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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Kaleidoscope in Books

May 11, 2024 (Updated May 11, 2024)  
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope
Dorothy Gilman | 2002 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Once Again, a Kaleidoscope of Stories Lacking Focus
As with the first book featuring Madame Karitska, we get several stories that weave in and out of each other. Sometimes, they touch. Sometimes they only take up a chapter. Madame Karitska winds up in the possession of some diamonds when she runs into an old friend on a train. She helps a wife whose husband is interested in a nearby commune. A man who is deathly ill comes to her for help. She even helps a government official who is afraid some home grown terrorists might be at work.

Fans of the first book will be happy to hear that the format of the plot didn’t change much. Sadly, for me, that means it didn’t work as well as I would have liked. The way the stories wander around and in and out of each other without any clear beginning or climax frustrates me. One of them ends very anticlimactically. On the other hand, I do enjoy the charming characters and I liked spending time with them again. As with the author’s Mrs. Pollifax series, the characters haven’t really aged even thought it was roundly 25 years between books and both take place in their present. As a fan of the author, I’m not sorry I read this book, but I won’t be reading this series again any time soon.
  
OM
Open Minds (Mindjack Series, #1)
8
7.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This was part of a young adult dystopian box set and I have to say that I am glad that I started with this book. I really enjoyed it.

This was an extremely quick read that kept me captivated for hours. I found myself invested in the characters. This novel is not your typical dystopian book. It deals with mind readers and a society that is scared of evolution. The fact that this was not a stereotypical dystopian really surprised me. I liked the characters and I liked the content. I'm glad that I was able to sit down and take time to read this young adult novel.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this novel. I will definitely continue on in the series and I am excited to read the rest of the box set.
  
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Monster Fights (0 more)
Monsters vs Monsters... Epic
After the sour taste the last big screen adaptation left in my mouth I wasn’t overly enthusiastic for this one. I mean hyping your entire movie around Bryan Cranston to just kill him in the first 20 minutes leaving second best Quicksilver to hold the movie up was just Mental.

BUT this movie did promise one thing, more Kaiju more Godzilla instead of the pitiful 10 minutes screen time on our last outing. boy did it deliver of the Kaiju battles in spades.

That’s all I wanted was to see Godzilla battle it out with Mothra, Ghiadora and whoever else, just take me back to my childhood and give me epic scale monster fights. I felt this movie delivered that unapologetically so it’s a win.

Also I kinda love seeing Kyle Chandler in things.
  
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Alice (117 KP) rated Yes No Maybe So in Books

Mar 3, 2021  
Yes No Maybe So
Yes No Maybe So
Becky Albertalli | 2020 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
4.5 STARS

Becky Albertalli books are my happy place, truly no other author makes me feel this happy when reading. Can I be reincarnated in a Becky Albertalli universe please and thank you. I've been going through a rough patch of really enjoying the books I'm reading at the minute and who knew that all it would take was Becky Albertalli? (Me, I probably knew that)

I wasn't instantly hooked on this like I was with Simon vs but once it got to a point, I just absorbed it. I've never read anything by Aisha Saeed before but I really enjoyed her parts of the story too! The story was really well balanced and not to compare political romance stories but <s>this was better than red white and royal blue</s> in my honest opinion but maybe I just related more.
  
Enticed By Blood (Sweetblood #4.5)
Enticed By Blood (Sweetblood #4.5)
Laurie London | 2015 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a story that takes place within the history of the Sweetblood novels, none of which I have read previously. However, as most of the explanations given are related directly to Juliette and Andre, it didn't really have much of an impact on the story.

It is well-written and fast-paced, typically what is expected of a short story or novella. Look at it as a chance to dip your toe into the Sweetblood world and take it from there. As for me, I really liked what I read so I will definitely be reading more.

Definitely 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!
Jun 14, 2015