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[Last Days of Last Island] by [Bill Dixon] shows that being rich doesn't always come with common sense. In the mid 1800 in America the rich were looking for new ways to enjoy their wealth. In Louisiana the plantation owners found a beautiful island off the coast. It had great views and fishing. Also the breezes were a nice change from the temperatures inland in the South.
The catch is this "island" was little more than a large sandbar. What we know as barrier islands. This did not deter them from building it up as a resort for the well to do. What could go wrong?
There was no weather forecasting as their is today and the Gulf Coast was as prone to hurricanes then as it is now. There also was no easy escape since the only way to the island was by boat.
[Dixon] tell the tragic story of life and death on Last Island during the Hurricane of 1856. The research is well done and the narrative makes the saga of the inhabitants real in this pre Civil War natural disaster. Although he does get quite repetitive with details it was still a very informative read.
The catch is this "island" was little more than a large sandbar. What we know as barrier islands. This did not deter them from building it up as a resort for the well to do. What could go wrong?
There was no weather forecasting as their is today and the Gulf Coast was as prone to hurricanes then as it is now. There also was no easy escape since the only way to the island was by boat.
[Dixon] tell the tragic story of life and death on Last Island during the Hurricane of 1856. The research is well done and the narrative makes the saga of the inhabitants real in this pre Civil War natural disaster. Although he does get quite repetitive with details it was still a very informative read.
Scott Tostik (389 KP) rated Rings (2017) in Movies
Aug 3, 2017
Why?!??!
This review is being written mid film... Because I don't know if I can finish it.
So far it's been horrible...
If some of you can remember, Johnny Galecki was in I Know What You Did Last Summer, playing a semi bad character who was battling for Jennifer Love Hewitt's affection... And he sucked at it.
Fast forward ten years and he's been playing The Big Bang Theory's Leonard Hoffsteader, a super intelligent physicist with a witty sense of humor... Now stick another ten years on it and he's playing a professor who watches the dreaded tape of Samara Morgan's and is cursed with death... But it seems allot does is make him an asshole... The man is not made to play these types of roles... He's just too nice...
So I'm not sure if I can find his portrayal genuine.
.I haven't jumped, screamed or had my heart race once during this film. It is a waste of time and space...
If I could rewind my life and take back the time, I would've picked something else... Hell I would've rather watched the emoji movie than this. Probably would've been more entertaining.
So far it's been horrible...
If some of you can remember, Johnny Galecki was in I Know What You Did Last Summer, playing a semi bad character who was battling for Jennifer Love Hewitt's affection... And he sucked at it.
Fast forward ten years and he's been playing The Big Bang Theory's Leonard Hoffsteader, a super intelligent physicist with a witty sense of humor... Now stick another ten years on it and he's playing a professor who watches the dreaded tape of Samara Morgan's and is cursed with death... But it seems allot does is make him an asshole... The man is not made to play these types of roles... He's just too nice...
So I'm not sure if I can find his portrayal genuine.
.I haven't jumped, screamed or had my heart race once during this film. It is a waste of time and space...
If I could rewind my life and take back the time, I would've picked something else... Hell I would've rather watched the emoji movie than this. Probably would've been more entertaining.
Charley (64 KP) rated The Book Thief in Books
Feb 16, 2019
Powerful and moving.
I was unable to put this book down from the start.
The book Thief is set in a WW2 Germany and follows the life of Leisel Merminger and her struggles in a Nazi Germany.
Before I go into more detail of the storyline I want to first mention how moving it is to see the second world war from a different perspective. I knew that the German people didn't have it easy during the war as well as the allies but it isn't often spoken about. The pressure that the German people were under to conform to the Nazi regime was imense and this book shows this perfectly. It outlines the day to day struggles of a regular family.
This book is a brilliant read and I feel the best part about it is that it is narrated by Death. This gives a little bit of humour to an otherwise quite intense and dark read.
I feel everyone should give this brilliant book a go.
The book Thief is set in a WW2 Germany and follows the life of Leisel Merminger and her struggles in a Nazi Germany.
Before I go into more detail of the storyline I want to first mention how moving it is to see the second world war from a different perspective. I knew that the German people didn't have it easy during the war as well as the allies but it isn't often spoken about. The pressure that the German people were under to conform to the Nazi regime was imense and this book shows this perfectly. It outlines the day to day struggles of a regular family.
This book is a brilliant read and I feel the best part about it is that it is narrated by Death. This gives a little bit of humour to an otherwise quite intense and dark read.
I feel everyone should give this brilliant book a go.
