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Tamsin Clark (15 KP) rated The Ancient Magus' Bride (2017) in Movies
Jan 20, 2018
Beautiful Animation (5 more)
Beautiful soundtrack
Well chosen cast
Emotional storyline
Fantasy/horror/action/comedy/drama
Excellent adaptation from the manga
What makes us....us?
I've never been a religious follower of anime in the past. I've delved into it, mostly Studio Ghibli's work and a few others but I never really found a reason to regularly want to tune in and watch an Anime every week. Until Magus' Bride.
From the time of writing this, there have been 14 episodes and every single one has retained consistent high quality of voice acting, storyline and musical score. Not once can I ever say I have been bored or impatient with an episode. Each one will have you questioning your own humanity as you question theirs. You can't help but become attached emotionally to all the characters as they each progress through their own heartbreaking lifelines and each episode brings new and riveting challenges. All the while you're accompanied by amazing scores and haunting singing which strays from the usual cringe-worthy singing in a lot of anime, and stunningly drawn animation.
I could not recommend this any higher. It deserves a 10 and I have no shame giving it that.
From the time of writing this, there have been 14 episodes and every single one has retained consistent high quality of voice acting, storyline and musical score. Not once can I ever say I have been bored or impatient with an episode. Each one will have you questioning your own humanity as you question theirs. You can't help but become attached emotionally to all the characters as they each progress through their own heartbreaking lifelines and each episode brings new and riveting challenges. All the while you're accompanied by amazing scores and haunting singing which strays from the usual cringe-worthy singing in a lot of anime, and stunningly drawn animation.
I could not recommend this any higher. It deserves a 10 and I have no shame giving it that.

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Theory of Opposites in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Willa Chandler-Golden grew up in the shadow of her famous father, a renowned scientist and self-help author whose advice about just leading your life and giving into your fate has basically taken over Willa's entire life. Case in point: she is actually named William, since she was "supposed" to be a boy and her father assumed it was her fate to be named William. Willa is now married, but her life seems to be falling apart at the seams - she's been let go from her job and her husband, Shawn, wants a "break" from their seemingly happily married life. Willa needs to decide if she's really on board with her Dad's laissez faire theory, or if she's ready to take charge of her own life.
I stumbled across this book on the library's ebook website and it was basically exactly what I wanted/expected - a simple, fun, easy read. Willa is a frustrating character at times - girl has absolutely no ability to stand up for herself or take charge of her life sometimes! However, as you get to know her family, it does make a little sense. The book is silly at times and a little crazy and fantastical, but it's fun, and the outcome isn't entirely predictable. A good, quick read.
I stumbled across this book on the library's ebook website and it was basically exactly what I wanted/expected - a simple, fun, easy read. Willa is a frustrating character at times - girl has absolutely no ability to stand up for herself or take charge of her life sometimes! However, as you get to know her family, it does make a little sense. The book is silly at times and a little crazy and fantastical, but it's fun, and the outcome isn't entirely predictable. A good, quick read.

Lindsay (1774 KP) rated Beloved Enemy: Battle of First Bull Run (Battles of Destiny, #3) in Books
Feb 15, 2018
This book is got me hooked as soon as I started reading the Preface. This book is great for though that love the Civil War. I got this book and started reading before the other two in this series. This book is Fiction somewhat. There is some true folks from our true american History that is in this book along with some fiction folks.
This book is backed on the start of the Civil War. It starts out with Abraham Lincoln traveling to the White House. Then it goes into the Battle of Bull Run. There is some really interesting things and our history in this book. I do not want to spoil the book by giving any thing away. If you have not read this book I strongly read it. My mom is quite interested in reading the book and she barely picks up the same books as I do. If you want to read about the Civil War then I suggest that you read this book called "Beloved Enemy".
You read about the Lincons In Aungration and the Battle of Bull Run Creek and who start the Civil war.You learn about Confederate Spies and what happens to them. This is something I would recommend to everyone to read.
This book is backed on the start of the Civil War. It starts out with Abraham Lincoln traveling to the White House. Then it goes into the Battle of Bull Run. There is some really interesting things and our history in this book. I do not want to spoil the book by giving any thing away. If you have not read this book I strongly read it. My mom is quite interested in reading the book and she barely picks up the same books as I do. If you want to read about the Civil War then I suggest that you read this book called "Beloved Enemy".
You read about the Lincons In Aungration and the Battle of Bull Run Creek and who start the Civil war.You learn about Confederate Spies and what happens to them. This is something I would recommend to everyone to read.

Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated Before I Go to Sleep in Books
Mar 15, 2018
I had been hearing good things about this book from a very large number of my coworkers, and with the movie coming out I figured it was a good time to tackle it. What a harrowing story it turned out to be. Christine wakes up every day having completely forgotten the majority of her life before that point, next to a husband she can't remember. She has begun keeping track of the events of her days in a journal, at the encouragement of a doctor who has to call her every morning to remind her to do so. Through doing this, she has begun to piece together the last several decades of her life and, perhaps most importantly, how it is that she came to be the way she is. This turns out to be a wonderfully clever way to tease out a mystery, and is balanced with just enough sadness and fear over the very condition itself, which truly does seem terrible. I can't say anything more without giving away the plot, but trust me, you will want to read this one for yourself, as it is quite the good climax. Read it before you see the movie, you won't be disappointed.

Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Sarah in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Also read my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-reviews/sarah-by-jt-leroy
Wow I don't know what to say really.
I think that most people rating this book have judged it based on the author's hoax at claiming this was a true story but if you ignore all that mess, what you find here is a really weird, heart breaking and hilarious novel. I think people need to start looking at this as a stand-alone novel and push the whole scandal to the side to see how brilliant this book actually is.
I wasn't sure why I decided to request this from Netgalley because it's the sort of book I'd normally steer clear of, but I'm glad I left my comfort zone to read this, because it was worth it.
Sarah will take you through every single emotion you can possibly think of, from love to terror to hope and you'll find yourself a bit lost once it's all over. I have another JT LeRoy book to start next, I'm hoping I like it just as much as this.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Wow I don't know what to say really.
I think that most people rating this book have judged it based on the author's hoax at claiming this was a true story but if you ignore all that mess, what you find here is a really weird, heart breaking and hilarious novel. I think people need to start looking at this as a stand-alone novel and push the whole scandal to the side to see how brilliant this book actually is.
I wasn't sure why I decided to request this from Netgalley because it's the sort of book I'd normally steer clear of, but I'm glad I left my comfort zone to read this, because it was worth it.
Sarah will take you through every single emotion you can possibly think of, from love to terror to hope and you'll find yourself a bit lost once it's all over. I have another JT LeRoy book to start next, I'm hoping I like it just as much as this.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Georgie is off the Italy in the spring of 1935. She is going to keep her friend Belinda company until she gives birth to her baby in secret. However, when the Queen finds out about Georgie’s plans, she worms Georgie’s way into a nearby house party to Georgie can learn if the Prince of Wales has secretly married Mrs. Simpson. When Georgie arrives, she finds a strange assortment of guests, which include her mother with another mission for Georgie. Can she accomplish any of it?
I look forward to this series because they are always fun, and this book is no exception. As Georgie is heading out to her ultimate destination, we get updates on everyone in her life. This may slow things down for those new to the series, but fans will absolutely love it. Once we reach Italy, things pick up and get very interesting quickly. I love how the global politics of the day was woven into this book while still giving us an entertaining mystery and keeping the tone light as always.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-on-her-majestys-frightfully.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I look forward to this series because they are always fun, and this book is no exception. As Georgie is heading out to her ultimate destination, we get updates on everyone in her life. This may slow things down for those new to the series, but fans will absolutely love it. Once we reach Italy, things pick up and get very interesting quickly. I love how the global politics of the day was woven into this book while still giving us an entertaining mystery and keeping the tone light as always.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-on-her-majestys-frightfully.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Sarah (126 KP) rated The Martian (2015) in Movies
Jul 30, 2018
Brilliant Movie
I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this film half as much as I did. It wasn't my choice to watch and one I put off until we couldn't think of anything else to put on one night.
In fact, I actually loved it! I laughed, my heart was racing with fear and excitement, and I cried for the character played by Matt Damon and the struggles he faced.
The premise doesn't sound particularly thrilling, one man stranded alone on a planet, and yet seeing how he copes with the difficulties thrown at him and the problems that he and the team trying to get him home have to overcome make it an extremely watchable and enjoyable film.
I've watched this now a few times and, even though I know what's coming and how it ends, I still get the same feelings of apprehension and relief, and I've still cried at exactly the same points.
I normally shy away from giving a 10/10, as there's always something that can be improved, but (bearing in mind I haven't read the book of this one, so can't put the film into context in that regard), I don't think there's anything I would change about this.
In fact, I actually loved it! I laughed, my heart was racing with fear and excitement, and I cried for the character played by Matt Damon and the struggles he faced.
The premise doesn't sound particularly thrilling, one man stranded alone on a planet, and yet seeing how he copes with the difficulties thrown at him and the problems that he and the team trying to get him home have to overcome make it an extremely watchable and enjoyable film.
I've watched this now a few times and, even though I know what's coming and how it ends, I still get the same feelings of apprehension and relief, and I've still cried at exactly the same points.
I normally shy away from giving a 10/10, as there's always something that can be improved, but (bearing in mind I haven't read the book of this one, so can't put the film into context in that regard), I don't think there's anything I would change about this.

