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A History of the Grandparents I Never Had
Book
Ivan Jablonka's grandparents' lives ended long before his began: although Mates and Idesa Jablonka...
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Summer at Sandcastle Cottage in Books
Jul 1, 2021
This book is told from multiple perspectives, Kitty, Apollo and Jemini are sharing their thoughts and feelings. I really liked not only the main characters but all characters mentioned in this book. They all are very realistic, unique and incredibly funny. The protagonists had a difficult past, but I am happy about their present life.
The narrative was very entertaining and enjoyable. I really enjoyed the little twists and turns, that the author incorporated into this novel. The topics discussed in this book were difficult relationships, everyday life, racism, looking for love, friendships and plenty more. One thing that really annoyed me is the term “politically correct” used in multiple places throughout this book. I don’t think it was needed and it irked me a lot.
I absolutely loved the setting of this book. I would love to spend holidays in a place like Firefly Common, where you can go to the beach and enjoy idyllic walks. The book is set during summer, so it was a great escape to somewhere nice during the lockdown. The chapters of the book have medium length, but the story is very entertaining and the pages just fly by. The ending was quite predictable, but I liked the way this story was concluded. There is a short story/prequel to this book called Christmas At Sandcastle Cottage. I haven’t read it, but I hope it would explain the past situations of the main characters better.
So, to conclude, I really enjoyed this funny, romantic novel, filled with intriguing and humorous characters as well as the plot that takes you to a beautiful place and makes you believe in a better life.
The narrative was very entertaining and enjoyable. I really enjoyed the little twists and turns, that the author incorporated into this novel. The topics discussed in this book were difficult relationships, everyday life, racism, looking for love, friendships and plenty more. One thing that really annoyed me is the term “politically correct” used in multiple places throughout this book. I don’t think it was needed and it irked me a lot.
I absolutely loved the setting of this book. I would love to spend holidays in a place like Firefly Common, where you can go to the beach and enjoy idyllic walks. The book is set during summer, so it was a great escape to somewhere nice during the lockdown. The chapters of the book have medium length, but the story is very entertaining and the pages just fly by. The ending was quite predictable, but I liked the way this story was concluded. There is a short story/prequel to this book called Christmas At Sandcastle Cottage. I haven’t read it, but I hope it would explain the past situations of the main characters better.
So, to conclude, I really enjoyed this funny, romantic novel, filled with intriguing and humorous characters as well as the plot that takes you to a beautiful place and makes you believe in a better life.
Merissa (11938 KP) rated Shadow Walker (Bloody Hearts #1) in Books
Oct 3, 2023
Shadow Walker is the first book in the Bloody Hearts series, and we start off with a young girl celebrating her 20th birthday. The boy she has had her eye on comes to her party with his grumpy brother but leaves not long after midnight. Alana's life changes dramatically within a short period of time, and she copes with it well, whilst still throwing hissy fits at regular intervals. Not that I blame her, I'm just saying!
Now, be warned, although this is a slow-burn romance, there IS a love triangle involved, and it's between two brothers. Obviously, I have my favourite over which one I think she should be with, but it wouldn't be the first time the story has changed and twisted in later books. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, and with the amount of angst in this book, I feel there is enough to continue with a meaty storyline WITHOUT having a love triangle thrown into the mix. I am hoping it will be resolved in the next book, so we can concentrate on Alana's abilities and the Walkers.
Written in the first person, from multiple perspectives, you are kept on your toes as the story develops. The pacing is smooth, the characters well-developed, and the world-building is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and look forward to continuing to the next one to find out what happens next. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 23, 2019
Now, be warned, although this is a slow-burn romance, there IS a love triangle involved, and it's between two brothers. Obviously, I have my favourite over which one I think she should be with, but it wouldn't be the first time the story has changed and twisted in later books. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, and with the amount of angst in this book, I feel there is enough to continue with a meaty storyline WITHOUT having a love triangle thrown into the mix. I am hoping it will be resolved in the next book, so we can concentrate on Alana's abilities and the Walkers.
