 30, 2018
Good voice cast (3 more)
CGI was terrific
Great adaption to the video games
You don't need to know about resident evil
I prefer the more regular zombies in my opinion (1 more)
I only liked a couple of characters, rest were kinda boring
One of the best video game movie adaptions
This was a lot of fun. 1 of the best adaptions if a video game and also 1 of the best resident evil movies too.
The CGI was great and I'd love the next reboot of the movie franchise to be done like this rather than live action. For a CGI movie the shots were great, I loved the little parts where it felt like a first person view.
The action was great and the acting was good but I only liked a couple of the characters and I do prefer regular zombies to the parasites type sadly.
I can see myself watching this again. I heard this was a prequel to resident evil 6 so I do like this ties into the video games more than the live action does. It feels like a standalone movie so you don't necessarily need to have watched other movies or played the games before which is good.
The CGI was great and I'd love the next reboot of the movie franchise to be done like this rather than live action. For a CGI movie the shots were great, I loved the little parts where it felt like a first person view.
The action was great and the acting was good but I only liked a couple of the characters and I do prefer regular zombies to the parasites type sadly.
I can see myself watching this again. I heard this was a prequel to resident evil 6 so I do like this ties into the video games more than the live action does. It feels like a standalone movie so you don't necessarily need to have watched other movies or played the games before which is good.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Murder Flies the Coop in Books
Sep 26, 2018
Can Edwina and Beryl Catch a Flighty Killer?
Lifelong friends Beryl and Edwina are still trying to figure out how to earn more income when they hit on the idea of opening an enquiry agency. And their first case comes from the local vicar. It seems a member of the local pigeon racing club has vanished, along with club funds and several birds. Did the man take off with everything? If so, can Beryl and Edwina find him?
It was wonderful to be visiting this dynamic duo again in 1921 England. Beryl and Edwina are such opposites, but their differences really make them a great team, and the third person narration from their points of view show cases that perfectly. I'm loving watching Edwina come out of her shell. I don't feel we are getting quite as much character development for Beryl, or I'm just not seeing it, but that is a minor complaint. The mystery is strong and manages to bring in some issues from the time period in an organic way without lecturing us. There are some good twists and surprises to the story and a logical climax. The entire thing is wrapped in a sense of fun that comes from Beryl and Edwina themselves, who are enjoying their new vocation.
It was wonderful to be visiting this dynamic duo again in 1921 England. Beryl and Edwina are such opposites, but their differences really make them a great team, and the third person narration from their points of view show cases that perfectly. I'm loving watching Edwina come out of her shell. I don't feel we are getting quite as much character development for Beryl, or I'm just not seeing it, but that is a minor complaint. The mystery is strong and manages to bring in some issues from the time period in an organic way without lecturing us. There are some good twists and surprises to the story and a logical climax. The entire thing is wrapped in a sense of fun that comes from Beryl and Edwina themselves, who are enjoying their new vocation.
Samantha Reece (16 KP) rated Wordless (Age of Blood, #1) in Books
Nov 14, 2018
4.5 Stars!!
May Sage is such a fabulous author! She knows just how to pull the reader right into the story from the first sentence. Wordless is a start to a whole new series. It is about a world ran by vampires, and it is hot and everything a vampire novel should be!
Fay is the protagonist of the story. She is being used as a sex slave by the vampires, but this all changes when William shows up. She is a smart and kind woman who wants to break free of her chains and love her own life. William is a sexy vampire who is also kind and treats Fay like an actual person. There are quite a few side characters who are all equally lovable and have the potential for their own books!
Sage has really built up a wonderful new world. My only complaint would be the story felt just a tiny bit rushed, but maybe it is just because I wanted to read more!
All in all, I cannot wait to read the next book to the series, Worthless! May Sage is definitely going places with her work. :)
*I received a free copy from the amazing author for an honest review.*
May Sage is such a fabulous author! She knows just how to pull the reader right into the story from the first sentence. Wordless is a start to a whole new series. It is about a world ran by vampires, and it is hot and everything a vampire novel should be!
Fay is the protagonist of the story. She is being used as a sex slave by the vampires, but this all changes when William shows up. She is a smart and kind woman who wants to break free of her chains and love her own life. William is a sexy vampire who is also kind and treats Fay like an actual person. There are quite a few side characters who are all equally lovable and have the potential for their own books!
Sage has really built up a wonderful new world. My only complaint would be the story felt just a tiny bit rushed, but maybe it is just because I wanted to read more!
