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Much like Weir's first book, I absolutely devoured this one. I haven't read a book this fast in a while. His style of writing makes for easy and relatable reading and despite having a lot of scientific concepts it doesn't make the reader feel dumb, nor catered to. It's a style few seem to manage.
Jazz's inner monologues were interesting and funny. The only thing that bothered me sometimes was the repeated 'she's a total genius' moments all the way through. That gave it a bit of a YA novel vibe when they came up. Especially at one point where she monologues something about having an amazing memory. The comment just felt unnecessary and was just chucking it on the laundry list of feats she is capable of.
I see other reviews taking great umbrage with his portrayal of a female character but I didn't have any issues with that. Anyone expecting a woman to act or think in a certain way is missing the point a little bit. There is no one way for a woman to be. Everyone is different. This is Jazz Bashara.
Jazz's inner monologues were interesting and funny. The only thing that bothered me sometimes was the repeated 'she's a total genius' moments all the way through. That gave it a bit of a YA novel vibe when they came up. Especially at one point where she monologues something about having an amazing memory. The comment just felt unnecessary and was just chucking it on the laundry list of feats she is capable of.
I see other reviews taking great umbrage with his portrayal of a female character but I didn't have any issues with that. Anyone expecting a woman to act or think in a certain way is missing the point a little bit. There is no one way for a woman to be. Everyone is different. This is Jazz Bashara.
Katarzyna Krasuska (81 KP) rated Stalkers in Books
Aug 10, 2018
Scary, scary stuff
So here it is: A serial killer story that (for me) tops them all...so far, of course.
Just reading the back of the book gives you a chill and immediately you want to know more...
The story is very dark, very unnerving. Over thirty successful and happy women goes missing without any trace. One minute they're living their lives as usual, going on about their business, then 'click' and they're gone!
Detective Heck's search for criminals & victims is so intense, that my heart was at full speed non-stop. The organisation he's dealing with is way beyond evil. I mean Jack the Ripper, Al-Qaeda & Charles Manson all in one. Although even they seem like bunny rabbits next to this lot.
Everything you read feels so real, that for a moment I was worried that if I continue on reading...they will come for me! And I'm not being funny but only a well written book can give you this kind of experience.
And finally, to top it all, it has a ''Chuck Norris moment'' in it, which I seriously did not expect.
A definite must read.
Just reading the back of the book gives you a chill and immediately you want to know more...
The story is very dark, very unnerving. Over thirty successful and happy women goes missing without any trace. One minute they're living their lives as usual, going on about their business, then 'click' and they're gone!
Detective Heck's search for criminals & victims is so intense, that my heart was at full speed non-stop. The organisation he's dealing with is way beyond evil. I mean Jack the Ripper, Al-Qaeda & Charles Manson all in one. Although even they seem like bunny rabbits next to this lot.
Everything you read feels so real, that for a moment I was worried that if I continue on reading...they will come for me! And I'm not being funny but only a well written book can give you this kind of experience.
And finally, to top it all, it has a ''Chuck Norris moment'' in it, which I seriously did not expect.
A definite must read.
Melanie Johnson (34 KP) rated Snapchat in Apps
Aug 14, 2018
Silly (1 more)
Entertains the babies
A review by someone over 25
Allow me to shed some light on snapchat from someone who is not 16 and using it to send nudes. Yes, the pictures disappear after you view them unless you save them, but there is more to this app than destroying the evidence. My two year old enjoys to see her face with doggie ears. My theater friends enjoy to watch their last scene with a tanning taco in the foreground. My sister in law and I snap before and after videos while we clean our house. I can send videos of our children to my husband at work and know that the quality of what I send will be better than a text message. So what I'm saying is that there is a lot of good here, even if you are saying to yourself "I dont use anything that the Kardashians do" and I hear you. Just know that you are missing out on the silliness that a adults need in their life ever so often
Alicia S (193 KP) rated Aced (Driven, #4) in Books
Sep 28, 2018
How do I even begin to write a review for one of Kristy's books that truly shows just how incredible it/she is!? She is the Queen... the Master... period. And more Rylee & Colton.. what more could you ask for? This book TORE ME APART!? I was full on, crest wracked crying for chapter after chapter. Covers some very personal and difficult topics but you'll still get that incredibly heartwarming feeling you get reading Kristy's books. I have loved Rylee & Colton since starting the Driven series over a year ago... they are that perfect book couple that everyone knows and loves. Colton amazes me once again with his strength and determination... that and his clearly endless love and support for Rylee. While she was so broken and hurting throughout this book it was like a watching a dear friend suffer, understanding and not be able to help <3 Haddie & Becks, Zander, Shane and the rest of the boys, even the Twatwaffle made an appearance!? It's like coming back to old friends again... If you have somehow made it this far without reading the Driven Series, GET ON IT!? ABSOLUTE. MUST. READ!!! You have no idea what you are missing!
