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The Flash, Vol. 9: Reckoning of the Forces
The Flash, Vol. 9: Reckoning of the Forces
Joshua Williamson | 2019 | Comics & Graphic Novels, Crime, Mystery
4
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This review pertains to the last three Flash trades, this one and the previous two.

Vol. 7: PERFECT STORM was quite good. I found it to be an interesting addition to the Gorilla Grodd stories. I was so inspired that I took it upon myself to read Vol. 8 & 9.

Vol. 8: FLASH WAR was like a ride on the BARRY ALLEN ANGST and SELF-LOATHING EXPRESS! But, even with that feeling in mind, I continued reading, eventually taking on the even more difficult task of taking on Vol. 9, which turned into yet another ride on that same depressing train ride!

I had read Vol 1, Joshua Williamson's first outing with "REBIRTH" Barry Allen's Flash. That one I found to be lifeless and missing something that Geoff John's Flash definitely had! But, I thought I'd give it one more try with that Gorilla Grodd story, which I turned out to like more than Vol. 1!

Vol. 9 just continues to show us overly-doubting-himself Barry as well as Wally West's Flash, only now with more angst as well as Barry-centric anger! Yeah, not good! NOPE!

It seems like writing for the Flash would be a fun writing assignment, then factoring in Wally West, it should be that much more fun! Unfortunately, that was not the case! DC allowed Barry to experience a sense of self-loathing and a lack of self-confidence, doing a huge disservice to a character with such a rich history as his!

Equally frustrating was the way Wally was treated! I know he and Barry are both comic characters, meaning they are not real. I get that, but I still felt the need to want to buy them each a short stack of pancakes (my treat, of course) and then offer to give each of them a "bro hug" and maybe a Mini Schnauzer puppy as well!

Oh, and how about that shit Williamson did in regard to the Speed Force? I am pretty sure <b>NO ONE</b> wanted there to be other Forces, especially ones as unnecessary as the ones he was serving up!
And how about that art? What the hell?!!? I felt like the dude was trying to emulate Scott Kolin's style of art, only failing to not even come close!

I understand there may be those of you reading this review who like Williamson's Flash. Hey, good for you. No, really. But, I am not gonna be one of them!

Shame on you, DC Comics! BOOOOOO!
  
OK
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a cute little romance that I enjoyed the character that was all its own. There was nothing new about the plotline, a female wants to prove she’s just as capable as one else (especially me) while her knight in shining armor tries his best to protect her from everything from highwaymen to assassins to spiders crawling in her shoes. It was just like any other romance about a knight falling in love with a maiden, and yet, Lathom added her own little touch of style to it to make it unique.

The story starts out with Anne Kendall masquerading as a woman of high society to save said women from being assassinated for information she knows. An organization called the League of the Blade considers Anne’s protection as one of their many duties for the betterment of the kingdom. Meanwhile, Sir Philip Clifford is acting like a pouting brat because he was not asked to join the League, which has been his lifelong goal. He first meets Anne at her mistress’s house and they begin to become…acquainted with each other even though Philip does not bed Anne, much to her humiliation. He tries to forget her as just a passing interest, and she tries to forget her feelings for him because she realizes she was just a skirt to him. Or so they think.

When Philip runs into her again masquerading as the widowed Lady Rosamond Wolsingham, they realize they that, basically, they still want in each other’s pant. After creeping into the window of her inn room, Philip doesn’t really give her a choice in whether he travels with her in her journey to the king. Adventure ensues.

While I didn’t find this novel particularly fascinating, it was still enjoyable.
  
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Becs (244 KP) rated I Know You Know in Books

Jan 4, 2019  
I Know You Know
I Know You Know
Gilly MacMillan | 2018 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Alright book
I received the audiobook version through a giveaway that Book Riot hosted.

So, anybody that knows me knows that I am not a fan of audio books. Well, I won this one from a giveaway and thought why the heck not. It's a thriller, so I should love it. I'll admit, there were good parts, there were bad parts, and there were parts that made me want to rip my face off.

The speakers were good, they helped with the different voices instead of having one person doing all of the voices. But man, the first half of the "book" was an utter bore that seemed to drag me through the dirt and into the burning pits of hell to rot away. I'm not kidding. I can't say anything on the writing style as it was told to me and not read by me. But from what I could tell, the author seemed like a good writer but just didn't deliver the punch that was needed.

