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ClareR (5674 KP) rated Sixteen Horses in Books
Oct 30, 2021
Sixteen Horses was a pretty gruesome thriller about a Forensic Veterinarian who is called in to investigate the discovery of sixteen horses heads, buried in a circle on farmland. If you find dismembered animals upsetting, then this won’t be the book for you, but I found the way that Cooper Allen undertook her investigation fascinating.
There is a really bleak, moody atmosphere throughout this book, that brought The Smiths song ‘Everyday is like Sunday’ to mind: this IS the coastal town that they forgot to close down, and everyday does seem to be grey - if not silent!
Ilmarsh is a town that has seen far better days, full of the unemployed and displaced, and even though it’s not a pleasant thought, it’s no surprise that it should be the setting for a series of disappearances, arson and mutilations. There is someone in this town with a lot of time on their hands. And no better way to spend it.
The writing is mesmerising - I found it hard to drag myself away, even though I found it profoundly unsettling. And that’s the big thing about this novel: I’m still not 100% sure who the culprit was, but I found myself not too upset by that. It was such a breathtaking journey (however, if anyone would like to message me with the answer to that, I wouldn’t be at all put out!)
Many thanks to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of the book through both NetGalley and Jellybooks (because I forgot I already had it from NetGalley 🤦🏼♀️).
There is a really bleak, moody atmosphere throughout this book, that brought The Smiths song ‘Everyday is like Sunday’ to mind: this IS the coastal town that they forgot to close down, and everyday does seem to be grey - if not silent!
Ilmarsh is a town that has seen far better days, full of the unemployed and displaced, and even though it’s not a pleasant thought, it’s no surprise that it should be the setting for a series of disappearances, arson and mutilations. There is someone in this town with a lot of time on their hands. And no better way to spend it.
The writing is mesmerising - I found it hard to drag myself away, even though I found it profoundly unsettling. And that’s the big thing about this novel: I’m still not 100% sure who the culprit was, but I found myself not too upset by that. It was such a breathtaking journey (however, if anyone would like to message me with the answer to that, I wouldn’t be at all put out!)
Many thanks to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of the book through both NetGalley and Jellybooks (because I forgot I already had it from NetGalley 🤦🏼♀️).
Ally (3 KP) rated Throne of Glass in Books
Jun 27, 2017
Storyline (2 more)
Character development
Well written
Well written and compelling
Without giving spoilers on the story, this is a well crafted tale of a young girl, arrogant and skilled who is more than how she is initially portrayed. As the book continues I found myself becoming well attached to characters, and Sarah J. Mass did what all writers aspire to do, which is make the reader NEED to know what happens next. This book weaves action, romance, friendship, trust, fantasy and deception throughout and I admit I didn't have to think twice before instantly purchasing the next book of the series once I had quickly finished Throne of Glass. All in all, an enjoyable experience, and one I hope to continue throughout the series.
To explain my negative comment above, it was only when I purchased the second book and on browsing the contents page, that I found a pronunciation guide. I had been imagining different ways of saying certain names and had to re imagine them when beginning the next book. A guide, such as the one found in the second, would have been useful in Throne of Glass.
To explain my negative comment above, it was only when I purchased the second book and on browsing the contents page, that I found a pronunciation guide. I had been imagining different ways of saying certain names and had to re imagine them when beginning the next book. A guide, such as the one found in the second, would have been useful in Throne of Glass.
Sarah Daglish (1 KP) rated Flowers for Algernon in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Sensationally clever without being pretentious
I found this book on a blog recommending books for depression sufferers, although I'm not sure in retrospect why this book was on that list. The book is written in the form of progress reports written by the protagonist, Charlie, who starts off the book as an adult with severe learning difficulties, during a less enlightened era. Despite his rough treatment by a society that fails to understand him, he is thoroughly charming, warm and kind, but above all desperate to better himself by learning to write and read. When he is offered the chance to undergo groundbreaking experimental surgery that will elevate his capacity to learn, he jumps at the chance. Algernon is a lab mouse who has had the surgery already and is considered a genius (by mouse standards).
Although this is technically science fiction, I found it more a focus on society and the perceptions of intelligence and happiness. I grew such fondness for Algernon and Charlie, I found the ending truly heartbreaking.
I'm not normally a fan of the sci-fi genre, but I couldn't put this down.
Although this is technically science fiction, I found it more a focus on society and the perceptions of intelligence and happiness. I grew such fondness for Algernon and Charlie, I found the ending truly heartbreaking.
I'm not normally a fan of the sci-fi genre, but I couldn't put this down.
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated Found Footage 3D (2016) in Movies
Sep 19, 2018
Some Nice ideas, but a little less than good
Found Footage 3D is a fun idea...a meta horror about a small crew filming their own 'found-footage' horror, so you have a mixture of 'movie within a movie' scenes mixed with their own documentary about the making of their film.
The other aspects of the premise are all very much in keeping with tradition; the haunted cabin, the unseen "spectre", the paranoia etc
It is reasonably well made and well acted for a smaller budget film, and though the script offers few surprises, it is an easy watch, and makes some clever observations on the genre including a brilliant rant by one of the characters about how 'there have only ever been 2 half decent found footage movies, and one of those was 15 years ago!".
All in all, it is a good, fun, at times clever, at others predictable romp through a haunted cabin in the woods, with a self aware cast and an attitude of 'lets just enjoy the tropes'.
Worth a watch.
The other aspects of the premise are all very much in keeping with tradition; the haunted cabin, the unseen "spectre", the paranoia etc
It is reasonably well made and well acted for a smaller budget film, and though the script offers few surprises, it is an easy watch, and makes some clever observations on the genre including a brilliant rant by one of the characters about how 'there have only ever been 2 half decent found footage movies, and one of those was 15 years ago!".
