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Stephin Merritt recommended Indeterminancy, New Aspect of Form in Instrumental and Electronic Music by John Cage/David Tudor in Music (curated)
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2476 KP) rated Nowhere to Go and All Day to Get There in Books
Jun 21, 2021
Short Trips with the Loudermilks
This is a collection of two short stories featuring retirees and full time RVers Joe and Dottie Loudermilk. In “A Mother Always Knows,” a quick trip into a convenience store results in the couple being on the scene of an armed robbery. “Better Dead Than Wed” find them getting involved in an abusive relationship during a late-night rest stop.
Both of these stories are fast reads – I finished the collection in about half an hour. But both stories are fun and held my interest the entire way through. I was caught off guard by some of the twists along the way. I laughed along the way, sometimes at Joe and Dottie’s reactions to each other and sometimes at the situations they found themselves in. The characters also appeared in two full length novels. Whether you already know them or are just meeting them here for the first time, you’ll enjoy these two quick road trips.
Both of these stories are fast reads – I finished the collection in about half an hour. But both stories are fun and held my interest the entire way through. I was caught off guard by some of the twists along the way. I laughed along the way, sometimes at Joe and Dottie’s reactions to each other and sometimes at the situations they found themselves in. The characters also appeared in two full length novels. Whether you already know them or are just meeting them here for the first time, you’ll enjoy these two quick road trips.
I thought this was just going to be a nice little book about a child saved by organ donation and ending up in touch with the mother of the person who donated their heart to her, but I was so wrong!
The story follows Meg, a teenager who has been saved my a heart transplant, and her blossoming relationship between her and Karen, the mother of the boy that donated his heart that she now has. It is told from the point of view of Lizzie, Meg’s mother, who has a feeling that something isn’t right from the start.
Definitely not where I thought it was going, and I really enjoyed the book. It’s also one that’s made me think about organ donation, knowing someone could benefit from my organs when I die. The only thing I would wish for is that it was longer than its 101 pages! I could easily read more about Lizzie and Meg and even Karen!
The story follows Meg, a teenager who has been saved my a heart transplant, and her blossoming relationship between her and Karen, the mother of the boy that donated his heart that she now has. It is told from the point of view of Lizzie, Meg’s mother, who has a feeling that something isn’t right from the start.
Definitely not where I thought it was going, and I really enjoyed the book. It’s also one that’s made me think about organ donation, knowing someone could benefit from my organs when I die. The only thing I would wish for is that it was longer than its 101 pages! I could easily read more about Lizzie and Meg and even Karen!
BookInspector (124 KP) rated The Thursday Murder Club in Books
Sep 24, 2020
I could not really pick one protagonist in this novel, this story is told from multiple perspectives, unpicking many lives. We do kind of have these two “camps” here. The first one would be Elisabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron, and the second one would be the police officers working on the case: Donna and Chris. I really loved how the characters were developed throughout the pages. Elisabeth seems so strong and she is leading the investigate gang, but really she is worried and scared because of her frail husband. Joyce has a difficult relationship with her daughter and a very strange love life going on. Donna feels like she failed in life by moving to this God’s forgotten town, and Chris is lonely, getting fat and unhappy. We not only get to know our leading characters but the ones that got killed as well. All the characters are beautiful, amusing and absorbing personalities, and I was so happy to meet them.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
I'm kind of unsure of how to rate this. I wasn't entirely engrossed in it but I did like it by the end. 3 star, I think.
At the beginning of this I can't say that I saw much of a blooming relationship between Mal and Alina. They'd been friends for years and though Alina liked him romantically, Mal didn't seem to feel the same way.`
That's probably why when the Darkling started to show interest in her that I jumped on ship with it and waited for something to happen. Only when something did, I wasn't entirely convinced by it.
As for the rest of the plot with the Unsea, I found myself getting more into it the closer we got to the end of the book as deception and intrigue came about.
I definitely think it has left me intrigued enough about the outcome of the events following the ending, that I will continue the series at some point.
At the beginning of this I can't say that I saw much of a blooming relationship between Mal and Alina. They'd been friends for years and though Alina liked him romantically, Mal didn't seem to feel the same way.`
That's probably why when the Darkling started to show interest in her that I jumped on ship with it and waited for something to happen. Only when something did, I wasn't entirely convinced by it.
As for the rest of the plot with the Unsea, I found myself getting more into it the closer we got to the end of the book as deception and intrigue came about.
