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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated The Last Dragon in Books
Nov 18, 2019
Fort’s Continued Hunt for His Father
It’s been six months since the attack that took Fort’s father from him, but the recent hope that his father might be alive has given Fort a goal. Rescuing him is all Fort thinks about, and now he has a plan to steal the magic book he needs. But complications come from unexpected places, including a new roommate he is expected to spend all his time helping. Then there are the nightmares where the Old One promises Fort his father back in exchange for the last dragon. Can Fort find the last dragon? Should he make the trade? Or will his original plan work?
For me, it had been six months since I read the first book in this series, so it was nice to see how this book eased us back into Fort’s world without slowing down the action. I was soon caught back up in his story. I do find the tone a little darker than author James Riley’s previous books and I miss the lighter tones those books had. Still, that’s a minor complaint as I raced through this book to find out what happened next. I enjoyed seeing Fort grow and his relationship with his friends change. In fact, I found those relationships something that helped ground the book since they dealt with some stuff realistically. I will definitely be back for more. How can I not come back after the ending of this book?
For me, it had been six months since I read the first book in this series, so it was nice to see how this book eased us back into Fort’s world without slowing down the action. I was soon caught back up in his story. I do find the tone a little darker than author James Riley’s previous books and I miss the lighter tones those books had. Still, that’s a minor complaint as I raced through this book to find out what happened next. I enjoyed seeing Fort grow and his relationship with his friends change. In fact, I found those relationships something that helped ground the book since they dealt with some stuff realistically. I will definitely be back for more. How can I not come back after the ending of this book?
Sara Cox (1845 KP) rated The End of the Ocean in Books
Nov 18, 2019 (Updated Mar 15, 2020)
This story follows two characters in two different timelines. The older timeline is following a woman who is an environmentalist and is fighting to keep the ice in the northern countries. It follows her relationship from childhood with Magnus. He disappoints her by becoming involved with the business society of the modern world and forgetting what was in important to the Earth. To prove a point she steals some ice that he is deporting for the use of drinks in this high society and sails across the sea to show it to him. The newer timeline follows a young father and his daughter during the world's biggest drought. He worked in "desalinity" (if that's even a word) and as the oceans started to dry up and spontaneous fires ignited across the country he had to flea to find a place that was cooler and with water. Along the way he looses track of his wife and son and plan to wait at a refugee camp for them. The atmosphere becomes tense among the refugees as water and food become even more scarce. He and his daughter takes walks away from the camp and find a boat.
The story telling of this book is amazing! I really enjoyed reading it. A lot of the way through I was curious as to how these timelines interlinked. I'm glad I stuck with the curiosityy because the way that they do is truly beautiful.
The story telling of this book is amazing! I really enjoyed reading it. A lot of the way through I was curious as to how these timelines interlinked. I'm glad I stuck with the curiosityy because the way that they do is truly beautiful.
Leigh J (71 KP) rated Cruising (1980) in Movies
Nov 25, 2019
Bondage with a side of Murder
Contains spoilers, click to show
Steve Burns (Al Pacino) is a rookie Cop who is being sent undercover to investigate a series of sexually aggravated murders in the area. However, the victims of these grizzly murders are all men who are involved in the S&M/Bondage Gay scene... and Steve is straight and in a relationship. To infiltrate the scene in hopes of finally finding the killer before more deaths happen, Steve has to frequent the local Clubs in the area and see if any of the men are the murderer. Will Steve be able to find him? Will he be able to keep up the undercover work and come out unscathed? And what shocking twist is in store... for you!
I recently got Cruising (finally! Thanks Arrow Video for your amazing release of it!) and it's a Movie that caused so much controversy in it's time; I just HAD to see what all the fuss was about! I think the story of Cruising is, as well as being fantastic, an essential cautionary tale. It has you on the edge of your seat all the way through and the shock ending left me absolutely speechless. The only downside is I think it becomes quite stagnant and slow going just as you get to the halfway point. However, it's worth getting through just for that ending... I'm still lost for words. A must see, for sure.
