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Sarah (7800 KP) rated A Gate at the Stairs in Books

Feb 9, 2020

A Gate at the Stairs

Lorrie Moore | 2010 | Fiction & Poetry

5.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Not bad but ultimately forgettable

I read this as part of a local reading group I’ve joined recently, and I was sceptical as some of the Goodreads reviews are scathing to say the least. However fortunately this isn’t as bad as others seem to think.

The problem is that this book is mostly forgettable. The writing is rather good, although does have a tendency to ramble off at rather bizarre tangents. I’m not sure if this is meant to be a nod to the disjointed and random thoughts of the narrator, but for me this didn’t quite work. When it got a little rambling I found my mind began to wander and I ended up skim reading more than I should. I also struggled with the anti-racism group, while they didn’t feature too often when they did their inane ramblings and chat I just couldn’t stand. Despite this the rest of the book isn’t too bad. Tassie is a rather shambolic protagonist and for the most part not very sympathetic or endearing. But the development of her and her friends and family is engaging enough to keep you reading, even if sadly this book is ultimately forgettable.

Kudos

the_mad_meeple (55 KP) rated Forbidden Island in Tabletop Games

Mar 10, 2020 (Updated Mar 10, 2020)

Forbidden Island

2010 | Adventure, Card Game, Fantasy

7.0

(14 Ratings)

Tabletop Game Rating

Sink or swim?

Considering my Y childhood holidays spent by the water, I've never been more anxious at the sight of rising water levels. A fully cooperative experience, all players, new and experienced, took part in an adventure fit for all. Fighting to get to the chopper we found ourselves facing an ever changing table top with tiles sinking faster than we were able to get to them. As you move around the board collecting treasures, you face difficult challenges of whether to move yourself or to use your special abilities to better position your comrades. A gem of a game, the variety of characters provide a strong amount of replay ability, ideal for a game that provides an air of impending doom telling you that all you can do now is it to start planning for the next attempt.
Whether you play it for the theme of an intrepid explorer searching an unknown island, or you are looking for an excellent family friendly cooperative experience (allowed by the ability to simply and effectively vary difficulty levels) this is a game for boardgamers of all shapes and sizes.

Kudos

Merissa (13015 KP) rated Taking Root (The Eros Tales #1) in Books

Jul 30, 2019

Taking Root (The Eros Tales #1)

Katherine McIntyre | 2019 | Contemporary, Romance, Thriller

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Taking Root (Eros Tales #1) by Katherine McIntyre

TAKING ROOT is the first book in the Eros Tales, and this promises to be a fantastic new series.

Danny's life was turned upside down when she was seventeen. Since then, she has travelled the States, never setting down roots, and never knowing when she will be moving on. She is sent to a town so very close to where she grew up, knowing the risks she will have to take if she meets anyone she once knew. She wasn't counting on the steadfast stubbornness of one Adrian Dukas though.

This was brilliantly written, showing Danny's loneliness and the trials and tribulations she has lived through, without it detracting from the current set up. Also, you get enough details about her father to make it horrific, without it going into information overload. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading, and I found the pacing to be very smooth. With no plot holes I fell through, this was a gripping story from start to finish.

I loved the Dukas family, and I sincerely hope we will be seeing more of them. Absolutely recommended by me.