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'Master and Commander'
'Master and Commander'
Patrick O'Brien | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Believable Characters (0 more)
Difficult to get into, Technical Sailing Vocabulary which was difficult to understand (0 more)
An Interesting Maritime Adventure
This book was recommended to me by a friend who has read all of the books in the series and this, is the first. I thought because I had watched the film version of this novel, that I knew what the story was going to be about, but the book is very different from the adaptation.

At first, I found this extremely difficult to get into. After about 100 pages I actually put this book down, because I found the maritime vocabulary, impossible to follow. However, I decided to pick it back up again and actually, when the character Stephen Maturin, the ship's doctor, comes into the story, I found that, because he was a novice with ships, he was asking questions about the different mechanisms etc of the ship and that helped me to feel that I had some idea of what it was all about.

I also found some of the battle scene a little bit static and difficult to visualize.

Even though this was a challenging book, I really like the relationship between Stephen and Jack Aubrey, the ship's captain. The writing was very humorous at times and I also liked how some of this book featured places in the Mediterranean that I'm really familiar with.

Being the first in the series, I'm sure as the novels progress, I might find this easier to get into. I won't be rushing out to read any more at the moment, I think you need to be in the right mood to read them. However, I may read more of this series in the future.

My Rating ***
  
Heroes (Stephen Fry’s Great Mythology Volume 2
Heroes (Stephen Fry’s Great Mythology Volume 2
Stephen Fry | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Greek mythology’s greatest heroes!
I loved this retelling of the heroes of the Greek myths. I knew I would. I enjoyed the first one (Mythos), and I had umpteen hours of Stephen Fry’s voice to look forward to (I listened on Audible). I could happily listen to him reading the back of a cereal packet, to be quite honest (but I do prefer books). He has a voice that you want to listen to: he brings these stories to life, and tells them in such a modern, engaging way. I have proof. My 15 year old son (Seb) would turn his headphones off in the car to listen along when I played this on our journey down to Devon from Cheshire (a six hour journey). And not one comment from him (anything Marvel or DC, he always has endless comments to make and often spoils the film - drives me mad!).

So, Stephen tells us about Heracles, Perseus, Jason and others that I wasn’t as familiar with, like Oedipus and Bellerophon. Honestly, this book is bursting with heroes, and whilst this sounds like a ridiculous thing to say, what I actually mean is that I didn’t feel as though they were short changed in their space. All of the heroes were given their moments of glory again: their stories were told with care, with humour and with feeling. I’m hoping more will come out of this ‘Great Mythology’ series, because I am well up for listening to more. I’ll even pick up my Audible subscription again. I just need to get through the long list of Audible books that I have first...

Anyway, I would highly recommend this book and Mythos as well, and if you can, definitely listen to the audiobook version. You won’t regret it!
  
Where Love Grows
Where Love Grows
Jay Northcote | 2019 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Where Love Grows is a beautiful story between two men who have struggled with hard times, set in the gorgeous backdrop of Wales. Stephen has been seriously ill and is struggling to get his life back on track. It appears hopeless and he feels helpless. Luke is suffering from depression and has no idea on how to make his life better OR be able to move forward. Together, these two are amazing.

Oh my, I loved this story. I am not a gardener although my heart is in the right place. Unfortunately, my brown thumb doesn't cooperate! So I was immediately sympathising with Luke as he struggled to understand the difference between a weed and a flower. Stephen is a prickly character that endears himself to you as you learn more about his story. Yes, I wanted to slap him upside the head a couple of times, but I want to do that to my husband at times too, so count it as a compliment 😉

The writing is excellent, with clear descriptions of places, weather, emotions, you name it. The pacing is smooth, with the ending sneaking up on me. I was so engrossed in the story, I didn't realise I was nearing the end. I could have carried on reading! There is only a small cast of characters but this works so well. The storyline is superbly simple, focusing on the important things between our two characters rather than unnecessary drama.

This is a book to enjoy all year long, no matter what the season, or what is growing in your garden. Absolutely fantastic, and highly recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Sleeping Beauties
Sleeping Beauties
Stephen King, Owen King | 2017 | Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.6 (26 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was so good!! Super long, though I shouldn't be surprised as it is a Stephen King/Own King novel, but I thought it would go by quicker if I was listening to it as an audiobook, but that was not the case! Even still though, it was so good. The idea that all of the women have feel asleep and the men have to learn to fend for themselves, I would love to see a world like that. Of course, being female, I'd be asleep as well, but I think its definitely an interesting concept. I loved the characters, especially the character of Evie because she was so fascinating and the idea of a supernatural woman taking the futures of all women into her hands and being even more powerful that a man, that's some heady stuff.
  
Groundhog Day (1993)
Groundhog Day (1993)
1993 | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Worshiped at our house!
When grumpy weatherman Bill Murray is forced to relive the same day In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania over and over until he fulfills some sort of prophecy or at least hopefully gets the girls of his dreams, the result is one of the most hilarious quotable comedies of all time.

It's hard to know exactly how long Phil Connors was there in total; however, since he was a master pianist by the end, you would almost have to assume several years.

Every scene is great fun including the masterful Stephen Tobolowsky as everyone's favorite insurance salesman, Ned Ryerson.

My family loves this movie so much, we drove 3 hours to Woodstock, Illinois to where the movie was filmed and took the "Groundhog Tour". I even bought a t-shirt.

This movie is one of a kind.

  
40x40

Andy K (10823 KP) Jun 27, 2018