Search
Search results
David McK (3562 KP) rated Carpe Jugulum (Discworld #23; Witches #6) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
The 23rd Discworld book, this is really what I would term as one of the 'Witches' (Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Magrat Garlik and - now - Agnes Nitt) novels, and is also the first to concentrate on 'proper' Vampires (or, as they prefer to be known, Vampyres (with a 'y'))
By 'proper' Vampires, I do mean vicious bloodsuckers, as opposed to the tamer variety sometimes mentioned as living in Ankh-Morpork. It also has a larger-than-usual role for a member of the clergy: this time, for a Reverend from Omniasm ("who knows he has a prayer but wishes he had an axe"), and is also - I believe - one of the first books to introduce the character(s) of Igor.
In this, the Vampires have been invited by King Verence of Lancre to the baptism of his and Magrat's baby daughter, and decide to take the country as well as the invitation. It is up to the Witches (primarily Granny Weatherwax) to stop them from doing so, raising more than a few laugh out loud moments from me along the way.
By 'proper' Vampires, I do mean vicious bloodsuckers, as opposed to the tamer variety sometimes mentioned as living in Ankh-Morpork. It also has a larger-than-usual role for a member of the clergy: this time, for a Reverend from Omniasm ("who knows he has a prayer but wishes he had an axe"), and is also - I believe - one of the first books to introduce the character(s) of Igor.
In this, the Vampires have been invited by King Verence of Lancre to the baptism of his and Magrat's baby daughter, and decide to take the country as well as the invitation. It is up to the Witches (primarily Granny Weatherwax) to stop them from doing so, raising more than a few laugh out loud moments from me along the way.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Grace After Henry in Books
Oct 31, 2019
This was a lovely and often heartbreaking book about love and loss. Grace and Henry have just bought a house together when he dies, leaving Grace bereft. She moves into their new home and one day Henry shows up to fix the faulty boiler. Only it isn’t Henry, of course; the look-alike man’s name is Andy, and suddenly Grace’s life is turned upside down.
This is a different sort of story—sometimes predictable but often not. It’s touching and sad and captures grief and love quite wonderfully. Grace is an excellent, real character, and her ache for Henry is so true and honest. There are plenty of funny moments, too; her parents’ battles with the moths in their home was my favorite. The supporting cast is simply wonderful, particularly Grace’s friends from the cemetery (you read that right) and her elderly neighbor, Betty.
This isn’t always the easiest book to read, as it so well portrays grief and heartache, but it’s very well-done, and I appreciated reading such a heartfelt and loving story. Definitely worth picking up.
This is a different sort of story—sometimes predictable but often not. It’s touching and sad and captures grief and love quite wonderfully. Grace is an excellent, real character, and her ache for Henry is so true and honest. There are plenty of funny moments, too; her parents’ battles with the moths in their home was my favorite. The supporting cast is simply wonderful, particularly Grace’s friends from the cemetery (you read that right) and her elderly neighbor, Betty.
This isn’t always the easiest book to read, as it so well portrays grief and heartache, but it’s very well-done, and I appreciated reading such a heartfelt and loving story. Definitely worth picking up.
Dan (19 KP) rated Dungeons and Dragons in Tabletop Games
Jul 20, 2019
Can create your own content (4 more)
Only need the core book, a pen/pencil, and paper to get started
Can always add scenery, figures, etc over time
Plenty of content online
Have as big a world or small a world as you want, you and the other players create it
Can be complex for beginners (1 more)
Can sometimes cause minor arguments
Easily adaptable for any age
Dungeons and Dragons is a massive table top game. You can stick to the core games all you want, or create your own content and game. For anyone with even a small amount of creativity, it's amazing.
This will probably be one of my poorer reviews, as D&D is so huge it's hard to describe it. You and your party can be a mix of fighters, rogues, magic users and all sorts, fighting off the dead, dragons, bandits, werewolves, goblins, and more. And while you do it, it's more than likely going to cause hilarity, and some exciting, tense moments.
It can be almost anything you want it to be.
This will probably be one of my poorer reviews, as D&D is so huge it's hard to describe it. You and your party can be a mix of fighters, rogues, magic users and all sorts, fighting off the dead, dragons, bandits, werewolves, goblins, and more. And while you do it, it's more than likely going to cause hilarity, and some exciting, tense moments.
It can be almost anything you want it to be.
Donna C (199 KP) rated Listening to the Animals - becoming the Supervet in Books
Jan 22, 2019
Autobiography of the “Supervet”
Didn’t we all want to be a vet when we were little? Well Noel Fitzpatrick held onto that dream and is now the well respected and amazing Supervet.
It was quite surprising to read how he was bullied relentlessly at secondary school. He grew up on the family farm where his passion for animals began, but this was quite an isolated start in life apart from his many siblings. He had to work hard on the farm.
Moving to secondary school meant meeting more worldly boys from the towns and he didn’t fit in. But he found ways to cope and threw himself into his studies which he still does even now.
His strong working life has come at a cost to a personal life but he does go into past relationships and regrets.
Noel Fitzpatrick has a vision for veterinary and human medicine to be able to work together and is determined to work towards that goal.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this autobiography.
It was quite surprising to read how he was bullied relentlessly at secondary school. He grew up on the family farm where his passion for animals began, but this was quite an isolated start in life apart from his many siblings. He had to work hard on the farm.
Moving to secondary school meant meeting more worldly boys from the towns and he didn’t fit in. But he found ways to cope and threw himself into his studies which he still does even now.
His strong working life has come at a cost to a personal life but he does go into past relationships and regrets.
