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Dracoria Malfoy (690 KP) rated One of us is Lying in Books
Mar 20, 2019
i gotta say, this book has been given so many good reviews, i was super hyped. unfortunately, although it was a worthwhile read, i was kindaverymuch let down. the lack of diversity was a start; it was incredibly off-putting. of the 4 mains, only one was a POC, two of the others were your classic blonde hair, light-eyed perfect TV show type high schoolers. and i know that may have been a bit deliberate, but,,,,, cmon. the fact that one of the characters was queer was more of a plot point as opposed to actual rep. another con is that the characters seemed incredibly flat, especially at the beginning. if i'm gonna spend 300 pages reading about these characters, i wanna enjoy them
BuT tHiS iS aBoUt LoVe
so pros. THis was definitely an intriguing read. although slightly predictable, it still sometimes left you guessing as to why something happened. that romance got me screaming, we stan an enemies to friends-in-a-situation to friends to lovers.
so yeah, i truly did enjoy this book, even though it doesnt look like it. it was a good read, and maybe i'll pick it up again? who knows.
BuT tHiS iS aBoUt LoVe
so pros. THis was definitely an intriguing read. although slightly predictable, it still sometimes left you guessing as to why something happened. that romance got me screaming, we stan an enemies to friends-in-a-situation to friends to lovers.
so yeah, i truly did enjoy this book, even though it doesnt look like it. it was a good read, and maybe i'll pick it up again? who knows.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Drag Me to Hell (2009) in Movies
Mar 12, 2021
I'll say one thing for certain, Drag Me to Hell is so unnecessarily and gratuitously gross at times (the old woman has the poor girls entire chin in her disgusting mouth on more than one occasion) and in that regard, it's a warm welcome back to over the top horror for Sam Raimi. His signature style is plastered all over the place, and it's great.
The cheesiness isn't a complete positive however. In terms of dialogue, it can take you out of the story a bit. Lead Alison Lohman and co star Justin Long (both actors who I like) suffer from this a bit, and are occasionally comical in a movie that plays it straight for the most part.
Some of the effects are a little iffy as well. There's some good practical stuff going on but a few digital effects are dodgy. It's not enough to severely impact anything, and there a few decent jump scares scattered throughout.
It's a perfectly fine slice of horror, that is elevated by a ballsy as fuck ending, that makes Drag Me to Hell a film worth revisiting now and again. Would love to see a sequel someday!
The cheesiness isn't a complete positive however. In terms of dialogue, it can take you out of the story a bit. Lead Alison Lohman and co star Justin Long (both actors who I like) suffer from this a bit, and are occasionally comical in a movie that plays it straight for the most part.
Some of the effects are a little iffy as well. There's some good practical stuff going on but a few digital effects are dodgy. It's not enough to severely impact anything, and there a few decent jump scares scattered throughout.
It's a perfectly fine slice of horror, that is elevated by a ballsy as fuck ending, that makes Drag Me to Hell a film worth revisiting now and again. Would love to see a sequel someday!
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Rebel Heart (Dust Lands, #2) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
I didn't like this as much as the first. I wanted more Jack!
That being said, it was another riveting adventure across the hard world they live in and I enjoyed it.
Meeting back up with old friends and making new ones was cool. The Free Hawks are a great bunch and seeing Maev and Ash again was nice. I cant quite remember Creed but he made it all a bit more light-hearted with his flirting.
Lugh has been annoying me since he came back at the end of the last one and he didn't endear himself to me at all in this one, though at the end of the book I understand his feelings but that doesn't excuse him for the rest of the story.
DeMalo was also a little strange. And Saba's decision about two thirds through the book annoyed me too. Why would you do that?!?!
Jack got mixed up in trouble as usual but I still love his and Saba's relationship and I so hope they get some sort of HEA in the third book.
P.S. What's happening with that heart-stone??
That being said, it was another riveting adventure across the hard world they live in and I enjoyed it.
Meeting back up with old friends and making new ones was cool. The Free Hawks are a great bunch and seeing Maev and Ash again was nice. I cant quite remember Creed but he made it all a bit more light-hearted with his flirting.