I recently got Cruising (finally! Thanks Arrow Video for your amazing release of it!) and it's a Movie that caused so much controversy in it's time; I just HAD to see what all the fuss was about! I think the story of Cruising is, as well as being fantastic, an essential cautionary tale. It has you on the edge of your seat all the way through and the shock ending left me absolutely speechless. The only downside is I think it becomes quite stagnant and slow going just as you get to the halfway point. However, it's worth getting through just for that ending... I'm still lost for words. A must see, for sure.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Ignite the Shadows (Ignite the Shadows, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
I always have a thing for books related to hacking (or if the main character is a hacker). But while <i>Ignite the Shadows</i> certainly isn't about hacking (it only plays a minor part to the story), I still enjoyed the book regardless and the world Seymour builds. <i>Ignite the Shadows</i> is almost like a combination of the first and second book in a typical dystopian trilogy, which makes it stand out.
Plus, an <i>infection</i> is involved, and it's just really cool how those infected by sentient parasites can take advantage and develop superpowers - very similar to <i>I Am Number Four</i> in my opinion. Trying to get used to those parasites in a symbiotic relationship is definitely going to be a struggle for Marci continuing through the second book, but I think it'll be an adventure to see what Marci comes up with.
<i>Ignite the Shadows</i> is fast paced and intriguing - I have high hopes for this series despite the power similarities to <i><a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-i-am-number-four-by-pittacus-lore/">I Am Number Four</a>.</i>
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-ignite-shadows-by-ingrid-seymour-review/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
I always have a thing for books related to hacking (or if the main character is a hacker). But while <i>Ignite the Shadows</i> certainly isn't about hacking (it only plays a minor part to the story), I still enjoyed the book regardless and the world Seymour builds. <i>Ignite the Shadows</i> is almost like a combination of the first and second book in a typical dystopian trilogy, which makes it stand out.
Plus, an <i>infection</i> is involved, and it's just really cool how those infected by sentient parasites can take advantage and develop superpowers - very similar to <i>I Am Number Four</i> in my opinion. Trying to get used to those parasites in a symbiotic relationship is definitely going to be a struggle for Marci continuing through the second book, but I think it'll be an adventure to see what Marci comes up with.
<i>Ignite the Shadows</i> is fast paced and intriguing - I have high hopes for this series despite the power similarities to <i><a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-i-am-number-four-by-pittacus-lore/">I Am Number Four</a>.</i>
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-ignite-shadows-by-ingrid-seymour-review/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Ronnie (304 KP) rated We Are Young in Books
Jan 26, 2020
Recently I have been struggling to find a good book but 'We Are Young' hooked me in immediately! I loved that the book started in such a dramatic way, leaving the reader with a need to find out what happened.
I loved seeing the changes in all the relationships throughout the book, but the two loved in particular were Evan’s with her Dad and her relationship with Lewis.
Evan needed to know what happened that night because no one in the car had any reason to be there with those people and with Lewis being the sole survivor, Evan had to find out what happened on her own. I loved Evan’s hard work to find out what had happened, and it made me love her.
Clarke has an amazing way of changing the way feel about certain characters change throughout the book and that is something I love because it helps you see that some people are just misunderstood… or evil.
I have to say that my favourite element of the book was the casual use of LGBT+. Many authors would make a big deal out of it, but Clarke was not like that. I have been trying to find a book with casual mentions of LGBT+ and I managed to stumble upon it here!
Overall, it was an amazing book and I look forward to reading more by Cat Clarke in the future!
I loved seeing the changes in all the relationships throughout the book, but the two loved in particular were Evan’s with her Dad and her relationship with Lewis.
Evan needed to know what happened that night because no one in the car had any reason to be there with those people and with Lewis being the sole survivor, Evan had to find out what happened on her own. I loved Evan’s hard work to find out what had happened, and it made me love her.
Clarke has an amazing way of changing the way feel about certain characters change throughout the book and that is something I love because it helps you see that some people are just misunderstood… or evil.
I have to say that my favourite element of the book was the casual use of LGBT+. Many authors would make a big deal out of it, but Clarke was not like that. I have been trying to find a book with casual mentions of LGBT+ and I managed to stumble upon it here!
Overall, it was an amazing book and I look forward to reading more by Cat Clarke in the future!