All in all, I cannot wait to read the next book to the series, Worthless! May Sage is definitely going places with her work. :)
*I received a free copy from the amazing author for an honest review.*
Kelly (279 KP) rated Surviving the Evacuation: London in Books
Jan 11, 2019
An interesting first person insight into the Zombie Apocalypse
Contains spoilers, click to show
I confess I only downloaded this book originally because it was free on kindle, however, that being said, I was surprised at how good it was.
The story is written in diary form by fictional character Bill Wright. Similar to Rock Grimes (Walking Dead), Bill missed the initial apocalypse due to injury. His government links tried to rescue him during the evacuation, however, at the last stage the chauffeur fails. The story primarily centres around Bills attempts to escape London on his own, with a leg in cast, without falling victim to the Zombie virus.
The use of a diary to move the story forward is a different approach to most Zombie books, and allows us to to have a greater insight into the thoughts and feelings of the main character in hindsight of the events.
If you are looking for an in-depth and complex book, this is not the book for you, however if you are looking for a quick easy read on the go, I highly recommend this. I have already downloaded the sequel to this story (not free) in order to find out what is next in store for Bill.
The story is written in diary form by fictional character Bill Wright. Similar to Rock Grimes (Walking Dead), Bill missed the initial apocalypse due to injury. His government links tried to rescue him during the evacuation, however, at the last stage the chauffeur fails. The story primarily centres around Bills attempts to escape London on his own, with a leg in cast, without falling victim to the Zombie virus.
The use of a diary to move the story forward is a different approach to most Zombie books, and allows us to to have a greater insight into the thoughts and feelings of the main character in hindsight of the events.
If you are looking for an in-depth and complex book, this is not the book for you, however if you are looking for a quick easy read on the go, I highly recommend this. I have already downloaded the sequel to this story (not free) in order to find out what is next in store for Bill.
David McK (3372 KP) rated The Hunger Games in Books
Jan 28, 2019 (Updated Jun 18, 2020)
This is one of those books/films that I've heard of, but never actually got round to reading before now (perhaps as a sub-conscious reaction to the perceived 'it's just for teenage girls' feeling)
I've previously heard it described as a bloodless <i>Battle Royale</i> for teenagers, but never having read that, I'm not really in a position to compare. What I did notice, though, were the more-than-a-few similarities to Stephen King/Richard Bachman novel <i>The Running Man</i> or even David Brin's <i>The Postman</i> in the dystopian setting (as the latter), and in the idea of a televised game show where people die (the former), and with a wide gap between the haves (i.e The Capitol) and the have-not's (anyone else)(again, from the former).
I'm happy to report, however, that's it's not *just* a for-teenage-girls-only novel: while there is the set-up for a 3-way love triangle to (presumably) later follow, that's actually not the main focus. It's also rather unusual in that it is told in both the present-tense and first person and, while I was never *really* hooked, it was also one of those novels that before I realized it I was more than half-way through!
I've previously heard it described as a bloodless <i>Battle Royale</i> for teenagers, but never having read that, I'm not really in a position to compare. What I did notice, though, were the more-than-a-few similarities to Stephen King/Richard Bachman novel <i>The Running Man</i> or even David Brin's <i>The Postman</i> in the dystopian setting (as the latter), and in the idea of a televised game show where people die (the former), and with a wide gap between the haves (i.e The Capitol) and the have-not's (anyone else)(again, from the former).
I'm happy to report, however, that's it's not *just* a for-teenage-girls-only novel: while there is the set-up for a 3-way love triangle to (presumably) later follow, that's actually not the main focus. It's also rather unusual in that it is told in both the present-tense and first person and, while I was never *really* hooked, it was also one of those novels that before I realized it I was more than half-way through!
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Chocky in Books
Jul 2, 2019
Weird and a bit dated
Contains spoilers, click to show
I picked this book up at work a few days ago and had never heard of it. Seeing as I was looking for filler fiction while I work on university assignments I am delighted I found it. It is well written from the first person perspective of Mathews father. Matthew is an eleven year old boy with an imaginary friend. When his adopted parent become concerned as to the irregularities of Mathews interests and in the way he talks they seek help. As it turns out Chocky is real. An intelligent life form sent to earth to explore the planet to see if it worthy of habitation. Okay, this might sound like a, been there, done that kind of novel but Chocky delves into parental worries about psychological issues. In addition, the character of Chocky looks at Earth from an outsiders point of view and what he/she finds is interesting and worth thinking about. It sheds a light on the way we consume power, on the way we pollute the environment and on greed and corruption. Very cleverly done and nicely concluded.