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Merissa (13730 KP) rated Going Nowhere in Books
Nov 12, 2018
Going Nowhere by Lena North
Going Nowhere is a fun-filled frolic with angels, shifters, witches, and glitter-farting unicorns. If you are after a heavy, angst-laden book, then I'm sorry, but you've found the wrong one!
This is an action-packed book that has romantic elements to it, but it doesn't overrule the whole story. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, in fact, far too many to count. I loved this book from start to finish. With its crazy family, and heart-warming characters, plus there is always which one Hibiscus will go for?!
A brilliant story that I hope will be the start of a new series. Excellently written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow. I thoroughly enjoyed every word, and really can't recommend this lighthearted novel highly enough.
* Verified Purchase ~ October 2018. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is an action-packed book that has romantic elements to it, but it doesn't overrule the whole story. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, in fact, far too many to count. I loved this book from start to finish. With its crazy family, and heart-warming characters, plus there is always which one Hibiscus will go for?!
A brilliant story that I hope will be the start of a new series. Excellently written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow. I thoroughly enjoyed every word, and really can't recommend this lighthearted novel highly enough.
* Verified Purchase ~ October 2018. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
David McK (3692 KP) rated Arrows of Fury (Empire, #2) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I had read 'Wounds of Honour' a few years back, but wasn't really all that sold on it so never picked up (this) the sequel. That changed, however, when it was on sale for about £2 in my local bargain books.
Truth be told, however, I found this to actually be rather dry: it never really held my attention, or seemed to me that the plot took off in any shape or form. It probably doesn't help that all the characters seem very generic (I got the impression that the novel was more concerned with the minutiae of the Roman Legions than with characterization), with similar-sounding names: so much so, that half the time you have to keep flicking back through the book to find out who is who!
All-in-all: I doubt I'll be picking up the third book in the series anytime soon.
Truth be told, however, I found this to actually be rather dry: it never really held my attention, or seemed to me that the plot took off in any shape or form. It probably doesn't help that all the characters seem very generic (I got the impression that the novel was more concerned with the minutiae of the Roman Legions than with characterization), with similar-sounding names: so much so, that half the time you have to keep flicking back through the book to find out who is who!
All-in-all: I doubt I'll be picking up the third book in the series anytime soon.
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Superbad (2007) in Movies
Feb 9, 2020
First time I have seen this since it was released and I have to say it was a bit of a disappointment. It has some amusing moments but it wasn't nearly as funny as I remember , possibly due to me being 13 years older and my sense of humour not being quite so juvenile (maybe?). I found Jonah Hill's shouty and sweary character incredibly irritating and only laughed at him when he got hit by a car (as if Emma Stone would go anywhere near that). You can't help but like McLovin though and the best moments of the film involve his character and the crazy journey he takes. Plot wise it's pretty standard high school fare that has been done better a million times before in movies that better stand the test of time. Overall it's an easy watch but nothing to write home about.
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Knives Out (2019) in Movies
May 24, 2020
Acting (1 more)
Recognisable faces
Not bad
When I first put this movie on to watch I very nearly almost gave up with it. It starts with an annoyingly long interview with each family member to try and ascertain what happened with millionaire Harlan thrombie, which to be honest I found long winded and boring. The rest of the movie was good though and we learn why and how he died quite early on. The rest of the movie is the culprit trying not to get caught whilst working alongside the detective working on the case, who has absolutely no idea who hired him and why.
All in all an OK movie, not as humorous as I expected though in fact the only real laughable part was Daniel Craig's awful accent. If you like murder mysteries then I'm sure you'll like this.
All in all an OK movie, not as humorous as I expected though in fact the only real laughable part was Daniel Craig's awful accent. If you like murder mysteries then I'm sure you'll like this.
David McK (3692 KP) rated Impact Winter Season 3 in Books
Oct 26, 2024 (Updated Oct 26, 2024)
Season 3 of Travis Beacham's audible-only 'Impact Winter' audio drama, which I found to be a bit of a let-down from the previous two instalment, particularly where it concerns what happened to Darcy at the end of the previous entry (I wish they had been braver for the story, I mean).
Anyway, for those not in the know: these are set in the near future, after a comet has hit Earth with the resultant explosion throwing up debris into the sky and blocking out the sun - perfect for the 'creatures of the night' (aka vampires) to come out of their long hiding.
I most definitely would NOT advise anyone to pick up the series here - this is definitely an entry where you need to have read (well, listened to) the proceeding entries in order in order to understand just what is going on!
