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The Throwaway Children
8.0
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Book
Gritty, heartrending and unputdownable - the story of two sisters sent first to an English, then an...
Only True in Fairy Tales
Book
It's never too late to believe in fairy tales ...Eloise Blake has been fascinated by Prospect House,...
Awix (3310 KP) rated Black Widow (2021) in Movies
Jul 10, 2021
Oh, Disney have deigned to finally release another Marvel movie: clearly we are all expected in the cinema. Nth MCU entry is a solid, mid-table variation on the formula; does the usual thing of taking interesting, distinctive talents like Johansson, Pugh, and Shortland and using them to produce something very much of a muchness with previous instalments.
Considering it's Johansson's name above the title, she's less prominent than you might expect - but the supporting cast are such good value it's hard to quibble with this (it's also quite clear that one of the film's functions is to establish Florence Pugh as 'Black Widow 2' for future Marvel projects). Good action, interestingly gritty tone, not very much in the way of plot, decent jokes - reliably entertaining stuff from the world's most consistent franchise production line.
Considering it's Johansson's name above the title, she's less prominent than you might expect - but the supporting cast are such good value it's hard to quibble with this (it's also quite clear that one of the film's functions is to establish Florence Pugh as 'Black Widow 2' for future Marvel projects). Good action, interestingly gritty tone, not very much in the way of plot, decent jokes - reliably entertaining stuff from the world's most consistent franchise production line.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Les Misérables (2019) in Movies
Sep 10, 2020
Gritty French social thriller (if that's a thing) hits its targets. A policeman newly assigned to a special unit in Paris finds his first day at work turning into a nightmare as tensions rise between different groups and his superior turns out to be an undisciplined loose cannon.
Bleak but compelling: this film was made in 2018 and 2019, but its concern with race, poverty, police brutality and the abuse of power means it feels very timely. Gripping plot and strong performances result in a film which is frequently tense even if it's seldom reassuring. The climax is as strong a condemnation of the failure of the young by wider social structures as I can remember seeing. A powerful and serious film, but also a very satisfying piece of entertainment.
Bleak but compelling: this film was made in 2018 and 2019, but its concern with race, poverty, police brutality and the abuse of power means it feels very timely. Gripping plot and strong performances result in a film which is frequently tense even if it's seldom reassuring. The climax is as strong a condemnation of the failure of the young by wider social structures as I can remember seeing. A powerful and serious film, but also a very satisfying piece of entertainment.
Before Watchmen: The Comedian
5.7
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A New York Times Best Seller! The controversial, long-awaited prequels to the best-selling graphic...
Dean (6926 KP) rated The Unforgivable (2021) in Movies
Jan 7, 2022
Great story
Well after watching a short while I realised this is actually based on a short TV series from the UK in 2009 starring Suranne Jones. A really gripping drama. This is basically a remake but set in the US.
The key story elements are the same as a young woman released after a long period in Prison for killing a cop tries to track down her younger sister. She struggles as her past catches up and the victims family are keen for revenge.
It holds up pretty well to the original, the writer also help produced this. Just the ending seemed a little less dramatic in this version. Still a very good story and a gritty role for Sandra Bullock.
The key story elements are the same as a young woman released after a long period in Prison for killing a cop tries to track down her younger sister. She struggles as her past catches up and the victims family are keen for revenge.
It holds up pretty well to the original, the writer also help produced this. Just the ending seemed a little less dramatic in this version. Still a very good story and a gritty role for Sandra Bullock.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated No Quarter Given in Books
May 8, 2022
"This is not murder. This is justice."
This is the latest in this series starring Connor Fraser and what a series it is!
No Quarter Given is a dark and gritty read that is not for the feint-hearted. It has some scenes that some may find distressing as they relate to child abuse so be warned, if this is a trigger for you, I would think before picking this up.
Having given that warning, this is intense, well written and fast paced with excellent characters but amongst the violence and tension, there is dark humour and moments of vulnerability for the main character.
This is an excellent addition to the series and thank you to Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading and sharing my thoughts.
This is the latest in this series starring Connor Fraser and what a series it is!
No Quarter Given is a dark and gritty read that is not for the feint-hearted. It has some scenes that some may find distressing as they relate to child abuse so be warned, if this is a trigger for you, I would think before picking this up.
Having given that warning, this is intense, well written and fast paced with excellent characters but amongst the violence and tension, there is dark humour and moments of vulnerability for the main character.
This is an excellent addition to the series and thank you to Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading and sharing my thoughts.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Liar Liar (DS Grace Allendale #3) in Books
Jan 19, 2020
Gritty, realistic and absorbing
Mel Sherratt describes herself as a "meddler of words" and I am not going to argue with her! I would also put her in the category as one of THE best crime writers in the UK that I have had the pleasure to read and one where I have never been disappointed.
Here we have another great story full of mystery and twists and one which I found hard to stop reading way too late into the night. This is book 3 in the series however, I don't think you have to have read the other 2 in order to enjoy this and I certainly feel it works well as a standalone.
Each and every character, both goodies and baddies, are well developed; their circumstances believable and scarily plausible. The setting is perfect and so well described I felt I was there. The pace is fast and engrossing with plenty of action and a fare amount of violence and scenes of peril right from the start however, this shouldn't come as a surprise if you've read the blurb.
The book is written with alternating chapters of the present and the past and rather than this complicating matters, it provided an insight into one of the main characters' motivations and justifications as to why she responds as she does. There are several strands that could all have a bearing on the investigation and rather than cause confusion, added to the mystery and intrigue making this an engrossing book and one which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys gritty, realistic and absorbing reads.
Thanks go to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Here we have another great story full of mystery and twists and one which I found hard to stop reading way too late into the night. This is book 3 in the series however, I don't think you have to have read the other 2 in order to enjoy this and I certainly feel it works well as a standalone.
Each and every character, both goodies and baddies, are well developed; their circumstances believable and scarily plausible. The setting is perfect and so well described I felt I was there. The pace is fast and engrossing with plenty of action and a fare amount of violence and scenes of peril right from the start however, this shouldn't come as a surprise if you've read the blurb.
The book is written with alternating chapters of the present and the past and rather than this complicating matters, it provided an insight into one of the main characters' motivations and justifications as to why she responds as she does. There are several strands that could all have a bearing on the investigation and rather than cause confusion, added to the mystery and intrigue making this an engrossing book and one which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys gritty, realistic and absorbing reads.
Thanks go to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The Dressmaker's Dowry: A Novel
Book
For readers of Lucinda Riley, Sarah Jio, or Susan Meissner, this gripping historical debut novel...
Not my favourite but still great
Not my favourite book in the Max Wolfe series but still very enjoyable with a very relevant and disturbing story line with great characters, twists, gritty tension, violence and humanity all written at a great pace that makes you want to continue reading well into the wee small hours of the night. I continue to love getting to know Max and adore his relationship with his daughter, Scout and their dog, Stanley with their moments adding a depth and warmth to Max that can be hidden under his strong policeman persona.
Although not my favourite, I would still highly recommend this series and Tony Parsons as a great British author and would like to thank the publisher, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for a review.
Although not my favourite, I would still highly recommend this series and Tony Parsons as a great British author and would like to thank the publisher, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for a review.