Lugh has been annoying me since he came back at the end of the last one and he didn't endear himself to me at all in this one, though at the end of the book I understand his feelings but that doesn't excuse him for the rest of the story.
DeMalo was also a little strange. And Saba's decision about two thirds through the book annoyed me too. Why would you do that?!?!
Jack got mixed up in trouble as usual but I still love his and Saba's relationship and I so hope they get some sort of HEA in the third book.
P.S. What's happening with that heart-stone??
ClareR (6118 KP) rated The Last One in Books
Aug 29, 2023
The Last One had me riveted from the first page. I mean, what must be going on in the mind of Will Dean that makes him write like this? I’ve asked the same question many times before of Stephen King, and I could see him writing something along these lines 30 years ago: a woman wakes up on a cruise ship that holds over 1000 people - and they’re all gone. Every single one of them. Where could they be? The boat is out at sea - surely the boat can’t have been evacuated and she’s just left there alone?
And it just gets stranger and stranger. There were times that I really didn’t want to read on. I hated Will Dean for writing certain things - how could he even think them?! 🤭 Genius. It made me feel supremely uncomfortable, angry, SO ANGRY, frustrated, and a bit sad, too.
I can’t/ won’t say any more about the plot. To say anything at all would be to give it away - and the reveal is EVERYTHING!
This is one of those books that I’ll be thrusting into peoples hands saying: “Read this, now! It’ll drive you MAD, but you’ll love it!!”
And it just gets stranger and stranger. There were times that I really didn’t want to read on. I hated Will Dean for writing certain things - how could he even think them?! 🤭 Genius. It made me feel supremely uncomfortable, angry, SO ANGRY, frustrated, and a bit sad, too.
I can’t/ won’t say any more about the plot. To say anything at all would be to give it away - and the reveal is EVERYTHING!
This is one of those books that I’ll be thrusting into peoples hands saying: “Read this, now! It’ll drive you MAD, but you’ll love it!!”
Rose Christie is a young Classics teacher who gets a teaching post at an elite public boarding school in Scotland: Caldonbrae Hall.
But this school isn’t as it first appears. Rose loves her subject and wants to share that love: the girls don’t want to learn, and they frankly can’t see the point. Frustration radiates off the page - or perhaps as an ex-teacher I was just projecting! Honestly, this part nearly made me stop reading! I was so angry with the students behaviour!
It would seem that the senior management team at the school very much agree with the girls though, and want Rose to become more like them.
Not likely!
And then there was Rose’s predecessor and her strange disappearance, which of course Rose has to find out more about.
I’m so glad that I read beyond my 3 chapter cut off, because I did enjoy this. I will say that there’s a fair bit of age-inappropriate sexual behaviour, so if you find this problematic, it may be best to steer clear. But it was all in keeping with the ethos of the school - I KNOW!!
But this school isn’t as it first appears. Rose loves her subject and wants to share that love: the girls don’t want to learn, and they frankly can’t see the point. Frustration radiates off the page - or perhaps as an ex-teacher I was just projecting! Honestly, this part nearly made me stop reading! I was so angry with the students behaviour!
It would seem that the senior management team at the school very much agree with the girls though, and want Rose to become more like them.
Not likely!
And then there was Rose’s predecessor and her strange disappearance, which of course Rose has to find out more about.
I’m so glad that I read beyond my 3 chapter cut off, because I did enjoy this. I will say that there’s a fair bit of age-inappropriate sexual behaviour, so if you find this problematic, it may be best to steer clear. But it was all in keeping with the ethos of the school - I KNOW!!
Lindsay (1807 KP) rated Letters to God in Books
Jun 3, 2025
I like this children's book. Its style is different and enjoyable. It has letters written by children, and it reads in that kind of way. Children are asking about some other things. They are all mean as you turn a page in the book. A different child writes a new letter. They could be thanking God for something, writing to help heal a loved one, or telling God how they feel. Each one is different. On the other page is a scripture or quote from the bible that goes along with it.
The pictures are well done. I would say that each page showcases a different family. They are all different in many different ways, from a mommy and a sibling to a family of a few to more than one of two.