Want to read more? Go to my blog: bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
  
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
1968 | Classics, Sci-Fi

"I saw the movie as a teenager and I loved it, but I didn’t know why I loved it. I loved it because it just felt like a gargantuan document about time and the history of time, but I didn’t really understand it. Then I saw it again probably in my mid-20s, and the part that I glommed on most to was – and this was pre-AI, basically pre-Siri; you could imagine me thinking about 2001 in the age of Siri. But then I watched it again probably two years ago, and it absolutely transformed itself, and I started to take different meaning from it. And I realized that, ultimately, what it was saying is that we are the aliens, and that curiosity, mankind’s curiosity, is what actually leads to our own demise in a deep, deep way. That we know something is a problem, yet we want to embrace it. I haven’t ever felt that way while watching a film. It’s such a perfect, beautiful document about the universe."

Source
  
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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Second Act (2018) in Movies

Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)  
Second Act (2018)
Second Act (2018)
2018 | Comedy, Romance
Second Act is what I'm going to call a proper romcom, despite the fact that romance isn't actually that prominent in the story. Jennifer Lopez has the knack of this sort of film, she never seems to age either so I'm hoping that we can get a lot more of these on our screens over the next few years.

There's no doubt for me that Lopez is a master in this category of film, she probably has several of the top ten slots, so apart from saying that she was yet again a great leading lady I don't want to bombard you with all the reasons why. What I do want to do is talk about how some of the supporting actors nailed their roles.

Leah Remini as Maya's best friend Joan... yeeeeeees. I can totally identify with Joan, the performance that Remini gives is so entertaining. The swearing, the jeans button, just everything. She's the comic relief, and I know that sounds odd to say about someone in a comedy film but I just mean that you know you're going to get something great from her character.

Dave Foley gets the line of the movie though... "Coxswain my ass." His delivery is perfect and you can guarantee great return for him if you give him one liners like that.

Despite loving this romcom it is a little light on the rom. One of the only notes I made about the romance angle was the fact that I didn't really understand how that whole part of the film played out. I don't think it's really a spoiler to say that they're together, some stuff happens and then they break up... after all that's basically what you'd expect from a romcom. In this genre's world, woman make terrible choices, go out and do things for themselves and then realise what a terrible mistake they've made somewhere along the line. (I may be living in a romcom... I don't want to think about it.) Second Act sticks to that premise really well but I think that it's actually more to do with the rest of her life than the romance side which really just feels like it's there to be able to kick start the rest of the story.

If you love classics like Maid In Manhattan and When Harry Met Sally I honestly think you'll enjoy this, there's something very nostalgic about it that sets it apart from modern attempts at the genre.

(On a separate note, if anyone fancies some crazy dancing to Salt-N-Pepa's Push It please let me know.)

What you should do

This is perfect girls' night out fodder. It's a very enjoyable watch and something a little more light hearted in this bleak January schedule.

Movie thing you wish you could take home

The dress that Maya wears to her interview at F&C is incredible. One of those please!

"The only thing stopping you is you." - This is something I think we should probably all take home from this film
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated Die of Shame in Books

Jan 12, 2018  
DO
Die of Shame
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am a huge Mark Billingham fan and am at the front of the queue when a new book comes out so it is with massive regret that I have to say that this one just didn’t grab me by the neck like his other books have - you have no idea how upset this makes me feel. It’s not that it is a bad book - it’s well written, has interesting characters and a good story line - but I found myself being rather indifferent about reading it and it took me a little longer than it normally does to read it when I compare it to others written by the same author.

Review at <a href="https://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/synopsis-from-goodreads-from-british.html">Reading Stuff 'n' Things</a>
  
R(
Riders (Riders, #1)
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
UUGGHHHHHHH it should have been Daryn! (You will know what i mean when you read it) But that last round of chapters. Holy mother of mercury. I wanted to toss the book, stop reading, but then i was like i HAVE to finish i cannot just not finish. It was a action packed story that really hit you with the Horsemens bond. I liked their bond more then the relationship aspect that this book tried to produce. Those parts fell REALLY Flat for me. I wished there were more about the other horseman. Not 100% sure i want to read the next one only because its in the POV of my least favorite character in the book. Maybe ....we will see. But yeah this book was worth the slow begging :)
  
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ArecRain (8 KP) rated Meat in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
M
Meat
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I did not expect to like this novella as much as I did. After reading the synopsis, I really wanted to read it, especially since I have a thing for romance/erotica featuring chefs. Meat did not disappoint. Overall, it has likable characters, steamy scenes, and an alpha male who isn’t a sexist bore! The only downside, is that the story is highly predictable. I am not sure if the twists were supposed to be twist because I picked up on them right off the bat (and I am a bit slow at these things.) Not that it detracted from enjoying the story. What I appreciated most, however, was how realistic the erotic scenes are. I won’t give anything anyway, just that you should read it.