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Made You Up
6.4
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Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone...
mental health mental illness Schizophrenia realistic fiction
Oh my word! Well that was a disturbing and dark book but I found myself racing through it and literally couldn't put it down .. a cliché I know but absolutely true in this case.
What can I say? Gripping, frighteningly realistic and topical, dark, tense and heart-wrenching ... just a great book all round really. I must add a warning though, it does deal with violence towards women and whilst this is, as you can imagine, not pleasant, it is I feel an honest portrayal of what is going on in the world today.
Written from the perspective of all the main characters, this is a fast-paced and engrossing read with a twist that caught me by surprise.
I haven't read anything by this author before but will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and my thanks must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to another new author.
What can I say? Gripping, frighteningly realistic and topical, dark, tense and heart-wrenching ... just a great book all round really. I must add a warning though, it does deal with violence towards women and whilst this is, as you can imagine, not pleasant, it is I feel an honest portrayal of what is going on in the world today.
Written from the perspective of all the main characters, this is a fast-paced and engrossing read with a twist that caught me by surprise.
I haven't read anything by this author before but will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and my thanks must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to another new author.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Paranormal Activity (2007) in Movies
Oct 13, 2022
It's easy to see, even in hindsight, why Paranormal Activity created such a buzz upon release. It's commitment to the whole "true story" aspect is admirable, even if it feels overly gimmicky, and it's minimilast approach and low budget ensure that it has an atmosphere of realism, whilst providing a few decent scares along the way.
The acting is certainly questionable. I get that the filmmakers were going for a realistic couple with Katie and Micah, but the dialogue definitely comes across as improvised in an amateur kind of way. I can't imagine any couple talking like that in real life, and it's a bit jarring.
The narrative ramps up nicely and certainly ends with a bang, but the vast majority is a little too uneventful considering we spend all of it with two unlikable characters.
For what it is though, PA does what it's sets out to do. It's unnerving horror that appeals to everyone and anyone looking for a fun kind of scare, nothing more, nothing less.
The acting is certainly questionable. I get that the filmmakers were going for a realistic couple with Katie and Micah, but the dialogue definitely comes across as improvised in an amateur kind of way. I can't imagine any couple talking like that in real life, and it's a bit jarring.
The narrative ramps up nicely and certainly ends with a bang, but the vast majority is a little too uneventful considering we spend all of it with two unlikable characters.
For what it is though, PA does what it's sets out to do. It's unnerving horror that appeals to everyone and anyone looking for a fun kind of scare, nothing more, nothing less.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2330 KP) rated Wonton Terror in Books
Sep 27, 2024 (Updated Sep 27, 2024)
An Explosive Night Market
Lana Lee is excited for the night market this summer. It should be fun and a good chance to draw more customers for her family’s restaurant. However, the first night ends with the explosion of one of the food trucks in attendance. There is one fatality – the owner of the truck. His wife was a friend of Lana’s mother’s, although they have drifted apart. When the police look at the wife as a suspect, Lana jumps in. Can she clear the woman?
It’s been a while since I visited Lana, and it was nice to be back. I like her and her family and friends. I especially like how realistic the family dynamics feels. A subplot involving the Lee family was also well handled. The mystery started strongly, but the pacing did lag a bit in the middle. Lana was a bit stupid at the climax, but I did still enjoy how it played out, and everything made sense at the end. If you are as behind as I am, you’ll enjoy this book.
It’s been a while since I visited Lana, and it was nice to be back. I like her and her family and friends. I especially like how realistic the family dynamics feels. A subplot involving the Lee family was also well handled. The mystery started strongly, but the pacing did lag a bit in the middle. Lana was a bit stupid at the climax, but I did still enjoy how it played out, and everything made sense at the end. If you are as behind as I am, you’ll enjoy this book.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Alee: an Every Girl novel in Books
Dec 2, 2019
I love realistic fiction books that are a bit dark. When I first read the synopsis of Alee by Nicole Loufas, I was instantly hooked. I ended up devouring this novel in a short time!
The book starts out with Alee as a 17 year old high school senior. After sleeping with her boyfriend's best friend, she dumps her boyfriend for being too selfish. After being slut shamed at school, Alee finds comfort in her best friend Bryn. However, while at swim practice, Bryn is shot and killed. Around that time, Alee reconnects with her father that left her and her mother when she was 5, but even he isn't really there being as he's a homeless drug addict. With everything going wrong, Alee finds solace in Laine, her now ex-boyfriend's best friend - the one she slept with. The book talks briefly about Alee's life until the age of 21 where it really focuses on what is going on with Alee. When a major life even happens, Alee is thrown into a downward spiral that she may not ever escape.
I thought the plot for Alee was written beautifully. It's a story that most people can relate to in some way. I was sucked into the plot, and I felt like I was a ghost watching Alee's life unfold from the age of 17 to 21. There are a few minor plot twists which are interesting, but there are no cliff hangers. All of my questions were answered by the end of the book. The pacing for Alee is mostly perfect. There are a few, very rare, times where the pacing slows down, but it instantly picks right back up. I was never bored while reading Alee.
The characters in Alee felt very realistic and fleshed out. In fact, I felt like I knew all of these characters at one point in my life. Alee is such a strong character. She has had so much bad happen to her. It's as if she can't catch a break. It was interesting to follow Alee's thoughts on everything that would happen to her. She tried to stay positive even when her world was crashing down. I absolutely loved Alee, and I kept wanting something positive to happen to her. Laine seemed like such a great guy, and it was obvious how much Alee meant to him (and him to Alee). I loved reading about the love between Laine and Alee. I liked how Loufas made them feel like a real couple by giving them problems as well and not some Hollywood romance. I never really liked Benny. He was well written, but I always felt like I couldn't trust him. Throughout the book, I just kept wishing that he'd stay away from Alee!
