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Awix (3310 KP) rated Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) in Movies
Mar 4, 2018 (Updated Mar 4, 2018)
Justly acclaimed black comedy is a somewhat atypical film from Ealing Studios, better known for their affectionate depictions of post-war British life. Calculating man-on-the-make Dennis Price sets out to get on in the world by murdering the eight members of the D'Ascoyne family who stand between him and inheriting the dukedom of Chalfont.
Best known for the fact that Alec Guinness plays all the D'Ascoynes, but Dennis Price is just as good as the homicidal would-be aristocrat. The broad comedy of some of Guinness' performances, plus the staging of several of the murders, is underpinned by some much subtler and more understated humour about class and morality. One of those films you can watch several times and still find new layers to enjoy; very funny, too, though that should go without saying.
Best known for the fact that Alec Guinness plays all the D'Ascoynes, but Dennis Price is just as good as the homicidal would-be aristocrat. The broad comedy of some of Guinness' performances, plus the staging of several of the murders, is underpinned by some much subtler and more understated humour about class and morality. One of those films you can watch several times and still find new layers to enjoy; very funny, too, though that should go without saying.
Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar review
How angsty are you about corn, usually? Pretty relaxed? Easygoing about corn, for the most part? Probably if a friend asked you "how's corn?" you'd respond that it's not a concern. You're doing pretty great.
Prepare to have your world turned upside-down. Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar is an incredible board game about managing Mayan tribes. Yes, the board looks properly Byzantine, and it's true that we're not in Monopoly territory any more. Granny need not be invited. The brother of yours who played Timesplitters once? Tell him you're washing your hair. Because you might need this in your life. If you have anything resembling an attention span, to play Tzolk'in is to have no doubt about its brilliance.
Reviewer: Quintin Smith
Read the full Review here: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-06-tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar-review
Prepare to have your world turned upside-down. Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar is an incredible board game about managing Mayan tribes. Yes, the board looks properly Byzantine, and it's true that we're not in Monopoly territory any more. Granny need not be invited. The brother of yours who played Timesplitters once? Tell him you're washing your hair. Because you might need this in your life. If you have anything resembling an attention span, to play Tzolk'in is to have no doubt about its brilliance.
Reviewer: Quintin Smith
Read the full Review here: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-06-tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar-review
Finally!
I cannot be happier that there is finally a Smashbomb app in my life. Although there's nothing wrong with the website, having an app to use on the go is so much easier.
And the app itself is so easy to use, just a condensed version of the site. It's very responsive and runs very well, and it's very easy to navigate around.
My only criticism (sorry @Bird) is that I'm an android user and the app doesn't work with my back button. This is mainly me and my ocd, but I rely heavily on the back button and using it in the app currently just closes the app & sends me back to my phone home screen. Not a massive issue obviously but I don't have this with my other apps, so just being picky!
And the app itself is so easy to use, just a condensed version of the site. It's very responsive and runs very well, and it's very easy to navigate around.
My only criticism (sorry @Bird) is that I'm an android user and the app doesn't work with my back button. This is mainly me and my ocd, but I rely heavily on the back button and using it in the app currently just closes the app & sends me back to my phone home screen. Not a massive issue obviously but I don't have this with my other apps, so just being picky!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2053 KP) rated Cloche and Dagger (Hat Shop Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Scarlett Parker's life is falling apart between loosing her job and a breakup gone viral, so she moves to London to help run the hat shop she and her cousin inherited from their grandmother. However, when she arrives, her cousin is missing. Her bad feeling about everything only grows with one of their customers is murdered.
The book is very engaging with delightful characters who feel fully formed from the moment they step on to the page. In fact, it took me a little while to realize the plot was moving rather slowly. That's my only complaint with the book, however, and I'm certainly looking forward to the next book when it comes out in May.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-cloche-and-dagger-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book is very engaging with delightful characters who feel fully formed from the moment they step on to the page. In fact, it took me a little while to realize the plot was moving rather slowly. That's my only complaint with the book, however, and I'm certainly looking forward to the next book when it comes out in May.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-cloche-and-dagger-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2053 KP) rated No Virgin Island: A Sabrina Salter Mystery in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Sabrina Salter has escaped a past in Boston, hoping to enjoy her new life in St. John. However, trouble finds her in the US Virgin Islands when she arrives to clean one of the villas she maintains only to find the tenant dead in the outside hammock. Will the police see her as the prime suspect? Can she live through something like this again?
