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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Kaleidoscope in Books
May 11, 2024 (Updated May 11, 2024)
Once Again, a Kaleidoscope of Stories Lacking Focus
As with the first book featuring Madame Karitska, we get several stories that weave in and out of each other. Sometimes, they touch. Sometimes they only take up a chapter. Madame Karitska winds up in the possession of some diamonds when she runs into an old friend on a train. She helps a wife whose husband is interested in a nearby commune. A man who is deathly ill comes to her for help. She even helps a government official who is afraid some home grown terrorists might be at work.
Fans of the first book will be happy to hear that the format of the plot didn’t change much. Sadly, for me, that means it didn’t work as well as I would have liked. The way the stories wander around and in and out of each other without any clear beginning or climax frustrates me. One of them ends very anticlimactically. On the other hand, I do enjoy the charming characters and I liked spending time with them again. As with the author’s Mrs. Pollifax series, the characters haven’t really aged even thought it was roundly 25 years between books and both take place in their present. As a fan of the author, I’m not sorry I read this book, but I won’t be reading this series again any time soon.
Fans of the first book will be happy to hear that the format of the plot didn’t change much. Sadly, for me, that means it didn’t work as well as I would have liked. The way the stories wander around and in and out of each other without any clear beginning or climax frustrates me. One of them ends very anticlimactically. On the other hand, I do enjoy the charming characters and I liked spending time with them again. As with the author’s Mrs. Pollifax series, the characters haven’t really aged even thought it was roundly 25 years between books and both take place in their present. As a fan of the author, I’m not sorry I read this book, but I won’t be reading this series again any time soon.
momoknowsbest (14 KP) rated Horizon Zero Dawn in Video Games
Dec 20, 2017
the story! (2 more)
the characters
animal/machine design!
Bright Horizons!
okay so I wanna hit on my bad point. I'm not saying this is a terrible thing, the map being huge. but there were a few times when my next location in the story was literally on the other side of the map and no side quests to level me up on the way there. you have to spend alot of time strategizing your next choice in quests which isn't a horrible thing in itself. but sometimes I wanna just roam around and explore and you might miss something by doing that on this game.
Cinema quality action sequences (2 more)
Dark and realistic tone
Well-written characters
Appeals to viewers of all ages
Arrow, a superhero drama, has an appealing lead performance from Stephen Amell. This show's dark and realistic tone really brings on the suspense. It has a very compelling villain in John Barrowman's Malcolm Merlyn, whom is a pretty well-written character that makes you understand his motives. Sometimes the show includes The CW's melodramatic moments, which can be extremely difficult to get through. However, the show still manages to pull the audience back in with it's well-choreographed, cinema-quality action sequences and brilliant performances from very talented actors and actresses.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Another Piece of My Heart in Books
May 10, 2018
Jane Green writes an emotionally packed book, that makes you laugh and cry and want to smack someone sometimes.
Emily is a teenager and her father is remarried. She 'hates' her step-mother, Andi. Her sister, Sophia, adores her. And, of course, her father, Ethan loves her. Her mother is a drunk and really pays no attention to her daughters, and all Emily does is act out.
Then something happens that turns everyone's life upside down and inside out.
This is a story that spans a journey of nearly 7 years. And in that time, we see how these characters grow and develop into individuals and as a family.
Emily is a teenager and her father is remarried. She 'hates' her step-mother, Andi. Her sister, Sophia, adores her. And, of course, her father, Ethan loves her. Her mother is a drunk and really pays no attention to her daughters, and all Emily does is act out.
Then something happens that turns everyone's life upside down and inside out.
This is a story that spans a journey of nearly 7 years. And in that time, we see how these characters grow and develop into individuals and as a family.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Samsung Galaxy S8 in Tech
May 11, 2018
So, at first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the fact that the physical home button was removed. Sometimes, I do wish it was there.
