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The Cook and The King
Julia Donaldson & David Roberts
10.0
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There once was a very hungry king Who needed a cook like anything . . . . . . but the king is...
The Coral Kingdom
9.0
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From brightly coloured corals to shimmering shoals of fish, the diversity of life on a coral reef is...
ocean water life children children's nonfiction environment
Doc Scanner + OCR: PDF scanner to scan document, receipt, photo
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Doc Scanner turns your iPhone, iPad into a portable scanner for documents, receipts, notes,...
Doc Scanner + OCR Free: PDF scanner to scan document, receipt, photo
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Doc Scanner turns your iPhone, iPad into a portable multipage scanner for documents, receipts,...
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Turning This Thing Around in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(This review can be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).
As a former sufferer of depression and anxiety, this book was something I really wanted to read. While it wasn't the best memoir I've ever read, it was still alright.
I like the title of this book. It fits in well considering Keith turns his life around. It's super fitting.
The cover may be plain, but the one picture works well especially when it comes to any kind of disease whether mental or physical.
I found the pacing of this book started off at a decent pace. However, the second part of the book slowed way down, and I found myself skimming over some of the paragraphs and pages.
It was interesting to read about Keith's tumultuous relationship with Mary. My heart went out to both of them, and I found myself relating to a lot of what was happening. I wanted Keith and Mary's relationship to work, I really did. It was interesting to read about how Keith coped when he came to Mary.
The second half became a bit too spiritual for me, and I found my interest waning. When I say spiritual, I don't mean godly. To me, it focused a bit too much on meditation. Plus, it became too quote heavy. It seemed that Keith was quoting a book or movie on almost every page. I'd rather have just read Keith's words as he's quite a good writer judging by this book. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Keith was able to mostly overcome all the negative in his life, and he made some really good points and gave good advice, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Overall, Turning This Thing Around is a decent read. I think those that are into spirituality and possibly those that are in the throes of depression and anxiety would benefit the most from this book.
(I received a free paperback copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
As a former sufferer of depression and anxiety, this book was something I really wanted to read. While it wasn't the best memoir I've ever read, it was still alright.
I like the title of this book. It fits in well considering Keith turns his life around. It's super fitting.
The cover may be plain, but the one picture works well especially when it comes to any kind of disease whether mental or physical.
I found the pacing of this book started off at a decent pace. However, the second part of the book slowed way down, and I found myself skimming over some of the paragraphs and pages.
It was interesting to read about Keith's tumultuous relationship with Mary. My heart went out to both of them, and I found myself relating to a lot of what was happening. I wanted Keith and Mary's relationship to work, I really did. It was interesting to read about how Keith coped when he came to Mary.
The second half became a bit too spiritual for me, and I found my interest waning. When I say spiritual, I don't mean godly. To me, it focused a bit too much on meditation. Plus, it became too quote heavy. It seemed that Keith was quoting a book or movie on almost every page. I'd rather have just read Keith's words as he's quite a good writer judging by this book. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Keith was able to mostly overcome all the negative in his life, and he made some really good points and gave good advice, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Overall, Turning This Thing Around is a decent read. I think those that are into spirituality and possibly those that are in the throes of depression and anxiety would benefit the most from this book.
(I received a free paperback copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
Although mudlarks were also found in London, diving for pennies in the Thames mudbanks, this book is set in Portsmouth, so I was really enthusiastic to read this, hoping I’d know where the characters were larking about. Going to stay with my grandparents every half term means I know the area fairly well. Sure enough, most of the time I knew where the characters were, which added to my enjoyment of the book. In general, though, Sedden describes the scenes well enough that anyone could pick the book up and become immersed in its landscape.
Jimmy and Reg, the first-person protagonist and his best friend, were really realistic too – there were things like Reg having a stutter, the number of dead-arms the boys give each other (!) and the sense of guilt Jimmy feels when he realises he’s in the wrong, which made the boys really 3D, relatable characters.
I loved that the book brought to life a picture of not only mudlarking, but the start of the First World War and everyday people’s reactions to it. The twists that take place in the book can’t be guessed from the blurb, and I found myself surprised a lot of the time. The solution to the mystery had to be explained to me just as much as it did to Jimmy and Reg, which is rare, as I can usually guess what’s coming from at least a couple of pages before. PLUS, the solution was historically accurate. Double tick!
I reckon this book will appeal to boys (and probably girls too!) around 11-14, especially those with a love of history. Mind you, once I get the book back I’ll be sending it to my grandpa, who I’m sure will love it. It’s his old stomping ground, after all, although he’s never been as nasty as the policemen in the book!
If you liked this review, I also went into some of the history of mudlarking in Portsmouth on my <a href="http://www.a-worldofwords.com/2013/05/mudlark-by-john-sedden.html">blog</a>;; please feel free to check it out!
Jimmy and Reg, the first-person protagonist and his best friend, were really realistic too – there were things like Reg having a stutter, the number of dead-arms the boys give each other (!) and the sense of guilt Jimmy feels when he realises he’s in the wrong, which made the boys really 3D, relatable characters.
I loved that the book brought to life a picture of not only mudlarking, but the start of the First World War and everyday people’s reactions to it. The twists that take place in the book can’t be guessed from the blurb, and I found myself surprised a lot of the time. The solution to the mystery had to be explained to me just as much as it did to Jimmy and Reg, which is rare, as I can usually guess what’s coming from at least a couple of pages before. PLUS, the solution was historically accurate. Double tick!
