Search

Search only in certain items:

The Turn of The Key
The Turn of The Key
Ruth Ware | 2019 | Thriller
7
7.7 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

What would you do if you were in jail for murder? Try to get someone to help you, of course. That is exactly what the main character in Ruth Ware's latest, The Turn of the Key, attempts to do. From her jail cell, Rowan Caine writes her lawyer begging for his help.

I work in a courtroom in the criminal court system and hear trial after trial of people accused of various felonious crimes, including murder. I heard countless defendants testify. However, their stories are always fed bit by bit as the attorneys ask questions. This book is a defendant's story as it happened, from her point of view, from start to finish.

While I enjoyed the format, I found the story hard to get into. I am glad that I finished reading it because the surprise ending makes the story worth reading.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the story takes place inside a smart house. The house is so central to the story it could be considered a character itself. Ware makes us question whether the convenience of smart technology is worth the lack of privacy.

The story is a slow burn but worth reading.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/9/19.
  
40x40

Courtney (0 KP) rated Instagram in Apps

Dec 3, 2018  
Instagram
Instagram
Communication, Photo & Video, Social Networking
9
8.2 (364 Ratings)
App Rating
Share posts with friends and family around the world (3 more)
Can put a privacy on so only those you allow to follow can see posts
Good to keep memories
Good for promoting
Not in date order, most recent can be halfway down your page (0 more)
Always using this app!
Love this app, I use it every day. Only issue is the dates. I have been on there liking posts on my timeline thinking it was the most recent one but it was like a few days ago or a repost. Also, I have also found that on the app they sneak in ads that are recommended based on what I like. It gets annoying.
  
Bjerner and the Beast (Fairytales of the Myth #3)
Bjerner and the Beast (Fairytales of the Myth #3)
Miranda Grant | 2021 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well Miranda Grant has broke my heart with this one.

I think this is my favourite. Ophidia is a beautiful soul, I found her really easy to like. I just feel for her, she finally feels pure happiness and then......I'm not spoiling it for you! Suffice to say I wouldn't want to be a God or Demigod after reading the epilogue.

Bjerner, the boy that was released from Niflhel without his sight, became an insightful man full of love and honour.

I'd love to say this is a warm and fuzzy read but it's not, it has it's warm moments yes but it's still dark.

Hel hath no fury like Medusa's spawn.
  
40x40

Vince Clarke recommended Heroes by David Bowie in Music (curated)

 
Heroes by David Bowie
Heroes by David Bowie
1977 | Rock

"That title track, it really affected me emotionally. I can't really explain why, but it really got under my skin. We were going to a lot of parties and stuff, and that was always the track that was played, and everybody would get up and start dancing to it. I love most of the Bowie stuff, but '"Heroes"' and that whole era, I found it really moving. "Heroes" was a rebellion inspiration, an "I told you so"-type thing. It seemed to be very anti-establishment, and something your parents wouldn't approve of, so we loved it. I've never seen Bowie, though we did play a tour supporting him in South America."

Source
  
Mirrorheart (Ash & Blue, #2)
Mirrorheart (Ash & Blue, #2)
Stormy Sto Helit | 2022 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


This is the second instalment in the Ash and Blue series and I found it thrilling. There has been a lot of research gone into this book and it has a very easy flow to read. You can feel the emotions that the characters are going through and the conflict that Ryan feels with some of the decisions he has to make.


It definitely captured me from the first page and I couldn't wait to find out what was going on.


I'm not sure if there will be another one but I would certainly like to see one


** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
  
Death Wish: Movie Tie-In Edition
Death Wish: Movie Tie-In Edition
Brian Garfield | 1972 | Thriller
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The main character in this novel is Paul, he is an accountant, and while he is in the business meeting, his flat gets burglarized, and his wife killed. Paul is devastated after his wife’s death and seeks justice, but it seems that police is clueless. So he takes matters in his own hands. I have to be honest with you, I found this book quite boring and corny. I liked Paul as a character, and I fully understand his thoughts and disappointment with the police’s work. Emotionally, this book is really deep and got me thinking quite a bit.

I found the narrative of this book quite boring and even though it is a tiny book, it dragged for me. There were quite a lot of unrealistic situations, and it wasn’t fully accomplished. I didn’t really like the ending as well, it didn’t have a proper conclusion.

Even though the book was “Meh” for me, I really liked the movie! Bruce Willis (Paul) done an excellent job in this movie, I loved his acting. The narrative was quite different from the book, and to be honest, it was way better than in the book. I liked the way the script was written, it had great twists and I think the movie was very well delivered. It had a great ending as well, which rounded the story very nicely.