This book is a quick and easy read. But it teaches children about kindness, love, and how talking to God is okay—doing so anywhere or any place or writing your prayer down is also fine. God will listen or hear any forms of payers even if they are written and sent to him that way.
The pictures are well done. I would say that each page showcases a different family. They are all different in many different ways, from a mommy and a sibling to a family of a few to more than one of two.
This book is a quick and easy read. But it teaches children about kindness, love, and how talking to God is okay—doing so anywhere or any place or writing your prayer down is also fine. God will listen or hear any forms of payers even if they are written and sent to him that way.
Merissa (13919 KP) rated Caelius (Fueled By Lust #5) in Books
Dec 17, 2018 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
Caelius is a young man with oodles of old-fashioned charm. It is not just because he is still learning the 'slang' but because this is who he is. And I don't have a single complaint about that, let me tell you!
Rhia is an 'older' lady who can certainly feel like time is creeping not so slowly up on her but can't resist Caelius when he wants to get to know her, simply because of how drawn she is to him.
If, for some reason, you think that reading about an older lady with a young man will make you uncomfortable then let me reassure you. You notice it at the beginning, mainly because Rhia makes a big deal about it when Caelius asks her out for a coffee (psst, love the reactions of the old ladies next to them!!). But you will soon be carried away by the story and hoping and wishing for certain things to be different. And no, I'm not going to be giving away spoilers here. Suffice it to say, I was heartbroken during one part of the book and my eyes were leaking again.
Not only do we have Caelius and Rhia's story here though but we also have the continuation of Ulixes and Kallon. My god, I wanted to bash their heads together! I felt just as exasperated as some of the other characters but was completely unprepared for the emotional whallop their story gave me. Yep, you've guessed it, my eyes were leaking during this part too so consider this fair warning!
Old friends and family (well they feel like that to me anyway!) show up at various points and I am always happy to read about them. Nothing detracts from the main storylines though, just perfect cameo additions.
This series just keeps on getting better and better and I LOVE IT!!! Highly recommended for all fans of Celeste Prater, the Fueled by Lust series and/or erotic Sci-Fi! Absolutely fantastic! The snippet for Maxim already has me drooling and holding my breath - don't worry, Celeste, I promise to keep on breathing but I need to know more about this lady with the triple moon tattoo who knocks Maxim off his feet!
December 19, 2018
Rhia is an 'older' lady who can certainly feel like time is creeping not so slowly up on her but can't resist Caelius when he wants to get to know her, simply because of how drawn she is to him.
If, for some reason, you think that reading about an older lady with a young man will make you uncomfortable then let me reassure you. You notice it at the beginning, mainly because Rhia makes a big deal about it when Caelius asks her out for a coffee (psst, love the reactions of the old ladies next to them!!). But you will soon be carried away by the story and hoping and wishing for certain things to be different. And no, I'm not going to be giving away spoilers here. Suffice it to say, I was heartbroken during one part of the book and my eyes were leaking again.
Not only do we have Caelius and Rhia's story here though but we also have the continuation of Ulixes and Kallon. My god, I wanted to bash their heads together! I felt just as exasperated as some of the other characters but was completely unprepared for the emotional whallop their story gave me. Yep, you've guessed it, my eyes were leaking during this part too so consider this fair warning!
Old friends and family (well they feel like that to me anyway!) show up at various points and I am always happy to read about them. Nothing detracts from the main storylines though, just perfect cameo additions.
This series just keeps on getting better and better and I LOVE IT!!! Highly recommended for all fans of Celeste Prater, the Fueled by Lust series and/or erotic Sci-Fi! Absolutely fantastic! The snippet for Maxim already has me drooling and holding my breath - don't worry, Celeste, I promise to keep on breathing but I need to know more about this lady with the triple moon tattoo who knocks Maxim off his feet!
December 19, 2018
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Station Eleven in Books
Oct 15, 2018
Beautifully written and just so human.
