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The Breakdown
The Breakdown
B.A. Paris | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.0 (16 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ok, so I never saw the twist coming.

This story is crafted so well, and kept me so engaged, that it was hard to put the book down. The entire time, I felt so bad for Cass - what must it be like to forget things like how to use the washing machine or the microwave? Terrifying, I imagine. To feel like you're losing your mind, and then to find out you were being gas-lighted all along by the two people you love most in the world?

I felt vindicated right along with her when the truth came out and she got some measure of revenge on her husband and best friend - both of whom are just terrible, terrible people and deserve every ounce of it. In truth, the actual "murder mystery" part of the story was entirely secondary for me, as I was completely wrapped up in what was happening to Cass.

Thank you to SheSpeaks and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!
  
Just Add Magic  - Season 1
Just Add Magic - Season 1
2015 | Family
There are far worse kid shows to be stuck watching
While I can't say I'm exactly a rabid fan of Just Add Magic, it's not horrible. In comparison to some of the other stuff I've had to listen to while my child gets her allotted TV time, I will happily choose this show.

The three girls are a nice range of personalities. Their older parallels are equally interesting. There are some problems, of course, like the Hispanic one of the older trio of course being the sneaky one. However, that can generate discussion with your child about stereotypes, so you can gripe about it and not watch the show and watch something like Spongebob instead – or you can use it as a reason to have a dialogue with your child about stereotypes and go from there.

The dialogue doesn’t make me want to scrub out my ears. The cinematography is pleasing. My 8 year old loves it. It gives her hints on how doing stuff like trying to take the easy way out never works out well. So, it’s a win for me.
  
From the Shadows
From the Shadows
7
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
From The Shadows
I'm not an avid reader of crime thrillers as I often find them unbelievable, predictable or rediculous. This is neither. I was gripped from the beginning and found it hard to put down. Just one more chapter was my continuous mantra. Like Jane Harper's brilliant novels, as well as the character, the setting itself shines like the main character. Here the cold Highlands of Scotland paint the bleak setting for the dark crimes unfolding.
Bravely, Halliday doesn't feel the need to add romance or standard go to characters to make it work. He relies on his storytelling and strong individuals and how refreshing to see a book featuring a social worker that isn't female or a do gooder.
I'm gobsmacked this is a debut, it reads like a hardened crime writer who is a master at their trade. I can imagine this becoming an ITV drama in the future and look forward to the next installment. An absolutely cracking read for any crime or thriller fan.
  
The House of Twelve
The House of Twelve
Sean Davies | 2016 | Mystery, Paranormal
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Good twist at the end (0 more)
Little boring (0 more)
I did enjoy this book. I like crime novels and was not aware this was paranormal as well but it did all make sense and tie in at the end.
Once I started reading I couldn't out the book down - I read it in a day.
The story flowed well and it was interesting to find out the back ground of each character. I did like the twist at the end when the newspaper cut outs and reports were found. It really tied everything together.
I couldn't connect with the characters but that could be because some of them weren't around long and others I just didn't feel anything for. I didn't care what happened to each character and/or when it happened.
The story reminded me of the Saw films. They were more about a game and torture which I don't like so the book was better.
The book was very well put together.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
  
The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito) (2011)
The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito) (2011)
2011 | Drama, Horror, International, Mystery
Operatically twisted (and twisty) erotic psycho-horror-thriller-drama from Almodovar. Brilliant scientist and surgeon (Banderas) seems to be keeping a young woman (Anaya) prisoner in his house, and performing various experiments on her (even his mum thinks he is insane). But the truth turns out to be a little more complicated than it at first seems...

Initially seems like much more of a plot-driven genre movie than is typical for this director, but the familiar themes (sex, desire, obsession, family ties) soon resurface albeit in somewhat modulated form. The plot grips like a vice, the performances are superb, it looks fabulous, and the (warped) sensuality of the film makes most so-called erotic thrillers look very bland and tame. This would qualify as a masterpiece, as good as anything Almodovar has ever done, except for the ending, which feels like a significant misstep, stumbling for conventional closure in a way that just doesn't ring true or feel satisfying. Nevertheless, a brilliant piece of film-making. (Do NOT read or hear a plot synopsis before watching if you can possibly avoid it.)
  
Psycho Goreman (2020)
Psycho Goreman (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
I fully understand why Psycho Goreman may not be for everyone, but dammit if it wasn't right up my street.
This film is so ridiculous. From it's sudden bursts of hyper violence to kids playing ball games backed by the sounds of completely over the top guitar solos, to it's abundance of offbeat humour, PG is obviously trying to be exactly the kind of film that it is, but it stops short of feeling overly try-hard.
The young cast are pretty great, heck, all of the cast are pretty great. The commitment to practical effects is admirable, no matter how cheap it looks on occasion. The alien characters look like creatures out of Power Rangers, but it honestly just adds to the experience.

I'm not sure if anything written can truly explain what to expect from this. If you like these kind of 80s throwback B-movies like I do, then you'll surely get a kick out of Psycho Goreman. It's a blast from start to finish.
  
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Rob Zombie recommended White Zombie (1932) in Movies (curated)

 
White Zombie (1932)
White Zombie (1932)
1932 | Horror
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"The last one I picked was another Lugosi film, so yeah, he is in every film I picked. That’s funny. I didn’t even realize it. It’s White Zombie from ’32, which is shortly after Dracula. It’s an amazing movie. I’m pretty sure it’s the first movie to ever use the word “zombie” — to use that in a movie. It takes place in Haiti, and Lugosi runs this sugar mill and the zombies are his workers and stuff. Again, he’s amazing, but the film is — only really bad versions of it existed for so long, so every time you’d watch it, you go like, “Wow, the quality of this movie is horrible. It looks like a cheap movie.” Then later, when people have restored things and find them, it’s a really incredible-looking movie. Again, it seems very primitive, but it looks amazing, and he’s great as always. If you watch some of the leads and you just watch their scenes, you go, “What is this, like a cute little musical comedy?” Then he comes in. Again, not f—ing around."

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