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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Game Of Thrones - Season 4 in TV
Jun 18, 2019
Another A-class season
Contains spoilers, click to show
For me, seasons 3-4 of Game of Thrones were the best without question. By this point it had truly found its stride, balancing epic avlction set pieces alongside a plot that was still pretty slow, but never failed to be intriguing. I would be watching this weekly and not get bored, still clinging on to every word.
Season 4 has some truly important, stand out moments, perhaps none more important that the Purple Wedding, where we see Joffrey finally get his comeuppance.
An event that everyone had been waiting for, it's initially a fist in the air moment, but then the camera lingers on his purple, choked face, and it's suddenly harder to watch - a fine example of GoT giving us what we want before making us question it all moments later.
In a similar fashion, were also introduced to Oberyn Martell, a great, suave character that everyone loved, only for him to be brutally torn from us, in one of the goriest moments in the shows history. Godammit.
This season also boasts the first episode length battle, where the wildlings attack the wall. It's quite a spectacle, showing that the production values are pretty damn impressive considering it's not a big budget movie.
We are also treated to Tyrions trial, which is another fantastic piece of television - no action needed in this episode, all dialogue, and it's marvellous. For me, GoT never quite hit the peak of season 4 going forward.
The set pieces, the script, the casting, the musical score - it's all perfect.
Season 4 has some truly important, stand out moments, perhaps none more important that the Purple Wedding, where we see Joffrey finally get his comeuppance.
An event that everyone had been waiting for, it's initially a fist in the air moment, but then the camera lingers on his purple, choked face, and it's suddenly harder to watch - a fine example of GoT giving us what we want before making us question it all moments later.
In a similar fashion, were also introduced to Oberyn Martell, a great, suave character that everyone loved, only for him to be brutally torn from us, in one of the goriest moments in the shows history. Godammit.
This season also boasts the first episode length battle, where the wildlings attack the wall. It's quite a spectacle, showing that the production values are pretty damn impressive considering it's not a big budget movie.
We are also treated to Tyrions trial, which is another fantastic piece of television - no action needed in this episode, all dialogue, and it's marvellous. For me, GoT never quite hit the peak of season 4 going forward.
The set pieces, the script, the casting, the musical score - it's all perfect.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
First off, a disclaimer: I have not read the book What to Expect When You’re Expecting; nor do I have any kids of my own. That being said….
This film shows you five different stories that are not all connected, but they do intersect each other’s paths several times. The stories follow different scenarios that you can expect when you, as a couple, are expecting a baby. These five stories are the easy pregnancy, the difficult on the woman’s body pregnancy, the difficult on the relationship pregnancy, the miscarriage and the adoption.
The film has a stellar lineup for the cast. Cameron Diaz (There’s Something About Mary, Bad Teacher) plays celebrity Jules who is on a Dancing-with-the-Stars-esque show, who ends up in a relationship with her dance partner Evan, played by Matthew Morrison (Glee, Music and Lyrics). Elizabeth Banks (Zack and Miri, The Hunger Games) is Wendy, the owner of a baby store and author of a baby’s book who has been desperately trying to get pregnant with her husband Gary played by Ben Falcone (Bridesmaids). Anna Kendrick (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Up In The Air) is Rosie, the owner of a food truck who has a one-night stand with high school crush Marco, played by Chace Crawford (The Covenant, Gossip Girl). Jennifer Lopez (American Idol, Out of Sight) is Holly, a photographer who is attempting to go the Brangelina route by adopting a baby from Ethiopia with her husband Alex, played by Rodrigo Santoro (300, I Love You Phillip Morris). Lastly, we have Skyler who is portrayed by Brooklyn Decker (Just Go With It, Battleship). She is a stay-at-home wife married to retired NASCAR driver Ramsey, who is played by Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow, Vantage Point).
Aside from the main cast, there is also a great supporting cast with the likes of Chris Rock (Grown Ups, Death At A Funeral), Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911, I Love You, Man), Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids) and many more.
