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Deborah (162 KP) rated Queen of Silks in Books
Dec 21, 2018
Overall I found this to be a well written novel with evidently a good deal of research into the silk industry. However, the depiction of real historical events became closely woven (no pun intended!) into the plot, but this for me was a weakness.
In some places the chronology just wasn't right. In other places the internal logic was weak. For example, over the instance of the execution of Hastings, in novels which cover this event the author needs to come up with their own explanation of this as the truth is covered over by time and Tudor propoganda. Bennett makes little or no explanation for the event and has 'Dickon' acting remarkably out of character in this one scene - and I mean that following her depiction in the book and not from my personal opinion. Additionally, for someone who has had a liaison with Dickon over a period of years, Isabel, the protagonist, shows remarkably little understanding of his character and I found her at times irritating and unsympathetic.
I also felt that in the wrapping up of the story, Elizabeth of York is shown to act in a ruthless way which doesn't match at all with what we know of her in her time as the first Tudor queen. Again, failures of internal and external logic for me.
To conclude, a well-written book, and I am not adverse by reading more from this author, but for me the historical event aspect didn't hang together well enough and was at times frustrating. I think it would have been a better novel if it left the larger political landscape well alone.
In some places the chronology just wasn't right. In other places the internal logic was weak. For example, over the instance of the execution of Hastings, in novels which cover this event the author needs to come up with their own explanation of this as the truth is covered over by time and Tudor propoganda. Bennett makes little or no explanation for the event and has 'Dickon' acting remarkably out of character in this one scene - and I mean that following her depiction in the book and not from my personal opinion. Additionally, for someone who has had a liaison with Dickon over a period of years, Isabel, the protagonist, shows remarkably little understanding of his character and I found her at times irritating and unsympathetic.
I also felt that in the wrapping up of the story, Elizabeth of York is shown to act in a ruthless way which doesn't match at all with what we know of her in her time as the first Tudor queen. Again, failures of internal and external logic for me.
To conclude, a well-written book, and I am not adverse by reading more from this author, but for me the historical event aspect didn't hang together well enough and was at times frustrating. I think it would have been a better novel if it left the larger political landscape well alone.
CHILLFILTR (46 KP) rated Dancing by Slow Skies in Music
Jul 11, 2019
It works as an invitation, to both understand and let go of the need for understanding. We leave our bodies be the moment, our feelings to be the logic. We move in perfect consciousness. But perhaps we are not all of us looking at the sky.
“You will see people
Who don’t even think of
The way their bodies shape themselves”
— Slow Skies
Karen Sheridan, known in Dublin and increasingly around the world as Slow Skies, invites us all to take a minute and breathe. With her single Dancing, in a voice that for a moment reimagines Nora Jones, Sheridan asks the listener to 'to think about whatever it is that makes them feel good'. We like the lazy guitar strumming, the ice-cream-soft voice, and the variated Hey Mickey drum beat.
“You will see people
Who don’t even think of
The way their bodies shape themselves”
— Slow Skies
Karen Sheridan, known in Dublin and increasingly around the world as Slow Skies, invites us all to take a minute and breathe. With her single Dancing, in a voice that for a moment reimagines Nora Jones, Sheridan asks the listener to 'to think about whatever it is that makes them feel good'. We like the lazy guitar strumming, the ice-cream-soft voice, and the variated Hey Mickey drum beat.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Destiny Binds (Timber Wolves #1) in Books
Sep 1, 2019
A decent read
Scout Donovan is a girl who believes in rules, logic, and her lifelong love of Charlie Hagan. Alex Cole believes in destiny, magic, and Scout. When Alex introduces Scout to the world of Shifters, men who change into wolves or coyotes during the full moon and Seers, women who can see your most private thoughts and emotions with a mere touch, the knowledge changes everything and everyone Scout thought she knew.
