Search
Search results
Climate Change and Resource Conflict: The Role of Scarcity
Book
This book examines the links between climate change and resource scarcity to violent conflict. Does...
HO
Handbook of South American Governance
Pia Riggirozzi and Christopher Wylde
Book
This cutting-edge collection examines Latin America's rich history in the study of global political...
History of Technology
Book
New work on early modern Europe has now opened up the hidden avenues that link changes of...
Alice (117 KP) rated You and Me on Vacation in Books
Mar 3, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the advanced copy of this book
I read Beach Read last year and I did enjoy it but it didn't blow me away, this one, however... WOW! That's all I can say. A book about travel was always going to be right up my street but a slowburn friends to lovers story about travel. I was positively OBSESSED! The relationship between these two characters was so raw and honest and you were truly rooting for them from the very beginning. I related so hard to the character of Poppy too, like way too hard, there were moments when I genuinely thought that Emily Henry had been spying on me with how accurate some of these seemingly random character traits were to my life and I loved exploring the world through her eyes. I also think Alex Nilsen may be the new literary love of my life. I'm just so so so in love with this story and I probably shouldn't be typing this at midnight but that's when you get my most honest thoughts. I just have so much love for this book and I can already see it being one of my favourites of the year!
I read Beach Read last year and I did enjoy it but it didn't blow me away, this one, however... WOW! That's all I can say. A book about travel was always going to be right up my street but a slowburn friends to lovers story about travel. I was positively OBSESSED! The relationship between these two characters was so raw and honest and you were truly rooting for them from the very beginning. I related so hard to the character of Poppy too, like way too hard, there were moments when I genuinely thought that Emily Henry had been spying on me with how accurate some of these seemingly random character traits were to my life and I loved exploring the world through her eyes. I also think Alex Nilsen may be the new literary love of my life. I'm just so so so in love with this story and I probably shouldn't be typing this at midnight but that's when you get my most honest thoughts. I just have so much love for this book and I can already see it being one of my favourites of the year!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated Spy School Revolution in Books
Nov 9, 2020
Is Erica a Traitor?
When someone fires at the CIA building while Ben Ripley is in it, he assumes it was an attack on the CIA in general. It quickly becomes clear that Ben was the target, and the person who attacked the CIA is his friend Erica Hale. Despite the evidence, Ben doesnโt think that she has turned into a traitor. The CIA, however, wants her arrested no matter what. Is Ben right? If so, can he clear his friend?
The series has turned a bit of a corner with this book, but longtime fans will not be disappointed in the slightest. The book is still packed with plenty of action and a mystery that keeps throwing us surprises until we reach the climax. Meanwhile, I laughed multiple times as I was reading the book. I enjoy studying early American history, so I enjoyed the fact that the storyline delved into that period a bit. The characters are as strong as ever and grow some again here. The series is aimed at middle graders, but it is on my auto buy list โ for me. If you are looking for a fun, action packed book for any reader in your life, this is the book to get.
The series has turned a bit of a corner with this book, but longtime fans will not be disappointed in the slightest. The book is still packed with plenty of action and a mystery that keeps throwing us surprises until we reach the climax. Meanwhile, I laughed multiple times as I was reading the book. I enjoy studying early American history, so I enjoyed the fact that the storyline delved into that period a bit. The characters are as strong as ever and grow some again here. The series is aimed at middle graders, but it is on my auto buy list โ for me. If you are looking for a fun, action packed book for any reader in your life, this is the book to get.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Yummy (2019) in Movies
Nov 10, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
First of all, this is marketed as a horror comedy, which is arguably misleading. Bar a couple of throw away gags near the start (and an obligatory dismembered penis), Yummy plays things pretty straight, as it violently hurtles towards it's bleak (as fuck) conclusion.
The lack of laughs isn't a bad thing by any means. There are plenty of zombie comedies already out there (granted, there are plenty of zombie movies in general to choose from) but as this particular sub genre refuses to die, the serious entries may as well be half decent, which Yummy certainly is.
It's has some great set pieces, some nice camera work, and a good cast.
Maaike Neuville and Bart Hollanders are a likable lead duo, and give us a pair of sympathetic characters to root for, and are a huge asset to this movie.
For zombie fans, have no fear, it doesn't take long for the shit to hit the fan, and the gore comes thick and fast when things start tumbling downhill. The practical effects are fantastic, the CGI effects are painfully average, but overall it gets the job done.
Yummy is a genuinely solid entry into the vast Zombie Horror catalogue. It's bloody, it's morbid, and it's hectic, which is good enough for me.
The lack of laughs isn't a bad thing by any means. There are plenty of zombie comedies already out there (granted, there are plenty of zombie movies in general to choose from) but as this particular sub genre refuses to die, the serious entries may as well be half decent, which Yummy certainly is.
