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Ready Player One
Ready Player One
Ernest Cline | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.9 (161 Ratings)
Book Rating
(This review can also be found on my blog: <a href="http://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/">All the Ups and Downs</a>).

Wow! I loved this book and was sad when it ended. I really didn’t know what to make of it when I read the book blurb. It just didn’t sound like something I’d like. How wrong I was!

I saw this book sitting in my local library and decided to give it a chance. I’m glad I did!

I loved the characters! I don’t wish I knew a bit more backstory about each of them, but it didn’t deter me from the book. I loved Art3mis the most.

I loved the setting of the book and everything that goes on in the OASIS. I felt like I was there a lot of them through Cline’s descriptive writing.

There are so many 80’s references in this book. It helps if you are big on 80’s pop culture. I feel like it would give you more of an advantage in picturing what Cline describes.

Sometimes the 80’s pop culture references were a bit much as was all the technology speak, but I wasn’t put off by the book.

The writing is fantastic as is the plot! I hated the Sixers and Sorrento so much and wanted them to fail.

I would say this book is better suited for those 16 or older due to the language. Adults will enjoy it too not only because of all the nostalgic 80’s feels, but also because it’s just a great book.

I would definitely recommend this book. I was totally immersed in Ready Player One. I think most people would enjoy it especially those who grew up in/around the 80’s and those that are gamers.
  
Little Heaven: A Novel
Little Heaven: A Novel
Nick Cutter | 2017 | Horror
10
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Before I delve into my thoughts about Little Heaven, I would like to thank the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Little Heaven will be available for purchase January 10, 2017 and its definitely on my wishlist for a physical copy.

Little Heaven plays host to an interesting cast of characters that range from three extremely different and unlikely heroes, to your typical, run of the mill, religious zealot. Heavily influenced by the Jonestown Massacre in some regards, I found Cutter's book to be a delightful and fresh read, in the most fiendishly way possible.

Our "heroes" are hired by a concerned woman after her nephew is taken into Little Heaven, a religious compound run by Reverend Amos Flesher. The motley crew quickly find themselves caught up in what can only be described as a nightmare; Reverend Flesher's obsession with his religion, coupled with an ancient evil, wrought a terrifying tale that is worth every minute I spent reading it.

I also have to admit that I was awestruck by Nick Cutter's style of writing. If you read my blog often enough, you're likely aware that I am no stranger to the macabre. The more gruesome, terrifying, and gore-filled a story or movie is, the happier I am. In that regard, Cutter exceeded my expectations. He paints such a vivid picture that there are times I actually found myself feeling squeamish - and that is a feat when it comes to the written word. Other times, I found myself on the verge of an anxiety attack, even if it was action driven, rather than by suspense.

The only thing I really didn't care for was the manner in which it went back and forth between two different time periods, especially since the latter period, 1980, could probably have been largely left out of the equation - or at least implemented into a smoother transition. The part of the story taking place in the 80s felt largely pointless to me up until the end, and even then it didn't have as much of a "wow" factor as I had hoped for. Nonetheless, it was still an excellent read.

Little Heaven is, undoubtedly, one of my favorite books so far this year - or rather, next year if you go by the publication date. I can't wait to read more from this author!
  
A Simple Favor (2018)
A Simple Favor (2018)
2018 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
unique plot (2 more)
great acting
twists and turns
sometimes predictable (0 more)
I went into this movie blind, having never seen the trailer or read the plot, and i thoroughly enjoyed it! Anna Kendrik and Blake Lively come together to make a great pairing, both being great actors and filling their characters with personality that grips the viewers attention from the beginning.

The movie contains many twists and turns, most of them surprising but some of them a little predictable (which is why i only gave it a rating of 9). Unlike some movies with a similar theme to this, such as Gone Girl, i found that the plot pulled you in from the beginning, rather than taking a while to get going.

Overall i thought this was a great movie with a unique plot line, deep and interesting characters, and great acting.
  
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
It's hard to find a PG movie that doesn't have any major swear words in it nowadays, so huge thumbs up for that! It was a little cheesy with some of the dialogue in parts, and you could easily draw direct correlation between things in this movie, and things in some of the other major modern classics. However, it didn't make the movie bad. I don't think it deserved all of the awful reviews that it was getting while in the theater. It's a PG movie, based on the characters from Sleeping Beauty. I'm not sure what people expected. I thought it was a cute film, overall, especially considering that it's a sequel. Man, I love Maleficent's wings! I'm glad I finally found the time to watch it with my family. I don't feel cheated out of my time at all.
  
Joker (2019)
Joker (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama
I found it refreshing to see a movie built specifically around Joker without the backdrop of Batman looming overhead. There have been some remarkable interpretations of Joker in the past but I don't think that the viewer has been given the opportunity to really dive into the villain and what makes him who he has become. It was nice to see a film maker give the audience permission to root for someone who wasn't the traditional hero, but a "hero" in his own rite, depending on your point of view and interpretation.

I do think that there were parts of the movie that were lacking development. But I think that can be said about just about any movie you can find. All in all, worth a watch. I'm not sure if I will watch again. Time will tell.
  
Queen of Tomorrow (Stolen Empire, #2)
Queen of Tomorrow (Stolen Empire, #2)
Sherry D. Ficklin | 2015 | History & Politics, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the second book in the series and picks up just after the last one finished.

By now Sophie has grown up and is becoming Catherine, you start to see more of the leader she could be as she goes about establishing herself within the court.

Sophie has a more clear idea of who she can trust, pretty much no one, and that she must go to extreme lengths if she is going succeed and one day be queen.

Unfortunately this book did not have the bonus content videos like the last one did. I found this a real shame as I really enjoyed the extra insight in he previous book. I did still enjoy the story though.
  
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition
2014 | Role-Playing
CO OP PLAY!!!!!!! (0 more)
Nothing that I've found (0 more)
Worth the 20 year wait!
Literally have played this franchise since I was 8. Never even for a second imagined there being a third installment. When it came out I couldn't afford it, and the wait for the game made finally besting each difficulty and getting the fill story line so very worth it. The Seasonal Play, (comes as an option, not a pass like with Fortnite or Paladins) further adds to the excitement of rare loot and drops. Granted, you are playing the same game over and over, and for some people that would be infuriating, however, it's part of the reason I love the game so much.
  
Angry Birds 2
Angry Birds 2
Games
3
5.4 (5 Ratings)
App Rating
Bird Clans (1 more)
Hat and Catapult upgrades
Here buy some gems (2 more)
Want to buy some gems
Congrats you did something, here buy some gems
Another Angry Birds, but begs for In App Purchases
This is literally a cash cow for Rovio.

I downloaded this app cause my kids love the films, however I found out over a couple of months that they were buying lots of gem packs, which Google and the designer was unwilling to refund. These were simple 99p purchases to £19.99 packs, having played the game I was offered to buy gems about 10 times in 15 minutes gameplay.

It is a good game but watch out for the milking of real money for gems and feathers
  
Cellular (2004)
Cellular (2004)
2004 | Action, Mystery
9
7.0 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Casting, story, exciting (0 more)
Yesssss
I found this movie while searching for movies with Chris Evans that I never saw before. This film also has Kim Basinger and William H. Macy. It is about a family who gets caught up with some crooked cops and Kim Basinger s son and herself get kidnapped. She figures out how to make a call to a random number on a phone the kidnapper smashed and winds up calling Chris' characters cell phone and he is now trying to save her and her son without knowing where they are. It is very exciting right until the end and I loved it. Worth a see if you like action films.