Written in the first person, from multiple perspectives, you are kept on your toes as the story develops. The pacing is smooth, the characters well-developed, and the world-building is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and look forward to continuing to the next one to find out what happens next. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 23, 2019
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) in Movies
Jan 10, 2019 (Updated Jan 10, 2019)
A winning anthology
I am NOT a Coen Brothers apologist. For every good/great film that they have made (like FARGO, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN or underrated THE HUDSUCKER PROXY) there are duds/movies that didn't work for me (like O' BROTHER WHER ART THOU, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS and the movie I ranked as the worst film of 2016, HAIL, CAESAR). So when I heard that the latest Coen Brothers flick was going straight to Netflix AND (like HAIL, CAESAR), it was a film anthology of 6 short stories, I dragged my feet in checking this out.
But...I am glad I finally got around to it...for THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS is a strong film, taking on a heavy subject (death) in a variety of ways - light-hearted, poignant and deadly (pun intended) serious. The tone of this film - or, more accurately, these 6 short films - worked for me and I felt they wove together very well to tell an overarching story of man's relationship with death - as seen through the eyes of Wild, Wild West characters.
And what characters they are! From Tim Blake Nelson's titular character, Buster Scruggs, to James Franco's hapless (but lucky) Outlaw to Liam Neeson's traveling theatrical show to Tom Waite's grizzled prospector to Zoe Kazan's lonesome Prairie Widow to the group of passengers on the Stagecoach in the last vignette, all are interesting to watch, and listen to.
Credit, of course, needs to go to Joel and Ethan Cohen. These characters are interesting to watch, because these two put wonderful scenes and scenery up on the screen with dialogue (or lack of dialogue) that perfectly reflects what is going on and what the characters are feeling. In my opinion, the Coen Brothers are at their best when they focus on gritty subjects with poignancy (BARTON FINK) but fail when they try to get "wacky" or "over-serious" (BURN AFTER READING, A SERIOUS MAN), this film is full of the former and has very little of the latter.
I'm sure, like all Coen Brothers films, that this anthology of short films is not for everyone - and not every film will work for everyone - but they did for me. I thought each short film was the better than the one before it. I caught the vibe of what the Coen's were after and I fell under their spell.
Letter Grade: A-
8 stars out of 10 and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
But...I am glad I finally got around to it...for THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS is a strong film, taking on a heavy subject (death) in a variety of ways - light-hearted, poignant and deadly (pun intended) serious. The tone of this film - or, more accurately, these 6 short films - worked for me and I felt they wove together very well to tell an overarching story of man's relationship with death - as seen through the eyes of Wild, Wild West characters.
And what characters they are! From Tim Blake Nelson's titular character, Buster Scruggs, to James Franco's hapless (but lucky) Outlaw to Liam Neeson's traveling theatrical show to Tom Waite's grizzled prospector to Zoe Kazan's lonesome Prairie Widow to the group of passengers on the Stagecoach in the last vignette, all are interesting to watch, and listen to.
Credit, of course, needs to go to Joel and Ethan Cohen. These characters are interesting to watch, because these two put wonderful scenes and scenery up on the screen with dialogue (or lack of dialogue) that perfectly reflects what is going on and what the characters are feeling. In my opinion, the Coen Brothers are at their best when they focus on gritty subjects with poignancy (BARTON FINK) but fail when they try to get "wacky" or "over-serious" (BURN AFTER READING, A SERIOUS MAN), this film is full of the former and has very little of the latter.
I'm sure, like all Coen Brothers films, that this anthology of short films is not for everyone - and not every film will work for everyone - but they did for me. I thought each short film was the better than the one before it. I caught the vibe of what the Coen's were after and I fell under their spell.
Letter Grade: A-
8 stars out of 10 and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
Paris for One and Other Stories
7.2
Rate It
Book
A collection of 11 unmissable short stories from the Number One internationally bestselling author...
Although Fire is listed as the second book in the Graceling Realm series, it is really a prequel and generally unrelated to the first book. The events of Fire take place some 30+ years before the events of Graceling and in a different land. Although the two are somehow magically connected by a series of mountain tunnels, they don't know about one another. I didn't realize this when I started reading the book and was quite confused for a while.