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding in Books
Aug 17, 2018
Is It the Summer of Weddings for Lady Georgianna?
Lady Georgianna, Georgie to her friends, is finally planning her wedding to Darcy O’Mara. However, before they get married, they need to figure out where they are going to live. The answer comes from an unlikely place, and soon Georgie is out to the country to get their new home ready for them. She isn’t surprised when she arrives to find the house is running on a minimal staff, but the staff that is there is extremely surprising. Something is definitely up, but can Georgie figure out what is going on? Will she finally get married?
As is typical for the series, the book started off a little slowly for me, giving us updates on the various people in Georgie’s life and talking about the wedding plans. There was also a recycled sub-plot in this section that annoyed me. However, once the action moves to Georgie’s potential new house, things really picked up. I was intrigued by what she was facing and couldn’t wait to see how it all was resolved. There is some great character growth for Georgie and another series regular here; overall, the cast is great like always. I was very satisfied with how this book ended.
As is typical for the series, the book started off a little slowly for me, giving us updates on the various people in Georgie’s life and talking about the wedding plans. There was also a recycled sub-plot in this section that annoyed me. However, once the action moves to Georgie’s potential new house, things really picked up. I was intrigued by what she was facing and couldn’t wait to see how it all was resolved. There is some great character growth for Georgie and another series regular here; overall, the cast is great like always. I was very satisfied with how this book ended.

meg (46 KP) rated Fitbit Alta HR Fitness Wristband in Tech
Aug 20, 2018
This is the first fitness tracker I've ever had, and I'm really happy with it. I was expecting it to come charged, which it wasn't, but it charged very quickly. The battery life is pretty good, I only charge it while I'm showering and the charge lasts until my next shower. It was pretty easy to sync to my phone, after I realized I needed to charge it first. The Fitbit app is very easy to use and I love that it tracks my sleep too. Wearing it is much better than I thought it would be. I have very small wrists, but the slim design makes it comfortable. The band is also much more comfortable than I expected.
My reasons for not giving this device a perfect score are minor. You need to tap the face of the device to turn the screen on and flip through the various screens (time, steps, heart rate, etc), and it's kind of finicky and doesn't always engage when I tap, if I don't do it just right. The brightness doesn't compete with a sunny day, so it can be hard to read in that environment. Otherwise, I think it's great and I'm really happy with it.
My reasons for not giving this device a perfect score are minor. You need to tap the face of the device to turn the screen on and flip through the various screens (time, steps, heart rate, etc), and it's kind of finicky and doesn't always engage when I tap, if I don't do it just right. The brightness doesn't compete with a sunny day, so it can be hard to read in that environment. Otherwise, I think it's great and I'm really happy with it.

Paul Smedley (141 KP) rated Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote in Tech
Sep 30, 2018
Faster (2 more)
Higher Quality Resolution
Massive amount of content
Much better than G1
Well I won this beauty in the giveaway and used it quite a bit lately before giving a review.
I already had the first generation firestick so knew how they worked but wanted one with the voice search function to accompany my Sky Q box that does the same.
Not only is the Alexa voice search function good but I also found that the resolution is better, the speed is better and the load up is quicker!
The load up is still slower than a Sky box or Netflix on my smart TV but it’s the home to great shows such as Preacher which I highly recommend.
Overall, if you’re looking for a firestick then this model is the one to go for for speed and access to the great programmes and films available through Amazon Prime.
Setup is extremely easy, a PIN can be used to stop little ones going on anything not age appropriate or to stop any unauthorised purchases plus it’s interface is easy enough for children to use to watch kids programmes or even play some android games on!
Top product, top present and even better as I got it through Smashbomb’s giveaway!!!
I already had the first generation firestick so knew how they worked but wanted one with the voice search function to accompany my Sky Q box that does the same.
Not only is the Alexa voice search function good but I also found that the resolution is better, the speed is better and the load up is quicker!
The load up is still slower than a Sky box or Netflix on my smart TV but it’s the home to great shows such as Preacher which I highly recommend.
Overall, if you’re looking for a firestick then this model is the one to go for for speed and access to the great programmes and films available through Amazon Prime.
Setup is extremely easy, a PIN can be used to stop little ones going on anything not age appropriate or to stop any unauthorised purchases plus it’s interface is easy enough for children to use to watch kids programmes or even play some android games on!
Top product, top present and even better as I got it through Smashbomb’s giveaway!!!