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) in Movies
Feb 12, 2020
I loved this film! I was surprised how much more I loved it in comparison to the first time I watched it - maybe it's because I watched the first one so the story made more sense, the sacrifices made more sense, and they felt really big and real.
I think what makes these movies so great is the action sequences along with the comedy. I love the way they shoot the action sequences and the editing that is done with it, I think it's really cool and unlike anything I've seen before. I loved all the characters in this film, though Harry felt a little bit off, but maybe that's something they're going to explore in the third installment - not The King's Man which is a prequel. Again, I love Taron Egerton so much and I love even more that Elton John is in this film - considering their relationship, though this is pre-Rocketman.
I also loved the plot of this movie way more than the first one, though I'm not sure why. Overall, I just think these are fun movies. Once again, the cast is out of the waters - Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Julianne Moore, etc. I love the balance that carried through from the last film to this one and I think that this will shape up to be a nice trio to watch again when you just need some fun and a good laugh.
I think what makes these movies so great is the action sequences along with the comedy. I love the way they shoot the action sequences and the editing that is done with it, I think it's really cool and unlike anything I've seen before. I loved all the characters in this film, though Harry felt a little bit off, but maybe that's something they're going to explore in the third installment - not The King's Man which is a prequel. Again, I love Taron Egerton so much and I love even more that Elton John is in this film - considering their relationship, though this is pre-Rocketman.
I also loved the plot of this movie way more than the first one, though I'm not sure why. Overall, I just think these are fun movies. Once again, the cast is out of the waters - Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Julianne Moore, etc. I love the balance that carried through from the last film to this one and I think that this will shape up to be a nice trio to watch again when you just need some fun and a good laugh.
JT (287 KP) rated Toy Story 4 (2019) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
It’s been nearly 25-years since the original Toy Story graced our screens and back then the animation was ahead of its time. Fast forward to 2019 and the fourth film in a near perfect franchise might seem a risky move by Pixar, particularly when things ended so neatly with a tear in the eye after Toy Story 3.
But the gang is back together and while some of the characters don’t get the screen time they deserve, having to make way for a new breed of toys, it still holds its charm. The Woody and Buzz relationship which formed the backbone of the previous three films is left as a mere afterthought, paving the way for a Woody-Bo Peep connection and love interest.
This doesn’t detract from an endearing story line that sees the group try and save a homemade toy called Forky, made by Andy’s little sister Bonnie as a way to cope with starting kindergarten.
There are some likeable new characters including Duke Kaboom (voiced by Keanu Reeves), Ducky and Bunny who each bring their own injection of humour to the proceedings. The younger generation will love being introduced to the likes of Woody and Buzz, while fans of the original will be able to reconnect with a franchise that captured hearts almost three decades ago.
Whatever Pixar touches inevitably turns to gold and here they have hit another one out of the park.
But the gang is back together and while some of the characters don’t get the screen time they deserve, having to make way for a new breed of toys, it still holds its charm. The Woody and Buzz relationship which formed the backbone of the previous three films is left as a mere afterthought, paving the way for a Woody-Bo Peep connection and love interest.
This doesn’t detract from an endearing story line that sees the group try and save a homemade toy called Forky, made by Andy’s little sister Bonnie as a way to cope with starting kindergarten.
There are some likeable new characters including Duke Kaboom (voiced by Keanu Reeves), Ducky and Bunny who each bring their own injection of humour to the proceedings. The younger generation will love being introduced to the likes of Woody and Buzz, while fans of the original will be able to reconnect with a franchise that captured hearts almost three decades ago.
Whatever Pixar touches inevitably turns to gold and here they have hit another one out of the park.
The Letters of T. S. Eliot: Volume 5: 1930-1931
Matthew Hollis, Valerie Eliot, T.S. Eliot and John Haffenden
Book
"The book amounts to a comprehensive literary history of the time." (David Sexton, Evening...
Wellington's Wars: The Making of a Military Genius
Book
A provocative reappraisal of Wellington's military career, his victory at Waterloo, and the source...
Year of the Cow
Book
After realizing he knew more about TVs than about the meat on his plate, award-winning TV producer...