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Creed (2015)
Creed (2015)
2015 | Drama
There's been, what, 6 previous Rocky movies?

I've definitely seen the first and second; think I gave up part way through the third.

Which is what I wish I had done with this - I found it slow, plodding, heavy handed, and just generally not really all that interesting at all.

Guess you could say I'm not the target audience!
  
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ClareR (5674 KP) created a post

Jun 6, 2023  
Happy cover reveal day to Bryan Washington and his new book Family Meal:
An irresistible, intimate novel about found family, ghosts, queer friendship and food. Sit yourself somewhere comfortable, and dig in.
Published by Atlantic Books, released October 12th 2023.
Cover design: @lukejbird (Twitter), @lookbird (instagram)
Animator: @sayeedi (instagram), @Sayeed_I (Twitter)
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtJbbvRsJ8w/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

#FamilyMeal
     
Oh Dear Silvia
Oh Dear Silvia
Dawn French | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
4
5.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book for free through the Goodreads Firstreads program.

(This review can also be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.co.uk">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).

I love Dawn French! I think she is such a funny woman!! I was so happy to have won a copy of her fiction book entitled Oh Dear Silvia from Goodreads. However, once I started reading the book, it became apparent that I wasn't going to enjoy it.

Silvia is in a coma after falling from a balcony and hitting her head. Throughout her time in hospital, she is visited by family, her best friend, her ex-husband, her nurse, and her cleaner. Each has their own story to tell however odd it may be. Throughout this book, we will find out about who Silvia is.

The title of this book really works. After reading the book, I would say it definitely fits well with the story.

The cover of this book is quite bland. The tree on the cover of the book does have significance, but it's just rather boring. It wouldn't entice me to pick up this book to see what it's about. Surely, the cover could've been a bit more decorative.

The setting takes place mostly in suite 5 which is Silvia's room in hospital. The world building is alright. The memories of each visitor help set the story.

I found the pacing of Oh Dear Silvia to be extremely and painfully slow. At some points, I found myself skim reading the especially boring parts. I couldn't wait for this book to be over. There's not even one bit in this book where the pacing picks up. There's no real plot in this book, so there's definitely no plot twists. The pacing definitely lets this book down.

The dialogue is comedic at times which I found to be a small reprieve from the slowness of this book. Ed's dialogue really bored me.

The characters are well-developed which I found to be a relief. Each chapter of the book is told by someone who knows Silvia. The main characters that have their own chapters being Ed, Cat, Jo, Cassie, Winnie, and Tia. Ed is by far the most boring character that could ever be in a book. All he mostly talks about is his boring trees. Whilst I did find him to be a well-developed character, I found him extremely dull and found myself wishing that he'd just stop talking. Winnie and Tia were my favourite characters. Winnie has a big heart, and it really comes across in this book. Tia is from Indonesia so has a hard time pronouncing Silvia's surname which always made me laugh!! I found Tia and Jo to be the characters that brought the humour, and they delivered! Cat is the high strung character, and Cassie is the angry daughter. Each character has a unique personality. Well done to Dawn French for making each character unique! Through each of the characters' stories, we learn more and more about Silvia.

Even with the strong character personalities and comedic timing, this book still fell flat. I felt that this book was missing a plot. Oh Dear Silvia comes across more as a memoir about Silvia then anything else.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone except those who need help falling asleep. Dawn French is great, but this book just didn't do it for me.
  
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Clair (5 KP) rated Flawed in Books

Sep 29, 2017  
Flawed
Flawed
Cecelia Ahern | 2016 | Children
8
8.5 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've really enjoyed this YA book by Cecelia Ahern. So different from the fluffy romantic stuff she usually writes.
Set in a world where you are punished for making ethical or moral mistakes. If you are found to have made a bad decision, have lied, have stolen, have been disloyal or have stepped out of line, you are sent to trial and if are found guilty are branded with an F on various parts of your body depending on your error of judgment. From then on, the persons life is controlled by whistle blowers and the rules they in force. It's a good setup and I've sped through it - it's not the best written YA book I've come across but something about it has meant I haven't been able to put it down.
  
Calling Mrs Christmas
Calling Mrs Christmas
Carole Matthews | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A fantastically festive romance (3 more)
The perfect book to read as the festivities begin
Cassie Smith is a great leading character
Reading about lapland made it all the more enjoyable
As with all Carole Matthews books, I found myself clinging to every page drawn in by Cassie Smith and her new venture and the up and downs it would bring to her.
For me personally, I found the obvious research for characters and locations and consequence details used within the book, made it even more appealing and heartfelt to read and certainly added to my overall enjoyment and high rating for Calling Mrs Christmas.
This is a book I could read again and again and I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a festive read with some fun-filled, heartwarming Christmas spirit.
  
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Dean (6925 KP) rated REC (2007) in Movies

Jan 7, 2018  
REC (2007)
REC (2007)
2007 | Horror
8
7.5 (13 Ratings)
Movie Rating
One of the best found footage films (1 more)
Genuinely scary
Scary
A great little Spanish horror film that has a realism about it you just don't get in many horror films. This did so well the Western remake was done just a few months later and also got good reviews @Quarantine (2008) . It's very short at 70mins but brutal and shocking after a slow opening. Filmed from the point of view of a local TV camera man, it's a found footage film like Blairwitch and Cloverfield, making a documentary about the local fire service. They go out on a call to a local apartment block, beginning a series of shocking events.
There are 2 sequels that are worth checking out and a sequel to the American version as well.
  
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2001 | Adventure, Fantasy
Start of a brilliant trilogy
One of my favorite book series of all time. This is the sequel to the hobbit books. It tells thr story of how the magic ring was found and that yet again a young hobbit who is destined to bring it back to the famous mountain where it it was found. We learn of it's power and the fellowship who chooses to help the young halfling to bring it back and keep him unharmed. The book is so much better because of the detail in it but the acting is great and tries to keep up with the book. The best way to view these movies is to watch the hobbit movies and then start this series as it helps answer many questions.
  
The Incredibles 2 (2018)
The Incredibles 2 (2018)
2018 | Action, Animation, Comedy
Jack Jack and Edna (0 more)
Not so incredible
I'm usually a huge fan of Disney pixar but honestly this film fell short for me. The first two thirds of the film I found rather slow. The plot was predictable. The only relationship or interest I found was Jack Jack powers and then later Edna interactions with Jack Jack and his powers I was also disappointed with Disney not putting strobe warning in the state for the first week and a half of the films release. I have several friend who suffer from epilepsy and had UK got the same time as us and not had warning I dread to think what would of happens. For me this was safe I fly middle of the road nothing to write home about.
  
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Tami (7 KP) rated Roomies in Books

Jul 10, 2018 (Updated Jul 10, 2018)  
Roomies
Roomies
Christina Lauren | 2017 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I just found Christina Lauren by reading Love and Other Words and had to find another of her books, I'm glad I found this one.

I loved the dynamic between Holland and Collin. It's a crush, it's a ruse, it's love. The characters are easy to relate to and you root for them the entire book. There are some VERY steamy parts in the book that make the book just that perfect segway from sweet to sultry. As a woman, I'd love to rumple some sheets with Collin myself. :)

As with any romance, the storyline runs on a formula:

*girl meets boy
*insert positive storyline
*insert insurmountable problem
*insert resolution
*insert HEA

Luckily the storyline, writing style, character dynamic, and steam give the formula the kick it needs to be a good book.