Based on the trailers for What to Expect When You’re Expecting, the movie looked to be a very promising comedy. I am sad to say, I was very disappointed. The trailers make it look like “The Dudes Group” is a main focus of the story, but it is only a reprieve from the main story lines. This is a shame because for me, “The Dudes Group” had the funniest moments in the movie. The rest of the film, while heart-warming at moments, seemed to lack any real attempt to make a connection with the audience. To me, the relationships just seemed unreal.
This is not to say that there are not those out there who will not enjoy the film. The ladies behind me in the theatre seemed to be laughing the whole time, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I once heard my editor (Gareth Von Kallenbach) say that this was a great idea, but it may have been better presented as a TV show. I have to say that I agree whole-heartedly. It would have made a great weekly sitcom, probably with the series centered on “The Dudes Group” (as I said, funniest moments in the movies). But it looks like there may be something along these lines on the horizon any way with the upcoming NBC comedy: Guys With Kids.
This film shows you five different stories that are not all connected, but they do intersect each other’s paths several times. The stories follow different scenarios that you can expect when you, as a couple, are expecting a baby. These five stories are the easy pregnancy, the difficult on the woman’s body pregnancy, the difficult on the relationship pregnancy, the miscarriage and the adoption.
The film has a stellar lineup for the cast. Cameron Diaz (There’s Something About Mary, Bad Teacher) plays celebrity Jules who is on a Dancing-with-the-Stars-esque show, who ends up in a relationship with her dance partner Evan, played by Matthew Morrison (Glee, Music and Lyrics). Elizabeth Banks (Zack and Miri, The Hunger Games) is Wendy, the owner of a baby store and author of a baby’s book who has been desperately trying to get pregnant with her husband Gary played by Ben Falcone (Bridesmaids). Anna Kendrick (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Up In The Air) is Rosie, the owner of a food truck who has a one-night stand with high school crush Marco, played by Chace Crawford (The Covenant, Gossip Girl). Jennifer Lopez (American Idol, Out of Sight) is Holly, a photographer who is attempting to go the Brangelina route by adopting a baby from Ethiopia with her husband Alex, played by Rodrigo Santoro (300, I Love You Phillip Morris). Lastly, we have Skyler who is portrayed by Brooklyn Decker (Just Go With It, Battleship). She is a stay-at-home wife married to retired NASCAR driver Ramsey, who is played by Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow, Vantage Point).
Aside from the main cast, there is also a great supporting cast with the likes of Chris Rock (Grown Ups, Death At A Funeral), Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911, I Love You, Man), Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids) and many more.
Based on the trailers for What to Expect When You’re Expecting, the movie looked to be a very promising comedy. I am sad to say, I was very disappointed. The trailers make it look like “The Dudes Group” is a main focus of the story, but it is only a reprieve from the main story lines. This is a shame because for me, “The Dudes Group” had the funniest moments in the movie. The rest of the film, while heart-warming at moments, seemed to lack any real attempt to make a connection with the audience. To me, the relationships just seemed unreal.
This is not to say that there are not those out there who will not enjoy the film. The ladies behind me in the theatre seemed to be laughing the whole time, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I once heard my editor (Gareth Von Kallenbach) say that this was a great idea, but it may have been better presented as a TV show. I have to say that I agree whole-heartedly. It would have made a great weekly sitcom, probably with the series centered on “The Dudes Group” (as I said, funniest moments in the movies). But it looks like there may be something along these lines on the horizon any way with the upcoming NBC comedy: Guys With Kids.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated A Quiet Place (2018) in Movies
Apr 20, 2018
Terrifying
Cool with being terrified for ninety nonstop minutes? I have just the film for you. In A Quiet Place, a family of four tries to silently survive a terror that stalks by sound.
Acting: 10
The number of words said in this film probably equal the number of words it took me to write this review. The cast relies heavily on body language and facial expressions to convey their emotions and it's extremely effective. You feel their fear, their love for one another, their hatred. No way this emanates without an amazing cast.
