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The Boats of the 'Glen Carrig'
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Prior to selecting The Boats of the ‘Glen Carrig’ as my next read on Serial Reader, I was unaware that William Hope Hodgson was a source of inspiration for Lovecraft. In fact, as I devoured the novel, I remember remarking to myself how much it felt like something Lovecraft would write – and no wonder!

The Boats of the ‘Glen Carrig’ is written in first-person point of view and feels largely epistolary in form (though it is actually a travelogue). There is no dialogue and readers only know what Winterstraw writes. The story follows a marooned ship and its crew first as they encounter an odd island and then as they end up stranded in what appears as a Hell on Earth – or in this case, the sea. There, they discover another ship entangled in seaweed for seven years (yeah, I don’t get that either, but hey who’s judging?).

Oddly enough, despite the myriad oddities that those aboard the Glen Carrig encounter, it is the second ship they find that truly bewilders me and crosses me as unbelievable. I’m all for the time of creatures this group encounters, but I cannot fathom how it is possible that so many individuals survived on ship that was, for the most part, dead in the water. I kept waiting and waiting for something to go wrong, for something truly disturbing to happen in regards to the other boat and well… there was nothing.

Even though I feel disappointed by the outcome of things with the other ship, overall I found The Boats of the ‘Glen Carrig’ a fun read. For fans of H. P. Lovecraft, it is a must-read. The Wildside Press publication of this book, as well as several other public domain publications, are available on Amazon, free of charge. An audio version can be found on Librivox, an organization comprised of volunteers that come together to record audiobooks of titles that are in the Public Domain.
  
#Alive (2020)
#Alive (2020)
2020 | Action, Drama, Horror
10
8.0 (9 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
#Alive is a Korean zombie movie that focuses on the survival of Oh Joon-woo, a young man who is stranded in his family's apartment at the outbreak of the zombie virus and follows him as he tries to work out what is happening, how he can survive and how he can cope with the fact that his family is probably dead.
#Alive is defiantly a film of 3 parts, the first part focuses solely on Oh Joon-woo and his attempts at survival alone in his apartment as he struggles to cope with the zombies, running out of food and the lose of his family. The portrayal of Isolation and loneliness is very well done, leading up to what could almost be a very short film.
Then Oh Joon-woo meets Kim Yoo-bin, another survivor who lives in the apartments across the street from him. The isolation continues as the two find ways to communicate and survive but now there is hope.
The two are eventually forced from their apartments and have to meet up and move up as they try to find somewhere safe to survive.
#Alive is a film without a big main cast and this helps the sense of isolation and loneliness which is only increased by the fact that they spend most of the film separated by a street full of the undead.
Surprisingly #Alive manages to avoid becoming a love story. Normally when you have two survivors who meet in films like this they fall for each other and, at least part of the film is taken up by their relationship. However #Alive doesn't do this, Oh Joon-woo and Kim Yoo-bin obviously become friends but they are too busy surviving but their relationship doesn't overtake the main point of the film, survival.
There are moments of tension and relief in the film and they work well making #Alive a different type of film than a lot of other zombie films, including the other Korean zombie blockbuster, Train to Busan.
  
Buster's Mal Heart (2016)
Buster's Mal Heart (2016)
2016 | Mystery
Someone tell me what I just watched?!?
On the recommendation from a friend, I checked this film out on Netflix (I think it is available on Netflix UK also).

Before he recently won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek starred in this very unusual film about a guy who is either stranded out at sea on a one-person raft, running from the law after breaking in and stealing wealthy mansions for his own use or a married man working at a hotel with a wife and daughter. Or maybe all 3?

The character meets a paranoid man talking all about the "inversion" and Y2K (remember that?) which sends the man down a weird slope of cerebral? encounters throughout his various levels of existence.

The screenplay is so interesting that I want to sit in a room with writer/director Sarah Adina Smith to pick her brain just to make sure I either understand what I watched or if I am meant to. I have no issue with cerebral films like Donnie Darko, The Fountain, Under the Skin or Mulholland Drive. Since some of the film takes place in a hotel, I could see comparisons to shades of The Shining also.

It may take another viewing to let everything soak in or maybe I will pick up new things the next time around.

The look of the film is breathtaking with both beautiful outdoor landscapes, gorgeous mansions, and stuffy hotel lobbies.

I am ashamed to say I have not seen Bohemian Rhapsody yet, but based on this film alone Malek appears to be not only up and coming, but here to stay for a while and he deserves it. He was emotional and moving in this film so I am eager to see more of his work.

Please someone else watch this so we can discuss. I would love to hear your opinion!

  
The House By The Cypress Trees
The House By The Cypress Trees
Elena Mikalsen | 2019 | Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have always wanted to travel to Italy. My father was in the Navy and was stationed in Italy for some time and my aunt and uncle lived there during their military career. So, I have always heard lots of amazing stories about the culture there. I was excited to read this book by Dr. Mikalsen because, due to health reasons, I will never get to visit Italy. Upon opening this beautiful book, I was instantly taken to the heart of the story and felt as though I got to be there, in the middle of Italy, just like my dad and uncle got to be. Oh and let's not forget to eat before reading this book because Mikalsen will leave you hungering for delicious Italian food!

Julia Ramos and Daniel Stafford are both wonderfully chiseled characters! I loved how Mikalsen created their chance encounter when Daniel nearly ran her over! The attraction between them could be felt as if I was right there standing next to them. Nothing is seeming to go right for either of them while they are in Italy, and it just doesn't seem like the universe is going to help ease their predicaments with all the misunderstandings, the sparks flying and interference from family! But, one night stranded on the side of the road, may be just what they need.

With vivid details of the country side of Italy, and two characters who are from two separate worlds, yet fall into each others paths, and a plot line filled with emotional moments, this is a beautifully written, page turning novel that I highly recommend! Britain, Italy and America collide, quite literally, in this romantic roller coaster ride of a story. It's 4 star worthy, and I look forward to reading it again and again.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Author, Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
  
    Smurf Life

    Smurf Life

    Games and Entertainment

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    PLEASE NOTE: Smurf Life is free to play, but charges real money for additional in-app content. You...

    Survivors: the Quest®

    Survivors: the Quest®

    Games and Entertainment

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    Three strangers find themselves stranded on a secluded island. Abandoned buildings, an old laptop...