I definitely think it has left me intrigued enough about the outcome of the events following the ending, that I will continue the series at some point.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Frenched (Frenched, #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
For a freebie this was good! I'm always a little wary when I download them no matter how good they sound but I have to admit I was quickly drawn into this one, maybe not straight away but as soon as she stumbled into the sports bar and met Lukas.
The spark of interest from both of them was great and I loved reading them falling for each other. I didn't even mind the abundance of sex because I'd become invested in them as a couple and was just waiting for them to get their HEA.
I enjoyed the journey through Paris and learning some of its history as well, such as the scene in the graveyard with the shared grave of the lovers.
I'd like to read more of this series at some point, including the follow on to this to see hoe Lukas and Mia manage the long distance relationship.
The spark of interest from both of them was great and I loved reading them falling for each other. I didn't even mind the abundance of sex because I'd become invested in them as a couple and was just waiting for them to get their HEA.
I enjoyed the journey through Paris and learning some of its history as well, such as the scene in the graveyard with the shared grave of the lovers.
I'd like to read more of this series at some point, including the follow on to this to see hoe Lukas and Mia manage the long distance relationship.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Unbreakable (Unbreakable, #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
Hmmm...
I struggled with this. I think it was because we missed the relationship build up between Gabe and Jess. It just started with them getting together and I liked to "read" it happen. From there I just sort of lost interest.
That was until the incident around the 40% mark. And it was Gabe I felt sorry for most, with how she pushed him away when all he wanted to do was hold her and love her. You could see and feel his torment in his chapters and I felt his pain.
That being said, I have to say I liked Landon. He was a cocky bugger, but we got to read about the build up between him and Jess, which we missed at the beginning with Gabe, and I felt sorry for him too, near the end.
I have to admit, I'd love to read his story when it comes out.
I struggled with this. I think it was because we missed the relationship build up between Gabe and Jess. It just started with them getting together and I liked to "read" it happen. From there I just sort of lost interest.
That was until the incident around the 40% mark. And it was Gabe I felt sorry for most, with how she pushed him away when all he wanted to do was hold her and love her. You could see and feel his torment in his chapters and I felt his pain.
That being said, I have to say I liked Landon. He was a cocky bugger, but we got to read about the build up between him and Jess, which we missed at the beginning with Gabe, and I felt sorry for him too, near the end.
I have to admit, I'd love to read his story when it comes out.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Poe Dameron: Free Fall in Books
Jan 17, 2021
I am a huge fan of Poe DAMron because of Oscar Isaac. He was also one of my favorite new additions to the Star Wars universe. We were first semi-introduced to Poe in @Star Wars: Shattered Empire . This book picks up when Poe is around 16, trying to escape Yavin IV because he doesn't want to lead a boring life or be a farmer.
My main issue is the timing of the release, this should have been released as part of the 'Journey to Rise of Skywalker'. It would have really added context to Poe and Zorii's relationship. It was a huge misstep in my opinion.
The story itself isn't bad, it's a Star Wars book, and I've read some stinkers in new canon (cough cough, I'm looking at you, @Star Wars: Queen's Shadow ). It was more predictable than most, and would have been useful prior to the release of Rise of Skywalker.
My main issue is the timing of the release, this should have been released as part of the 'Journey to Rise of Skywalker'. It would have really added context to Poe and Zorii's relationship. It was a huge misstep in my opinion.
The story itself isn't bad, it's a Star Wars book, and I've read some stinkers in new canon (cough cough, I'm looking at you, @Star Wars: Queen's Shadow ). It was more predictable than most, and would have been useful prior to the release of Rise of Skywalker.
This is a short and snappy novella - a quick and enjoyable read. A lot like social media, really - and that’s what it’s all about. I’d heard of catfishing before, but I have to admit that I didn’t really know what the term meant (fyi: “the process of luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona”).
I would imagine this could be read in one sitting quite quickly (this was a book that The Pigeonhole serialised over five days), because the action is pretty relentless - much like social media, really! I think it holds a mirror up to society’s reliance on social media - usually minus the murder (I hope!) - and how we’re all deeply influenced by it.
There are some deeply unpleasant people in this, but that’s never a bad thing, in my own opinion. It’s an entertaining read, and worth your time!
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this, and to Kevin Landt for joining in the discussion!
I would imagine this could be read in one sitting quite quickly (this was a book that The Pigeonhole serialised over five days), because the action is pretty relentless - much like social media, really! I think it holds a mirror up to society’s reliance on social media - usually minus the murder (I hope!) - and how we’re all deeply influenced by it.
There are some deeply unpleasant people in this, but that’s never a bad thing, in my own opinion. It’s an entertaining read, and worth your time!
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this, and to Kevin Landt for joining in the discussion!