While the setting may be a paradise, the tone is more somber given Sabrina’s past. I enjoyed the juxtaposition and getting to know the strong characters. The plot unfolds differently than I am used to in a mystery, but everything we need to solve the crime is there, and we get two very dramatic and satisfying climaxes.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-no-virgin-island-by-c.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While the setting may be a paradise, the tone is more somber given Sabrina’s past. I enjoyed the juxtaposition and getting to know the strong characters. The plot unfolds differently than I am used to in a mystery, but everything we need to solve the crime is there, and we get two very dramatic and satisfying climaxes.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-no-virgin-island-by-c.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2053 KP) rated True Stories in Books
Mar 9, 2018
This collection of 10 non-fiction stories feature stories of shipwreck and bear attack from the 1800’s, the life of Blues musician Muddy Waters, and growing up with six older brothers in Vietnam. Personally, I want to start exploring creeks like the guy who wrote the last chapter here.
I don’t normally read non-fiction, but I enjoyed all 10 of the stories here. They were entertaining, which is what it takes to keep me reading. Middle school guys will love it, and anyone looking to learn something in an entertaining fashion will enjoy it.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book, but no review was requested or promised. My thoughts are my own.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-guys-read-5-true-stories.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I don’t normally read non-fiction, but I enjoyed all 10 of the stories here. They were entertaining, which is what it takes to keep me reading. Middle school guys will love it, and anyone looking to learn something in an entertaining fashion will enjoy it.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book, but no review was requested or promised. My thoughts are my own.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-guys-read-5-true-stories.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mickey Haller’s latest murder case involves the death of a prostitute with her pimp as the prime suspect. Only Mickey knew Gloria when she was alive, working out what he thought was a deal to get her out of the life. Where has she been for the last eight years? And can Mickey get his client off when the odds keep piling up against him?
This was another gripping legal thriller that was almost impossible to stop reading. There were great twists and surprises along the way, yet there was still time for the characters to continue growing. I hope it isn’t too long before we are treated with another case for this great team.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-gods-of-guilt-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was another gripping legal thriller that was almost impossible to stop reading. There were great twists and surprises along the way, yet there was still time for the characters to continue growing. I hope it isn’t too long before we are treated with another case for this great team.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-gods-of-guilt-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2053 KP) rated Book of the Dead (TombQuest, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Alex Sennefer has never been healthy, but recently he’s taken a turn for the worse. Just when things look their darkest, he makes a miraculous recovery. However, the world he wakes up to includes some dangerous long dead mummies come to life as well. Can Alex help stop them?
The book started a little slowly thanks to the set up taking some time, but once the story got going, I was turning pages as quickly as I could. A couple scenes in the second half especially left me with sweaty palms. The characters and good, and this book ends with a set up for the next book. The target middle grade audience will be thrilled.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-book-of-dead-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book started a little slowly thanks to the set up taking some time, but once the story got going, I was turning pages as quickly as I could. A couple scenes in the second half especially left me with sweaty palms. The characters and good, and this book ends with a set up for the next book. The target middle grade audience will be thrilled.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-book-of-dead-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Fury (2014) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018
Tanks for Nothing
Good-looking but very, very violent war movie with a convincingly horrible depiction of life as a tanker during the dying days of the Second World War. In time-honoured style a green young recruit joins Brad Pitt's crew, loses his innocence, earns respect of his fellows.
Movie can't quite seem to decide what it wants to be - the characters are portrayed as brutalised victims, executing prisoners, and there's an extraordinarily long and uncomfortable sequence in which they avail themselves of the hospitality of some recently-liberated German women, but on the other hand it concludes with them heroically mowing down Nazis by the dozen. In the end it's not really clear whether Fury thinks that War is Hell or not, but David Ayer always tells this kind of guys-in-extremis story well.
Movie can't quite seem to decide what it wants to be - the characters are portrayed as brutalised victims, executing prisoners, and there's an extraordinarily long and uncomfortable sequence in which they avail themselves of the hospitality of some recently-liberated German women, but on the other hand it concludes with them heroically mowing down Nazis by the dozen. In the end it's not really clear whether Fury thinks that War is Hell or not, but David Ayer always tells this kind of guys-in-extremis story well.
Lindsay (1693 KP) rated Out from the Underworld in Books
Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
The story starts out by having Heather with her daughter and visiting her father. Heather starts the story of her childhood from when her mother left them. The story is painful but intruding at the same time.
We get the authors view of things through her eyes. We also learn about how she and her sister Jazz needs to deal with grieving. We learn about her life in foster care with her brother and sister. Heather has a hard time with her mother's loss.
We see what happens when their father has to make his decision. The siblings have a bond together. We also learn about their father background and the family history. I learned that the siblings had a strong bond with each other. They can not seem to understand why their father does not want to escape the basement.
We get the authors view of things through her eyes. We also learn about how she and her sister Jazz needs to deal with grieving. We learn about her life in foster care with her brother and sister. Heather has a hard time with her mother's loss.
We see what happens when their father has to make his decision. The siblings have a bond together. We also learn about their father background and the family history. I learned that the siblings had a strong bond with each other. They can not seem to understand why their father does not want to escape the basement.