Emily Blunt. Emily Blunt. Emily Blunt. Absolutely...freaking...phenomenal. It's hard for me to put into words how outstanding of a role she played in making this film work. She's powerful yet vulnerable in her role as mother Evelyn. Again, so challenging to do when your words are limited. Seeing her kill it made me excited to rewatch Edge of Tomorrow.
Beginning: 10
One does not simply get eased into watching A Quiet Place. It's a film that comes out of the gates swinging with one of the best intros I've seen since Baby Driver. Tensions run high as you're just waiting for something awful to happen. It's the perfect setup for a film that holds on to you and never lets go.
Characters: 10
While Blunt's Evelyn blew me away, I felt I related most to John Krasinski's character Lee, the father of the family. He is trying to keep everyone safe by having them abide by the rules that have kept them alive for so long. At the same time you can tell it frustrates him to have to shelter his kids from being kids and living their lives normally. He loves his family and is solely focused on the duty of keeping them safe and together.
Each character is layered with their own personal demons that have affected them in some form or fashion. The kids are intelligent as you would expect from children that have had to grow up in such an insane world. At the same time their sporadic and unpredictable feelings remind you that they are still just children.
Cinematography/Visuals: 9
Conflict: 10
Genre: 10
Memorability: 10
Pace: 10
A nonstop thrill ride. Sure you will get a couple breathers, but there is ALWAYS tension. Whether it's silence or looming threats around the corner, A Quiet Place never gives you a chance to get comfortable. I heard all of this going into the film and I still wasn't prepared for such intensity. Get ready...
Plot: 6
My one gripe. There is definitely a slight plot hole here that caused me to dock points. I won't ruin things, but if you look closely enough it's pretty obvious. I will also say that this one plot hole does little to nothing to ruin the overall experience of the film.
Resolution: 8
Strong ending that nicely ties everything together. It's a resolution that doesn't linger or wear out its welcome. It reminds me of Edge of Tomorrow in that it's just enough.
Overall: 93
If you're looking for a a memorable film to watch, A Quiet Place is a wonderful solution. Very original spin on a genre that can be repetitive at times. This one will stand out in my head for years to come.
Acting: 10
The number of words said in this film probably equal the number of words it took me to write this review. The cast relies heavily on body language and facial expressions to convey their emotions and it's extremely effective. You feel their fear, their love for one another, their hatred. No way this emanates without an amazing cast.
Emily Blunt. Emily Blunt. Emily Blunt. Absolutely...freaking...phenomenal. It's hard for me to put into words how outstanding of a role she played in making this film work. She's powerful yet vulnerable in her role as mother Evelyn. Again, so challenging to do when your words are limited. Seeing her kill it made me excited to rewatch Edge of Tomorrow.
Beginning: 10
One does not simply get eased into watching A Quiet Place. It's a film that comes out of the gates swinging with one of the best intros I've seen since Baby Driver. Tensions run high as you're just waiting for something awful to happen. It's the perfect setup for a film that holds on to you and never lets go.
Characters: 10
While Blunt's Evelyn blew me away, I felt I related most to John Krasinski's character Lee, the father of the family. He is trying to keep everyone safe by having them abide by the rules that have kept them alive for so long. At the same time you can tell it frustrates him to have to shelter his kids from being kids and living their lives normally. He loves his family and is solely focused on the duty of keeping them safe and together.
Each character is layered with their own personal demons that have affected them in some form or fashion. The kids are intelligent as you would expect from children that have had to grow up in such an insane world. At the same time their sporadic and unpredictable feelings remind you that they are still just children.
Cinematography/Visuals: 9
Conflict: 10
Genre: 10
Memorability: 10
Pace: 10
A nonstop thrill ride. Sure you will get a couple breathers, but there is ALWAYS tension. Whether it's silence or looming threats around the corner, A Quiet Place never gives you a chance to get comfortable. I heard all of this going into the film and I still wasn't prepared for such intensity. Get ready...
Plot: 6
My one gripe. There is definitely a slight plot hole here that caused me to dock points. I won't ruin things, but if you look closely enough it's pretty obvious. I will also say that this one plot hole does little to nothing to ruin the overall experience of the film.
