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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2440 KP) rated Chesapeake Crimes: Invitation to Murder in Books
Oct 7, 2020
Accept this Invitation to Seventeen Murders
In the seventh short story anthology from the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime, each story revolves around an invitation. Some are the obvious invitations for events, but others are a more casual invitation. Either way, they lead to danger of some kind. There’s a mother whose young son is writing a hard-boiled mystery, an escape room that ends in death, a guest who overstays her welcome, bedbugs and murder in London, and a debutant ball in early 1900’s South Carolina. The stories are as varied as their locations, and many are fun. As with every short story collection, not every story will be for every taste. Personally, I found a couple of them too dark to be enjoyable. But the majority of the seventeen stories were a delight. If you are searching for bite sized stories, you’ll be glad you picked up this collection.
Mel (490 KP) rated Lincoln in the Bardo in Books
Oct 2, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
When this book first came out it seemed to be publicised everywhere so when I saw it on a daily deal I picked up a copy.
I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't quite what I got. While the main thread of the story focusing on the death of Lincoln's son and the ghosts in the graveyard was interesting it felt like this was essentially a short story bulked out into a novel (given the author is far more famous for his short stories this probably isn't surprising). The use of historical quotations to tell the parts of the story taken from real life seemed more of a clever affectation than actually a useful plot device. While I finished the book and felt like I knew a little more about Lincoln the man afterwards overall I didn't think it lived up to the hype surrounding it
I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't quite what I got. While the main thread of the story focusing on the death of Lincoln's son and the ghosts in the graveyard was interesting it felt like this was essentially a short story bulked out into a novel (given the author is far more famous for his short stories this probably isn't surprising). The use of historical quotations to tell the parts of the story taken from real life seemed more of a clever affectation than actually a useful plot device. While I finished the book and felt like I knew a little more about Lincoln the man afterwards overall I didn't think it lived up to the hype surrounding it
The Bourbon Bartender: 50 Cocktails to Celebrate the American Spirit
Jane Danger and Alla Lapushchik
Book
Bourbon must be made in America and aged for at least two years in charred new American oak barrels...
food and drink
Not the End of the World
Book
I can think of few writers who can make the ordinary collide with the extraordinary to such...
Angels in Our Hearts
10.0
Rate It
Book
A moving collection of 6 short stories – Helpless, A Small Boy’s Cry, Two More Sleeps,...
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Tattooist (2018) in Movies
Sep 28, 2021
The most unusual film I think I’ve ever reviewed on One Mann’s Movies, but very interesting. As horror goes, it’s short, sharp and horrific!
Positives:
Well! This should be a case study for Zack Snyder that you don’t need a film to be a bladder-busting 242 minutes in order to tell a story. At just 80 seconds long, this is a masterclass in subliminal editing.
The film is both disturbing and quirky. Is the tattooist just day-dreaming? Is what he is thinking about down in his shop’s cellar right now? Is the semi-naked girl on the table to be next? All questions and no answers are forthcoming!
It’s impressive when you think of all of the production design that had to go into making each of those subliminal shots (e.g. the still below). As in Wong’s previous short film (“The Story of 90 Coins“), the lighting and cinematography is first rate.
Negatives:
None. For what it is, it’s very impressive.
Positives:
Well! This should be a case study for Zack Snyder that you don’t need a film to be a bladder-busting 242 minutes in order to tell a story. At just 80 seconds long, this is a masterclass in subliminal editing.
The film is both disturbing and quirky. Is the tattooist just day-dreaming? Is what he is thinking about down in his shop’s cellar right now? Is the semi-naked girl on the table to be next? All questions and no answers are forthcoming!
It’s impressive when you think of all of the production design that had to go into making each of those subliminal shots (e.g. the still below). As in Wong’s previous short film (“The Story of 90 Coins“), the lighting and cinematography is first rate.
Negatives:
None. For what it is, it’s very impressive.
Intrusion (Reflections #4)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Jess awoke to a world she doesn’t really understand, hounded by impulses that are quite literally...
Young Adult Paranormal Romance Short Story
Merissa (13427 KP) rated Flirting With Fire (A Witch’s Night Out #1) in Books
May 8, 2023
In the first of the Witch's Night Out series of novellas, we meet Cat and Leo - familiar and warlock. Cat has eighteen months left on her contract which transferred to Leo upon the death of his aunt. The only trouble is Leo doesn't realise that he is a warlock so can't say the incantation which allows Cat to become human and leave the house.
In a short novella, there is a lot of information and humour. I loved the Draco Malfoy references for a start, but there are plenty to choose from. In some respects, it is a slow burner (pun intended) until they meet for their blind date and then things heat up.
For a short but extremely sexy, quick-witted and humorous story, I can definitely recommend this.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 13, 2015
In a short novella, there is a lot of information and humour. I loved the Draco Malfoy references for a start, but there are plenty to choose from. In some respects, it is a slow burner (pun intended) until they meet for their blind date and then things heat up.
For a short but extremely sexy, quick-witted and humorous story, I can definitely recommend this.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 13, 2015
Debbiereadsbook (1569 KP) rated A Cold Christmas and the Darkest of Winters in Books
Dec 17, 2021
not bedtime reading but very good!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
A collection of 23 different authors come together to bring you short stories set around the winter season or Christmas.
Not a single one of these authors have I read before, and there is a varied bunch of tales here. Some are just sad but some are downright scary!
Loosely, they are "holiday" stories, but more are winter ones, rather than Christmas.
An eclectic bunch of tales that can be read at any time, but I'd recommend NOT at bedtime! You might stop on one of the scary ones, and get some weird dreams as a consequence, like I did!
I didn't read them all, I will be honest, but the ones I read were very good, or excellent. Just on the short side. but 23 stories across 360 odd pages is never going to produce novel length books.
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
A collection of 23 different authors come together to bring you short stories set around the winter season or Christmas.
Not a single one of these authors have I read before, and there is a varied bunch of tales here. Some are just sad but some are downright scary!
Loosely, they are "holiday" stories, but more are winter ones, rather than Christmas.
An eclectic bunch of tales that can be read at any time, but I'd recommend NOT at bedtime! You might stop on one of the scary ones, and get some weird dreams as a consequence, like I did!
I didn't read them all, I will be honest, but the ones I read were very good, or excellent. Just on the short side. but 23 stories across 360 odd pages is never going to produce novel length books.
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Merissa (13427 KP) rated Love, Isidor in Books
Sep 15, 2023
LOVE, ISIDOR is a short standalone that details a second-chance romance. We join Henri after he and Isidor have been separated for a decade. He receives a letter from his old flame out of the blue and he has a decision to make.
For all this is a short story, it has everything you could ask for. Told from Henri's perspective, you still manage to hear Isidor's words in the letters he wrote. And, my word, they are so heartfelt. You find out the reason they split, and what they've been up to since, as well as catching up with them now.
This was a great story that was full of emotion and I loved every word. Absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 15, 2023
For all this is a short story, it has everything you could ask for. Told from Henri's perspective, you still manage to hear Isidor's words in the letters he wrote. And, my word, they are so heartfelt. You find out the reason they split, and what they've been up to since, as well as catching up with them now.
This was a great story that was full of emotion and I loved every word. Absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 15, 2023