I reckon this book will appeal to boys (and probably girls too!) around 11-14, especially those with a love of history. Mind you, once I get the book back I’ll be sending it to my grandpa, who I’m sure will love it. It’s his old stomping ground, after all, although he’s never been as nasty as the policemen in the book!
If you liked this review, I also went into some of the history of mudlarking in Portsmouth on my <a href="http://www.a-worldofwords.com/2013/05/mudlark-by-john-sedden.html">blog</a>;; please feel free to check it out!
Ellie seems to have the picture perfect life - and now, the picture perfect wedding. She's finally marrying Rob, seemingly the man of her dreams. But at her wedding, Ellie's world collapses, as she finds out Rob is not what he seems. She is quickly swept up into his world of lies and yes, murder. Rob is counting on Ellie to free them from the constrictive life he's been leading, but that may mean she has to kill someone. Is Ellie prepared to do this? Is Rob what he seems? What has happened to Ellie's perfect life?
This was an interesting thriller, to say the least. It starts out a little slow (seems like a conventional he said/she said back and forth point-of-view tale) but quickly turned into an actual, compelling mystery. The book is told in a "Then" and "Now" format, but with a couple of twists: first, you hear not only from Ellie and Rob, but also a detective, Lucien, who is investigating several cases that have ensnared the pair, and second, the "Then" portions aren't chronological, so you are really skipping around in time. It is confusing at times, but certainly adds to the page-turning aspect. A good 3/4 of the book passes by in a flash.
I was wary most of the book - who is telling the truth? Rob? Ellie? No one? This one reminded me a bit of another excellent book I read recently - J.T. Ellison's "No One Knows" (which I preferred), where you just don't know which spouse to trust, or if you even like either of them! They are both flawed, but not really in a way you could sympathize with. Lucien was certainly the only character who seemed to have any redemptive qualities to him at times, and his inclusion was intriguing and enjoyable.
Overall, this book left me feeling confused and a little wanting. It seemed to fall apart a little with the ending - I was almost not quite sure exactly what transpired. It left me a little wanting. Still, as I write my review 24 hours later, the book is still haunting me, and I imagine it will for quite some time-- which is certainly a feat in itself. I'm glad I read it; it was a strange and interesting experience to say the least.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley (thank you!); it is available for publication on 3/22. You can check out a review of this novel and many others on my <a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">blog</a>;.
This was an interesting thriller, to say the least. It starts out a little slow (seems like a conventional he said/she said back and forth point-of-view tale) but quickly turned into an actual, compelling mystery. The book is told in a "Then" and "Now" format, but with a couple of twists: first, you hear not only from Ellie and Rob, but also a detective, Lucien, who is investigating several cases that have ensnared the pair, and second, the "Then" portions aren't chronological, so you are really skipping around in time. It is confusing at times, but certainly adds to the page-turning aspect. A good 3/4 of the book passes by in a flash.
I was wary most of the book - who is telling the truth? Rob? Ellie? No one? This one reminded me a bit of another excellent book I read recently - J.T. Ellison's "No One Knows" (which I preferred), where you just don't know which spouse to trust, or if you even like either of them! They are both flawed, but not really in a way you could sympathize with. Lucien was certainly the only character who seemed to have any redemptive qualities to him at times, and his inclusion was intriguing and enjoyable.
Overall, this book left me feeling confused and a little wanting. It seemed to fall apart a little with the ending - I was almost not quite sure exactly what transpired. It left me a little wanting. Still, as I write my review 24 hours later, the book is still haunting me, and I imagine it will for quite some time-- which is certainly a feat in itself. I'm glad I read it; it was a strange and interesting experience to say the least.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley (thank you!); it is available for publication on 3/22. You can check out a review of this novel and many others on my <a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">blog</a>;.
Merissa (12066 KP) rated The Truth in Love: Virgo (Zodiac Shifters #14) in Books
Aug 29, 2017
The Truth in Love: Virgo (Zodiac Shifters #14) by K.C. Stewart
The Truth in Love: Virgo is the latest instalment in the Zodiac Shifters series. Emilie is the Virgo of the story, going through the motions of being happy with her (human) fiance. Things get interesting for her when he finds her shifting and, not realising that it is her, shoots her. He then declares Emilie is dead. She, being completely alive, makes her way to where her brother lives. She has managed to call him before she arrives, so he knows the story of what has happened to her, and makes it as easy as possible for her to start again. Things get a bit more complicated when Carter, her next door neighbour and landlord, is added to the picture.
This is a well paced story that features characters I am already acquainted with. It was a nice touch to see them again, to see how they are faring, whilst actually being vested in someone else. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and the only hiccups were actually part of the story! This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I can't wait to read the next Zodiac Shifters book! Highly recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is a well paced story that features characters I am already acquainted with. It was a nice touch to see them again, to see how they are faring, whilst actually being vested in someone else. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and the only hiccups were actually part of the story! This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I can't wait to read the next Zodiac Shifters book! Highly recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
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Normative Subjects: Self and Collectivity in Morality and Law
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Normative Subjects alludes to the fields of morality and law, as well as to the entities, self and...