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The Silly Side of Sherlock Holmes
Book
In The Not-So-Very-Nice Goings-On at Victoria Lodge, Philip Ardagh took illustrations from The...
How to Build a Girl
Book
What do you do in your teenage years when you realise what your parents taught you wasn't enough?...
Qualitative Methods in Economics
Mirjana Radovic Markovic and Beatrice Avolio Alecchi
Book
Despite numerous books on research methodology, many have failed to present a complete, hands-on,...
Ricardo on Money: A Reappraisal
Book
Despite his achievements, David Ricardo's views on money have often been misunderstood and...
Book of Longing
Book
Book of Longing is Leonard Cohen's astonishing new collection of poems, the first since Book of...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated A Side of Murder in Books
Feb 26, 2021
Murder Mars a Return to Cape Cod
Samantha Barnes, Sam to her friends, grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but left to go to culinary school and become a famous chef. Thanks to an inheritance and a new job writing about food in the area for a local paper, she is back. Her first assignment is to review a new restaurant in town, but the good food is quickly forgotten when she finds a dead body floating in the water next to the restaurant. The police think it was an accident. After all, the victim was a known drunk, so she could have easily fallen in and drown. Sam thinks something more sinister is happening. Can she prove it?
There is a good mystery here, and I enjoyed seeing how Sam figured everything out. Unfortunately, there is just as much set up, introducing us to the people in Sam’s life and filling us in on her past. The result was a pace that was uneven. I did still enjoy it since I liked Sam and the supporting characters. We saw hints of the depths to the characters that I’m sure we’ll see more of in future books in the series. I was bothered by a cliché that several of the characters fell into, however, especially since it doesn’t fit one of the characters at all. The book ends with recipes for a suggested four-course casual dinner with friends. Overall, I enjoyed this virtual vacation debut.
There is a good mystery here, and I enjoyed seeing how Sam figured everything out. Unfortunately, there is just as much set up, introducing us to the people in Sam’s life and filling us in on her past. The result was a pace that was uneven. I did still enjoy it since I liked Sam and the supporting characters. We saw hints of the depths to the characters that I’m sure we’ll see more of in future books in the series. I was bothered by a cliché that several of the characters fell into, however, especially since it doesn’t fit one of the characters at all. The book ends with recipes for a suggested four-course casual dinner with friends. Overall, I enjoyed this virtual vacation debut.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Moana (2016) in Movies
Nov 3, 2020
"You're Welcome" >>> "How Far I'll Go", I said what I said 🤷♂️
Another overly-familiar, word-for-word rehash of *all* the exact same clichés from the Disney Machine with no real profundity or nuance to back up the convention. I mean even the title character the movie is named after has about as much depth as a piece of blank construction paper. That being said however, this is - what I can only describe as - terminally cute. In spite of all its heavily trod Disney-fying and formulaic cheese it's just so damn irresistible: eye-watering in how visually breathtaking it is with a handful of lively bops from Lin-Manuel Miranda who - politics aside - rarely ever misses a beat in the musical department. Treads water (no pun intended) for the first part with all the parroting of like 10 other movies from the company practically verbatim until the charming Maui shows up, who still represents the same sorts of tropes but complete with a clever design gimmick via the moving tattoos and gargantuan, blocky proportions; plus come on he's voiced by Dwayne Johnson - you can't *not* love him. The last half hour is more or less a wondrous technical showcase for peddling this beautiful, paradise-like animation and let me tell you it's a sight to see. Very funny too. Should hate it but don't, well done. 𝘡𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢 smokes it, though.
Another overly-familiar, word-for-word rehash of *all* the exact same clichés from the Disney Machine with no real profundity or nuance to back up the convention. I mean even the title character the movie is named after has about as much depth as a piece of blank construction paper. That being said however, this is - what I can only describe as - terminally cute. In spite of all its heavily trod Disney-fying and formulaic cheese it's just so damn irresistible: eye-watering in how visually breathtaking it is with a handful of lively bops from Lin-Manuel Miranda who - politics aside - rarely ever misses a beat in the musical department. Treads water (no pun intended) for the first part with all the parroting of like 10 other movies from the company practically verbatim until the charming Maui shows up, who still represents the same sorts of tropes but complete with a clever design gimmick via the moving tattoos and gargantuan, blocky proportions; plus come on he's voiced by Dwayne Johnson - you can't *not* love him. The last half hour is more or less a wondrous technical showcase for peddling this beautiful, paradise-like animation and let me tell you it's a sight to see. Very funny too. Should hate it but don't, well done. 𝘡𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢 smokes it, though.
Martin Carr recommended track Crazy Horses by Donny Osmond in Definitive Collection by Donny Osmond in Music (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The Phantom of the Opera (2005) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
I have to admire the spectacle but I found this to be mostly didactic, repetitious as a musical (there's only like 3.5 good songs and the rest are just unendurable variants of the exact same one) and nearly nonexistent as a romance. I do admit this almost works as a total campfest, Gerard Butler totally butchering these classical-inspired ballads that require flawless vocal range is actually pretty hilarious. On the flipside I spent most of the time in complete awe of how astonishing Emmy Rossum is in this, only 18 years old at the time and effortlessly nails every formidable note not to mention looks the part seamlessly. This is through and through her movie, every inch top to bottom. I should also add that the movie looks extraordinary - the sets, the costumes, the makeup, the cast, all of it. But would some fucking choreography every now and again kill these people? The stakes, too, are paper-thin - things just happen without delving too deeply (if at all) into the consequences/implications of them so a good chunk of scenes just pass through without making any sort of effect. Lastly this gets docked extra points for ruining the best part of the musical by making it too obvious that Christine was going to give The Phantom the ring from the start of that moment. I have seen much worse, though; this would have been noticeably better if they'd just gotten more people who could sing.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Ash And Quill in Books
Oct 4, 2020
166 of 200
Book
Ash and Quill ( Great library book 3)
By Rachel Caine
The unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone and Paper and Fire unite to save the Great Library of Alexandria from itself in this electrifying adventure in the New York Times best-selling series. Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny.
Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the library's rule. Their time is running out. To survive, they'll have to choose to live or die as one, to take the fight to their enemies - and to save the very soul of the Great Library.
Kinda bitter sweet reading anything by Rachel Caine at the minute and this kinda took a lot longer than it normally would. I love this world, I love the characters and this boom did not disappoint. The only small thing I struggled with was a little repetition with some things for example the book press we have several pages across the books of how this is built and works. I’m hoping she can get chance to finish this series!
Book
Ash and Quill ( Great library book 3)
By Rachel Caine
The unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone and Paper and Fire unite to save the Great Library of Alexandria from itself in this electrifying adventure in the New York Times best-selling series. Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny.
Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the library's rule. Their time is running out. To survive, they'll have to choose to live or die as one, to take the fight to their enemies - and to save the very soul of the Great Library.
Kinda bitter sweet reading anything by Rachel Caine at the minute and this kinda took a lot longer than it normally would. I love this world, I love the characters and this boom did not disappoint. The only small thing I struggled with was a little repetition with some things for example the book press we have several pages across the books of how this is built and works. I’m hoping she can get chance to finish this series!