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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Signs Preceding the End of the World in Books
Nov 9, 2017 (Updated Nov 9, 2017)
Darkly magical
Signs Preceding the End of the World is a moving novel about borders, identity and the world to come.
Yuri Herrera, a Mexican writer, packs a dense and colourful world, woven into a fast-paced narrative adventure. It is a powerful and poignant depiction of a complicated world-in-becoming whose bloody and fertile veins run through the US-Mexican border.
In this short novel, Makina, a young Mexican woman, is ordered by her mother to sneak across the US border in search of her brother, who has disappeared. To do so, she seeks the help of a local criminal gang, who agree to help her if she takes on a mission for them, too. In Makina, Herrera has created a remarkable and endearing character: self-assured, plucky, confident, capable of handling herself in a crisis yet still eminently human and full of fears and desires of her own.
Herrera casts bare the essence of the border zone where the action takes place. It's more than just a border. In a hundred pages he succeeds in portraying this world in greater depth and complexity.
Yuri Herrera, a Mexican writer, packs a dense and colourful world, woven into a fast-paced narrative adventure. It is a powerful and poignant depiction of a complicated world-in-becoming whose bloody and fertile veins run through the US-Mexican border.
In this short novel, Makina, a young Mexican woman, is ordered by her mother to sneak across the US border in search of her brother, who has disappeared. To do so, she seeks the help of a local criminal gang, who agree to help her if she takes on a mission for them, too. In Makina, Herrera has created a remarkable and endearing character: self-assured, plucky, confident, capable of handling herself in a crisis yet still eminently human and full of fears and desires of her own.
Herrera casts bare the essence of the border zone where the action takes place. It's more than just a border. In a hundred pages he succeeds in portraying this world in greater depth and complexity.
Awix (3310 KP) rated A View to a Kill (1985) in Movies
Mar 2, 2018 (Updated Mar 2, 2018)
Fourteenth Bond movie, known in Hong Kong as 'Indestructible Iron Man Fights the Electronic Gang'. (Which is pretty accurate, to be honest.) Rogue eugenic superman Zorin (Walken) has slightly Goldfingerish plan to artificially inflate the value of silicon chips; Bond has to stop him (obvs).
Bond gets it on with a record-breaking four different people in the course of the movie, including the villain's chief heavy, which may explain why he looks so exhausted most of the time. Or this may be due to Roger Moore's own advanced age (he was apparently dismayed to discover he was older than the parents of leading lady Tanya Roberts). Very much an example of Bond-movie-as-Bond-movie, i.e. a knockabout light-hearted action spectacular with only occasional pretensions to being a serious thriller or having anything meaningful to say about the world. Some decent chases and set pieces, helped by an occasionally effective soundtrack. Pleasantly distracting to watch but it's hardly going to rock your boat, let alone your world. It's possible that the opening sequence, in which Bond invents (gosh wow!) snowboarding , is the most glaringly dated moment of any major film in history.
Bond gets it on with a record-breaking four different people in the course of the movie, including the villain's chief heavy, which may explain why he looks so exhausted most of the time. Or this may be due to Roger Moore's own advanced age (he was apparently dismayed to discover he was older than the parents of leading lady Tanya Roberts). Very much an example of Bond-movie-as-Bond-movie, i.e. a knockabout light-hearted action spectacular with only occasional pretensions to being a serious thriller or having anything meaningful to say about the world. Some decent chases and set pieces, helped by an occasionally effective soundtrack. Pleasantly distracting to watch but it's hardly going to rock your boat, let alone your world. It's possible that the opening sequence, in which Bond invents (gosh wow!) snowboarding , is the most glaringly dated moment of any major film in history.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Murder Your Darlings (Algonquin Round Table #1) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
When the members of the Algonquin Round Table gathered for lunch, the last thing they expected to find was the dead body of a theater critic under their table. From Round Table, to speakeasy, and all over the city of New York, Dorothy Parker has to chase down a murderer before the police try to pin the crime on her or one of her gang. She has plenty of help from her friends Peter Benchley and a visiting Billy Faulkner.