Alee is a dark read, and it has quite a few strong triggers. These include gun violence, death, murder, suicide, rape, drug use, alcoholism, miscarriage, profanity, mentions of underage sex, and sexual situations (although not too graphic).
All in all, Alee was a very interesting and emotional read. If you are a fan of sunshine and rainbow books, Alee is not for you. However, if you're after a gritty, beautifully written realistic fiction novel that discuses tough issues, then Alee is the book you've been waiting for. I would definitely recommend Alee by Nicole Loufas to those aged 17+. Alee is one of those books that will keep you thinking about everything that happened in it long after you've finished reading it.
The book starts out with Alee as a 17 year old high school senior. After sleeping with her boyfriend's best friend, she dumps her boyfriend for being too selfish. After being slut shamed at school, Alee finds comfort in her best friend Bryn. However, while at swim practice, Bryn is shot and killed. Around that time, Alee reconnects with her father that left her and her mother when she was 5, but even he isn't really there being as he's a homeless drug addict. With everything going wrong, Alee finds solace in Laine, her now ex-boyfriend's best friend - the one she slept with. The book talks briefly about Alee's life until the age of 21 where it really focuses on what is going on with Alee. When a major life even happens, Alee is thrown into a downward spiral that she may not ever escape.
I thought the plot for Alee was written beautifully. It's a story that most people can relate to in some way. I was sucked into the plot, and I felt like I was a ghost watching Alee's life unfold from the age of 17 to 21. There are a few minor plot twists which are interesting, but there are no cliff hangers. All of my questions were answered by the end of the book. The pacing for Alee is mostly perfect. There are a few, very rare, times where the pacing slows down, but it instantly picks right back up. I was never bored while reading Alee.
The characters in Alee felt very realistic and fleshed out. In fact, I felt like I knew all of these characters at one point in my life. Alee is such a strong character. She has had so much bad happen to her. It's as if she can't catch a break. It was interesting to follow Alee's thoughts on everything that would happen to her. She tried to stay positive even when her world was crashing down. I absolutely loved Alee, and I kept wanting something positive to happen to her. Laine seemed like such a great guy, and it was obvious how much Alee meant to him (and him to Alee). I loved reading about the love between Laine and Alee. I liked how Loufas made them feel like a real couple by giving them problems as well and not some Hollywood romance. I never really liked Benny. He was well written, but I always felt like I couldn't trust him. Throughout the book, I just kept wishing that he'd stay away from Alee!
Alee is a dark read, and it has quite a few strong triggers. These include gun violence, death, murder, suicide, rape, drug use, alcoholism, miscarriage, profanity, mentions of underage sex, and sexual situations (although not too graphic).
All in all, Alee was a very interesting and emotional read. If you are a fan of sunshine and rainbow books, Alee is not for you. However, if you're after a gritty, beautifully written realistic fiction novel that discuses tough issues, then Alee is the book you've been waiting for. I would definitely recommend Alee by Nicole Loufas to those aged 17+. Alee is one of those books that will keep you thinking about everything that happened in it long after you've finished reading it.
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Zach Smith (62 KP) rated Bumblebee (2018) in Movies
Mar 23, 2019
Finally another view on the Transformers Universe that isnt Michael Bay.
Contains spoilers, click to show
I will give you a big heads up, I was not crazy about the idea of this movie due to Hollywood casting another female lead that is horrible unrealistic that this female that is a 10 in looks department. Michael Bay at least cast a realistic man named Shia that lets face it is no Brad Pitt. It was something normal people can relate to. Now being a gay male I found that the costar a male looked realistic and was relatable in having the crush on the 'hot' girl. No saying that they managed to sexualize it abit by showing male eye candy in boxers and the costar ripping his shirt off so I gave thaat a big thumbs up for me being the pig I am. Now moving on from the human bullshit part. The opening sequence takes place on the cybertron we all grew up to love and know. No crazy shit like the Cube is mentioned, you get an epic war scene with the majority of the original decepticons that actually look like decepticons, including soundwave and the purple guy that has one eye. I dont recall seeing megatron however, but its been awhile since I last saw it.
Anywho the movie goes on for character development for the unreal female lead which of course didnt really interest me. However there is a fierce battle between bumblebee and another decepticon and the idea of Bumblebee having a damaged voice modulator is carried over from the Michael Bay Transformers universe. Skipping forward to the introduction of the hero lead human finding bumblebee she is working on the vw beetle and she lays under the car to work on it and it looks just like when look at an transformer toy, you can see bumblebees head in the undercarriage, again freaking awesome!. So this movie made money which I am glad because I gave up on the Michael Bay transformer universe after he started slaughtering the autobots just like the Transformers Cartoon movie. So it is said we will see more from this group of writers and directors as they sort of reboot the universe and start making money again. Go see it, buy it. Snore factor of 2/10 for the stupid human parts.
Anywho the movie goes on for character development for the unreal female lead which of course didnt really interest me. However there is a fierce battle between bumblebee and another decepticon and the idea of Bumblebee having a damaged voice modulator is carried over from the Michael Bay Transformers universe. Skipping forward to the introduction of the hero lead human finding bumblebee she is working on the vw beetle and she lays under the car to work on it and it looks just like when look at an transformer toy, you can see bumblebees head in the undercarriage, again freaking awesome!. So this movie made money which I am glad because I gave up on the Michael Bay transformer universe after he started slaughtering the autobots just like the Transformers Cartoon movie. So it is said we will see more from this group of writers and directors as they sort of reboot the universe and start making money again. Go see it, buy it. Snore factor of 2/10 for the stupid human parts.