Anyway, for those not in the know: these are set in the near future, after a comet has hit Earth with the resultant explosion throwing up debris into the sky and blocking out the sun - perfect for the 'creatures of the night' (aka vampires) to come out of their long hiding.
I most definitely would NOT advise anyone to pick up the series here - this is definitely an entry where you need to have read (well, listened to) the proceeding entries in order in order to understand just what is going on!
Kristin (149 KP) rated Rock & Roll, Sex, and Fools ...The Slow Fade to Black of Mr. Joe Kool Jack in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
There's a reason why Joe's name is "Joe Kool": He's the coolest cat around. So cool, in fact, that it simply can't be spelled correctly; his nickname has to stand out as much as he does. Therefore, we have Joe Kool, and the world is a much better place for it. Why, without him, we wouldn't have many of the great artists we know and love, not to mention certain recreational activities and popular phrases of yesterday and today. What would our lives have been like if Joe had just stayed at home, never leaving home in search and bigger and better pastures? I'll tell you: they would've been horrible, boring, monotonous, and just not any fun at all!
This story was excellent, and I found myself talking about it with family, friends, and even one poor stranger who will probably never take the Metro alone again. There were times that I laughed myself almost to tears, and those were quite plentiful. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to add some comic relief to their lives, and of course, to anyone who wants to know the REAL story behind rock and roll. You think you know, but you have no idea ;)
5 stars
There's a reason why Joe's name is "Joe Kool": He's the coolest cat around. So cool, in fact, that it simply can't be spelled correctly; his nickname has to stand out as much as he does. Therefore, we have Joe Kool, and the world is a much better place for it. Why, without him, we wouldn't have many of the great artists we know and love, not to mention certain recreational activities and popular phrases of yesterday and today. What would our lives have been like if Joe had just stayed at home, never leaving home in search and bigger and better pastures? I'll tell you: they would've been horrible, boring, monotonous, and just not any fun at all!
This story was excellent, and I found myself talking about it with family, friends, and even one poor stranger who will probably never take the Metro alone again. There were times that I laughed myself almost to tears, and those were quite plentiful. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to add some comic relief to their lives, and of course, to anyone who wants to know the REAL story behind rock and roll. You think you know, but you have no idea ;)
5 stars
Merissa (13730 KP) rated Pitch Dark in Books
Sep 15, 2017
Pitch Dark by A. M. Wilson and Alex Grayson
Pitch Dark is exactly that... dark! It comes with trigger warnings, and the authors even say to contact them before you read if you have any questions. Don't take this lightly!
Niko was best friends with Aislin, and was the only one who didn't believe she had run away. At only fifteen-years-old though, Niko had a hard time getting anyone to believe him, and so Aislin was never found. He never stopped looking for his North though, and even became a police officer so he could carry on. What happens next is twisted and full of red herrings, guaranteed to keep you guessing until the end.
This book is written from different perspectives - Niko's, Lelu's, and sometimes, the big bad. Trust me when I say that it doesn't matter which perspective it is from, it's got some very grim parts in it. Niko is a bit over the top with his anger issues, although you have to see that to appreciate how he softens towards Doe. There was one particular point when my fingers curled, due to how well written a scene was. It turned my stomach, but it was excellent.
Like I said before, there are twists and turns, plus red herrings all thrown at you. You will think that you know who it is, and then you will doubt yourself. I had it right all along, and yet I was still surprised by the ending. At one point, I even convinced myself that a different character hadn't been shot and killed, and it was him doing it - all because the authors said that he wasn't identified due to him not having a face!
Pitch Dark is excellently written and is seamless between the two authors. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disturbed my reading flow. This story was dark and horrible, but it also had hope, and a glimmer of light. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with o requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Niko was best friends with Aislin, and was the only one who didn't believe she had run away. At only fifteen-years-old though, Niko had a hard time getting anyone to believe him, and so Aislin was never found. He never stopped looking for his North though, and even became a police officer so he could carry on. What happens next is twisted and full of red herrings, guaranteed to keep you guessing until the end.
This book is written from different perspectives - Niko's, Lelu's, and sometimes, the big bad. Trust me when I say that it doesn't matter which perspective it is from, it's got some very grim parts in it. Niko is a bit over the top with his anger issues, although you have to see that to appreciate how he softens towards Doe. There was one particular point when my fingers curled, due to how well written a scene was. It turned my stomach, but it was excellent.
