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Merissa (12911 KP) rated Shoot The Gap (Big Play, #4) in Books

Dec 17, 2018

Shoot The Gap (Big Play, #4)

Jordan Ford | 2016 | Contemporary, Religion, Young Adult (YA)

10.0

(3 Ratings)

Book Rating

In the final book of the series, we have Tyler and Sam's story. They have been best friends forever, but Tyler thinks that he needs something 'special' to make him stand out from his team mates. That something comes in the shape of Roxy Carmichael. Will Tyler open his eyes and see what is right in front of him, or will he stumble around in the dark and lose what he's already got?

This story wraps up all the previous story lines into one amazing climax. We see more of Tyler and Sam's home life, and the differences are there to see. Whereas one family is full of life and love, the other is clinical and detached. Professions of love are made, but to be honest, even after reading it all, I have my doubts!

With the full crew here helping to complete the story, the pages near enough turn themselves. Everything comes out to the harsh light of day and only time will tell how they all survive the fallout.

Absolutely recommended, both this book and the series.

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

Kudos

LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated X2: X-Men United (2003) in Movies

Jun 20, 2019 (Updated Jun 20, 2019)

X2: X-Men United (2003)

2003 | Action, Sci-Fi

7.7

(38 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

A strong follow up

X-Men 2 builds upon the first in pretty much every way possible - were introduced to new characters (Brian Cox as William Stryker being a stand out here) and some really thrilling set pieces.

Notable amongst them - the opening scene of Nightcrawler attacking The White House (set to Mozart's Requiem in D Minor) is honestly one of my top scenes in a comic book film ever.
The scene where the mansion is attacked at night - we see Wolverine a lot more feral here than in the first film, and we're introduced to Colossus.
And the almost everything on Alkali Lake - the glimpses into the Weapon X project, the hints at Dark Phoenix - are all comic book ticks (until they were a bit shat on in future sequels)

There are still faults - the biggest one here for me is Lady Deathstroke - second X-Men movie in a row that backbenches a classic Wolverine villain in favour of a fairly useless mute version.

I remember and appreciate X-Men 2 for what it was at the time - a movie for a young franchise brimming with future possibilities. It still stands strong as far as Marvel adaptions go.

Kudos

Merissa (12911 KP) rated Shoot The Gap (Big Play, #4) in Books

Jan 17, 2019

Shoot The Gap (Big Play, #4)

Jordan Ford | 2016 | Contemporary, Religion, Young Adult (YA)

10.0

(3 Ratings)

Book Rating

Shoot The Gap (Big Play #4) by Jordan Ford

Kudos

Sarah (7800 KP) rated A Gate at the Stairs in Books

Feb 9, 2020

A Gate at the Stairs

Lorrie Moore | 2010 | Fiction & Poetry

5.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Not bad but ultimately forgettable

I read this as part of a local reading group I’ve joined recently, and I was sceptical as some of the Goodreads reviews are scathing to say the least. However fortunately this isn’t as bad as others seem to think.

The problem is that this book is mostly forgettable. The writing is rather good, although does have a tendency to ramble off at rather bizarre tangents. I’m not sure if this is meant to be a nod to the disjointed and random thoughts of the narrator, but for me this didn’t quite work. When it got a little rambling I found my mind began to wander and I ended up skim reading more than I should. I also struggled with the anti-racism group, while they didn’t feature too often when they did their inane ramblings and chat I just couldn’t stand. Despite this the rest of the book isn’t too bad. Tassie is a rather shambolic protagonist and for the most part not very sympathetic or endearing. But the development of her and her friends and family is engaging enough to keep you reading, even if sadly this book is ultimately forgettable.