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MoMoBookDiary (20 KP) rated Adoption Stories: Real Life Experiences in Books
Oct 1, 2018
MoMo’s Book Diary recommends Ann Morris’ “Adopting – The Real Story” as a fascinating 5 star read for anyone with an interest in adoption.
Ann Morris has updated her earlier book The Adoption Experience which was published in 1999. I found this an emotional and highly insightful book which shares a wide range of voices and experiences, good and bad, but anyone considering adoption would find this a very useful tool.
Adoption touches so many people on a daily basis, be it as birth parent, adoptee or adopter. Processes may have changed over the years but human feelings are still as raw and scary as ever - on all fronts.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.
Ann Morris has updated her earlier book The Adoption Experience which was published in 1999. I found this an emotional and highly insightful book which shares a wide range of voices and experiences, good and bad, but anyone considering adoption would find this a very useful tool.
Adoption touches so many people on a daily basis, be it as birth parent, adoptee or adopter. Processes may have changed over the years but human feelings are still as raw and scary as ever - on all fronts.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) in Movies
Oct 1, 2018
An interesting Idea...
Not sure who's idea it was to not use Michael Myers for this film. In the intro to the DVD, filmmakers claimed they wanted to create a new Halloween related story annually that could rise many takes on different scary stories I suppose akin to like The Twilight Zone?
The movie was a dismal failure at the time of release, but the years have been kinder to the film arriving a now cult status.
Mysterious Halloween masks are the subject of the film and the unusual maskmaker behind them. What do they do? What is their secret?
I liked the idea and first/middle of the film but the payoff seemed a bit disappointing and unfulfilled.
The movie was a dismal failure at the time of release, but the years have been kinder to the film arriving a now cult status.
Mysterious Halloween masks are the subject of the film and the unusual maskmaker behind them. What do they do? What is their secret?
I liked the idea and first/middle of the film but the payoff seemed a bit disappointing and unfulfilled.
Rachel Maria Berney (114 KP) rated The Yellow Wall-Paper in Books
Dec 4, 2018 (Updated Dec 4, 2018)
If you love gothic, read this.
I had to read this for my English module at uni, and am really glad I did.
On the surface its really gothic and really creepy. Very well written and the author paints a great picture of someone going insane.
Underneath the surface, this is an attack on patriarchy in the enlightenment period. Knowing this makes it a completely different read, not so much gothic and more feminist and historic. There's a clear aim that to show the reader how enlightened men drive women insane.
On a side note, Charlotte gives us the first image of a creeping scary thing, way before we see this in horror movies in the 20th century.
On the surface its really gothic and really creepy. Very well written and the author paints a great picture of someone going insane.
Underneath the surface, this is an attack on patriarchy in the enlightenment period. Knowing this makes it a completely different read, not so much gothic and more feminist and historic. There's a clear aim that to show the reader how enlightened men drive women insane.
On a side note, Charlotte gives us the first image of a creeping scary thing, way before we see this in horror movies in the 20th century.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated The Last Kingdom in TV
Oct 31, 2019 (Updated Oct 31, 2019)
The books are bestsellers, here is the series
If you debating whether to watch this or not, if you haven't seen Vikings yet, ignore this, watch that first. It's one of the best series ever. However when you have watched it you will want more and you can come into this. This is still brilliant. A fascinating bloodthirsty and dangerous part of British history. The noveks have sold bucket loads. The only thing that lets it down is the lead actor should be a little scary as well as the hero and he's mainly just heroic. Still, it doesn't take away from the entertainment factor. I love this.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) in Movies
Oct 22, 2019
Slapdash but good-natured horror-comedy works hard enough to justify its existence. The movie closes with Woody Harrelson treating the audience to a full-throated rendition of Hunka Hunka Burning Love, which summarises the movie quite well: it's enthusiastic, not awful, and fairly entertaining, but you do wonder what the point of it is.
An indeterminate number of years after the first film (the subject of one of many hand-waves), the characters embark on another roadtrip across zombie-infested America. The plot is episodic and somewhat disjointed, but strong performances from the quartet and a frequently inventive script keep things barrelling along. It's silly and knowing and not really very scary, but it passes the time amiably enough.