The book starts with an extensive prol0gue which introduces us to a character that only re-emerges in the story for a short time near the conclusion. While I understand his inclusion, as it is the only thing that ties Graceling and Fire together I don't see its purpose in the story. It was not particularly interesting to read and didn't give me a better sense of who the character was. Personally, I would have rather the prologue not have been included in the story as it certainly made my interest in the book wane.
The prologue set a slow and unengaging pace for the start of the book that did not remedy itself for some time. Although the start of the book was enjoyable enough, it didn't really really intriguing until the second half. That is when I really fell in love with the characters and the plot. In Fire, we are introduced to Monsters rather than Gracelings. Human Monsters have special abilities, although there aren't many of them in the Dells. Instead, most of the Monsters are animals with abilities beyond their average non-Monster kin. I don't feel like the Monster idea is well explained in the books and I wish the author had developed that aspect of the world building more.
When we first meet Fire, she is not a very likeable character (at least in my opinion). Her Monster abilities make her so beautiful that people can't control themselves around her and usually either want to possess her or kill her so no one else can have her. Harsh. She also has the ability to get inside people's heads and manipulate their thoughts. Scary. Those combined made it difficult to relate to her character, although over the course of the novel her personality was developed more and she became a little more human.
There were many other characters in the book, but Prince Brigand or Hannah were definitely my favourites. They made the story more enjoyable and I loved the scenes that they were in. Hannah was fiesty and not afraid to stand up for what she believed in, even though she wasn't quite six yet. Prince Brigand loved his brother's Kingdom and did what he must to protect it, even if it would put his life at risk.
The world building was good overall, the characters developed slightly over the course of the story and the pacing was generally decent although there were a few inclusions to the story that significantly slowed the pacing down. My biggest concern/problem with the book was the character I mentioned from the prologue's inclusion into the story later on. He didn't fit in with the story initially and his re-introduction just completely threw off the plot. Our characters went off on this side storyline that didn't add anything to the plot and reinforces for me that his inclusion wasn't necessary. I understand that he was the only aspect that binds the two books together, but his inclusion detracts from the otherwise enjoyable story.
In the end, his inclusion and the small details thrown in throughout the story took away from the world of the Dells that was very enjoyable. The book would have certainly been rated more favourably by me if those aspects were removed. Overall though, I really enjoyed reading the book and can't wait to finish the series (although it is also another jump in time and space, so be prepared for some confusion initially.)
The book starts with an extensive prol0gue which introduces us to a character that only re-emerges in the story for a short time near the conclusion. While I understand his inclusion, as it is the only thing that ties Graceling and Fire together I don't see its purpose in the story. It was not particularly interesting to read and didn't give me a better sense of who the character was. Personally, I would have rather the prologue not have been included in the story as it certainly made my interest in the book wane.
The prologue set a slow and unengaging pace for the start of the book that did not remedy itself for some time. Although the start of the book was enjoyable enough, it didn't really really intriguing until the second half. That is when I really fell in love with the characters and the plot. In Fire, we are introduced to Monsters rather than Gracelings. Human Monsters have special abilities, although there aren't many of them in the Dells. Instead, most of the Monsters are animals with abilities beyond their average non-Monster kin. I don't feel like the Monster idea is well explained in the books and I wish the author had developed that aspect of the world building more.
When we first meet Fire, she is not a very likeable character (at least in my opinion). Her Monster abilities make her so beautiful that people can't control themselves around her and usually either want to possess her or kill her so no one else can have her. Harsh. She also has the ability to get inside people's heads and manipulate their thoughts. Scary. Those combined made it difficult to relate to her character, although over the course of the novel her personality was developed more and she became a little more human.
There were many other characters in the book, but Prince Brigand or Hannah were definitely my favourites. They made the story more enjoyable and I loved the scenes that they were in. Hannah was fiesty and not afraid to stand up for what she believed in, even though she wasn't quite six yet. Prince Brigand loved his brother's Kingdom and did what he must to protect it, even if it would put his life at risk.
