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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J.K. Rowling | 1997 | Children, Young Adult (YA)
6
9.2 (174 Ratings)
Book Rating
The tone of the first book in this series maked it a fun read while having a dark origin story. (0 more)
Some might object to the useage of witchcraft and making it positive for kids. (0 more)
Fun novel for all ages
What we have here is a well told origin story which does a good job of getting readers wanting more. We have the story of Harry Potter who live with his aunt and uncle. He is treated badly. One day he discovers he has magical powers and is invited to study at Hogwarts school of magic. There he learns about his parents and his past with an evil wizard. This is a great start to an adventure.
  
St. Vincent (2014)
St. Vincent (2014)
2014 | Comedy
9
7.8 (10 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Very funny (0 more)
The description of it put me off " Vietnam vet babysits his neighbour's child" gave me visions of something like The Pacifier but this couldn't be more untrue. It's such a heartwarming story and the child actor is just brilliant. Bill Murray is a grumpy veteran with issues over gambling and drinking and is like Michael Douglas's character in Falling Down. By chance he ends up being the baby sitter for a young boy who is quiet, polite and bullied at school. The film shows their relationship and the warmth and respect growing between them. Lots of laugh out loud moments and a couple of tearful ones. Well worth a watch.
  
40x40

Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Cell in Books

Jan 12, 2018  
Cell
Cell
Stephen King | 2006 | Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
8.0 (29 Ratings)
Book Rating
Have you every found yourself refering to people who have their face buried in their cell phones as zombies? Stephen King took it a step further and made the cell phones turn them into killing monsters at a single pulse through the phone. As a middle school teacher this though terrifies me, I would never get out alive.

It is an interesting twist on the zombie/apocalyptic theme that seems to make a social commentary as well. The characters are typical Stephen King so they are developed but not complex. There is a certain amout of familiar predictability. I was quite disappointed by the ending though. Still it is a good beach read.
  
Looking for Alaska
Looking for Alaska
John Green | 2013 | Children
8
8.1 (49 Ratings)
Book Rating
I really loved this book. I'll admit, I did think the after would prove to be the end of Alaska, but now that I think about it, it makes sense in the context of how the story was told. I liked that Miles, aka Pudge, was just a regular kid trying to survive high school, and just life in general. I loved the Colonel, he seemed like someone I would have liked to know. Alaska was a complex character; she seemed so full of and energy at times, and angry and unpredictable at others. Life is precious and you just have to live each moment like it's your last, maybe we're all just searching for "the great perhaps."
  
Coming Out On Top
Coming Out On Top
2015 | Simulation
Exclusively Gay Romance (3 more)
Good Character Art
HIgh Replay Value
Multiple Story Arcs
Repetitious (0 more)
The Daddy of Gay Visual Novels
Coming Out on Top is a visual novel about Mark Matthews (who's kind of a weenie), college senior, newly out of the closet. Guide him through his last semester of school and through various sexual misadventures. There are several characters you can develop a "romance" with, and the storylines are not always obvious. You have to learn the characters motives to get them to like you. Other times, it feels more random. However, there is a good variety of characters for you to meet and romance.

(And the art is pretty sexy. Something for everyone, I think.)
  
LF
Look for Ladybug in Plant City
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This vibrant, engaging and detailed book will keep you and your little ones busy for hours hunting down the over 500 objects to look for. I looked at this first so I could guide my little one and became instantly engrossed in the small details and an additional storyline that I could pick up. My favourite must be the school, so many different ideas all on a double page spread. Although the main aim is to find Ladybug for Daisy the extra panel gives the re-readability and then when your little one progresses the independent means to keep coming back to the book. My little one was spotted reading it to her dolls. Definitely recommended.
  
I'm newer to Brad Meltzer's work, but my dad loves him, so I was excited to give him a go. I have to tell you that I was not disappointed, that's for sure! This book is filled with phenomenal plots and twists. I wasn't much of a history fan in school, but this book, was filled with truth from history a long with the occasional fiction to keep the reader hooked, line and sinker. I highly recommend this book with 4 stars and two thumbs up. I can't wait for another book like this.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.* (less)
  
The Rithmatist
The Rithmatist
Brandon Sanderson | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
9.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Loved this book! I would love to see this as a movie as long as great care was taken in making the magic happen. Wars fought with only chalk drawings by a few select Rithmatists who can control the lines. Unfortunately for Joel he wasn't selected as a Rithmatist but still learns as much as he can about them and their history. This obsession proves to be useful after students go missing from school.
The illustrations in the book were fantastic and went right along with the story and helped with understanding how exactly the chalk drawings are setup and used. Seriously cannot wait for book #2 to hopefully come out sooner rather than later. Amazing author!
  
Nightwatch (1998)
Nightwatch (1998)
1998 | Drama, Horror, Mystery
8
7.8 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Great story, good scares & and a decent who dunnit (0 more)
Ewan McGregor's 'american' accent. (0 more)
Don't diddle dead things!
Me and the wife were watching 'the possession of Hannah Grace' and it reminded me of this 90s gem. Ewan McGregor takes a job as a night watchman at a morgue to pay for law school and it's obviously kinda freaky but then he begins to realise he's being implicated for a series of murders. Great psychological build ups and scares and great performances from josh brolin and Nick Nolte. The only real let down is Ewan McGregor and his terrible American accent which is so bad it's almost distracting. Most definitely worth a watch.
  
SB
Seventh Born (The Witchling Academy #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Let me start out with saying that this was not what I was expecting in the least. It felt like a mash up of Harry Potter and The Black Mage series. Wands, magic, a school for such things and a hierarchy just waiting for someone to come and break it.
While I enjoyed the main character and her traits. She knew what she was as a seventhborn but rebelled against just blending in. Wanting to find her family and learn magic. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the romance. A teacher/student romance just puts me off and while it is well done I didnt particularly like the way it all panned out.