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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated The Stolen Chapters (Story Thieves, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Owen and Kiel wake up, they are in the library with no memory of how they got there or even what happened in the last couple of weeks. Then someone in a mask shows up to announce that their friend Bethany is in danger, and if they don’t rescue her in the next couple of hours, they will never see her again. Then he sets the library on fire and calls the police on them. Can Owen and Kiel find Bethany, figure out who the villain is, and stop him?
This is the second in a series, and you don’t want to start here if you haven’t read the first. However, once you’ve read the first, you’ll absolutely love this book. There are lots of laughs and fun and surprises along the way, including a fantastic cameo by a character I grew up with. The book gets very meta, but just go with it because it is a ton of fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-stolen-chapters-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is the second in a series, and you don’t want to start here if you haven’t read the first. However, once you’ve read the first, you’ll absolutely love this book. There are lots of laughs and fun and surprises along the way, including a fantastic cameo by a character I grew up with. The book gets very meta, but just go with it because it is a ton of fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-stolen-chapters-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Charles Burbridge (13 KP) rated Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) in Movies
Mar 24, 2018
If you were a fan of Pacific Rim and were looking forward to this movie, I'm sorry.
Where Pacific Rim was an action movie that had a soul, Uprising is the equivalent of a Transformers movie. Big things on a screen blowing up with characters that serve a non-existent plot.
Uprising is a big, expensive, stinking turd of a film, dropped on an audience that is expecting a treat and instead gets a face full of fresh, wet, crap. There's absolutely no excuse for how bad this film is. As of right now, less than five minutes after I walked out the theater's door, I cannot remember a single character's name, let alone motivations. Neither can I really remember the action sequences. All I can think of is the disappointment I'm feeling and, yes, anger that what could have been an entertaining franchise being trashcanned by this sequel.
Don't go to it. Don't rent it. Don't reward lazy films like this one. Let this become lost down the memory hole. Forever.
Where Pacific Rim was an action movie that had a soul, Uprising is the equivalent of a Transformers movie. Big things on a screen blowing up with characters that serve a non-existent plot.
Uprising is a big, expensive, stinking turd of a film, dropped on an audience that is expecting a treat and instead gets a face full of fresh, wet, crap. There's absolutely no excuse for how bad this film is. As of right now, less than five minutes after I walked out the theater's door, I cannot remember a single character's name, let alone motivations. Neither can I really remember the action sequences. All I can think of is the disappointment I'm feeling and, yes, anger that what could have been an entertaining franchise being trashcanned by this sequel.
Don't go to it. Don't rent it. Don't reward lazy films like this one. Let this become lost down the memory hole. Forever.
Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated Skin Deep (Laura Blackstone, #1) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
This is an intriguing beginning to a series. I've played a character with similar abilities in a long-running roleplaying game, so I was particularly interested in this book. I think the author did an excellent job of exploring just how much could be done with "essence" (glamour), while setting believable limits to the character's abilities. She has an exceptionally well-trained memory, but even she slips on a few details here and there when juggling too many personas or with someone very close to her for a long time.
The plot was less interesting to me, frankly, than the character. In fact, the details are a little fuzzy and I just finished the book earlier today. (Of course, I've read most of the next book since then, too). Even while reading it, though, some details strained believability. That detail took the rating down a point.
Still, I was interested enough to go right on to the next book in the series, and I intend to read more of del Franco's work. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy urban fantasy.
The plot was less interesting to me, frankly, than the character. In fact, the details are a little fuzzy and I just finished the book earlier today. (Of course, I've read most of the next book since then, too). Even while reading it, though, some details strained believability. That detail took the rating down a point.
Still, I was interested enough to go right on to the next book in the series, and I intend to read more of del Franco's work. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy urban fantasy.
101 Video Games to Play Before You Grow Up:The unofficial must-play video game list for kids by Ben Bertoli is a great introduction guide to video games that adults may have played while growing up, and will be a great platform for families to meet and have fun. This book begins with a comprehensive table of contents for quick and easy reference. There are fill in boxes to note if you played it, "my rating", "My favorite moment" and "Notes for each game. It has great divisions such as action adventure, sports, and party games. Each game in the list includes platform, rating, other suggested games, and interesting trivia.