The world building was good overall, the characters developed slightly over the course of the story and the pacing was generally decent although there were a few inclusions to the story that significantly slowed the pacing down. My biggest concern/problem with the book was the character I mentioned from the prologue's inclusion into the story later on. He didn't fit in with the story initially and his re-introduction just completely threw off the plot. Our characters went off on this side storyline that didn't add anything to the plot and reinforces for me that his inclusion wasn't necessary. I understand that he was the only aspect that binds the two books together, but his inclusion detracts from the otherwise enjoyable story.
In the end, his inclusion and the small details thrown in throughout the story took away from the world of the Dells that was very enjoyable. The book would have certainly been rated more favourably by me if those aspects were removed. Overall though, I really enjoyed reading the book and can't wait to finish the series (although it is also another jump in time and space, so be prepared for some confusion initially.)
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated A Spy Came Home (Mac Ambrose, #1) in Books
May 10, 2018
Mac Ambrose is a CIA officer. She has recently revealed this information to her closest friends after being in the agency for 20 years. She shares this information in an attempt to bring down a corrupt organization and its effect on the gun laws in America. Using the skills she has learning in the Agency, and the connections of her friends, she sets out on a mission to bring down those involved. She only has a few short weeks to accomplish her goal.
At first I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through this book. The first few chapters involve a lot of legalese that did not draw me into the story. Talking about the different gun laws and how and when they went into effect. Finally, after that small rut, it was smooth sailing and I had to keep going. So if you find yourself in the same scenario, I encourage you to keep going. It definitely gets better from there.
I totally enjoyed this book. It made the wheels in my head churn with the possibility of the corruption in our government. This book explores what goes on behind closed door of lobbyists and other who are in a position to change the laws in this country.
This book takes you on a journey through the world as we learn more about Mac as a CIA officer and her personal life. We travel through time as well which helps to learn why she is so determined to pull off this mission no matter the consequences. The last few pages will leave you on the edge of your seat to find out what is going to happen. I can't wait to see what is next for Mac Ambrose.
<b>Also by H.N.Wake: [b:Ghosts in Macau|25398065|Ghosts in Macau (A Mac Ambrose Short Story)|H.N. Wake|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429618876s/25398065.jpg|45150620]</b>;
**I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.**
At first I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through this book. The first few chapters involve a lot of legalese that did not draw me into the story. Talking about the different gun laws and how and when they went into effect. Finally, after that small rut, it was smooth sailing and I had to keep going. So if you find yourself in the same scenario, I encourage you to keep going. It definitely gets better from there.
I totally enjoyed this book. It made the wheels in my head churn with the possibility of the corruption in our government. This book explores what goes on behind closed door of lobbyists and other who are in a position to change the laws in this country.
This book takes you on a journey through the world as we learn more about Mac as a CIA officer and her personal life. We travel through time as well which helps to learn why she is so determined to pull off this mission no matter the consequences. The last few pages will leave you on the edge of your seat to find out what is going to happen. I can't wait to see what is next for Mac Ambrose.
<b>Also by H.N.Wake: [b:Ghosts in Macau|25398065|Ghosts in Macau (A Mac Ambrose Short Story)|H.N. Wake|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429618876s/25398065.jpg|45150620]</b>;
**I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.**
Debbiereadsbook (1166 KP) rated Grand Opening (Kiss of Leather #4) in Books
Apr 24, 2018
still a great read, just fell short of Master Josh and David.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in the Kiss of Leather series, and you really SHOULD read the other books first, you won't get the full enjoyment out of this one if you don't.
This is all about Master Josh and his sub, David. Although they are already in a committed relationship, things between are tense, with Master Josh so busy at the club, and David left at home. Usually, David enjoys the Total Power Exchange part of their relationship, but how can he care for his Master, when said Master is never home?
This one, for me, fell a little short. While it IS Master Josh and David's story, it felt like there was very little of Master Josh and David! When David calls "moratorium" and calls a halt to their relationship, Master Josh is placed in a situation he never was meant to be: at the feet of another Dom. Gavin, to be exact. And we get so little of what Master Josh goes through, during those two weeks! I so desperately wanted it all: every single thing Master Gavin does to make Josh (cos let's face it, at this point, he doesn't deserve his Master title!) see, to really SEE what he has been putting David through, and we only get the very last bit.
