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Roxanne (13 KP) rated Oh My Goth in Books

Nov 9, 2018  
OM
Oh My Goth
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Eventhough this book was pure fluff I still really enjoyed it. A really light, easy read, with a simple plot and some likeable characters. This sends a good message to teens that it's what's on the inside that counts not the outside. My reason for removing a star was that I found in some places it contradicted itself and the whole popularity struggle got a bit annoying. Jade wants to be recognised as an individual whilst hating on the 'Barbies' but says she's just a normal person with feelings... then why hate? That goes for all of you...if you're all so good and want fair treatment...why hate? Apart from that...I liked it and the quotes at the beginning of each chapter were great.
  
The Catcher Was a Spy (2018)
The Catcher Was a Spy (2018)
2018 | Biography, Drama, War
Very interesting (and excellent) cast. Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti, Jeff Daniels, and Guy Pierce all step outside their general wheel houses and bring together a wonderful performance about a true chain of events that unfolded during World War II.

As a Red Sox fan I had a general idea of the story surrounding Moe Berg, but I was enlightened about several different elements of the story by the movie and even more so I was driven to do additional research and found out even more information about this unheralded American Hero.

If you're looking for an action romp this isn't where you'll find it. This is a movie that will capture your imagination and you will almost forget that this is all based on a true story.
  
Let There Be More Light by Pink Floyd
Let There Be More Light by Pink Floyd
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"The structure of 'Let There Be More Light' is not conventional. It goes through different things - you think it's going to go one and it goes the other. But much more than this record, before Bill and I started playing together in Body/Head, I found this 1968 live footage of Pink Floyd on YouTube. They were playing and it was almost like people were dancing to abstract music. There were visuals and it was amazing. In 1968, they were doing stuff that we're just doing now. Syd Barrett was sitting down and playing prepared guitar, like Bill does when he does his solo stuff - and other people who play prepared guitars do. That was all really inspiring, originally to the band, I think"

Source
  
The Ghost Camper's Tall Tales (Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic #3)
The Ghost Camper's Tall Tales (Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic #3)
Elizabeth Pantley | 2021 | Mystery, Paranormal
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Elizabeth Pantley has done it again!

Ever since Hayden has arrived at Destiny falls mystery seems to follow her. There is no change in this book as a man who was already thought dead is found, dead! Its down to Hayden, Han, Jaxson and Axel to discover what's going on.

Another fantastic story beautifully written by Elizabeth it captures you into the world of Destiny Falls and the magic that happens around it. I love that every book has a new mystery to be uncovered but I also love the new charecters and the descriptions of them they are so vivid!

Another fantastic story definatly recommended, but please read the others in the series first! I can't wait for book 4!
4/5 stars
  
Stories To Make You Smile
Stories To Make You Smile
Various | 2021
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Such a lovely book of short stories! Each one had a feel good factor and I found myself either stifling a giggle or smiling by the end of them.
I haven’t read anything by any of the authors except for Katie Fforde but this book has definitely made me rethink that. Every single author had me absorbed in their few pages of story within the first couple of lines.
I would recommend this as a short read for anybody who wants to read something that will make them smile. It is also one that can be picked up and put back down easily with them being such short stories.
This book does exactly what it says on the cover… makes you smile!
  
(As featured on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/review-of-revenge-of-praying-mantis.html">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a> )


I've never read a book about ninjas or anything ninja related before. It never really interested me. However, I am glad I came across Revenge of Praying Mantis by Jane Prowse. I found it to be extremely interesting, and not once did my attention waver!

Revenge of the Praying Mantis is the first book in the series of Hattori Hachi, a fifteen year old girl whose mother goes missing under suspicious circumstances. Hattie must learn ninjutsu if she wishes to find out what happened to her mother. She also must learn who to trust.

I loved loved loved the characters in Revenge. I felt they were all very well developed especially those of Hattie, Mad Dog, and Yazuki. I loved the fact that finally a mixed race person was the main character of a book as you don't often see that. I also loved the fact that Hattie could hold her own. She didn't act like a damsel in distress either. She was a kick butt girl!! I found Mad Dog to be a perfect gentlemen. He didn't try to overshadow Hattie at all, and he was always willing to do his own thing. I also loved the fact that he was always willing to risk his life for Hattie. Yazuki was definitely my favourite character. I found her to be a very strong character throughout the book. She says and does some very funny things, but she is very wise. Yazuki becomes Hattie's mentor and friend. I'm really hoping Yazuki will be featured in all of the books because she feels like part of my family for some reason.

Throughout the book, I felt like I was being taught ninjutsu as well. It is very obvious throughout the book that Ms Prowse has definitely done her research in ninjutsu. I loved how each chapter started out with a saying about ninjutsu.