I absolutely love the fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone, so you can actually hold your phone like a normal human being and unlock it. The display is amazing, and I love the forever clock, so I don't even have to wake it up to see the time and alerts.
Samsung was also on point for creating a case with an attachable qwerty keyboard. It makes texting so much easier, and makes me nostalgic for my blackberry.
I absolutely love the fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone, so you can actually hold your phone like a normal human being and unlock it. The display is amazing, and I love the forever clock, so I don't even have to wake it up to see the time and alerts.
Samsung was also on point for creating a case with an attachable qwerty keyboard. It makes texting so much easier, and makes me nostalgic for my blackberry.
Villainous Vee (53 KP) rated The Umbrella Academy in TV
Feb 21, 2019
Great Characters (1 more)
Great Storyline
This series was great and I really hope they do more because I need more.
The story lines within each episode were fun and thrilling and left you wanting to watch the next one.
Each individual episode progressed the story along nicely although you have to really watch to follow it sometimes, as one missed bit of information can leave you confused.
I loved how you slowly learnt more and more about each character and what their own personal stories and abilities are.
Highly recommend this series and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
The story lines within each episode were fun and thrilling and left you wanting to watch the next one.
Each individual episode progressed the story along nicely although you have to really watch to follow it sometimes, as one missed bit of information can leave you confused.
I loved how you slowly learnt more and more about each character and what their own personal stories and abilities are.
Highly recommend this series and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Scott (2 KP) rated The Big Bang Theory in TV
Mar 12, 2019
Good show with a great ensemble
This is another Chuck Lorre gem that is great on many levels. It appeals to the geeky nerds, portraying them in a very positive light. It appeals to regular sitcom viewers as well as those looking for growth in characters. It can be a touch transparent at times but overall is a good series to watch that will make you both laugh and give you understanding and insight into the nerd subculture.
AT (1676 KP) rated Coin Master in Apps
Apr 18, 2019
This is a mindless game where you spin a wheel to get coins. Sometimes you get to attack or raid someone else's land for coins or cards, too. You build on your lands depending on how many coins you have at the time. That's it. No deep thinking. It's a decent time-waster, since the app works smoothly, and the characters are cute. It's not a game that will suck away your entire day in one sitting, so that's good! If you like this type of game, Coin Master is a good one. You could also play it through a third-party app that pays you in credits to play!
David McK (3562 KP) rated The Happy Return in Books
Apr 25, 2019
Chronologically the 6th in CS Forester Hornblower series, this was actually the first published (in 1937!), and so is a pretty good 'jumping-on' point for those unfamiliar with the character or novels.
Sometimes also known as 'Beat to quarters', this sees Hornblower commanding the frigate Lydia on it's mission into Spanish held waters: a mission that will involve forming an alliance with an insane Spanish landowner, encounters with the 50-gun Spanish ship-of-the-line Natividad, storms at sea, and (the married) Hornblower's first encounter with (the fictional) Lady Barbara Wellesley, the sister of the future Duke of Wellington.
A quick reading and thoroughly enjoyable read it is!
Sometimes also known as 'Beat to quarters', this sees Hornblower commanding the frigate Lydia on it's mission into Spanish held waters: a mission that will involve forming an alliance with an insane Spanish landowner, encounters with the 50-gun Spanish ship-of-the-line Natividad, storms at sea, and (the married) Hornblower's first encounter with (the fictional) Lady Barbara Wellesley, the sister of the future Duke of Wellington.
A quick reading and thoroughly enjoyable read it is!
Some unique (Netflix Originals) programming, some classic TV shows and movies too. (2 more)
'My List' allows you to save shows and films to watch at a later stage.
Netflix are open to people sharing their accounts with others (within reason)
User interface is poor and sometimes you spend more time trying to find something to watch than you do actually watching something. (2 more)
A lot of the stand-up comedy is aimed at the USA audience which needs to be addressed as quite frankly the majority of them are just not funny!
Not on the same level as Sky when it comes to blockbuster movies.
Netflix Overview