The Grand Opening does eventually go off without a hitch, Master Josh and David's problems notwithstanding, but there is an unwelcome visitor, and Corey's kidnapping comes right back into the action.
I do enjoy the continuing story arc, and the fact that ALL the players from previous books continue to take part in subsequent books.
Just that this one fell a little flat.
so, 4 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
This is book 4 in the Kiss of Leather series, and you really SHOULD read the other books first, you won't get the full enjoyment out of this one if you don't.
This is all about Master Josh and his sub, David. Although they are already in a committed relationship, things between are tense, with Master Josh so busy at the club, and David left at home. Usually, David enjoys the Total Power Exchange part of their relationship, but how can he care for his Master, when said Master is never home?
This one, for me, fell a little short. While it IS Master Josh and David's story, it felt like there was very little of Master Josh and David! When David calls "moratorium" and calls a halt to their relationship, Master Josh is placed in a situation he never was meant to be: at the feet of another Dom. Gavin, to be exact. And we get so little of what Master Josh goes through, during those two weeks! I so desperately wanted it all: every single thing Master Gavin does to make Josh (cos let's face it, at this point, he doesn't deserve his Master title!) see, to really SEE what he has been putting David through, and we only get the very last bit.
The Grand Opening does eventually go off without a hitch, Master Josh and David's problems notwithstanding, but there is an unwelcome visitor, and Corey's kidnapping comes right back into the action.
I do enjoy the continuing story arc, and the fact that ALL the players from previous books continue to take part in subsequent books.
Just that this one fell a little flat.
so, 4 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Kyera (8 KP) rated Beheld (Kendra Chronicles, #4) in Books
Feb 1, 2018
Beheld by Alex Flinn is the fifth book in the Kendra Chronicles. Readers were first introduced to the witch in Flinns Beauty and the Beast retelling, Beastly. Since then she has been involved in a number of other famous fairy tales like Cinderella and Rapunzel. In this book, readers follow Kendras life as she finds the love of her life, loses him and repeats the cycle. Each time she encounters him, readers are treated to a short retelling. The first is Little Red Riding Hood, which is set in Salem, Ma during the witch trials. The second is Rumplestiltskin, which is set is Bavaria and features a Prince. The third is East of the Sun and West of the Moon, which is set primarily in Britain during the Second World War. The final tale is the Ugly Duckling, which is in modern day Miami.
My least favourite aspect of the book was actually the interludes linking each story together, or Kendras tale of trying to find her love. Each retelling would have been an interesting (if short) read, even if she were not a character and the magic was introduced in another fashion. Personally, I felt that these tales would have been better served as novellas because the thread linking them felt forced. The stories themselves felt rushed at times, perhaps because all four had to be combined into one cohesive story and if they were more detailed than the novel would be much too long.
The characters were likable and the world was believable, but neither was particularly developed. I wish that the author had taken the time to delve more deeply into the worlds and build an entrancing narrative. Overall, the book was enjoyable but there were times that it was slow and I had to force myself to pick it back up to continue.
I would recommend this novel, and the series as a whole, to young adult/teen readers who enjoy magic and fantasy in their books, as well as fairytale retellings.
My least favourite aspect of the book was actually the interludes linking each story together, or Kendras tale of trying to find her love. Each retelling would have been an interesting (if short) read, even if she were not a character and the magic was introduced in another fashion. Personally, I felt that these tales would have been better served as novellas because the thread linking them felt forced. The stories themselves felt rushed at times, perhaps because all four had to be combined into one cohesive story and if they were more detailed than the novel would be much too long.
The characters were likable and the world was believable, but neither was particularly developed. I wish that the author had taken the time to delve more deeply into the worlds and build an entrancing narrative. Overall, the book was enjoyable but there were times that it was slow and I had to force myself to pick it back up to continue.
I would recommend this novel, and the series as a whole, to young adult/teen readers who enjoy magic and fantasy in their books, as well as fairytale retellings.
Ian Botham: The Power and the Glory
Book
Ian Botham arrived on the international scene just in time to ride sport's first big financial wave...