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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in Books

Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)  
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis | 2009 | Children
8
8.2 (60 Ratings)
Book Rating
I discovered Turkish delight through this book...
This is a must read for children, as the mystical elements are fascinating, but are lost when reading it as an adult.

First published in 1950, this is one of the most classic portal fantasies ever written. Four children are sent from London to an old house in the country during the evacuations of World War II. Through a magic wardrobe, they enter the fantasy land of Narnia, which is a jumbled mixture of Greek mythology, Bible stories, and Arthurian romances, with a bit of Medieval Bestiaries thrown in.

The White Witch has made herself Queen of Narnia, and put it under the spell of an ever-constant winter. With the arrival of the children and the lion Aslan, an old prophecy is met, spring comes to Narnia, and there is a major clash between the good and evil Narnians on who gets to dominate Narnia.

I like the book better than the film just because of the amount of detail used by the master of fantasy C. S. Lewis.
  
TB
The Boston Breakout
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I had no idea that such an awesome series of books for young people existed! Of course as a huge hockey fan I am biased. I received [The Boston Breakout] free in return for a review and I can tell you I will be looking to purchase the rest. [Roy MacGregor] has created characters that you would find on any team but the Screech Owls are still a family even with all their quirks.

In this story they are playing a summer tournament in Boston. Their coach insists on making all trips educational, which most players enjoy. This trip they go to the aquarium. There are some animal rights activists there and one of the players falls under their spell. They get information about the plans of the group and have to act to stop it.

[MacGregor's] description of hockey is spot on and the addition of local history and some mystery makes these ideals books for young readers. I will be introducing my niece to them. Especially the one involving MSG. Go Rangers!
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) in Movies

Mar 4, 2018 (Updated Mar 4, 2018)  
The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)
The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)
1955 | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
7
6.8 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The original Hammer horror movie; the studio did actually know how to spell 'experiment', but the title refers to the 'X' certificate that all self-respecting horror films had at the time this was made. Astronaut comes back from space a changed man; the rest of his crew mysteriously vanished - just what went on out there? Professor Q must figure it out before the mutation afflicting the astronaut reaches its final form.

Actually really, really tame as a horror movie by modern standards, obviously, but also of great historical interest as the birth of a legend in British cinema. One can't help suspecting the TV show was a lot more thoughtful, but this still works pretty well as an SF movie, and an influential one at that, and the juxtaposition of B-movie SF ideas and images with post-war Britain is interesting. Imported American star Brian Donlevy is not very good as Professor Q (original writer Nigel Kneale claimed he was on the sauce all the time); Richard Wordsworth is mesmerising as the doomed astronaut.
  
A&
Assault & Beret (Hat Shop Mystery, #5)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cousins Vivian and Scarlett are in Paris, Vivian to teach a hat making class, and Scarlett to track down Vivian’s husband, Will. That search actually goes fairly quickly, but Vivian and Will have hardly reunited when he is kidnapped. Now Scarlett has to track him down again. But what is happening?

I hadn’t realized how much I missed Jenn’s writing until I started this book and fell under her spell once again. It engages us from the very beginning, but things really pick up once Will is kidnapped and the real complications start happening. One aspect of the plot isn’t explained, but it is easy to surmise what happened. We meet some fun new characters, but the series regulars manage to find their way over as the book progresses, and they are a delight as always.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-assault-and-beret-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
A Madness of Angels
A Madness of Angels
Kate Griffin | 2009 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Refreshing to see the use of electricity and technology in modern day magic, instead of the usual trope of magic interfering negatively with tech. (0 more)
Enter the world of the Urban Sorcerer. Gone are the days when magic was solely the realm of those connected with nature, new technologies have meant new magic. For where there is life, there is magic, and that magic has been born out of the everyday lives of those living there. From the summoning of mythical bin lorries to combat a giant litterbug, to the use of the symbols and regulations of the London Underground as a warding spell, this breathes a whole new, modern life into the world of magic.

There is a shadowy evil stalking London. Almost all the sorcerers there have been killed. Matthew Swift had been one of them, but now he's back, this time with with the angels of the telephone wires on his side. (Or so he hopes, the situation is... complicated.) And he's not about to go down again without a fight.
  
    Ani&#039;Mots Crossword

    Ani'Mots Crossword

    Education, Games and Stickers

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    Dear Parents, The application "Ani'Mots" is a game based on the concept of arrow words intended for...