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Books Editor (673 KP) shared own list

Nov 19, 2017
Two old friends debate the issues that accompany aging; an old friend of thriller readers (Jack Reacher) shows a softer side; a new story about Humpty Dumpty gets told with a twist - just some of the books out this week:

There is something for everyone this week, from difficult, essential history to fiction set in the 18th century to several new books for young readers.


GOOD NIGHT, PLANET

GOOD NIGHT, PLANET

Liniers

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Book

In this tender, funny tale for early readers from internationally renowned cartoonist Liniers, a...


children
Tumble & Blue

Tumble & Blue

Cassie Beasley

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Book

From the New York Times bestselling author of Circus Mirandus comes the magic-infused story of a...


children science fiction fantasy
Stars Beneath Our Feet

Stars Beneath Our Feet

David Barclay Moore

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother's death...


children
After the Fall

After the Fall

Dan Santat

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After the fall, Humpty Dumpty is a broken egg. Life is tough: he's so afraid of heights, he can't...


children comedy
A Moonless, Starless Sky: Ordinary Women and Men Fighting Extremism in Africa

A Moonless, Starless Sky: Ordinary Women and Men Fighting Extremism in Africa

Alexis Okeowo

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Book

'Absolutely essential reading, period' Alexandra Fuller, bestselling author of Don't Lets Go to the...


history social issues culture
and 6 other items
     
     
Never Go Back
Never Go Back
Lee Child | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Classic Jack Reacher....I read somewhere that every man wants to be Reacher & every woman wants him ...True or not Reacher is a refreshing change to most heros as he comes with no baggage ...physically or mentally ..allowing the reader to just enjoy the plot with no 'angst' & as there is no continuing back story the series of books can be read in any order. Author Lee Child always delivers a fast paced thrill ride with no unnecessary page filling or padding making the books real page turners that pack a punch...or sometimes in Reachers case a kick! X
  
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
2016 | Action, Drama
8
6.1 (13 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Tom Cruise returns as Jack Reacher in the second cinematic installment of the popular character in the book series by Lee Child. In “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back”. After helping the military with an operation, Reacher returns to his drifter ways but is enticed to travel to Washington D.C. to visit Major Turner (Colbie Smulders), after establishing a friendship with her via phone during the recent operation.

Reacher has left the military behind and why he agreed to do the task for the Military is unclear aside from the actions of those involved upset his moral compass and made him become involved.

Upon reaching D.C. Reacher is informed that Turner has been arrested and charged with espionage and that she has requested that he not be allowed to see or contact her.

This does not sit right with Reacher and the fact that Turner occupies the same office that he was commanded has made this more than a personal score for him. Reacher also notices that he is being followed by some military contractors and soon suspects that he and Turner are in serious danger.

Reacher uses his resources and abilities to break Turner from confinement to save her life and sets off to clear her name and stay ahead of the forces that seem to know their every move.

If this was not enough trouble for Reacher, he is also implicated in a crime he did not commit and learns that there is a young girl named Samantha (Danika Yarosh), who has been targeted to get to Reacher even though he has no idea who she is and how she is involved.

What follows is an exciting mix of action and suspense as Reacher and Turner battle enemies and try to solve the clues behind their situation before it is too late.

The sequel has a premise that grabs you early on and an energy that keeps you compelled to the action. Cruise seems to be very comfortable with the part in his second outing as Reacher and it shows as he commands the screen with a mix of physicality and restraint that underscores the complex nature of the character. Smulders also does well with the physical nature of her part and works very well with Cruise as she is far from a damsel in distress.

The film at times takes some leaps of faith but the intensity and suspense of the film as well as the solid action scenes and pacing make the film a very pleasant surprise and one worth watching.

http://sknr.net/2016/10/21/jack-reacher-never-go-back/
  
Jack Reacher (2012)
Jack Reacher (2012)
2012 | Drama, Mystery
7
6.9 (14 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Rage Inside: A Mysterious Man
Jack Reacher- is a good movie, it has a intresting plot, good action, good suspense and good thrills. It seems like their just wasted the support cast like Richard Jenkins, David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Werner Herzog and Robert Duvall. Jai Country was a great villian and he didnt ruining this movie.

Other critics aka Screen Junkies, Jeremy Jahns and Chris Stuckmann say that Jai Country ruined this film, A Good Day To Die Hard, Terminator Gensyis and Suicide Squad. Those movie were already ruined since the start. With Die Hard, we didnt need anything one, with Terminator, it was the second trailer that gave everything away and Suicide Squad it was Jared Leto, so screw them. Their were wrong. Anyways...

The plot: One morning in an ordinary town, five people are shot dead in a seemingly random attack. All evidence points to a single suspect: an ex-military sniper who is quickly brought into custody. The man's interrogation yields one statement: Get Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise). Reacher, an enigmatic ex-Army investigator, believes the authorities have the right man but agrees to help the sniper's defense attorney (Rosamund Pike). However, the more Reacher delves into the case, the less clear-cut it appears.

I liked Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher he was really intresting as the charcter.

This movie was good, but does have its downfalls.
  
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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Night School in Books

Sep 18, 2017  
Night School
Night School
Lee Child | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
4
5.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
All Reacher'd out
I've read pretty much every Jack Reacher book out there, and it gets to a point where enough is enough. And this book was it for me. When I first started reading them, the Reacher books were fun, interesting thrillers. 20+ books later, they're just getting tedious, predictable and uninteresting. Specifically in this book, there is no character development with Reacher, he's exactly the same in this as in every other book to the point where you can virtually predict his every move. The plot itself is also lacklustre and holds no real interest or intrigue. If you're a die hard Reacher fan then I'm sure you'll love this, but for me the only thing going for it is the fact that it was a quick easy read.
  
High Heat (Jack Reacher, #17.5)
High Heat (Jack Reacher, #17.5)
Lee Child | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
5
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Short story that's short on believably
Ok when I go into a Jack Reacher book, or in this case short story (about 2hrs in audiobook form,) I know I’m going to have to suspend some belief but this one went just a bit too far for me.

Somehow in the course of one day 16 year old Reacher manages to tick off a big player mob boss type, decide to take him on, cross paths with the Son of Sam, and hitch up with a girl. Oh and all this just happens to be the day when the huge 1977 New York blackout occurred (at a very convenient time for Reacher.)

He’s 16 but seems to have the exact same street / military smarts the adult Reacher has, it just doesn't work for me. Some far fetched deductions, the type that are a stretch to believe in the adult Reacher, here just come across as almost comical.

As something to listen to while doing housework it was OK but really wouldn’t of wanted to dedicate more attention to it.
  
Die Trying (Jack Reacher Book#2)
Die Trying (Jack Reacher Book#2)
Lee Child | 2010 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.4 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jack Reacher (1 more)
Interesting plot
If you like Thrillers, and you like roving badasses, this one might be for you...
The American Ronin badass is back at it again. In this one the choice is made for him and he's along for the ride. and the world is better for it.