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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated A Deadly Éclair (A French Bistro Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Mimi Rousseau is just months into her new venture of a French bistro and hotel in the heart of Napa County. This weekend, she is hosting her first event, the wedding of Angelica Edmonton, noted TV talk show host and the niece of Bryan Baker, Mimi’s benefactor and mentor. However, when tension at the pre-wedding dinner on Friday night leads to a dead body on Saturday morning, Mimi finds herself looking into the murder. What is going on?
It’s fun to find a series set in Napa County that doesn’t focus on wine, although wine is certainly present. The French food will definitely leave your mouth watering as you work your way through this good first mystery. The initial chapter has a bit of a data dump in it, but once beyond that, the mystery picks up and the pace never slows down again. The characters are outstanding, and the relationships between the series regulars is already strong. I’m looking forward to seeing that grow as the series progresses.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-deadly-eclair-by-daryl-wood.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
It’s fun to find a series set in Napa County that doesn’t focus on wine, although wine is certainly present. The French food will definitely leave your mouth watering as you work your way through this good first mystery. The initial chapter has a bit of a data dump in it, but once beyond that, the mystery picks up and the pace never slows down again. The characters are outstanding, and the relationships between the series regulars is already strong. I’m looking forward to seeing that grow as the series progresses.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-deadly-eclair-by-daryl-wood.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Gone Gull (Meg Langslow #21) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Meg and various family members are spending the summer at the craft retreat her grandmother, Cordelia, is starting on some old family property. While her grandfather is hot on the trail of some rare gulls that might be in the area, Meg is teaching the blacksmithing classes and trying to figure out who is out to sabotage the center. But as the second week is starting, Meg finds the body of a fellow instructor. Has the sabotage progressed to murder? Or is there another motive?
Those who love this series will find much to enjoy here. We once again get plenty of smiles and laughs, often at the way Meg’s grandparents interact with each other. The characters are wonderful, although we do miss a few of the regulars since this book takes Meg out of town. The mystery and Meg’s roll in it was a little weak, but the characters more than make up for this. I also truly appreciated the family relationships that have been built in this series here. That community is wonderful.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-gone-gull-by-donna-andrews.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Those who love this series will find much to enjoy here. We once again get plenty of smiles and laughs, often at the way Meg’s grandparents interact with each other. The characters are wonderful, although we do miss a few of the regulars since this book takes Meg out of town. The mystery and Meg’s roll in it was a little weak, but the characters more than make up for this. I also truly appreciated the family relationships that have been built in this series here. That community is wonderful.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-gone-gull-by-donna-andrews.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated For Every Season (Amish Vines and Orchards, #3) in Books
Feb 15, 2018
This the best series I have read. Though I have read other series. I love this book because it is just different and I love that it is catching and keeps me to be surprised. I like getting to know each person in the book and in detail. It also keeps me wanting more and making me wait for the next book for more.
The author is great in this. You learn new secret and new storylines that are dealt with. We find out if Jacob can free himself of his past along with Ronda. Ronda learn that her gift from god and what do with it or at least some of it. Will Ronda and Jacob be together in future. You will need to read it to find out for yourselves.
Do they learn what kind of relationships they each want. Samuel, Jacob and Ronda all need to figure it all out. I wonder where each one will go and who will choose who or what path they decide to take. If you have not read this series. I would recommend it that you do. The series starts with the book "A Season for Tending".
The author is great in this. You learn new secret and new storylines that are dealt with. We find out if Jacob can free himself of his past along with Ronda. Ronda learn that her gift from god and what do with it or at least some of it. Will Ronda and Jacob be together in future. You will need to read it to find out for yourselves.
Do they learn what kind of relationships they each want. Samuel, Jacob and Ronda all need to figure it all out. I wonder where each one will go and who will choose who or what path they decide to take. If you have not read this series. I would recommend it that you do. The series starts with the book "A Season for Tending".
I very much enjoyed this novel. The story was so fresh and different than what I have been reading recently. Plus, it's a standalone!!
I enjoyed how Mead attempts to put words to gaining the ability of hearing after coming from a society that has been deaf for centuries. It explored how a person would be able to deal with suddenly being able to hear out of nowhere.
Though I enjoyed this novel, it was not my favorite of hers. There were moments, especially at the end, that I would have liked to see expanded and explained more. I felt like there wasn't enough build up to it for the ending she gave it. It was very reminiscent of a fairy tale where everything gets resolved very quickly.
I wished that more of the magical aspects that were introduced into the story were both introduced earlier and worked into the story more.
