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Who Fears Death
Who Fears Death
Nnedi Okorafor | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked Nnedi Okorafor's work on Marvel's SHURI, plus her themes fit in with some of the recent "LeVar Burton Reads" podcasts that I have enjoyed. Needless to say, I thought I would give this a shot, as it comes with numerous positive reviews.

While I enjoyed the world-building and the characters presented, I began to lose some interest about 45% into the book. I felt Onyesonwu's set-up, and subsequent chapters leading to where I stopped, felt like a car ride: I enjoyed the view, I enjoyed the companions on the ride, but I wanted to be at the destination already.

I think Ms. Okorafor is very talented. Her depiction of Africa felt like I was truly there, as if I could feel it. The backstory of the rape and genocide, clearly taken from what was barely a blip on the radar of American news broadcasts, was eye-opening, it helped to illustrate what it must have been like. For these two aspects of the book, I was quite impressed.

Unfortunately, the journey began to feel too long, and I had to "pull the car over". I may revisit it at a later date, but for now, I must take my leave it.

That said, I will give other works by Ms. Okorafor a try for sure.
  
Broken Beauty (Broken Beauty Novellas #1)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

This is a novella length story, the first of six, and deals with the aftermath and issues surrounding rape. It was a tough read at times but a good strong story.

I felt sorry for Mia. Being brought up in a political family and then being raped…and her father wants to glorify it to get more voters so he can win his election. How twisted can your life get? Her family do and say things to get voters, whether it’s helping Mia cope or not–mainly not–and I wanted to scream and shout at them in her defence.

And despite all that, some people do care. Dom, the policeman that found her in the first place, tries to help her realise that the only way her attackers will not get away with it, is to tell the truth and stop following her family’s wish to let it drop. He’s so nice and gentle with her. Her friend, Ari, tries to do whatever Mia wants but seeing how she’s struggling…what can you do?

It’s an emotional and sometimes tough story to read but after finishing this, I’m looking forward to the next part in the series to see what Mia does next. I hope she’s strong enough to go against her family.
  
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Darren Fisher (2454 KP) rated Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) by Brian Eno in Music

Dec 18, 2020 (Updated Jan 15, 2021)  
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) by Brian Eno
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) by Brian Eno
1974 | Rock
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Album Rating
Eno On Peak
In the 80's I got into Brian Eno via Talking Heads (with the excellent Remain in Light alvum) and David Bowie (Low, Heroes and Lodger), rather than through early Roxy Music.
My first introduction to Eno's solo work was the compilation More Blank Than Frank in 1986, which after listening to, was enough to convince me that I really needed to check out more of his work. I found Taking Tiger Mountain on cassette in the bargain bins at Our Price (I think). No inlay card but it was going cheap. Taking a punt I got it home and was instantly blown away. Musically upbeat for most of its duration, the lyrics told dark, humorous and downright weird tales about espionage, Limbourg Asylum and the rape of a woman by a crazed machine. There's also a lot of references to China (as the album title suggests).
So obssessed by this album I once recycled my smashed up electric guitar body in to a 'skinning up' table (with coaster bed legs so you could push it from person to person). The main centrepiece of this 'table' was a big mound of wax which I attempted to mould into my own Tiger Mountain... Damn the drugs were good back then hahaha 😎✌

Album Highlights:
Burning Airlines Give You So Much More
Third Uncle
The True Wheel
  
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AJaneClark (3975 KP) rated The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles, #1) in Books

Oct 2, 2019 (Updated Nov 24, 2019)  
The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles, #1)
The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles, #1)
Tess Gerritsen | 2001 | Crime, Thriller
8
7.9 (18 Ratings)
Book Rating
Rizzoli no isles
In Boston, there’s a killer on the loose. A killer who targets lone women, who breaks into their apartments and performs terrifying ritualistic acts of torture on his victims before finishing them off. His surgical skills lead police to suspect he is a physician - a physician who, instead of saving lives, takes them.
But as homicide detective Thomas Moore and partner Jane Rizzoli begin there investigation, they make a startling discovery. Closely linked to these killings is Catherine Cordell, a beautiful medic with a mysterious past. Two years ago she was subjected to a horrifying rape and attempted murder but shot her attacker dead. Now she is being targeted by this new killer who appears to know all about her past, her work at the Pilgrim Medical Center and where she lives. The man she believes she killed seems to be stalking her once again, and this time he knows exactly where to find her...
Gerritsen, has a way of writing that draws you in and keeps hold of you until the story comes to a natural close. It’s not drawn out in any of sense of the word, just long enough to hold the suspense. With some gruesome details dotted throughout, and an account of sexism is the homicide unit of Boston PD, it’s a great introduction to Rizzoli.
  
BT
Burn the Dark ( Elwood Legacy book2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
🔞🔞

35 of 235
Kindle
Burn the Dark ( Elwood Legacy book 2)
By Nicola Rose
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

What if the good guy you fell for turned bad, and the bad guy swooped in to save the day?

When I'm abducted, Zac is forced to make the decision he’s been running from for decades. Forever changed, he’s ripped away from me — leaving the perfect sized hole for Alex to step into.

Struggling to come to terms with our own changes, Alex and I must work together to fix this mess caused by ancient legacy and a vampire leader hell-bent on using us for his own gain.

But the vampires aren’t the only ones with something dark running through their veins… maybe underestimating me was the biggest mistake they all made?

This stepped up a bit! I enjoyed the first book and loved Jess and this one was no different she is a really good character. This book stepped up on the darkness a touch and may be a trigger to some with rape and abuse issues or those sensitive to reading that sort of material. Overall we got some kickass powers from Jess and Alex finally stepping up. This is a really good dark series and I’m still convinced a little lie a certain popular tv show.
  
Of Lilies and Lies (Stirling Harbor #1)
Of Lilies and Lies (Stirling Harbor #1)
Margaux Porter | 2022 | Contemporary, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


Kit is trying to piece her life back together after her abusive husband dies. She has been trying to put her life back together for the past 3 years but there's just too much history. She thinks the best thing to do is move back to her childhood hometown and make amends with her family, on her way home she runs into a handsome stranger Greer, but that is the last she will ever see of him surely!?


Wow! Honestly wow. This book is thrilling and captivating from the start. I enjoy the way Margaux has written from both Kit and Greer's perspectives, it gives you an insight into what they're both thinking and feeling. There is a lot to process in the story abuse, rape, violence, and trauma which brings a lot of emotion with it. I felt that from both parties and found myself having a few 'Ahh, bless them' moments as I was that invested in a positive outcome for them both. The ending of the book is fantastic as well as extremely well written. I don't want to say too much but my heart was in my mouth! I can't praise Margaux enough and would gladly read another book by this author.


A 5/5 recommended read