The book is printed in bright colors with cartoony type characters which is eye catching. The book is a quick read and a useful reference guide to throw in with your game consoles. Perfect for sharing with kids, revisiting memory lane, or for avid gaming fans.
I give this book 4/5 stars
I received this book fromQuarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster, Jr. and Walter Foster Jr via NetGalley
The book is printed in bright colors with cartoony type characters which is eye catching. The book is a quick read and a useful reference guide to throw in with your game consoles. Perfect for sharing with kids, revisiting memory lane, or for avid gaming fans.
I give this book 4/5 stars
I received this book fromQuarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster, Jr. and Walter Foster Jr via NetGalley
Debbie (52 KP) rated A Stranger in the House in Books
Jul 27, 2018
A Stranger In The House By: Shari Lapena
Adult Thriller 305 Pages
I enjoyed this book; I couldn't put it down. I gave it 5 stars.
It is about a woman who leaves her home in a rush after a phone call. She gets into a car accident and temporarily loses her memory.
During her absents a murder has occurred and the police don't believe that she doesn't remember anything. They keep questioning her to try to get her to remember.
Her husband and best friend are there to support her and help her.
Who was murder? Did she do it? What happened that night?
These questions will be answered when you read the book. This is a thriller and though I want to go in great detail I won't. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong. This is the best kind of thriller where you can't figure it out because there are twists.
I greatly recommend that you read this book.
Adult Thriller 305 Pages
I enjoyed this book; I couldn't put it down. I gave it 5 stars.
It is about a woman who leaves her home in a rush after a phone call. She gets into a car accident and temporarily loses her memory.
During her absents a murder has occurred and the police don't believe that she doesn't remember anything. They keep questioning her to try to get her to remember.
Her husband and best friend are there to support her and help her.
Who was murder? Did she do it? What happened that night?
These questions will be answered when you read the book. This is a thriller and though I want to go in great detail I won't. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong. This is the best kind of thriller where you can't figure it out because there are twists.
I greatly recommend that you read this book.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster in Books
Nov 14, 2018
Being a part of the Gothic subculture I have followed these events since they happened. I have donated to the charity and I have joined marches through Plymouth in memory of Sophie. This collection of poems truly moved me, it did not matter that the poetry wasn't written in a style I'm more used to, I still very much enjoyed them and believe more people should read them. The subject matter brought tears to my eyes and the last poem made my heart ache. After recently becoming a mum myself I can not even begin to imagine the pain her family felt when she slipped away from them. Even though I did not know Sophie I still feel connected to her and am unbelievably sad that she was taken from this world in such a brutal and disgusting way...just because she and her boyfriend were different.
This is a beautiful collection, handled in a very sensitive way, I hope for this to reach more people as things need to change.
Rest in peace beautiful Sophie.
This is a beautiful collection, handled in a very sensitive way, I hope for this to reach more people as things need to change.
Rest in peace beautiful Sophie.
FilmIntuition (33 KP) rated Virgil Wander in Books
Nov 21, 2018
Like a warm quilt on a cold day, in "Virgil Wander," Leif Enger wraps up his reader in evocative language that makes them want to pull the book closer and hold tight for this imaginative tale.
Narrated by the well-liked eponymous film projectionist who finds himself still getting his bearings and memory back after his car soars into Lake Superior during a snowfall, as Virgil navigates his small town with new perspective, we get acquainted with the equally affable, unique characters who inhabit the “cursed” town of Greenstone, Minnesota.
A seemingly straightforward journey made all the more enchanting by the author's magnetic prose, “Virgil Wander” is stunning not only in its simplicity but by how masterfully Enger builds a strong foundation of characters you can relate to before seasoning his story with elements of Norwegian myth and fisherman's tall tales, which in his hands become Minnesota magic.
A highly recommended chronicle of small town life with much more on its mind, this gorgeously penned sleeper is one of my favorite novels of 2018.
Narrated by the well-liked eponymous film projectionist who finds himself still getting his bearings and memory back after his car soars into Lake Superior during a snowfall, as Virgil navigates his small town with new perspective, we get acquainted with the equally affable, unique characters who inhabit the “cursed” town of Greenstone, Minnesota.
