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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2177 KP) rated Permanently Booked in Books

Feb 22, 2019

Who Help the Librarian Check out Permanently?

Summer Smythe and Dorothy Westin are taking some books to be donated to the Hibiscus Pointe library when they find the body of Lorella, the librarian, on the floor in the stacks. Summer is certain that the strange encounter they had on their way into the library is the best clue to the killer, but Dorothy thinks the book club that Lorella was trying to start in the retirement community might hold the clue. Can the duo work together again to solve the latest mystery?

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was great to get to visit Dorothy and Summer again. They may be very different people, but they make a fantastic team. We get to see that as the book spends equal time in their third person points of view. This technique is perfectly used to allow them both to drive the mystery at various times. The plot is great with several viable suspects and keep us guessing until the end. I did think one or two minor things were left dangling, but it wasn’t a big deal since the important pieces of the puzzle were resolved. The characters range from fairly normal to wacky in a fun way, and I loved spending time with them. If you are looking for a light mystery, this is one to book to put on your reading schedule soon.

Kudos

Tamsin Clark (15 KP) rated Pixel Puzzles in Video Games

Jan 23, 2018 (Updated Jan 23, 2018)

Pixel Puzzles

2016 | Casual, Puzzle & Cards

7.4

(11 Ratings)

Video Game Rating

Over 1000 achievements to boost Steam (2 more)

Lots of variously themed puzzle packs

Lots of customisation

The goddamn music (2 more)

Packs need to be bought

Time sink

Surprisingly addictive

I actually ended up with Pixel Puzzles from a G2A random game pack and left it in my Steam library for almost a year until I saw someone mention it again recently. I expected poor quality but actually, this is a really fun jigsaw puzzle game. There's a ton of achievements to be gained and by doing puzzles you 'earn' tokens that you can buy things within the in-game shop that you can customise your game with (backgrounds, music, cursors, even extra puzzles). The puzzles come in various piece amounts from 60 into the hundreds, and they are often created in various styles so it's not just the same old jigsaw pieces with different images.

The game is a time sink; before you know it you've spent 2 hrs on a puzzle or 3. There's so much in there and considering you can get packs for a couple of pounds in various places, it's a really fun thing to have in your library. However once you're through those cheap packs the new ones can cost a fortune, which is where this game loses points. Personally, I expect to be able to buy the game with all the puzzles, not have to fork out more and more money just to get new images.

Kudos

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Giver of Stars in Books

Nov 7, 2019

The Giver of Stars

Jojo Moyes | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry

8.7

(3 Ratings)

Book Rating

This was such a great read—I was completely caught up in the story, set in 1930s Kentucky. It tells of a group of women who agree to set up a traveling library—where the books are delivered via horseback—per the direction of Eleanor Roosevelt and the WPA.

What a vivid and mesmerizing tale. We are introduced to Alice, who comes from England to Kentucky after her marriage. But her union isn’t all she imagined, and she finds herself feeling trapped and alone—until she joins the library. They are led by Margery, who refuses to fit the mold of the typical Kentucky woman, much to the ire of some townspeople, including Alice’s father-in-law, who runs the local mine.

The plot is dramatic, riveting, and, honestly, stressful at times (I was so invested). I loved the idea of a tale that mixes the power of books and reading with the power of women and the fear so many had of both. You’d like to think a lot has changed since the ‘30s, but this felt rather timely sometimes... The book also speaks eloquently to the racial divide, classism, and more. I found many parts to be so touching and others very powerful. This is a book that speaks to you on a variety of levels.

Overall, this is a beautiful book, with a strong and moving message. Definitely recommend! 4+ stars.