The mystery was good, and the characters were larger than life, but there were so many characters that it did get a little confusing at first. Once I figured out who everyone was though, I really enjoyed it. I loved the banter between Dorothy and Peter they reminded me a bit of Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby. I highly recommend this one if you enjoy a little humor with your mystery.
Several members of the historical Algonquin Round Table are featured or make at least a brief appearance in this story. To read more about them, visit the <a href="http://www.algonquinhotel.com/story/round-table/">Algonquin Hotel's Website.</a>
The mystery was good, and the characters were larger than life, but there were so many characters that it did get a little confusing at first. Once I figured out who everyone was though, I really enjoyed it. I loved the banter between Dorothy and Peter they reminded me a bit of Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby. I highly recommend this one if you enjoy a little humor with your mystery.
Several members of the historical Algonquin Round Table are featured or make at least a brief appearance in this story. To read more about them, visit the <a href="http://www.algonquinhotel.com/story/round-table/">Algonquin Hotel's Website.</a>
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated On Hart۪s Boardwalk (On Dublin Street, #6.7; Hart's Boardwalk, #2.5) in Books
Jul 12, 2018
Holy crap, this novella pulled on my heartstrings. This is the story of two beloved characters from the On Dublin Street series, Olivia & Nate. Honestly, I forgot how much I missed the On Dublin Street gang right until I picked up this book and was thrown back into the world where everyone is still there and just as you remember them (though a little older).
Samantha Young has created characters that stick in your mind and make you never want to leave them. They make you smile, cry, laugh and want to scream at times. I love the character development & just the writing style is a refreshing take on the romance genre.
When you pick up a Samantha Young book, you know you're in for a treat. This is why she quickly became my favorite romance author. Her books are well written & the plot lines are always intriguing.
Hands down, this is a great novella & I cannot wait to read what she has next.
**I received this in exchange for an honest review but I'm about to preorder it on B&N because I know that I have to own it.**
Samantha Young has created characters that stick in your mind and make you never want to leave them. They make you smile, cry, laugh and want to scream at times. I love the character development & just the writing style is a refreshing take on the romance genre.
When you pick up a Samantha Young book, you know you're in for a treat. This is why she quickly became my favorite romance author. Her books are well written & the plot lines are always intriguing.
Hands down, this is a great novella & I cannot wait to read what she has next.
**I received this in exchange for an honest review but I'm about to preorder it on B&N because I know that I have to own it.**
Dean (6927 KP) rated Top Boy - Season 3 in TV
Dec 8, 2019 (Updated Dec 8, 2019)
Great story (1 more)
Good range of characters
Back on Top
I remember the first 2 short series when they were on Channel 4, both good but they were only 4 episodes long and the second one seemed to end abruptly. They are available on Netflix with the Netflix original new series which is 10 episodes long.
It's definitely worth watching the first 2 series as many of the main characters are the same and the story does carry on from then. Although it's been 6 years since the last series.
This is a good crime drama showing how rival drug gangs from different estates are trying to out do each other. It does feel quite realistic as we see the events unfold from many different characters viewpoints. Family, friends, rivals, gang members as they all get tied up with the events that unfold. It definitely feels like a much better all round story than the first 2 series. It's quite violent in parts as you would expect. Definitely worth putting towards the Top of your list to check out. If you like films like @Kidulthood (2006) you will like this.
It's definitely worth watching the first 2 series as many of the main characters are the same and the story does carry on from then. Although it's been 6 years since the last series.
This is a good crime drama showing how rival drug gangs from different estates are trying to out do each other. It does feel quite realistic as we see the events unfold from many different characters viewpoints. Family, friends, rivals, gang members as they all get tied up with the events that unfold. It definitely feels like a much better all round story than the first 2 series. It's quite violent in parts as you would expect. Definitely worth putting towards the Top of your list to check out. If you like films like @Kidulthood (2006) you will like this.
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