I found the pacing to be absolutely perfect. It wasn't too fast that I didn't understand what was going on, nor was it too slow where I got bored. Every chapter held my interest, and I was desperate to know what would happen in the next chapter.

The dialogue is very easy to understand especially as this is a YA book. It's not condescending either. I felt it used the right dialogue that would appeal to pre-teens, teens and adults alike.

Okay, I have to mention the cover now. I love it, and I find it very appealing! The cover definitely matches the story of the book especially with the shadow on the front. I like the fact that the cover is very simple yet beautiful. It's not cluttered like a lot of covers sometimes are.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I believe it appeals to both boys and girls, young and old. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone even if martial arts aren't your thing as there's so much more going on in this book!!

The Revenge of Praying Mantis (Hattori Hachi #1) by Jane Prowse gets a 5 out of 5 from me.
  
The Night Watch (DS Max Craigie #3)
The Night Watch (DS Max Craigie #3)
Neil Lancaster | 2022 | Crime, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have read the first 2 in this series and absolutely loved them so I was a bit worried that Mr Lancaster wouldn't be able to match them however, I have to say that he has exceeded my expectations because this is an absolute cracker.

DS Max Craigie and his team are a small but formidable group; their relationship and dialogue feels authentic and I have found myself becoming rather attached to them. Max's boss, DI Ross Fraser, provided me much amusement and laugh out loud moments which helped to lighten what is a dark story of what appears to be vigilante justice with a strong suspicion that the perpetrator is a serving police officer. When he is found dead of an apparent suicide, Max and his team are convinced it was murder but how and who is responsible and who will be next?

Once again, this is a gritty, fast paced and absorbing police procedural with an engrossing plot with great twists and excellent characters and although it can be read as a standalone quite successfully, I would highly recommend reading the first 2 in the series not only because it will help with getting to know the characters but also because they are damn fine books!

Bravo Mr Lancaster, you have a fan here and I can't wait to read the next and I must thank HQ, HQ Digital and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Night Watch.
  
The Devil in Disguise (Broken Halos #4)
The Devil in Disguise (Broken Halos #4)
Maya Daniels | 2019 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Devil in Disguise is the fourth book in the Broken Halos series, and MUST be read as part of the series, or it just won't make sense. With the help of her new-found friends, Hel is back on earth, but that's where the good news ends. Earth isn't at all how it is supposed to be, and Eric is still unconscious. Not only that, but things aren't looking too good as Hel and the others try to get one step ahead of Mammon and his crew.

If you follow my reviews, you will know that I am an avid fan of Maya Daniels. She hasn't written a bad book yet, and no matter what the storyline is, she manages to suck me in. It is the same with this book! Hel and Eric still remain my favourite couple, but I really want to know what is going on with Maddison and Leviathan!! Beezlebub is a firm favourite, and I adore how he interacts with Hel. My heart does ache for Raphael in this book though, so consider yourself warned.

With no errors that disrupted my reading, I was thoroughly engrossed in this story and, once again, found it to be over far too quickly. Not that the story is short, just that I didn't want it to end. A fantastic storyline with characters and situations to love, plus a sexy time. I am loving this series and have no hesitation in highly recommending it.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Cloverfield (2008)
Cloverfield (2008)
2008 | Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Cloverfield is, at heart a found footage Kaiju movie with the twist that you don't see much of the main monster until the end of the film. Unlike Kaiju films like Godzilla or even Pacific rim, Cloverfield does not concentrate on the monster but on the people affected by it's rampage and the found footage aspect of the film helps bring us in close with a small group of survivors as they try to work out what is happening and try to find their friends.
I knew some one who absolutely hated this film for the very fact that the monster is rarely seen, although he clamed that you never actually saw the monster, which isn't true so I don't think he watched all the way to the end. He had a point though, if you want to watch a film where monsters fight it out amongst themselves then this probably won't be for you.
The monster is really nothing more than a plot device and the fact that it is only revealed in parts and not fully seen until the end helps to keep the film centred on the people and helps add a touch of reality to the film, after all if you lived in Japan during a Kaiju attack you would be more interested in saving your own life than weather you were about to be eaten by Godzilla or Ghidorah.
Being a found footage film, Cloverfield suffers slightly from the usual shaky camera work and occasional low sound but these are kept to a minimum. The film also manages to avoid relying on night vision or infra red so the footage is, for the most part, much clearer than other films of this style and doesn't keep switching formats which make the film less distracting than others.
Over all Cloverfield is a good monster/survival film which leaves some questions to be answered in the sequels (or not )