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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Lottery and Other Stories in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Jackson is the queen of turning normal people's lives into a horror show. This short story is dark, disturbing and chilling.
Written and published just after WWII, this clearly sends out as message to all those involved in the Holocaust. Just because something is being done by the masses, and has become a sort of tradition, doesn't mean its moral and right. This message translates to today's times too. As another reviewer perfectly put it, "there is value in tradition but beware blind faith".
This in no way surprised me, it's not that I've seen spoilers for it, I just happened to get it very early on, but that doesn't take away the effect of the horrific ending.
Written and published just after WWII, this clearly sends out as message to all those involved in the Holocaust. Just because something is being done by the masses, and has become a sort of tradition, doesn't mean its moral and right. This message translates to today's times too. As another reviewer perfectly put it, "there is value in tradition but beware blind faith".
This in no way surprised me, it's not that I've seen spoilers for it, I just happened to get it very early on, but that doesn't take away the effect of the horrific ending.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2196 KP) rated Traitor's Chase (The Last Musketeer, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Greg Rich and his parents are still stuck in 17th century France, and Spanish assassins have just targeted Greg and his friends, the Musketeers. This leads them to think that their old nemesis is plotting to overthrow the French government, so they take off to learn what kind of army is on the way. However, dissention in the group is making the trip hard. Can they keep it together to save the day? This is a fun mix of fantasy and historical fiction for kids. And adults. I certainly enjoyed it. It was another can't put down for me.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-last-musketeer-traitors.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-last-musketeer-traitors.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Franjpan (10 KP) rated Periodic tales in Books
Nov 26, 2018
The curious lives of elements
Periodic takes is a very interesting book about one man's take on the periodic table of elements. 'The great rift Valley, the field of the cloth of gold, Newton's prism, the Mona Lisa; all impossible without the elements'. This book contains many different stories about the different elements, grounding them into everyday life. It requires little to no scientific knowledge and also includes lots of historical, geographical and cultural context. Personally, I found this book a great read as someone who is about to go to university to study chemistry but I also know of others who have read it and enjoyed it just as much as me.
David McK (3414 KP) rated Sherlock Holmes: The Voice of Treason in Books
Apr 12, 2020
At first, I must admit, I wondered what a Sherlock Holmes story that had not been written by Arthur Conan Doyle would be like.
And then I listened to this.
Set in the 'traditional' Sherlock Holmes setting of late in Queen Victoria's reign (in this case, after Reichenbach Falls) - instead of the more contemporary setting popularised by TVs Sherlock - this did take me a bit to get into.
However, it is impeccably produced and acted - even if it relies quite heavily on flashbacks - taking in such key characters as Sherlock himself, Dr Watson, Sherlock's brother Mycroft and Professor Moriarty, in a mystery around the kidnapping of the Queen!
(I was never taught that in school …)
And then I listened to this.
Set in the 'traditional' Sherlock Holmes setting of late in Queen Victoria's reign (in this case, after Reichenbach Falls) - instead of the more contemporary setting popularised by TVs Sherlock - this did take me a bit to get into.
However, it is impeccably produced and acted - even if it relies quite heavily on flashbacks - taking in such key characters as Sherlock himself, Dr Watson, Sherlock's brother Mycroft and Professor Moriarty, in a mystery around the kidnapping of the Queen!
(I was never taught that in school …)
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated Vacation (2015) in Movies
Aug 2, 2019
I'll be honest, I went into the new Vacation movie with very low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. I was laughing from the opening credits to the end. We all know it was Uncle Eddie that made the original vacation movies so great, but he sadly isn't in the new movie. There is a character that makes the new movie hilarious though, and that's the youngest Griswold son. That foul mouthed little asshole had me rolling. If you are on the fence about seeing it, I say load the family up in the old station wagon and take a road trip to the movies to watch Vacation.
Gaz Coombes recommended Boys Don't Cry by The Cure in Music (curated)
gayga (2127 KP) rated Weasels Ripped My Flesh by Mothers of Invention / Frank Zappa in Music
Oct 11, 2019
Welcome weasels!
I saw the cover for this in a book of album covers years ago. Having come across it again recently I listened to the album on YouTube and couldn’t believe how good it was. I’d always heard of Frank Zappa but had never listened to any of his music but like wow! What have I missed?
I think it would take a few more listens to identify a stand out track for me, but as a brand new Zappa fan it’s certainly wetted my appetite to sample more of his (quite vast) back catalogue. Hopefully I’ll get to review more of this great mans work shortly.
I think it would take a few more listens to identify a stand out track for me, but as a brand new Zappa fan it’s certainly wetted my appetite to sample more of his (quite vast) back catalogue. Hopefully I’ll get to review more of this great mans work shortly.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Chalk Man in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Big thanks to Janel @ Keeper of Pages for sending me her copy of the book!
This is one of those books that’s been getting a lot of attention in the bookish world, so of course, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! While it only took me a couple of sessions to get through the whole thing, I wasn’t that thrilled by it. The hype wasn’t worth it for me.
I immediately knew this novel wasn’t going to be a 5 star read because I didn’t like the way it was written from page 1. It’s one of those novels that’s told in flashbacks, but rather than transporting us back in time to live the events as they happened, we were told it as though we were being read a story. I feel like this way of writing really makes you take a step back from the events and you don’t get the chance to experience them along with the characters. So anything that’s meant to be tense or exciting didn’t feel that way for me.
As for characters, I honestly didn’t have an opinion on any of them. You would have thought that our main character / narrator Eddie would have left some kind of impression on me, but he didn’t. I genuinely have nothing to say about him… he was unforgettable. The only thing I can think to mention is that his relationship with his housemate Chloe seriously cringy.