Like I said before, there are twists and turns, plus red herrings all thrown at you. You will think that you know who it is, and then you will doubt yourself. I had it right all along, and yet I was still surprised by the ending. At one point, I even convinced myself that a different character hadn't been shot and killed, and it was him doing it - all because the authors said that he wasn't identified due to him not having a face!
Pitch Dark is excellently written and is seamless between the two authors. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disturbed my reading flow. This story was dark and horrible, but it also had hope, and a glimmer of light. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with o requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Amy Curtis (49 KP) rated The Grapes of Wrath in Books
Dec 31, 2018
Still waiting for the rest of the story
Contains spoilers, click to show
I can't decide how I feel about this book. I must admit that it is heavy going and you really have to get used to the speech in the book. The novel is based around poor farmers that have had to borrow money from the bank in order to survive during a rough harvest. However when they can't pay the bank back, they are driven from their home along with many other families. Steinbeck explored the hardship of poor farming life as we transition into a modern era with machinery that is replacing jobs. Throughout the novel, it is very cutting to see their struggles to be able to find work and afford to feed their family. I did find that at time the book felt like it wasn't going anywhere but I guess that is the point of it. Steinbeck is describing a mundane hard life where finding work is a struggle. I did enjoy the book but at times found it very difficult to perservere with it. The ending was also a bit confusing and left me with a lot of questions as to what happened to the Joads family. I would recommend for you to read this book but proceed with caution because it is hard work!
Sara Cox (1845 KP) rated Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men in Books
Feb 23, 2020
I’ve read a book similar to this before so was interested when I saw it on the library shelf. This is about the gender data gap. I know what some of you are thinking “oh look a book that’s going to slam men”. But this isn’t about that. This is about missing data, not because it’s been done on purpose but because some of the tests have never thought about. Some of these absolutely shocked me though. For example, did you know the female crash test dummy hasn’t been put in the driver’s seat? How mad is that?!?!
At some points I did find this book a little one sided. I mean it’s hard when you’re trying to delve into a data gap bit one example that stood out to me was “unpaid work”. There was a big continuing theme about the unpaid work women do that isn’t thought of to include in data (child care, housework, elderly care) and yes men do these too (that was pointed out), but what about the unpaid work men do that I bet isn’t thought of to be included in data? Like DIY? I did enjoy listening to this (borrowed on #borrowbox ) but I found it did become tedious in places. Would recommend for some who enjoys data…..like myself.
At some points I did find this book a little one sided. I mean it’s hard when you’re trying to delve into a data gap bit one example that stood out to me was “unpaid work”. There was a big continuing theme about the unpaid work women do that isn’t thought of to include in data (child care, housework, elderly care) and yes men do these too (that was pointed out), but what about the unpaid work men do that I bet isn’t thought of to be included in data? Like DIY? I did enjoy listening to this (borrowed on #borrowbox ) but I found it did become tedious in places. Would recommend for some who enjoys data…..like myself.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2474 KP) rated Dim Sum of All Fears in Books
Oct 22, 2020
Fear Not, This is a Fun Book
A new souvenir shop has opened next to Ho-Lee Noodles, the restaurant that Lana Lee’s parents own and where she works. Over the last few weeks, Lana has become friends with Isabelle, one half of the newlyweds who own the new store. That makes it person when Isabelle and Brandon, her husband, are found murdered in the back of their store one morning. Despite warnings to stay out of the investigation, Lana begins to poke around. Can she figure out what happened?
Too many books got in the way of me returning to this series sooner, but I’m glad I was able to revisit the characters. The plot is strong, with plenty of secrets and suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. Lana is a relatable, sympathetic heroine, and I really like her friends as well. There is some room for growth in her relationships with her family, and I hope that happens as the series progresses. There are some spoilers for the first book in the series here, so if you are interested in the series, I definitely recommend you read them in order. I’m glad I got to return to Ho-Lee Noodles, and I hope it isn’t so long before I move on to book three.
Too many books got in the way of me returning to this series sooner, but I’m glad I was able to revisit the characters. The plot is strong, with plenty of secrets and suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. Lana is a relatable, sympathetic heroine, and I really like her friends as well. There is some room for growth in her relationships with her family, and I hope that happens as the series progresses. There are some spoilers for the first book in the series here, so if you are interested in the series, I definitely recommend you read them in order. I’m glad I got to return to Ho-Lee Noodles, and I hope it isn’t so long before I move on to book three.