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Erika (17788 KP) rated 71 (2015) in Movies

Aug 18, 2017  
71 (2015)
71 (2015)
2015 | Action, Drama
9
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
This is a solid movie; it's completely riveting and it shows a very interesting time in Northern Ireland.
  

"Say Nothing is written like the most gripping of novels. Patrick Radden Keefe brings the tragedies of The Troubles in Northern Ireland to life in this brilliant piece of investigative writing. Heartbreaking, eloquent, shattering, lingering, illuminating."

Source
  
Blood's Campaign
Blood's Campaign
Angus Donald | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Third entry in Angus Donald's Holcroft Blood series (after Blood's Game and Blood's Revolution), with this one set in Ireland.

Which is where I live (well, in Northern Ireland).

Living, as I do, not that far from Carrickfergus in Belfast I was aware of the siege of Carrickfergus, and (of course) of the Battle of the Boyne - it's impossible not to be, living here! With William's victory celebrated by a section of the community every 12th of July - although the subjects were never really taught at all in my school days; seemingly more concerned with the Norman conquest or with the English Civil War or World War 2 than with 'local' history. In retrospect, I think that might be because local history is (still) a touchy subject: what is one man's hero, for example, is another man's villain in this country!

Anyway, I've gone off topic: Blood's Campaign.

An interesting read, with Holcroft Blood still an unusual protagonist (hinted as being on the autistic spectrum?), with - even for someone born and raised in Northern Ireland - some fascinating history thrown in, although (I have to say), that this one didn't quite grip me as much as Angus Donald's 'Outlaw' (Robin Hood) series.
  
TK
The King's Deception (Cotton Malone, #8)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
As usual Steve Berry does not disappoint!! Cotton Malone is one of my very favorite fictional characters & just like the man who thought him up, he never lets the reader down either.
This installment deals with Henry VIII & a supposed secret he passed on while on his deathbed, a secret that if proven true could decimate the English monarchy as we know it. Along with plunging them back into a bloody battle over Northern Ireland. Elizabeth I a man? How could you not be intrigued!?
  
40x40

Hazel (2934 KP) rated Holding in Books

Jan 12, 2018 (Updated Jan 12, 2018)  
Holding
Holding
Graham Norton | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
I don’t normally read books written by “celebrities” but I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this written by Graham Norton. What initially grabbed me was the fact that it is set in a remote Irish village and I was curious to see how it compared to my experiences of spending my summer holidays in a village in Northern Ireland and I have to say that I feel that Mr Norton captured the atmosphere, the people and the humour excellently but then I would expect that really with him being Irish ;)
  
Gunshots & Goalposts: The Story of Northern Irish Football
Gunshots & Goalposts: The Story of Northern Irish Football
Benjamin Roberts | 2017 | History & Politics, Sport & Leisure
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
history of Northern Ireland and their football history (0 more)
no character connection (0 more)
For the lovers of football and history - this book will be of your interest. If you happen to have any connecting with Northern Ireland as well - this book is made for you! I don’t think I fit in the description above. I love watching football - but I am not a football maniac, that knows who plays where, the club’s managers and who is on top of the Champion’s League this year. I love me some good sports matches, and I know a lot of players by name or face, but that’s about it.

Now - Gunshots & Goalposts: The Story of Northern Irish Football - the book that covers the stories of many football players in the past century in Northern Ireland.
While it covers so many stories, I wasn’t able to connect to any of the characters, and I choose to blame this on the way the book was written.

Which - is not a bad thing at all. Why? Because, this book is not meant to make you fall in love with the characters. It is instead, meant to show you the real picture of their lives, the politics that were ongoing in that time, and give you a brief history lesson of what you happened to miss in high school. All related to football, of course.

For me, it was very useful to learn a bit about the politics and history. Before I started the book, I knew NOTHING about Northern Ireland’s history. I knew NOTHING about their football history. This was a great first book for me to dive into the waters of the history of Northern Ireland's football.

The author, Benjamin Roberts, has done a wonderful job in the description and research. It covers a lot of the history period from the First and Second World War, the protestants vs catholics, the unionists vs nationalists, the east vs the west.

This book reminds me a lot of a movie that has been made in the country where I was born - Macedonia. The movie was called ‘’The Third Half’’ and deals with Macedonian Football during World War II, and the deportation of Jews from Macedonia. It reminded me a bit of this, even though in this book we don’t connect with the characters, or dive into their stories too much.