<spoiler>For me, there were too many characters in this book that were irrelevant. Including Mr. Halloran – “The Chalk Man”. He was literally only a character to make the title make sense and to have an extremely obvious ‘distraction’ to the real bad guy.</spoiler>
I didn’t mind the story in this one, but the synopsis had me ready for something so much more exciting and sinister. It kept me interested for the most part, but I wasn’t enthralled. I had the ‘baddie’ sussed in a matter of chapters, so from there, all I was trying to work out was their motive. It was pretty good at keeping you on your toes in that sense.
Some books try so hard to be exciting and this is one of them. It seemed to me, that each chapter had new drama in it. Less is sometimes more! Don’t forget that! We don’t need drama, after drama, after drama to keep us entertained. It got tedious and took any realism away from the story.
In the end, this novel was extremely underwhelming for me. I didn’t find it exciting and I didn’t think the story was particularly unique. I think this would be a good novel for non-mystery readers, but I’ve just read too many similar stories.
This is one of those books that’s been getting a lot of attention in the bookish world, so of course, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! While it only took me a couple of sessions to get through the whole thing, I wasn’t that thrilled by it. The hype wasn’t worth it for me.
I immediately knew this novel wasn’t going to be a 5 star read because I didn’t like the way it was written from page 1. It’s one of those novels that’s told in flashbacks, but rather than transporting us back in time to live the events as they happened, we were told it as though we were being read a story. I feel like this way of writing really makes you take a step back from the events and you don’t get the chance to experience them along with the characters. So anything that’s meant to be tense or exciting didn’t feel that way for me.
As for characters, I honestly didn’t have an opinion on any of them. You would have thought that our main character / narrator Eddie would have left some kind of impression on me, but he didn’t. I genuinely have nothing to say about him… he was unforgettable. The only thing I can think to mention is that his relationship with his housemate Chloe seriously cringy.
<spoiler>For me, there were too many characters in this book that were irrelevant. Including Mr. Halloran – “The Chalk Man”. He was literally only a character to make the title make sense and to have an extremely obvious ‘distraction’ to the real bad guy.</spoiler>
I didn’t mind the story in this one, but the synopsis had me ready for something so much more exciting and sinister. It kept me interested for the most part, but I wasn’t enthralled. I had the ‘baddie’ sussed in a matter of chapters, so from there, all I was trying to work out was their motive. It was pretty good at keeping you on your toes in that sense.
Some books try so hard to be exciting and this is one of them. It seemed to me, that each chapter had new drama in it. Less is sometimes more! Don’t forget that! We don’t need drama, after drama, after drama to keep us entertained. It got tedious and took any realism away from the story.
In the end, this novel was extremely underwhelming for me. I didn’t find it exciting and I didn’t think the story was particularly unique. I think this would be a good novel for non-mystery readers, but I’ve just read too many similar stories.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Moon Called in Books
Jan 18, 2018
Thank you, Patricia Briggs for proving to me that there is still some amazing urban fantasy/paranormal fiction out there. I am so used to reading paranormal romance that I was actually pleasantly surprised that I became so completely wrapped up in the plotline that I didn’t even notice the lack of sex scenes and romance.
There are so many things to love about this novel. From the fantastic world the Briggs creates to the even more interesting characters that fill the pages. Briggs took the time to explain the world just enough for us to understand the races and world without making us bored from over description. There were some things that I felt Briggs could have left out bit what’s a little background info?
I also enjoyed that Briggs’ female protagonist, Mercy, was not the stereotypical lead. She was smart enough to take care of herself and keep herself out of trouble, or call people who could. In no way was she kind of woman who, while enjoying her independence, thought she was a superwoman who could take on anything and everything by herself and come out on top. I loved her sarcasm without the bitchiness and her wit without the “know it all” attitude.
It wasn’t just Mercy that made the storyline interesting, it was all the characters. I found myself interested in all the characters from different races that befriended or aided her, not to mention the entire werewolf pack.
I do have one complaint about this the novel, but it has more to do with Briggs than the story. While the storyline was intriguing and kept me turning the pages, Briggs writing style irked me. At times, it felt dry and I was just reading words. Briggs also liked to throw in random words that I had never heard of in my life. I am a fairly intelligent girl and I know me some vocabulary, but I had no idea where Briggs pulled these words from. At least they were easy to figure out from context clues.
There are so many things to love about this novel. From the fantastic world the Briggs creates to the even more interesting characters that fill the pages. Briggs took the time to explain the world just enough for us to understand the races and world without making us bored from over description. There were some things that I felt Briggs could have left out bit what’s a little background info?
I also enjoyed that Briggs’ female protagonist, Mercy, was not the stereotypical lead. She was smart enough to take care of herself and keep herself out of trouble, or call people who could. In no way was she kind of woman who, while enjoying her independence, thought she was a superwoman who could take on anything and everything by herself and come out on top. I loved her sarcasm without the bitchiness and her wit without the “know it all” attitude.
It wasn’t just Mercy that made the storyline interesting, it was all the characters. I found myself interested in all the characters from different races that befriended or aided her, not to mention the entire werewolf pack.
I do have one complaint about this the novel, but it has more to do with Briggs than the story. While the storyline was intriguing and kept me turning the pages, Briggs writing style irked me. At times, it felt dry and I was just reading words. Briggs also liked to throw in random words that I had never heard of in my life. I am a fairly intelligent girl and I know me some vocabulary, but I had no idea where Briggs pulled these words from. At least they were easy to figure out from context clues.