Resolution: 8
Strong ending that nicely ties everything together. It's a resolution that doesn't linger or wear out its welcome. It reminds me of Edge of Tomorrow in that it's just enough.
Overall: 93
If you're looking for a a memorable film to watch, A Quiet Place is a wonderful solution. Very original spin on a genre that can be repetitive at times. This one will stand out in my head for years to come.
Merissa (12723 KP) rated The Kiss (The Cotiere Chronicles #1) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
I was a bit wary when starting this book as I knew from the synopsis that there were three people involved and my immediate fear was a love triangle, which I'm really fed up with reading about! However, my fears were groundless as this book took a turn that I never saw coming and by this point, I was totally engrossed in the story.
Liesl, Baden and Koen all change and grow in this book, no stagnation for any of these characters! However, Liesl is the one who grows the most. She has been lied to and manipulated for most of her life but once the truth is given to her, she makes her stand in her own quiet way, showing a strength of will and character where you might have thought of weakness. I loved her! Baden and Koen are both fantastic characters and I loved both of them. One thing I will point out in particular though, and it's about Koen. He has asthma and I LOVED that. He was not an Alpha Male absolutely perfect in every way. Instead, he has a debilitating illness (that I also suffer with so my chest tightened every time I read about his suffering!) and STILL manages to be an Alpha Male absolutely perfect in every way! He is romantic, funny, caring, protective, and loving - everything a romantic like me needs to read about.
The plot was fantastic and was very smoothly written. There is enough depth to this to make it a fantastic book and, speaking as an English transplant in Germany, I loved reading the German sentences because I understood them without the translation. Trust me, this means that it is simple enough for anyone but the translation is there just in case.
Overall, this book swept me away. Well written, edited and with no grammatical mistakes that I found, I was lost within this book and certainly didn't want it to end. Absolutely brilliant and highly recommended.
* 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!
Jul 26, 2015
Liesl, Baden and Koen all change and grow in this book, no stagnation for any of these characters! However, Liesl is the one who grows the most. She has been lied to and manipulated for most of her life but once the truth is given to her, she makes her stand in her own quiet way, showing a strength of will and character where you might have thought of weakness. I loved her! Baden and Koen are both fantastic characters and I loved both of them. One thing I will point out in particular though, and it's about Koen. He has asthma and I LOVED that. He was not an Alpha Male absolutely perfect in every way. Instead, he has a debilitating illness (that I also suffer with so my chest tightened every time I read about his suffering!) and STILL manages to be an Alpha Male absolutely perfect in every way! He is romantic, funny, caring, protective, and loving - everything a romantic like me needs to read about.
The plot was fantastic and was very smoothly written. There is enough depth to this to make it a fantastic book and, speaking as an English transplant in Germany, I loved reading the German sentences because I understood them without the translation. Trust me, this means that it is simple enough for anyone but the translation is there just in case.
Overall, this book swept me away. Well written, edited and with no grammatical mistakes that I found, I was lost within this book and certainly didn't want it to end. Absolutely brilliant and highly recommended.
* 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!
Jul 26, 2015
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I have to be honest. When I initially heard about Opening Up by Tristan Taormino, it was in association with someone I can't stand, and I childishly let that association color my impression of the book. I didn't really consider reading it. I finally got around to reading (okay, listening to) it this past week, and I'm sorry I didn't do so sooner. It's so good that I'm considering purchasing a print copy to have on hand in my lending library, and maybe even an ebook copy so that I might easily reference passages from time to time.
None of the information is new to me, exactly, but it is put together very well. The sections on issues to consider/issues that might arise in each style of responsible non-monogamy were especially appreciated. I was disappointed that there isn't a section in her web site for readers, but perhaps the print copy has reproducible checklists.
The chapter on STIs was very good, although I think that a list of specific STIs for which non-monogamous people should request testing would have been helpful.
In any case, I do recommend this book. It's replacing Love Without Limits as my go-to recommendation for new polyfolk to read.