A very topical graphic novel
This is very relevant at the moment. It makes for depressing reading about our society. A woman, Sabrina, goes missing and her boyfriend goes to stay with a childhood friend who is in the military, in order to get away from the media scrum. His friend is actually a very central character in all of this.
When Sabrina is found murdered, there are those on the internet who believe that this is 'fake news', that her murderer has been framed, and when they find out where her boyfriend is staying, they target the friend he is staying with. They send him emails trying to prove a conspiracy. When the video that the murderer made of Sabrinas actual death (which has been sent to news outlets)is leaked on to the internet, it means that anyone can watch the murder. But the conspiracy theorists still don't believe that this is all real. The it is a set up.
It's depressing and scary, and it really happens. It's fictionalised in the book, but it HAS happened. And that is what has made it stand out.
When Sabrina is found murdered, there are those on the internet who believe that this is 'fake news', that her murderer has been framed, and when they find out where her boyfriend is staying, they target the friend he is staying with. They send him emails trying to prove a conspiracy. When the video that the murderer made of Sabrinas actual death (which has been sent to news outlets)is leaked on to the internet, it means that anyone can watch the murder. But the conspiracy theorists still don't believe that this is all real. The it is a set up.
It's depressing and scary, and it really happens. It's fictionalised in the book, but it HAS happened. And that is what has made it stand out.
Amy Louise (1 KP) rated Bird Box (2018) in Movies
Jan 2, 2019
So much hype so little substance
I was reluctant to watch this as it didn't immediately strike me as something I'd enjoy, however I read so much hype and praise for it, I simply had to.
When it started I was hopeful that actually this might just provide a pleasant surprise for me but by the end I was disappointed and left wanting more.
Let's face it, we've seen this film before in several different guises, 'The Mist' 'The Crazies' they all have one thing in common that makes me sigh every time, lack of depth. There's no imagination and explanation, in concept this could have been so much more but it remains a creature-less, face-less disappointment.
The whole premise relies on exploiting the viewers anxiety over the care of the children and the need to protect. I may be missing the point and I know this is a commentary on mental health but it's tenuous at best and I felt cheated by something that could have been so much more.
When it started I was hopeful that actually this might just provide a pleasant surprise for me but by the end I was disappointed and left wanting more.
Let's face it, we've seen this film before in several different guises, 'The Mist' 'The Crazies' they all have one thing in common that makes me sigh every time, lack of depth. There's no imagination and explanation, in concept this could have been so much more but it remains a creature-less, face-less disappointment.
The whole premise relies on exploiting the viewers anxiety over the care of the children and the need to protect. I may be missing the point and I know this is a commentary on mental health but it's tenuous at best and I felt cheated by something that could have been so much more.
David McK (3600 KP) rated Star Wars: Last Shot in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Released roughly around the time of the worst-box-office performing Star Wars movie (a backlash to 'The Last Jedi', maybe?) of 'Solo: A Star Wars movie', this novel attempts to tie together three separate time periods: we have post 'Return of the Jedi'/pre 'The Force Awakens' family man Han who struggles to be a father to young Ben Solo alongside missing-from-the-movies (so far) Lando, a post Solo Hand and Chewie, and a pre-Solo Lando and L3 all chasing after the same McGuffin.
And, for me, it just doesn't hang together all that well.
Perhaps the biggest problem I had with it, however - and it's an irrational one, I know - is in the almost complete absence of the Millennium Falcon in the 'modern day' portions: if you're going to have it prominently on the cover, and have both Han and Lando working together, at least get their most famous starship in on the action!
Well, that, and the Ewok slicer prodigy. (I still associate Ewok's with Return of the Jedi and in how they are portrayed - i.e. as technologically primitive! - in the old Expanded Universe).
And, for me, it just doesn't hang together all that well.
Perhaps the biggest problem I had with it, however - and it's an irrational one, I know - is in the almost complete absence of the Millennium Falcon in the 'modern day' portions: if you're going to have it prominently on the cover, and have both Han and Lando working together, at least get their most famous starship in on the action!
Well, that, and the Ewok slicer prodigy. (I still associate Ewok's with Return of the Jedi and in how they are portrayed - i.e. as technologically primitive! - in the old Expanded Universe).