I had this book recommended quite a few times to me I even bought it almost a year ago and just never got around to picking it up and it kept popping up in one of my Facebook groups so I thought I'd finally give it a chance since all the comment were very positive and I cannot tell you how glad I am that I finally gave it a chance. The story in itself is really simple but it's absolutely beautifully written Mandel really has a way with words that I can't even describe her whole story just flow together so beautifully I love the back and forth between the time before and after the epidemic the characters flawed and honestly it's just so human and beautiful that I couldn't stop reading. One of the things that really stuck out to me most was that when it came to Station Eleven and when certain characters had to take a life it wasn't some proud moment like it is in most dystopian books it was a heartbreaking moment it was something that the characters didn't want to have to go through and I found it so beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking. As the story progresses and you find out more about certain characters and how everything connected it was just so beautifully done and I really could just go on forever praising this book definitely one of the best books I've read this year.
What You Wish For
6.0
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Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion...
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Parasite (2019) in Movies
Apr 10, 2020
Kills You With Intrigue
This is the portion of the review where I usually give a quick synopsis, but I’m not going to do that for Parasite. I want you to go in like I did: Completely and totally blind. It’s so much better that way, trust me on this.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 9
Nice set up for what is to come, especially when you don’t really know what’s coming. You’re introduced to the primary family and get a better understanding of their story. I appreciated how director/writer Bong Joon Ho sets up the intrigue but doesn’t give you too much.
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Parasite is cinematically gorgeous from beginning to end. It gives you a feeling that you are witnessing something you’ve never seen before. I won’t dive too deep into this, but I especially love the cinematic contrast shown between the lower and upper class. Brilliantly done.
Conflict: 10
One minute, you think you’re watching a light comedy. The next, you’re saying, “Holy shit!” The perceived conflict is big enough, but when more gets added to the mix things get extremely out of control. I loved every minute of it.
Entertainment Value: 8
Memorability: 10
As soon as I finished watching Parasite, I immediately looked up who directed Oldboy as the shooting style and varying levels of constant tension felt very similar. Though not the same director, I will say this: If you’ve seen the latter, expect to be just as shocked by the former. Parasite gives you an experience you will never forget.
Pace: 10
Not a dull moment throughout. I spent so much time trying to figure out what the hell was happening that things never got boring, especially during the second half of the movie. There were so many moments of tension, you would be hardpressed to lose interest in the movie.
Plot: 10
Resolution: 1
As phenomenal as the movie is, the ending definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. Wasn’t a fan in the least. In fact, it was the one thing in my mind keeping this from being a classic.
Overall: 88
If you’re planning to see Parasite anytime soon, make sure you go in completely blind. It is memorable beyond belief. Expect it to stay in your mind for a long time after watching it.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 9
Nice set up for what is to come, especially when you don’t really know what’s coming. You’re introduced to the primary family and get a better understanding of their story. I appreciated how director/writer Bong Joon Ho sets up the intrigue but doesn’t give you too much.
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Parasite is cinematically gorgeous from beginning to end. It gives you a feeling that you are witnessing something you’ve never seen before. I won’t dive too deep into this, but I especially love the cinematic contrast shown between the lower and upper class. Brilliantly done.
Conflict: 10
One minute, you think you’re watching a light comedy. The next, you’re saying, “Holy shit!” The perceived conflict is big enough, but when more gets added to the mix things get extremely out of control. I loved every minute of it.
Entertainment Value: 8
Memorability: 10
As soon as I finished watching Parasite, I immediately looked up who directed Oldboy as the shooting style and varying levels of constant tension felt very similar. Though not the same director, I will say this: If you’ve seen the latter, expect to be just as shocked by the former. Parasite gives you an experience you will never forget.
Pace: 10
Not a dull moment throughout. I spent so much time trying to figure out what the hell was happening that things never got boring, especially during the second half of the movie. There were so many moments of tension, you would be hardpressed to lose interest in the movie.
Plot: 10
Resolution: 1
As phenomenal as the movie is, the ending definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. Wasn’t a fan in the least. In fact, it was the one thing in my mind keeping this from being a classic.
Overall: 88
If you’re planning to see Parasite anytime soon, make sure you go in completely blind. It is memorable beyond belief. Expect it to stay in your mind for a long time after watching it.