None of the information is new to me, exactly, but it is put together very well. The sections on issues to consider/issues that might arise in each style of responsible non-monogamy were especially appreciated. I was disappointed that there isn't a section in her web site for readers, but perhaps the print copy has reproducible checklists.
The chapter on STIs was very good, although I think that a list of specific STIs for which non-monogamous people should request testing would have been helpful.
In any case, I do recommend this book. It's replacing Love Without Limits as my go-to recommendation for new polyfolk to read.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Sarah in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Also read my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-reviews/sarah-by-jt-leroy
Wow I don't know what to say really.
I think that most people rating this book have judged it based on the author's hoax at claiming this was a true story but if you ignore all that mess, what you find here is a really weird, heart breaking and hilarious novel. I think people need to start looking at this as a stand-alone novel and push the whole scandal to the side to see how brilliant this book actually is.
I wasn't sure why I decided to request this from Netgalley because it's the sort of book I'd normally steer clear of, but I'm glad I left my comfort zone to read this, because it was worth it.
Sarah will take you through every single emotion you can possibly think of, from love to terror to hope and you'll find yourself a bit lost once it's all over. I have another JT LeRoy book to start next, I'm hoping I like it just as much as this.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Wow I don't know what to say really.
I think that most people rating this book have judged it based on the author's hoax at claiming this was a true story but if you ignore all that mess, what you find here is a really weird, heart breaking and hilarious novel. I think people need to start looking at this as a stand-alone novel and push the whole scandal to the side to see how brilliant this book actually is.
I wasn't sure why I decided to request this from Netgalley because it's the sort of book I'd normally steer clear of, but I'm glad I left my comfort zone to read this, because it was worth it.
Sarah will take you through every single emotion you can possibly think of, from love to terror to hope and you'll find yourself a bit lost once it's all over. I have another JT LeRoy book to start next, I'm hoping I like it just as much as this.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) in Movies
Oct 18, 2018
Promising but fails to deliver
I had really high hopes for this film, but sadly I really struggled to like it.
The major issue with this film is that virtually every scene is far too long and drawn out, which means it gets dull and boring very quickly. They could have cut a lot of dialogue and unnecessary actions out of most scenes without having it impact on the overall plot. The run time of the entire film could've been reduced by well over 30 minutes, making the whole thing a lot more enjoyable and brief.
It's a shame really as if it wasn't so drawn out, the film would've actually been quite good. The plot was interesting, dark and gritty although not as funny as I'd hoped, and there are some great actors in this. Admittedly some of their performances weren't as impressive as I'd hoped - both Jeff Bridges and Chris Hemsworth were okay, but neither put in the stellar performance I'd been expecting. Cynthia Erivo was very good and has a stunning voice, but I do think the singing was very overused. The stand out performance for me was Lewis Pullman, his character Miles was both adorable and slightly disturbing, and he made the end of this film a lot more worthwhile.
The major issue with this film is that virtually every scene is far too long and drawn out, which means it gets dull and boring very quickly. They could have cut a lot of dialogue and unnecessary actions out of most scenes without having it impact on the overall plot. The run time of the entire film could've been reduced by well over 30 minutes, making the whole thing a lot more enjoyable and brief.
It's a shame really as if it wasn't so drawn out, the film would've actually been quite good. The plot was interesting, dark and gritty although not as funny as I'd hoped, and there are some great actors in this. Admittedly some of their performances weren't as impressive as I'd hoped - both Jeff Bridges and Chris Hemsworth were okay, but neither put in the stellar performance I'd been expecting. Cynthia Erivo was very good and has a stunning voice, but I do think the singing was very overused. The stand out performance for me was Lewis Pullman, his character Miles was both adorable and slightly disturbing, and he made the end of this film a lot more worthwhile.
The A to Z of You and Me
Book
AN OBSERVER 'NEW FACE OF FICTION 2015'. AN AMAZON RISING STAR 2015. "Genuinely one of the best books...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Keeper ( Matefinder: Next Generation book 1) in Books
Jul 9, 2022
117 of 230
Kindle
Keeper ( Matefinder: Next Generation book 1)
By Leia Stone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What would you do if you found out your mate was dying?