This is a three-star book for me - for the sole reason that this is not a book that I would usually read, and I wouldn’t read books similar to this one either. I enjoyed it, at times, but wouldn’t re-read it. However, I would definitely recommend it to people that love both football and history. I just prefer books where I connect with the characters.
  
Freakdog (Red Mist) (2009)
Freakdog (Red Mist) (2009)
2009 | International, Drama, Horror
4
3.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
This could have been so much better. Nice idea but on a tight budget, and thin plot lines it doesn't live up to potential. I thought Arielle Kebbel being in this might be a good sign, but it's not up to the usual quality of films she is in.
I also have to add I really don't understand why they try to Americanise this film? It was obvious to me this was made in the UK, Northern Ireland, so why not set it there? Why try to make out it's a small town in America? Only for those who don't mind low budget horrors.
  
MB
Midlife Blues ( Not too Late 2)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
100 of 220
Kindle
Midlife Blues (Not Too Late 2)
By Victoria Danann
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Begins with the formerly reclusive, gentleman vampire hosting a murder mystery dinner you'll never forget, and ends with the case of the captured kelpie. From Hallow Hill to northern Ireland, don't miss your favorite judge's magical adventures.


I liked it but it didn’t have the punch the first one had. It was interesting hearing the court trials and meeting so many different creatures. Felt a little rushed to me but I it still made me smile. Worth a read! To be honest who would want this job and to live in this village? My dream!
  
Ghost Machine (2009)
Ghost Machine (2009)
2009 | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A decent low budget indie flick made in Northern Ireland. It has some well known faces like Rachael Taylor (Transformers) and a great location, an old disused prison which genuinely looks creepy. The film has a nice idea, a virtual reality battle simulation used by the army is borrowed for a gaming session. The only problem that as well as mapping the old prison to play in the game it also picks up a ghost with revenge in mind. Considering the budget the effects are ok. It reminded me a bit of Stay alive and more recently Gamer. Overall a good effort on a low budget, the DVD has a 30 minute making of as well!
  
Gunshots & Goalposts: The Story of Northern Irish Football
Gunshots & Goalposts: The Story of Northern Irish Football
Benjamin Roberts | 2017 | History & Politics, Sport & Leisure
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Review can also be found on: diaryofdifference.com/2018/05/24/gunshots-goalposts-the-story-of-northern-irish-football-benjamin-roberts-book-review/

For the lovers of football and history - this book will be of your interest. If you happen to have any connecting with Northern Ireland as well - this book is made for you!

<img src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/510KFWLQLML.jpg"/>;

I don’t think I fit in the description above. I love watching football - but I am not a football maniac, that knows who plays where, the club’s managers and who is on top of the Champion’s League this year. I love me some good sports matches, and I know a lot of players by name or face, but that’s about it.

Now - Gunshots & Goalposts: The Story of Northern Irish Football - the book that covers the stories of many football players in the past century in Northern Ireland.
While it covers so many stories, I wasn’t able to connect to any of the characters, and I choose to blame this on the way the book was written.

Which - is not a bad thing at all. Why? Because, this book is not meant to make you fall in love with the characters. It is instead, meant to show you the real picture of their lives, the politics that were ongoing in that time, and give you a brief history lesson of what you happened to miss in high school. All related to football, of course.

For me, it was very useful to learn a bit about the politics and history. Before I started the book, I knew NOTHING about Northern Ireland’s history. I knew NOTHING about their football history. This was a great first book for me to dive into the waters of the history of Northern Ireland's football.

The author, Benjamin Roberts, has done a wonderful job in the description and research. It covers a lot of the history period from the First and Second World War, the protestants vs catholics, the unionists vs nationalists, the east vs the west.

This book reminds me a lot of a movie that has been made in the country where I was born - Macedonia. The movie was called ‘’The Third Half’’ and deals with Macedonian Football during World War II, and the deportation of Jews from Macedonia. It reminded me a bit of this, even though in this book we don’t connect with the characters, or dive into their stories too much.

This is a three-star book for me - for the sole reason that this is not a book that I would usually read, and I wouldn’t read books similar to this one either. I enjoyed it, at times, but wouldn’t re-read it. However, I would definitely recommend it to people that love both football and history. I just prefer books where I connect with the characters.