It's has some great set pieces, some nice camera work, and a good cast.
Maaike Neuville and Bart Hollanders are a likable lead duo, and give us a pair of sympathetic characters to root for, and are a huge asset to this movie.
For zombie fans, have no fear, it doesn't take long for the shit to hit the fan, and the gore comes thick and fast when things start tumbling downhill. The practical effects are fantastic, the CGI effects are painfully average, but overall it gets the job done.
Yummy is a genuinely solid entry into the vast Zombie Horror catalogue. It's bloody, it's morbid, and it's hectic, which is good enough for me.
Charlotte (184 KP) rated The We and the They in Books
Apr 30, 2021
Dystopian horror.......
I say dystopian horror as it's set after Mother Nature has gone on a wild rampage across the earth. The horror part......that comes from something else, although not in a slasher style.
Kara Ann Dawkins has done well with presenting, on the whole, a written monologue of community history. As with most things after a traumatic event (in this case the re-ordering of nature) it's not always possible to get things in the correct order, especially if pen and paper isn't readily available. So, it's kind of like, two steps forward (general telling of events) and one step back (as we learn of certain character's fates).
I like it though, it creates a bond to a character before hearing their history.
I found The We and the They to be quite thought provoking, I was asking myself how I would cope, what would I do in their situation.
I'd recommend as a young adult read as the themes could be upsetting for a younger audience. Settle in with a nice cuppa, a blanket and read about a world that we could easily find ourselves in......though when you learn more about the They you'll understand I don't mean their physicality.
I say dystopian horror as it's set after Mother Nature has gone on a wild rampage across the earth. The horror part......that comes from something else, although not in a slasher style.
Kara Ann Dawkins has done well with presenting, on the whole, a written monologue of community history. As with most things after a traumatic event (in this case the re-ordering of nature) it's not always possible to get things in the correct order, especially if pen and paper isn't readily available. So, it's kind of like, two steps forward (general telling of events) and one step back (as we learn of certain character's fates).
I like it though, it creates a bond to a character before hearing their history.
I found The We and the They to be quite thought provoking, I was asking myself how I would cope, what would I do in their situation.
I'd recommend as a young adult read as the themes could be upsetting for a younger audience. Settle in with a nice cuppa, a blanket and read about a world that we could easily find ourselves in......though when you learn more about the They you'll understand I don't mean their physicality.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Beckman (2020) in Movies
Mar 17, 2021 (Updated Mar 17, 2021)
"๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ'๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ข ๐จ๐ถ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ, ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ข๐จ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ท๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ, ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฉ? ๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฅ?"
When I say Pure Flix's superbly silly Christian ๐๐ฐ๐ฉ๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ค๐ฌ + Holy Bible mashup with ๐๐ฐ๐ฅ'๐ด ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ's Pastor Dave in the Keanu Reeves role and William Baldwin as a twisted desert sex cult leader where a drill goes into some dude's eye at one point - I want you to know that not only is that as righteously (no pun intended) entertaining as that sounds... it's better. Shocking what good acting, minimal preaching, and a budget that costs more than a Happy Meal can do for these things even as there's still no real characterization. Made by people who aren't just trying to cash-in on the success of Wick, but people who clearly love and respect the franchise: this has the delicious wide-angle comically over-the-top fight sequences, bumping screechsynth score, general nasty brutality, portentous monologues, and weaponized masculinity in all their respective glories. Never thought I'd see the day where one of these is executed with actual competency, especially when they aren't afraid to get down and dirty. I haven't seen a film which instantly made me demand cult status in forever - but this one absolutely deserves it.
When I say Pure Flix's superbly silly Christian ๐๐ฐ๐ฉ๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ค๐ฌ + Holy Bible mashup with ๐๐ฐ๐ฅ'๐ด ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ's Pastor Dave in the Keanu Reeves role and William Baldwin as a twisted desert sex cult leader where a drill goes into some dude's eye at one point - I want you to know that not only is that as righteously (no pun intended) entertaining as that sounds... it's better. Shocking what good acting, minimal preaching, and a budget that costs more than a Happy Meal can do for these things even as there's still no real characterization. Made by people who aren't just trying to cash-in on the success of Wick, but people who clearly love and respect the franchise: this has the delicious wide-angle comically over-the-top fight sequences, bumping screechsynth score, general nasty brutality, portentous monologues, and weaponized masculinity in all their respective glories. Never thought I'd see the day where one of these is executed with actual competency, especially when they aren't afraid to get down and dirty. I haven't seen a film which instantly made me demand cult status in forever - but this one absolutely deserves it.