<strong>A decent read</strong>
This was Twilight without the vampires only better written. Don't get me wrong I like the twilight books but this just had the edge. It felt a little but rushed in places but for a first in the series it definitely made me want to continue reading.
Love triangle that ends in tragedy!
⭐⭐⭐

<strong>A decent read</strong>
This was Twilight without the vampires only better written. Don't get me wrong I like the twilight books but this just had the edge. It felt a little but rushed in places but for a first in the series it definitely made me want to continue reading.
Love triangle that ends in tragedy!
⭐⭐⭐

Sarah (126 KP) rated Evil Genius in TV
Aug 14, 2018
I found the beginning of Evil Genius to be truly, jaw-droppingly astonishing. Being in the UK, I don't remember ever actually hearing about this taking place. Having never heard or read anything about the case - or read any "blurb" about the series - I was genuinely shocked when witnessing the footage of what happens to Brian Wells. I honestly expected that things would "fizzle out", he would walk away with the police and the investigation would begin from there. Unsurprisingly, I spent the next few minutes with my eyes wide open, my mouth agape at what I had just witnessed.
Sadly, the documentary seems to go downhill from there.
The narrator/interviewer isn't particularly engaging in his commentary.
The story is somewhat disjointed, going from story to story, from suspect to suspect, without any real sense of flowing or logic. As such, at times it can feel a bit like you lose track of where you are and what has gone on, particularly when a thread is dropped only to be picked up later on, with additional information introduced but no logic to the way it has been brought in.
As something that seems to be a truly one-off type of crime, this should be such compelling viewing. Instead, after the initial shock-factor, it really does seem to fizzle out very quickly, and the only thing that compels you to keep watching is to find out what happened - and even that is something of a let down, as not all information seems to be followed up or confirmed.
Overall, it is an extremely interesting story which, unfortunately, has been let down by the way in which it has been put together.
Sadly, the documentary seems to go downhill from there.
The narrator/interviewer isn't particularly engaging in his commentary.
The story is somewhat disjointed, going from story to story, from suspect to suspect, without any real sense of flowing or logic. As such, at times it can feel a bit like you lose track of where you are and what has gone on, particularly when a thread is dropped only to be picked up later on, with additional information introduced but no logic to the way it has been brought in.
As something that seems to be a truly one-off type of crime, this should be such compelling viewing. Instead, after the initial shock-factor, it really does seem to fizzle out very quickly, and the only thing that compels you to keep watching is to find out what happened - and even that is something of a let down, as not all information seems to be followed up or confirmed.
Overall, it is an extremely interesting story which, unfortunately, has been let down by the way in which it has been put together.
tonidavis (353 KP) rated Game Of Thrones - Season 5 in TV
Jul 19, 2017
Walk of shame (4 more)
Sparrow
Tyrells
Tyrion
Arya
Walk of shame
Another great season of the show. Each season i continue to root for Tyrion Arya and the Tyrells though my love of the Tyrell's is because i want to become the Queen of thrones when I'm old. Sparrow was a sneaky stand out this season and he manipulation of religion for his own purpose is great. Finally Cersi had some punishment fitting things she has done though.
Arya training this season is also stand out entry into the house of black and white is superb and skills she is learning is great for anyone that small and want to be powerful.
Daenerys now has Tyrion as a adviser and as someone that loves Tyrion and loves dragons I am so envious of the Stormborn right now and kind of want her to win just because of her logic of an adviser.
Arya training this season is also stand out entry into the house of black and white is superb and skills she is learning is great for anyone that small and want to be powerful.
Daenerys now has Tyrion as a adviser and as someone that loves Tyrion and loves dragons I am so envious of the Stormborn right now and kind of want her to win just because of her logic of an adviser.
Ross (3282 KP) rated Daft Wee Stories in Books
Apr 16, 2018
Daft wee stories
I think there's something wrong with Limmy. Such a troubled mind. How he comes up with the stories contained here is mind-boggling.