All in all, it is a good, fun, at times clever, at others predictable romp through a haunted cabin in the woods, with a self aware cast and an attitude of 'lets just enjoy the tropes'.
Worth a watch.
The Dead Shall be Raised and Murder of a Quack
Book
Two classic cases featuring Detective-Inspector Littlejohn.In the winter of 1940, the Home Guard...
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Little White Lies in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The story is told from a dual perspective. Seven years ago Anne’s daughter disappeared, and now she has been found. Her daughter is a teenager now, so Anne needs to learn how to communicate with her again. Another person who is sharing the story is Jess, Abigail’s cousin sister, who was very close to her when they were both little. I think it was quite a strange character pick. I liked Anne’s thoughts in this book, she was lost, confused and kept fighting to get her daughter back, not this estranged child that she has found. But I didn’t really understand the need for Jess, she just kept repeating herself over and over again, not offering much to the book. I would have enjoyed the book more if Abigail shared her experiences and thoughts. That would’ve made the whole book more absorbing for me.
I really liked the way the author created the suspense in this novel. She kept building it up with very creative clues and mentions of some juicy details. I was absolutely engrossed to find out what this secret will be, and pretty disappointed when I found out what that “big” secret was.
I really liked the way the author created the suspense in this novel. She kept building it up with very creative clues and mentions of some juicy details. I was absolutely engrossed to find out what this secret will be, and pretty disappointed when I found out what that “big” secret was.
Felipe (17 KP) rated Arrival (2016) in Movies
Dec 7, 2020
Excellent speculative movie even if it was somewhat optimistic.
Contains spoilers, click to show
This movie poses and excellent problem of what it would be like if an advanced alien species visited Earth and what form that would take. I found the design of the aliens and the extent of their technology to be interesting but what I found more fascinating was how they were able to come up with a language that is at one time alien but also somewhat familiar using basic linguistic theory that is common to all languages and yet come up with something completely out of the box. Despite being an excellent film posing complex and thought provoking questions, I found the timeline and the flashbacks to be confusing and the ending of the film posing more questions than answers. The telling of the story is as complex as a tesseract or 4th dimensional hypercube trying to describe itself to a three dimensional cube. There simply is no common frame of reference to begin to understand the multidimensionality of the film.
Just Jorie
8.0
Rate It
Book
Some believe that special someone is out there just waiting to be found. Jorie Andolini is one of...
Lesbian Romance
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Silent Suspect (Paige Northwood #3) in Books
Oct 17, 2021
I have read the two previous books in this series and whilst they were good, I wasn't able to be overly enthusiastic. Unfortunately, this is the same.
The story starts well but quickly becomes tedious and I found myself skimming large sections which is never a good sign. The characters are not particularly likeable and I found Paige became increasingly annoying and don't even get me started on the so-called Social Worker who I found to be unprofessional and not like any Social Worker I have ever met.
I couldn't connect with the characters or the story at all, I didn't feel any tension or thrills and the final reveal was disappointing and, for me, predictable. The only saving grace is the insight into the deaf community and the difficulties and barriers they face every day.
This book wasn't for me and I'm really sorry to say that I won't be reading more in this series but plenty of others have enjoyed it so give it a go if it sounds like your type of book.
I would like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
The story starts well but quickly becomes tedious and I found myself skimming large sections which is never a good sign. The characters are not particularly likeable and I found Paige became increasingly annoying and don't even get me started on the so-called Social Worker who I found to be unprofessional and not like any Social Worker I have ever met.
I couldn't connect with the characters or the story at all, I didn't feel any tension or thrills and the final reveal was disappointing and, for me, predictable. The only saving grace is the insight into the deaf community and the difficulties and barriers they face every day.
This book wasn't for me and I'm really sorry to say that I won't be reading more in this series but plenty of others have enjoyed it so give it a go if it sounds like your type of book.
I would like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Sun Damage in Books
Jul 4, 2023
Sun Damage is a slow burn of a book, dripping in paranoia!
Ali and Sean are confidence tricksters: they get people to trust them, and then extract large amounts of money from them. Except something goes wrong when they try to con Lulu, and Ali goes on the run - with a large sum of money from Sean’s safe. Ali thinks she has found the perfect hiding place in a gîte in the South of France, but it seems inevitable that her past will catch up with her.
This is all set in the summer, when the heat is as oppressive as Ali’s paranoia. The whole novel feels claustrophobic - will Ali be found out? Will Sean find her? What will her employers do?
We see Ali’s past and childhood in some detail, and I found myself forgiving her for her terrible behaviour - although I doubt I would have been so forgiving if I was the one being swindled!
This is probably the ideal summer holiday read - great for by the pool, somewhere hot. Although you’ll be a lot more suspicious of anyone you don’t know trying to strike up a conversation!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for another great serialisation.
Ali and Sean are confidence tricksters: they get people to trust them, and then extract large amounts of money from them. Except something goes wrong when they try to con Lulu, and Ali goes on the run - with a large sum of money from Sean’s safe. Ali thinks she has found the perfect hiding place in a gîte in the South of France, but it seems inevitable that her past will catch up with her.
This is all set in the summer, when the heat is as oppressive as Ali’s paranoia. The whole novel feels claustrophobic - will Ali be found out? Will Sean find her? What will her employers do?
We see Ali’s past and childhood in some detail, and I found myself forgiving her for her terrible behaviour - although I doubt I would have been so forgiving if I was the one being swindled!
This is probably the ideal summer holiday read - great for by the pool, somewhere hot. Although you’ll be a lot more suspicious of anyone you don’t know trying to strike up a conversation!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for another great serialisation.