Anya has inherited her mother's gift. Born in a set of twins, she is the next Matefinder and her brother, Jaxon, is her sworn protector. But it looks like finding mates for the werewolf kind isn’t what Spirit has in plan for her. And when she starts dreaming about a human guy in trouble, her whole life changes. With the clock ticking on both of their lives, will Anya be able to do what needs to be done to survive?
*Author note: This is stand alone series that follows the daughter of Kai and Aurora from the Matefinder series twenty years in the future. It is not necessary to read the Matefinder series first.
I loved the Matefinder set and I loved this book! We are now following the next generation. I loved the switch in this it brought something different to the story. It had me glued from start to finish. Loved catching up with the characters from the Matefinder series too. Can’t wait to see where it goes.
Kindle
Keeper ( Matefinder: Next Generation book 1)
By Leia Stone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What would you do if you found out your mate was dying?
Anya has inherited her mother's gift. Born in a set of twins, she is the next Matefinder and her brother, Jaxon, is her sworn protector. But it looks like finding mates for the werewolf kind isn’t what Spirit has in plan for her. And when she starts dreaming about a human guy in trouble, her whole life changes. With the clock ticking on both of their lives, will Anya be able to do what needs to be done to survive?
*Author note: This is stand alone series that follows the daughter of Kai and Aurora from the Matefinder series twenty years in the future. It is not necessary to read the Matefinder series first.
I loved the Matefinder set and I loved this book! We are now following the next generation. I loved the switch in this it brought something different to the story. It had me glued from start to finish. Loved catching up with the characters from the Matefinder series too. Can’t wait to see where it goes.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Miss Frost Cracks a Caper ( Jayne Frost 4) in Books
Jun 6, 2023
73 of 235
Kindle
Miss Frost Cracks a Caper( Jayne Frost 4)
By Kristen Painter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jayne Frost is a lot of things. Winter elf, Jack Frost's daughter, Santa Claus's niece, heir to the Winter Throne and now...private investigator. Sort of.
When Lark Bramble, an old frenemy, shows up in Nocturne Falls, Jayne finds herself reliving the painful past and trying to make responsible decisions that won’t mess up her future. But being an adult proves harder than she thought.
Finally at peace with where things stand between her and Lark, Jayne thinks everything’s cool until a chilling event at the Black and Orange Ball shatters that peace and puts Jayne at odds with the powers that be. She knows she’s on thin ice, but she’s determined to crack the caper.
Can Jayne find a way to right the wrongs she might have caused or will she forever bear the guilt of allowing herself to be snowed again?
I absolutely love this author and this quirky fun series it always makes me smile. I love the well know characters used and the spooky creatures mixed with the Christmas ones. The story is always so much fun. Absolutely recommend especially to come out of a reading slump or some light relief.
Kindle
Miss Frost Cracks a Caper( Jayne Frost 4)
By Kristen Painter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jayne Frost is a lot of things. Winter elf, Jack Frost's daughter, Santa Claus's niece, heir to the Winter Throne and now...private investigator. Sort of.
When Lark Bramble, an old frenemy, shows up in Nocturne Falls, Jayne finds herself reliving the painful past and trying to make responsible decisions that won’t mess up her future. But being an adult proves harder than she thought.
Finally at peace with where things stand between her and Lark, Jayne thinks everything’s cool until a chilling event at the Black and Orange Ball shatters that peace and puts Jayne at odds with the powers that be. She knows she’s on thin ice, but she’s determined to crack the caper.
Can Jayne find a way to right the wrongs she might have caused or will she forever bear the guilt of allowing herself to be snowed again?
I absolutely love this author and this quirky fun series it always makes me smile. I love the well know characters used and the spooky creatures mixed with the Christmas ones. The story is always so much fun. Absolutely recommend especially to come out of a reading slump or some light relief.