That being said, I loved the relationships between the characters, especially between the two sisters. Fei's relationship with Li Wei could have been built up and explained a bit more, thought.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but, like I said, it wasn't my favorite.
I enjoyed how Mead attempts to put words to gaining the ability of hearing after coming from a society that has been deaf for centuries. It explored how a person would be able to deal with suddenly being able to hear out of nowhere.
Though I enjoyed this novel, it was not my favorite of hers. There were moments, especially at the end, that I would have liked to see expanded and explained more. I felt like there wasn't enough build up to it for the ending she gave it. It was very reminiscent of a fairy tale where everything gets resolved very quickly.
I wished that more of the magical aspects that were introduced into the story were both introduced earlier and worked into the story more.
That being said, I loved the relationships between the characters, especially between the two sisters. Fei's relationship with Li Wei could have been built up and explained a bit more, thought.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but, like I said, it wasn't my favorite.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Obsidian Chamber in Books
Feb 21, 2018
While some of the Pendergast books can be read as standalone thrillers, whether or not youve read the rest of the series, you really do need to have read a lot (if not all) of the previous books to appreciate this one. While its very hard to say much about it without using spoilers, I can say that this story is very much character driven, and you need to understand the relationships and motivations of the characters in question for the story to make sense. While there is more action than usual for Proctor in this installment, overall the style of the story makes it move along a little more slowly than most books in the series. While I did like the book, I cant say that I was completely happy with the way things were wrapped up, or with the amount of page-time Pendergast actually gets in this novel. It left me wanting more, but I guess that in itself is a good thing!
Longtime fans of the Pendergast series should enjoy this one, but Id recommend starting back with Relic if Pendergast is new to you!
Longtime fans of the Pendergast series should enjoy this one, but Id recommend starting back with Relic if Pendergast is new to you!
Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated The Dinosaur Project (2012) in Movies
Jul 22, 2018
I stuck with it (1 more)
I've seen worse CGI and acting
Forgettable movie (2 more)
Not enough dinosaurs
Boring
Blair witch project meets Jurassic park?
Yet another £1 movie I discovered and I have to say it is not worth it. That is 1 hour and 20 mins I will never get back.
The front of the blu ray case says 'the best Dino film since Jurassic park". That is laughable. It might as well have been a monster movie because I did not see that many dinosaurs. Maybe 3 different types?
This is a found footage movie. This genre has been, I feel, exhausted. It is no longer fresh and unique. It felt a lot like Blair witch project with them trying to build a suspense but that was not there. A fear of the unknown which meant there was no action.
The acting isnt horrible and neither is the CGI. Only good things about it I guess. But the characters were forgettable and their relationships were not believable.
It is badly paced with a lot of slow talking scenes while doing a lot of travelling. It is a predictable movie with an obvious betrayal and and ending.
The front of the blu ray case says 'the best Dino film since Jurassic park". That is laughable. It might as well have been a monster movie because I did not see that many dinosaurs. Maybe 3 different types?
This is a found footage movie. This genre has been, I feel, exhausted. It is no longer fresh and unique. It felt a lot like Blair witch project with them trying to build a suspense but that was not there. A fear of the unknown which meant there was no action.
The acting isnt horrible and neither is the CGI. Only good things about it I guess. But the characters were forgettable and their relationships were not believable.
It is badly paced with a lot of slow talking scenes while doing a lot of travelling. It is a predictable movie with an obvious betrayal and and ending.
Flynn (6 KP) rated An Abundance of Katherines in Books
Sep 10, 2018
Honestly, I don't think I can not like any of John Green's works, and An Abundance of Katherines was no exception. I tend to always feel some connection when I read his stuff, to the nerdy characters who are trying to discover themselves. I'm also drawn in by thought processes, their logic, and Colin's logic is wonderful to read. Of course, I'm a bit of a math geek, at least when it comes to seeing such a beautiful equation as Collin creates, so I loved the process of trying to predict relationships.
Through the book, Colin repeatedly says he wants to matter, and I understand his longing. I too want to make a difference, want to be remembered, though perhaps not ad direly as he did in the beginning, but I am nowhere near how Lindsey was in the beginning either, because I don't want to lay low. Not only was it lovely to see them change their minds, to learn more about themselves thanks to each other, but I stsrted thinking and learning about myself as I read. Green's works tend to get me thinking, but I was especially thoughtful while reading this book.
Through the book, Colin repeatedly says he wants to matter, and I understand his longing. I too want to make a difference, want to be remembered, though perhaps not ad direly as he did in the beginning, but I am nowhere near how Lindsey was in the beginning either, because I don't want to lay low. Not only was it lovely to see them change their minds, to learn more about themselves thanks to each other, but I stsrted thinking and learning about myself as I read. Green's works tend to get me thinking, but I was especially thoughtful while reading this book.