This is a collection of short stories, all of which are less than a 10 minute read. All of them are very odd. Some are hilarious, some are interesting, others just truly bizarre. A number of the stories seem to be going nowhere and then just totally twist in the last few words. In others Limmy somehow has his character work through the logic of a stupid decision and somehow convince themselves to make that stupid decision
This collection is a good read, but don't expect it to be laugh out loud funny. This isn't your Michael Macintyre autobiography, it is a collection of daft wee stories, generally showing people getting themselves into weird situations or doing stupid things.
This is a collection of short stories, all of which are less than a 10 minute read. All of them are very odd. Some are hilarious, some are interesting, others just truly bizarre. A number of the stories seem to be going nowhere and then just totally twist in the last few words. In others Limmy somehow has his character work through the logic of a stupid decision and somehow convince themselves to make that stupid decision
This collection is a good read, but don't expect it to be laugh out loud funny. This isn't your Michael Macintyre autobiography, it is a collection of daft wee stories, generally showing people getting themselves into weird situations or doing stupid things.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody, #2) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
<b><i>The Curse of the Pharaohs</i></b> is a fast, fun, and humorous second outing with Amelia and her husband Emerson. The first half isn't quite as good as the second, but it quickly picks up and is enjoyable until the end. Amelia's outlook is a joy to read and I love how Elizabeth Peters writes her, which to me, seems like it would be very hard to do in a first person narrative (particularly with a character like Amelia Peabody Emerson!). There are some truly hilarious lines and passages, especially between Amelia and Emerson.
One line I just have to keep for posterity: <i>"It is impossible for any rational mind to follow the peculiar mental convolutions that pass for logic among the male sex."</i>
That is the genius of Ms. Peters writing and I look forward to the rest of the series.
One line I just have to keep for posterity: <i>"It is impossible for any rational mind to follow the peculiar mental convolutions that pass for logic among the male sex."</i>
That is the genius of Ms. Peters writing and I look forward to the rest of the series.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Fisherman's Friends (2019) in Movies
Mar 20, 2019 (Updated Mar 20, 2019)
Punishingly trite, manipulative and formulaic (not very) based-on-a-true-story rom-com melodrama. Jaded urban over-achiever finds himself stranded in remote rural community, learns to appreciate the value of The Important Things in Life; meanwhile a crew of hairy fishermen sing songs with lyrics like 'Nacker-nacker-toory-ay'. Cornwall and its inhabitants are arguably patronised a lot.
Utterly predictable and not very funny (well, we did laugh a lot during the bit with the funeral, but we're not very proud of that), the script overdoses on feelgood platitudes while not bothering all that much about things like characterisation or internal logic. The music is not that bad (if you like that sort of thing), but sheesh, you can go and buy a CD for that. In the end this is a sort of lobotomised version of Local Hero with added folk music.
Utterly predictable and not very funny (well, we did laugh a lot during the bit with the funeral, but we're not very proud of that), the script overdoses on feelgood platitudes while not bothering all that much about things like characterisation or internal logic. The music is not that bad (if you like that sort of thing), but sheesh, you can go and buy a CD for that. In the end this is a sort of lobotomised version of Local Hero with added folk music.
Rickey A. Mossow Jr. (689 KP) rated Happy Death Day 2U (2019) in Movies
May 21, 2019
Fails as a horror movie, but still a good twisty tale of love and loss.
After the first Happy Death Day, didn't really seem like there was a need for a sequel, but Hollywood had other ideas. Firstly, the trailer for this movie is very misleading, one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to films. This, unlike the original, is not a horror movie. Also, much of the logic used to explain this sequel is a convoluted mess. But the film is still a fun ride. Jessica Rothe carries this film with her undeniable charisma, talent, and heart. Where a lesser actress would have been lost amongst all the plot holes, Rothe shines. You can't help but love her and care about her character's plight. So, as a horror movie, this fails, but stands as a twisty tale of love and loss.