Noel Fitzpatrick has a vision for veterinary and human medicine to be able to work together and is determined to work towards that goal.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this autobiography.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated When I Hit You: Or, a Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife in Books
Nov 13, 2019
This book hit me
The writer searched for a tender embrace and found rape and punches. Kandasamy is a poet and beautifully she uses words to punch back or to make sense of a horrific and unimaginable monstrosity of a situation. However, when I say poetic please don't assume this is pretentious for it is not. you sometimes feel terrible for enjoying the words as a thing of beauty,and it is a beautiful piece of writing, but it is there to mind meaning in the inexcusable. It is a wonderful cathartic explosion of finding sense where there is none. of finding hope where there was only hatred in the name of love. My hope is it may give another legs to run or an abuser a reflection into their monstrosity. This may be listed as a feminist book but is fighting against evil cruelty, bullying and rape feminist or is it a struggle to be more human?
Glenn Donnelly (12 KP) rated Last Podcast On The Left in Podcasts
Dec 3, 2019
Reliable (4 more)
Humourous
Interesting
Fun group of guys making the podcast feel more inviting
Live shows that you can go to
Some may not enjoy the type of humour (2 more)
Can go off track slightly
Multiple voices speak at once
Any true crime enthusiast will love this podcast!
Three guys Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski and Ben Kissle all sit and talk about the grizzly stories of some of the scariest true crime and serial killer s of the past, they also discuss real life ghost stories and alleged alien abductions/sightings trying to stay netureal and using only sources for their episodes. All episodes are told alongside great humour and whilst going off track slightly sometimes it is always kept interesting. I want to state the bad points are not my view in particular and just feedback I have heard from other fans that I think are relevant.
Personally this is one of my favourite podcasts and I enjoy their whole network of shows which include wizard and the bruiser, abe lincolns top hat, kinda fun, page 7 and more
Personally this is one of my favourite podcasts and I enjoy their whole network of shows which include wizard and the bruiser, abe lincolns top hat, kinda fun, page 7 and more
Erika (17789 KP) rated Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators in Books
Mar 28, 2020 (Updated Mar 28, 2020)
Going into this book, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get into it or not. I haven't actually read Ronan Farrow's articles in general, so I didn't know how his writing style was. Journalistic writing is sometimes hit or miss in book form.
Honestly, now I'll read his articles. This book encompassed the Weinstein scandal, and other creeps like him. It was thorough, and engaging throughout. In the author's note, it is stated that the violence these women were subjected to was presented exactly how they told it, with all the details. My stomach hurt after reading the descriptions, and I read very violent Nordic Noir novels. I like being presented with everything, so while it made my stomach hurt, I feel like it was all completely necessary as part of this story.
I also really liked his journey to get this published, and now... honestly, I don't even want to watch NBC News (as I sit here watching Dateline).
This is, by far, one of the best books that I've read this year.
Honestly, now I'll read his articles. This book encompassed the Weinstein scandal, and other creeps like him. It was thorough, and engaging throughout. In the author's note, it is stated that the violence these women were subjected to was presented exactly how they told it, with all the details. My stomach hurt after reading the descriptions, and I read very violent Nordic Noir novels. I like being presented with everything, so while it made my stomach hurt, I feel like it was all completely necessary as part of this story.
I also really liked his journey to get this published, and now... honestly, I don't even want to watch NBC News (as I sit here watching Dateline).
This is, by far, one of the best books that I've read this year.
Morgan Sheppard (936 KP) created a post
Apr 4, 2020
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Current War (2017) in Movies
Jul 30, 2019 (Updated Jul 30, 2019)
Striking historical drama; unfortunate enough to get caught on the fringes of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, which is why it has sat on the shelf for a couple of years since it was finished. Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse engage in a battle of wills to bring electric light to America, but will victory go to the more principled man, or the more ruthless? And who is who?
Lots of good material here for a really interesting film about, essentially, the birth of the modern world; perhaps too much. The film's problem is really that it tries to cover everything - not just the rivalry between the two men, but also incidents from Edison's private life, the development of the electric chair, and the career of the much-mythologised but enigmatic inventor Nikola Tesla. As a result everything gets covered in a somewhat cursory manner and it often feels somewhat rushed. Still, it's a handsome looking film, the performances are excellent, and the direction is sometimes as inventive as the characters. Not entirely successful by any means, but a very distinguished failure.
Lots of good material here for a really interesting film about, essentially, the birth of the modern world; perhaps too much. The film's problem is really that it tries to cover everything - not just the rivalry between the two men, but also incidents from Edison's private life, the development of the electric chair, and the career of the much-mythologised but enigmatic inventor Nikola Tesla. As a result everything gets covered in a somewhat cursory manner and it often feels somewhat rushed. Still, it's a handsome looking film, the performances are excellent, and the direction is sometimes as inventive as the characters. Not entirely successful by any means, but a very distinguished failure.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Eclipse (Twilight, #3) in Books
Feb 19, 2020
As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?
I'm on my 4th reread and I've possibly reviewed this book before. This is my favourite of the of the the first 3 books. Apart from Bella still drives me crazy she is so pathetic sometimes! But yes I still like the books! This is seeing an end to all her relationships before they change in my opinion. My heart breaks for Jacob in this book he definitely gets the elbow and strictly friendzoned before the book ends!
Victoria is finally dead and the voltorie is all that's left to worry about.
I'm on my 4th reread and I've possibly reviewed this book before. This is my favourite of the of the the first 3 books. Apart from Bella still drives me crazy she is so pathetic sometimes! But yes I still like the books! This is seeing an end to all her relationships before they change in my opinion. My heart breaks for Jacob in this book he definitely gets the elbow and strictly friendzoned before the book ends!
Victoria is finally dead and the voltorie is all that's left to worry about.