Jarom Solar Norris (177 KP) rated A Star Is Born (2018) in Movies
Oct 9, 2018
I'm Very Conflicted
I'm having a really hard time judging this movie. Minor spoilers below.
Most of the movie was amazing. It moved kind of fast but told a really good story about two messy people putting their lives in front of each other and the world. The songs had great lyrics that made you think. And the dialogue made you think too: about careers, about relationships, about the responsibility that comes with talent and the choices we make.
The ending threw all of that away. I'm really opposed to the point of view that a sad ending makes a movie bad. But this movie's ending had no purpose. It didn't make some grand message, or underline the other messages the movie had already made. It didn't add anything to the film other than a sad ending. It just made me mad and upset, and sure, sometimes art does that, but not without purpose.
How do you give a score to a movie that made you feel so much and think about so many things and then decided it wanted you to walk away feeling empty instead of thoughtful?
Most of the movie was amazing. It moved kind of fast but told a really good story about two messy people putting their lives in front of each other and the world. The songs had great lyrics that made you think. And the dialogue made you think too: about careers, about relationships, about the responsibility that comes with talent and the choices we make.
The ending threw all of that away. I'm really opposed to the point of view that a sad ending makes a movie bad. But this movie's ending had no purpose. It didn't make some grand message, or underline the other messages the movie had already made. It didn't add anything to the film other than a sad ending. It just made me mad and upset, and sure, sometimes art does that, but not without purpose.
How do you give a score to a movie that made you feel so much and think about so many things and then decided it wanted you to walk away feeling empty instead of thoughtful?
Aurora (9 KP) rated The Witchfinder's Sister in Books
Nov 7, 2018 (Updated Nov 7, 2018)
Historically-accurate setting (4 more)
Gripping
Emotional
Dramatic
Well-written characters
Emotional and Dramatic Historical Fiction
This book had me hooked from the start. I adore the amount of research done by Underdown to create the world of Alice Hopkins so artfully and accurately. Not only does the author capture the turbulence of the English civil war and the complex social systems of the time, but she also brings the reader into that world through the intensely relatable emotions felt by Alice throughout the story. Underwood expertly develops the personalities and flaws of each character in really believable ways, creating the complex relationships that we often see in real life. The story is also often pushed forward by gossip and secrets which the reader must choose whether or not to believe, adding an extra element of mystery to an already thrilling read.
After visiting many of the towns mentioned in the book (Manningtree, Mistley Wells, Colchester, Ipswich), I am in awe of the detail that Underdown used to bring these places to life. While some artistic license was taken (and described in the Author's Note), this book remains a beautiful and chilling glimpse into England's dark past.
After visiting many of the towns mentioned in the book (Manningtree, Mistley Wells, Colchester, Ipswich), I am in awe of the detail that Underdown used to bring these places to life. While some artistic license was taken (and described in the Author's Note), this book remains a beautiful and chilling glimpse into England's dark past.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Eighth Grade (2018) in Movies
Jan 7, 2019 (Updated Jan 7, 2019)
Being a teenager today must be so difficult.
Having raised 3 teenage kids myself, I can commiserate wholeheartedly with the experience of attending middle and high school in the social media age and what new and complex challenges they have to deal with.
I have often thought kids these days should have some sort of class or education on not placing their lives out there for all to see.
Kayla's school year is awkward and someone lonely as she juggles her own insecurities, relationships and changes within herself. Her need for acceptance makes her step out of her comfort zone and put herself in some interesting situations along the way.
I loved this movie so much as I was able to relate to her plight as I have seen these emotions from my own kids and was able to laugh and cry with them along the way.
Golden Globe nominee Elsie Fisher is exceptional as Kayla. We go along with her journey, quickly get swept up in her life and root for her to succeed and triumph as she ascends to high school.
Loved this film!
I have often thought kids these days should have some sort of class or education on not placing their lives out there for all to see.
Kayla's school year is awkward and someone lonely as she juggles her own insecurities, relationships and changes within herself. Her need for acceptance makes her step out of her comfort zone and put herself in some interesting situations along the way.
I loved this movie so much as I was able to relate to her plight as I have seen these emotions from my own kids and was able to laugh and cry with them along the way.
Golden Globe nominee Elsie Fisher is exceptional as Kayla. We go along with her journey, quickly get swept up in her life and root for her to succeed and triumph as she ascends to high school.
Loved this film!