So, to conclude, this is a very rare case, when the movie is better than the book so, I would recommend watching the movie. But if you would like to know what happened in the original version, feel free to check it out as well, it is only around 150 pages.
  
40x40

Andy K (10823 KP) rated Facebook in Apps

Oct 13, 2018  
Facebook
Facebook
Communication, Entertainment, Events, Social Networking
1
7.6 (436 Ratings)
App Rating
Facebook sucks!
I deleted mine 6 months ago and have never been happier. Still have Messenger so I can share and send photos of my dogs to family and friends. (we should have an Orb for pet photos)

I'd rather have actual conversations with actual people rather than hearing people bitch about other people, hating on random strangers, or how much you hate our current president.

I always got so hung up on or disappointed by how many "likes" my posts got and got so upset when I get enough comments or likes on them. Or when only 3 people said "Happy birthday" on my wall or when my mother liked 96 of my posts in a row.

Smashbomb is way better since everyone here is so friendly, happy and discussions of how much you hate anyone are nowhere to be found.
  
Show all 3 comments.
40x40

Cumberland (1142 KP) Oct 14, 2018

We really do need an orb for pet photos

40x40

Sarah (7800 KP) Oct 14, 2018

I’d agree with the orb for pet photos ?

A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2)
A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2)
Sabaa Tahir | 2016 | Young Adult (YA)
10
8.4 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book review can also be found on my blog, among all other awesome things:
https://gipostcards.wordpress.com/2017/10/19/a-torch-against-the-night-an-ember-in-the-ashes-2-sabaa-tahir-book-review/

A huge thank you for sending me over this amazing book!

Even though I didn't have the opportunity to read the first book, I had the chance to read this one, and it was definitely breathtaking.

There are, of course, parts that are connected to the first part, but after the first 30ish pages, you get the hang of it, and the story just follows itself, and you can't even feel that you haven't read the first one.

This book is full of adventure, different background stories, unexpected moments and actions that will make your jaw fall on the ground time after time.

All of the characters are unique, special, and I fell in love with all their personalities. Especially Helene, with her strong character and strength. I also fell in love with Elias and his caring about others, even though he would never admit.

I would definitely recommend this book for all out there that love adventure and glorious moments!
  
The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
1964 | Biography, Drama, History
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Next choice I’d say would be The Gospel According to St. Matthew, by Pasolini. I saw that movie for the first time when I was 23 years old. I’d gone to church every Sunday and catechism every week for my whole childhood, but I never paid attention; I was always daydreaming in church — and all of a sudden I went to go see this movie, and I knew everything in the movie. I guess all of my Catholic upbringing I had absorbed through some sort of osmosis. Here was this movie which was this Biblical story which was told so beautifully: the cinema was so simple and so beautiful. He had, you know, Odetta playing “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child” as the three wise men found Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. It was, you know… I started sweating while I was watching the movie. The whole left side of my body went numb while I was watching, and I was sure that I was having a heart attack. It was all that I could do — you know, I didn’t want to because it was the greatest movie I’d ever seen — but it was all I could do to crawl out of the movie theater and knock on the projectionist’s door and ask him if I could call my girlfriend. I called my girlfriend and told her I thought I was dying, ’cause I was seeing the greatest movie I’d ever seen, and she showed up. I remember it had been snowing in Colorado and she had all this dirty snow on the roof of her car and I was eating all this dirty snow because my mouth was just parched. And I remember being in the emergency room and thinking that when the doctor walks through, if he looked like Jesus from The Gospel According to St. Matthew, I knew that meant I was dead. Fortunately the guy didn’t look anything like Jesus."

Source
  
Cooking Craze - A Kitchen Game
Cooking Craze - A Kitchen Game
Games, Entertainment
9
8.0 (4 Ratings)
App Rating
Ridiculously addictive
I'll be honest, for some reason I've always found cooking games rather appealing - despite the fact that I've never enjoy cooking anywhere near as much in real life.

This game is probably one of the best cooking type games I've found so far, and believe me I've tried a few. This game has great longevity, I've been playing for a long time and still aren't anywhere near to completing. It's very fun and has a few bonus games and challenges to keep you interested past the standard levels. Gameplay itself is straightforward and easy to master.

My only criticism is that some levels are impossible to complete without using some of the bonus extras (like a few more customers, 30 more seconds) which makes it quite frustrating. It means you need enough of the in-game currency to purchase these extras and if you don't, it means parting with real money to get some. It's never yet been a problem for me as I always have the in-game spoons currency, but I can imagine it gets frustrating for others.