An indeterminate number of years after the first film (the subject of one of many hand-waves), the characters embark on another roadtrip across zombie-infested America. The plot is episodic and somewhat disjointed, but strong performances from the quartet and a frequently inventive script keep things barrelling along. It's silly and knowing and not really very scary, but it passes the time amiably enough.
Ducklady (1174 KP) rated Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) in Movies
Oct 18, 2019 (Updated Oct 18, 2019)
Wished it was made for more mature audiences
I actually really loved this movie, but I'm glad i watched it before taking my kids to see it, way too much death for a PG.
I loved all the little creatures and the dark fae, so beautiful and well done.
Exciting watch so now want to rewatch the first :)
I think the film would have had a harder impact had it been made for 12/15 audiences. There was a lot of war and death and no blood, which seemed really off-putting and took away from the intensity. But saying that, the themes running through it were way too mature and scary for it to be a PG, didn't make a great deal of sense to me.
I loved all the little creatures and the dark fae, so beautiful and well done.
Exciting watch so now want to rewatch the first :)
I think the film would have had a harder impact had it been made for 12/15 audiences. There was a lot of war and death and no blood, which seemed really off-putting and took away from the intensity. But saying that, the themes running through it were way too mature and scary for it to be a PG, didn't make a great deal of sense to me.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Sam (Damienverse #1) in Books
Nov 28, 2019
Not his best :(
I am a fan of this author's work having read and enjoyed several of his other books but have to admit that this one just didn't do it for me.
Now don't get me wrong, it's not a bad story, it's just a bit cliché and I really struggled to connect with any of the characters although having said that, they were well developed and I did think "Sam" was well done and suitably creepy. There were some good twists but, unfortunately, I didn't find it particularly scary and although there are some tense moments, there just wasn't enough for me.
Overall, a pretty good read for readers who are of a nervous disposition and don't like to be too scared or freaked out.
Now don't get me wrong, it's not a bad story, it's just a bit cliché and I really struggled to connect with any of the characters although having said that, they were well developed and I did think "Sam" was well done and suitably creepy. There were some good twists but, unfortunately, I didn't find it particularly scary and although there are some tense moments, there just wasn't enough for me.
Overall, a pretty good read for readers who are of a nervous disposition and don't like to be too scared or freaked out.
Paul Tyrrell (139 KP) rated The Grudge (2004) in Movies
Apr 19, 2020
Sleeping with the lights on at 30
Watched this again for the first time in years yesterday. Didn't seem half as scary when watching it with other people so didn't have to sleep with the light on this time (true story).
Sarah Michelle Gellar plays it well and some of the jumps and scares are brilliantly done. Raimi was going through a little horror spell with this and Drag me to Hell which also was pretty good, but did have a slightly more comedic tone than The Grudge.
Good supporting cast and well worth a watch, as its o e of the few American/Japanese updates that hasn't ruined the original story
Sarah Michelle Gellar plays it well and some of the jumps and scares are brilliantly done. Raimi was going through a little horror spell with this and Drag me to Hell which also was pretty good, but did have a slightly more comedic tone than The Grudge.
Good supporting cast and well worth a watch, as its o e of the few American/Japanese updates that hasn't ruined the original story
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Handmaid's Tale in Books
Feb 12, 2020
It’s rare that I prefer a film or TV series to the book it is based on but I think this may be the exception. Having only seen the 1st series on TV I thought I’d give the book a go and although the world-building lives up to what I’d expect the story itself is slow and not as tense.
It’s scary and an all believable world that Atwood creates but the telling seemed bogged down in details over the mundane.
I probably spoiled myself seeing the TV series first but I’d recommend that to all. I feel the theme has been gone over plenty so won't rehash but it's a worthwhile story however you decide to consume it.
It’s scary and an all believable world that Atwood creates but the telling seemed bogged down in details over the mundane.
I probably spoiled myself seeing the TV series first but I’d recommend that to all. I feel the theme has been gone over plenty so won't rehash but it's a worthwhile story however you decide to consume it.
Occupant (2011)
6.3
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A man locks himself in a family apartment for 12 days, then realizes he’s not alone. Well...