Amelia's Tea (8 KP) rated the Xbox One version of The Outer Worlds in Video Games
Oct 28, 2019 (Updated Nov 1, 2019)
Great writing, from story, to characters, to lore. (1 more)
It's beautiful, and atmospheric with great music.
At time of playing (launch, before any updates) there's a few clunky things: like constantly drawing your weapon when you don't mean to. (1 more)
I had one instance where entering a room in the final mission kept completely crashing my game, and I had to parkour my way around to overcome this. Hopefully this is patched out soon!
Saved the Single Player
I loved this game. I imagine I'll be playing it for many years to come, and I'm hoping desperately for a sequel! I've been missing single player RPGs desperately lately, with studios like BioWare leaving them behind.
This game really scratched that itch for me. It's got great characters, great gameplay and a great story. It's just great. I can't recommend it enough.
Obviously it has some kinks to be worked out, but I was very easily able to overlook them when playing.
I am a little disappointed that some features were left out, like third person view and romances, but hope that these could be implemented into a sequel. Either way, I still enjoyed playing.
This game really scratched that itch for me. It's got great characters, great gameplay and a great story. It's just great. I can't recommend it enough.
Obviously it has some kinks to be worked out, but I was very easily able to overlook them when playing.
I am a little disappointed that some features were left out, like third person view and romances, but hope that these could be implemented into a sequel. Either way, I still enjoyed playing.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) in Movies
Dec 22, 2019
A worthy sequel
The Gremlins films huge favourites of mine as a child (worrying as I probably wasn't old enough to watch them), but I always preferred the sequel. Watching it back now, I'm so pleased to say it's still a worthy and rather entertaining sequel.
The plot has been scaled up since the first film, and whilst it's missing the christmas and horror style setting, it more than makes up with the sheer daftness of the entire story. It's ridiculous but so funny, with some great physical effects with the Gremlins, especially as they get themselves into new and interesting situations. Seen as this was released in 1990 the CGI is a little dated but fortunately this is used sparingly. The original cast are back, with some wonderful additions in the marvellous Christopher Lee and Robert Picardo. I remember parts of this terrifying me as a child and whilst it doesn't have quite the same effect now, this definitely isn't a kids film! This entire film is just wonderfully smart, silly and just a riot from start to finish. Definitely underrated and overlooked when it comes to the Gremlins films, but for me a worthy sequel.
The plot has been scaled up since the first film, and whilst it's missing the christmas and horror style setting, it more than makes up with the sheer daftness of the entire story. It's ridiculous but so funny, with some great physical effects with the Gremlins, especially as they get themselves into new and interesting situations. Seen as this was released in 1990 the CGI is a little dated but fortunately this is used sparingly. The original cast are back, with some wonderful additions in the marvellous Christopher Lee and Robert Picardo. I remember parts of this terrifying me as a child and whilst it doesn't have quite the same effect now, this definitely isn't a kids film! This entire film is just wonderfully smart, silly and just a riot from start to finish. Definitely underrated and overlooked when it comes to the Gremlins films, but for me a worthy sequel.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Klute (1971) in Movies
Jul 21, 2019
Great 70s thriller!
Another great thriller from Alan J. Pakula, director of All the President's Men, The Parallax View and Presumed Innocent starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.
A down and out call girl teams up with a private detective to try and solve a missing persons case.The two end up in a torrid relationship both persons seemingly using each other for their own gains. The investigation has several twists and turns through some drug addicts, an unsavory pimp and even some disco nightclubs. Tensions mount as the call girl herself becomes a target of the mysterious vigilante.
I love 70s thrillers like Play Misty for me, Blow Out, Dressed To Kill and this film. Something about the characters talk to each other and also seeing the vintage hairstyles, wardrobes, cars and music always puts you right in the mood.
Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland are perfect together onscreen as they both portray somewhat unsavory characters in this film but you are still rooting for them. Those who don't like slow developing stories might be bored; however, I thought it was well put together and worth the wait.
Highly recommended!
A down and out call girl teams up with a private detective to try and solve a missing persons case.The two end up in a torrid relationship both persons seemingly using each other for their own gains. The investigation has several twists and turns through some drug addicts, an unsavory pimp and even some disco nightclubs. Tensions mount as the call girl herself becomes a target of the mysterious vigilante.
I love 70s thrillers like Play Misty for me, Blow Out, Dressed To Kill and this film. Something about the characters talk to each other and also seeing the vintage hairstyles, wardrobes, cars and music always puts you right in the mood.
Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland are perfect together onscreen as they both portray somewhat unsavory characters in this film but you are still rooting for them. Those who don't like slow developing stories might be bored; however, I thought it was well put together and worth the wait.
Highly recommended!