A seemingly straightforward journey made all the more enchanting by the author's magnetic prose, “Virgil Wander” is stunning not only in its simplicity but by how masterfully Enger builds a strong foundation of characters you can relate to before seasoning his story with elements of Norwegian myth and fisherman's tall tales, which in his hands become Minnesota magic.
A highly recommended chronicle of small town life with much more on its mind, this gorgeously penned sleeper is one of my favorite novels of 2018.
Trackie (153 KP) rated Unknown (2011) in Movies
Jan 3, 2019
Unknown
Contains spoilers, click to show
Liam Neeson stars as a man who was in a car accident and subsequently he lost consciousness, only to then discover that another man was impersonating him. Nobody could help him as he had levels of memory loss and every attempt he made to try to prove he was Martin there were other people saying that he wasn’t. Eventually he tracks the unknown taxi driver down. She was really reluctant to talk to him and as a result he was left Pershing her for some time. After loads of people telling him he wasn’t Martin and that his wife was someone else’s wife he collapsed. Returning to the original hospital that he was in after the accident. It was here where he was tied to the bed and poison injected in to the fluids in the drip bag. This is where the twists to the story come into effect. This was an amazing film and has you glued to the tv screen. The ending is completely different from what you expect. I would highly recommend watching this film.
Yet another of [author:Michael Crichton|5194]'s science-thriller turned-into-a-movie novel, in which the movie bears only the slightest resemblance to the source material.
While the basic outline of the plot is the same in both - discovery of the lost city of Zinj in the Congo, expedition to said city that includes a Gorilla taught American Sign Langauge - the particulars of both are different, with the movie (form what I remember - it's been a decade or so since I last saw it) making far more of the exploration of Zinj and the fact that it is guarded by a new breed of vicious gorillas specially bred for the purpose by the original inhabitants than the novel does.
The characters in the novel are also less sympathetic than those in the movie - it's hard to take Tim Curry seriously as a hardened mercenary - while it has, also, aged somewhat due to the reliance on (then) state of the art electronics explained therein - a computer has a whole 256k of memory! Wow!!
While the basic outline of the plot is the same in both - discovery of the lost city of Zinj in the Congo, expedition to said city that includes a Gorilla taught American Sign Langauge - the particulars of both are different, with the movie (form what I remember - it's been a decade or so since I last saw it) making far more of the exploration of Zinj and the fact that it is guarded by a new breed of vicious gorillas specially bred for the purpose by the original inhabitants than the novel does.
The characters in the novel are also less sympathetic than those in the movie - it's hard to take Tim Curry seriously as a hardened mercenary - while it has, also, aged somewhat due to the reliance on (then) state of the art electronics explained therein - a computer has a whole 256k of memory! Wow!!
David McK (3633 KP) rated Wolverine: Origin in Books
Jan 30, 2019
As the mutant with no memory of who he was but with the adamantium skeleton and claws, there's a reason that Wolverine was the character chosen to draw the audience into the world of the X-Men in the 2000 movie of the same name, as well as being a key player in virtually all the X-Men movies to date (skipping, say, 'First Class').
He's also the first - and, to date, only X-Men mutant (I'm not counting Deadpool as belonging to the X-Men) to get his own solo movie in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. A movie that I'm not sure whether was released before or after (or at the same time, even?) as this collection of stories.
But there sure is a lot of similarities in the early portion of that film, and with when this is set and the events that take place within it ...
[i]edit[/i]: I've just discovered that this was released first (2001-02), with the movie in 2009. Guess I know now where the early part of the plot came from!
He's also the first - and, to date, only X-Men mutant (I'm not counting Deadpool as belonging to the X-Men) to get his own solo movie in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. A movie that I'm not sure whether was released before or after (or at the same time, even?) as this collection of stories.
But there sure is a lot of similarities in the early portion of that film, and with when this is set and the events that take place within it ...
[i]edit[/i]: I've just discovered that this was released first (2001-02), with the movie in 2009. Guess I know now where the early part of the plot came from!