Lily (2 KP) rated The Sun Eaters in Books
Jan 30, 2018
Two orphan boys try to survive post WWII
This book will definitely grab your life-sac into a boxing ring, land a few right hooks, an upper cut, and drop kick you on the floor. But maybe, like the boys say in the book, you're one of the ones that can see the beauty in the strange, the love-hate of all good stories. So you'll put it down, make someone something to eat, feed yourself, fortify your bones to get at it again - finish it, tear a piece of one of the pages and chew it into a stew-like paste and swallow it. Forever making a little home for these boys inside your body. Maybe you'll eat a little bit more of it each day as you pray and work to keep the world one in which we don't have to eat the sun, dig our own graves. But be warned, once read their hunger might become your own. And hunger never dies.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2352 KP) rated Live and Let Fly (Kite Shop Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
There’s a kite contest coming to town, and Emmy Adler has pinned her hopes on winning. She thinks that the fame will drive people to her website and help her shop survive the upcoming winter. The judge is, Jasmine Normand, a local who gained fame on a reality show, and Emmy has a run in with her in the weeks leading up to the contest. When Jasmine turns up dead, a tabloid starts insinuating that Emmy had something to do with the death. Can she learn the truth and save her reputation?
Emmy’s town is a wonderful Oregon beach side town, and the atmosphere makes me want to settle in for a vacation. The mystery starts out strong, but loses some steam in the middle before coming back to life for a great climax. Emmy is learning some patience, and it shows in this book. I enjoyed seeing her and the rest of the returning characters again. The new cast of characters are just as strong.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-live-and-let-fly-by-clover.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Emmy’s town is a wonderful Oregon beach side town, and the atmosphere makes me want to settle in for a vacation. The mystery starts out strong, but loses some steam in the middle before coming back to life for a great climax. Emmy is learning some patience, and it shows in this book. I enjoyed seeing her and the rest of the returning characters again. The new cast of characters are just as strong.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-live-and-let-fly-by-clover.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
ClareR (5879 KP) rated Templar Silks in Books
Aug 10, 2018
Historical fiction at it's best!
William Marshall is on his death bed and is looking back on his life. The Templar Silks of the story are the burial silks that he was given 30 years previously, when he became a secular Knight of the Templar Knights in Jerusalem. He promised that he would become a full member of the Order before he died, so he sends a trusted servant to collect the silk shroud from where he had entrusted it. While he waits for the silks, William slips into drug-induced remembrances of his time leading up to and during his time in Outremer. We learn of the riches of Jerusalem and those that ruled it; that King Baldwin had crippling leprosy, yet still ruled; and that those who ruled supposedly under the eye of God, did so only to gain more money and power (so, the same as everywhere else then, really!).
I'm sad to see that this is the end of William Marshall (I'm giving nothing away here!). I've enjoyed reading all of the books about him: even though they're largely speculation, Elizabeth Chadwick has still done her research in to the time very well.
I'm sad to see that this is the end of William Marshall (I'm giving nothing away here!). I've enjoyed reading all of the books about him: even though they're largely speculation, Elizabeth Chadwick has still done her research in to the time very well.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2352 KP) rated Rogue Lawyer in Books
Aug 11, 2018
Character Study that Left Me Cold
This book introduces us to Sebastian Rudd, a lawyer who handles the clients no one else wants to take on. We’re talking about an older teen accused of a horrible crime and convicted by the people of his town. Or a mobster on death row. With enemies from the ranks of the police and the clients he hasn’t been able to get off, can Sebastian navigate his life?
The book is really more of a character study with several cases taking the foreground at various points. It reads like these stories were originally published separately and brought together for this book, although I haven’t researched to know if that is true or not. The ending definitely leaves things open for more books. My issue is that I had a hard time liking many of the characters and found myself actively rooting for Sebastian to lose some of his cases. The fact that all the cops were over the top corrupt didn’t help any at all. Plus Sebastian came across as a knock off of Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller character, and that certainly didn’t help matters at all since I love Mickey.
The book is really more of a character study with several cases taking the foreground at various points. It reads like these stories were originally published separately and brought together for this book, although I haven’t researched to know if that is true or not. The ending definitely leaves things open for more books. My issue is that I had a hard time liking many of the characters and found myself actively rooting for Sebastian to lose some of his cases. The fact that all the cops were over the top corrupt didn’t help any at all. Plus Sebastian came across as a knock off of Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller character, and that certainly didn’t help matters at all since I love Mickey.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Flatliners (2017) in Movies
Feb 27, 2020 (Updated Feb 27, 2020)
Just A Flat Line......
Flatliners- is a remake that i forgot that came out in 2017. I love the oringal and think its a very underrated film that has a great cast. I like Kiefer's cameo/small role in this film, their is a delted scene where it connects to the oringal film. So thats cool. I mean Ellen Page was good in it, and i like some of the psychological espects, that how the past haunts you and the past will bite you. Other than that this film was bad, really bad, awful.
The Plot: Five medical students embark on a daring and dangerous experiment to gain insight into the mystery of what lies beyond the confines of life. The bold adventure begins when they trigger near-death experiences by stopping their hearts for short periods of time. As their trials become more perilous, each must confront the sins from their past while facing the paranormal consequences of journeying to the other side.
Just skip this film, and go watch the oringal film. Cause like i said its a very underrated psycological horror jem.
The Plot: Five medical students embark on a daring and dangerous experiment to gain insight into the mystery of what lies beyond the confines of life. The bold adventure begins when they trigger near-death experiences by stopping their hearts for short periods of time. As their trials become more perilous, each must confront the sins from their past while facing the paranormal consequences of journeying to the other side.
Just skip this film, and go watch the oringal film. Cause like i said its a very underrated psycological horror jem.
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