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Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
1996 | Action, Sci-Fi
It’s a close run thing with “Wrath of Khan”, but this tops it as my favourite Trek film. There are so many memorable scenes:

The dramatic opening shots of Picard strapped into the Borg ship (and the subsequent jolts x 2!);
The comical drinking scene between Troi (Marina Sirtis) and Cochrane (James Cromwell);
The “Big Sleep” style holodeck sequence;
The spectacular entrance of the Borg Queen (Alice Krige);
The first warp flight;
The first contact scene, framed by Jerry Goldsmith‘s spectacular theme.
We’re up to the Enterprise-E in this one, and even that gets a self-destruct sequence! These movies must be playing havoc with their insurance premiums!

There are some nice touches for Trek fans in here: the first appearance of Robert Picardo‘s holographic doctor (before he became a regular on Star Trek: Voyager); and Dwight Schultz reprising his role from the TNG series as the nerdy fan-boy Lieutenant Barclay. In addition, the whole cast (including Gates McFadden’s Crusher) get a fairer share of the air time under Jonathan Frake’s direction.

Once again, the time travel (particularly the return journey!) is just a bit too trite and convenient. But other than that, this is a top-notch Trek movie. It features (in Alfre Woodard, just BAFTA nominated) a strong role for a female of colour. And it provides a great chance to showcase Stewart’s acting talents, as he wrestles with his own ‘great white whale’.

Given my love for the movie, I was tempted to give this one 5*s. The one thing holding me back is just a single line of dialogue. Do you know the one? Zephram Cochrane’s line…

“So, you’re astronauts? On some kind of a star trek?”.

It is just SO UTTERLY CRASS that I manage to throw up a little in my mouth as that scene happens. WHY WRITERS, WHY???
  
As well as the love of reading, I also seem to have passed on my love of history to the Mini Bookworm. He is 8 and I often find myself digging him out of a pile of "Horrible Histories" books just to tuck him in at night!

So when I saw the cover and concept of "A Day in the Life of a Caveman, a Queen and Everything Inbetween", requesting a spot on the book tour was a no brainer.
This GORGEOUS book takes the concept of the illustrations within HH books and totally runs with it. The comic book style really spoke to the mini bookworm and really kept him engaged for a long period of time. In fact, when I asked him if he had any negative points for this review he thought for a very long time before finally saying "it just wasn't long enough".
The topics are presented in one page snippets - it's not going to teach your kids all about one particular subject but, in my opinion, it is going to get them excited to learn more.
As a parent, I also really appreciated the progression of the topics into modern history. The civil rights page initiated a whole conversation about segregation and racism for example! Similarly, fossil fuels and global warming are factors that greatly affect our youngsters, but are presented in a really fun way.
Thank you to Mike Barfield and Jess Bradley for creating this wonderful book, and to Love Books Tours for giving the Mini Bookworm and I the opportunity to review it. As we live in the same county as Mike Barfield the Mini Bookworm did initially want to find him to be his friend, but apparently will settle for adding "A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You" to his Christmas list!
  
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Shattered Warrior ( Dark Warrior Alliance book 11)
By Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

Detective Orlando Trovatelli is a glutton for punishment when it comes to matters of the heart and not even his shifter instincts can keep him on course. It's bad enough that he has feelings for the Vampire Queen, who is mated to one of the most powerful males of the Tehrex Realm, but then he falls for Jaidis, a mated cambion. He clings to the pathetic excuse that Jaidis's mate is abusing her and the Goddess will reconsider and give Jaidis to Orlando in the end. He learns how wrong he is the night he arrives at Jaidis's house to find her lying in a pool of her own blood while struggling to save her unborn baby. Orlando is prepared to move heaven and earth to save Jaidis's life, but ultimately all he can guarantee Jaidis is that he will protect her unborn son. Struggling with his new responsibilities, Orlando isn't prepared to deal with the aftermath of the new archdemons. With his Omega on one side of the fence and Zander on the other, Orlando is forced to choose between his loyalty to the Dark Warriors and disclosing their existence to humans. After everything Orlando has been through, he questions the Goddess and whether his faith in her has been in vain.

This was my favourite so far! I possibly say that every book but Orlando is just perfect and he’s been so unlucky in love and although Ember is a little bit of a selfish cow it’s nice to see him get his happy ending! Oh and the little pops of Izzy through these books are always a joy. Looking forward to The King of Khoth!
  
Lady MacBethad
Lady MacBethad
Isabelle Schuler | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I studied Macbeth at school (pre-GCSE), and I don’t think I was told that it was based on a real historical figure - at least I’ve forgotten in the intervening 30-odd years. All I can remember , is that my English teacher at the time, Mr Jones, asked me to read Lady Macbeth’s part, because he thought I suited it! I’m sure I should have been more insulted than I was, but then I always thought that she had the good part…

Lady MacBethad is the story pre-Macbeth and probably closer to the truth. Shakespeare had his reasons for writing his play the way he did (keeping in with the royals and the fee-paying public, perhaps?), but it seems in reality MacBethad had more of a claim to the throne than Duncan.

This novel is of course from Lady MacBethad’s point of view - but she hasn’t got there yet. In this, she’s Gruoch, or as her grandmother says: “Groa, daughter of Boedhe, son of Coinneach, the rightful King of Alba…You will be the greatest of us all”

Gruoch is brought up in a household where her mother remembers her picti and ancient Druid heritage, but her father, Boedhe, follows the new Christian faith. Gruoch is conflicted. But she does know that she wants to be queen, and will stop at nothing to get there.

She’s so young though, and that does come across in some of her attitude, temper tantrums and opinions. She’s certainly undertaking quite some learning curve.

This was such a readable, immersive story, and I found myself backing Gruoch and wanting to actually help her (she would never have listened). I’ve no doubt this will be one of my favourite books this year - and I do wonder if there will be a sequel? I’d read it!
  
Journey (The Chosen One Trilogy #2)
Journey (The Chosen One Trilogy #2)
Mireille Chester | 2015 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the second in The Chosen One trilogy and picks up where Crossover finished. You are straight back in the action with Hayden and Jasper as they fight for what they believe in and against being used by someone else. The choices that Hayden has to make never become easier but as a person, she grows and becomes more comfortable with the decisions she has to make. Jasper is by her side, supporting her in everything she does and I pity the person who tries to come between them.

This is very well-written although the perspective changes from Hayden to Jasper without warning which I personally found a bit jarring. However, saying that, it was good to get Jasper's perspective on things so I liked it, but a title or note at the beginning of each chapter would have made it smoother in my opinion.

The plot advances swiftly and time skips over 'dead time' occasionally as the plot moves forward. the character development is good and I am looking forward to learning more about the bond between Hayden and Alex, the bond between the Queen and the cats etc. So much information is given to you in this book and yet I am still left wanting more. I need the third book in this fabulous series!

In short, this is a brilliant book that shows the depth and sacrifice entailed with deep and enduring love. I love the world-building and the characters and can't wait to reimmerse myself in Hayden's world. Highly recommended.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 9, 2015