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Boy: One Child's Fight to Survive in the Brutal British Care System
Book
"My parents had to try for eighteen months to conceive me, but my father was adamant he wanted one...
Can I Speak to Someone in Charge?
Book
'JUST IMAGINE IF WE, THE NORMAL GIRLS, STOOD UNITED AS AN ENORMOUS, HYSTERICAL AND PROUD ARMY. WE...
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Acid in Books
Jan 6, 2021
***I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
3.5 stars.
This was a long book and therefore I had to break it up with others but it didn’t take away my intrigue with the book. A lot happened in it and it kept me coming back, if only to read a few pages at a time.
I’ll admit for the first 15% or so I was really interested but then it got a little slow (which was when I started breaking it up with other books) and it was only when I got to around the 50% mark that I got really into it again and quite literally devoured it in a few hours.
The plot was different to anything I’ve ever read and I think it was for that reason that I was so intrigued. How England is being run by an agency that doesn’t allow you to go abroad at all or to leave the city without a valid c-card (I.D). If this is what’s going to happen in the future then God help us…though in another hundred years I think I’ll be long past dead and wont particularly care.
That’s something else I like about this book, the fact it’s set in England (which doesn’t seem to happen so often in the books I read) and we travel from London to Manchester and a few other places :)
Jenna is a strong, kick-ass, character and I found myself willing her on whether in prison or out in London and the other areas they visit. I also liked her relationship with Max.
If you like something young adult, dystopian and intriguing then you will love this. It’s certainly different.
3.5 stars.
This was a long book and therefore I had to break it up with others but it didn’t take away my intrigue with the book. A lot happened in it and it kept me coming back, if only to read a few pages at a time.
I’ll admit for the first 15% or so I was really interested but then it got a little slow (which was when I started breaking it up with other books) and it was only when I got to around the 50% mark that I got really into it again and quite literally devoured it in a few hours.
The plot was different to anything I’ve ever read and I think it was for that reason that I was so intrigued. How England is being run by an agency that doesn’t allow you to go abroad at all or to leave the city without a valid c-card (I.D). If this is what’s going to happen in the future then God help us…though in another hundred years I think I’ll be long past dead and wont particularly care.
That’s something else I like about this book, the fact it’s set in England (which doesn’t seem to happen so often in the books I read) and we travel from London to Manchester and a few other places :)
Jenna is a strong, kick-ass, character and I found myself willing her on whether in prison or out in London and the other areas they visit. I also liked her relationship with Max.
If you like something young adult, dystopian and intriguing then you will love this. It’s certainly different.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated Charlie Thorne and the Lost City in Books
Mar 24, 2021 (Updated Mar 24, 2021)
Tracking Darwin Through the Amazon
It's been a few months since Charlotte “Charlie” Thorne has gone missing. While she was initially presumed dead, she took advantage of the confusion of the situation to slip away. She’s currently hiding out in the Galapagos Islands, which turns out to be very fortunate. One day, she is approached by Esmerelda, a researcher from the Darwin Institute who thinks she’s found a message left behind by Charles Darwin almost 200 years ago. Unfortunately, it’s in code, and Esmerelda needs Charlie to help her figure it out. Suddenly, Charlie finds herself on another wild ride that will take her deep into the heart of the Amazon pursued by people out to get the treasure first. But what did Darwin leave behind?
When I realized that Charles Darwin was going to be the featured scientist in this book, I was worried. As expected, there are some jabs taken at people like me, Christians who believe in microevolution (which Darwin clearly observed) but not the theory of macroevolution. I realize that will only be an issue for some readers. The rest will be thrilled with the action, danger, and twists that Charlie finds herself caught up in once again. I do struggle a bit with Charlie’s characters since she comes across as too perfect, but there are others in the book who are more realistic. I appreciated the rising tension we got while traveling through the Amazon as well as the humor that helped lighten the mood at times. There are some great seeds planted, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they pay off in future books. Fans of Stuart Gibbs will certainly enjoy this book.
When I realized that Charles Darwin was going to be the featured scientist in this book, I was worried. As expected, there are some jabs taken at people like me, Christians who believe in microevolution (which Darwin clearly observed) but not the theory of macroevolution. I realize that will only be an issue for some readers. The rest will be thrilled with the action, danger, and twists that Charlie finds herself caught up in once again. I do struggle a bit with Charlie’s characters since she comes across as too perfect, but there are others in the book who are more realistic. I appreciated the rising tension we got while traveling through the Amazon as well as the humor that helped lighten the mood at times. There are some great seeds planted, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they pay off in future books. Fans of Stuart Gibbs will certainly enjoy this book.
Martin Scorsese recommended 8 1/2 (1963) in Movies (curated)
Rat Scabies recommended Best Of by Cream in Music (curated)
Sean Lennon recommended S.F. Sorrow by The Pretty Things in Music (curated)
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Saint Maud (2020) in Movies
May 28, 2021
God damn, am I a sucker for horrors that are equally beautiful and unsettling. Saint Maud hit all the right notes for me.
A big chunk of the runtime is dedicated to the extremly authentic-feeling relationship between the titular Maud (Morfydd Clark), a live-in nurse and her patient Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a retired dancer who is terminally ill with cancer. The sweet connection between the two of them is subtle but well realised, making it all the more uncomfortable when things take a sinister turn.
The religious premise is nothing new in this genre, and there is a bit of a Rosemary's Baby vibe going on, but it's execution is pretty much flawless. Maud's devotion to God is occasionlly terrifying, but her human doubt and her occasional shake in faith stops the narrative from going full blown religious fanatic, and instead touches upon mental health issues. For all of her preaching at Amanda, Maud is the one who is portrayed as lost and lonely, trying to suppress past trauma. Her character is certainly a sympathetic one.
95% of its runtime is a slow burn, one that is complimented by wonderful cinematography and a haunting music score. However, I'm struggling to think of a film in recent memory that escalates so severely in such a short space of time, when the other 5% finally hits. To say anymore would be stepping into spoiler territory, but I will say that it's beautifully horrifying to watch unfold, with a final shot that will be seared into my brain for a while.
Rose Glass has created a true horror masterpiece with Saint Maud. Her presence withing the horror genre is a welcome one, and I'm excited to see what she does next.
A big chunk of the runtime is dedicated to the extremly authentic-feeling relationship between the titular Maud (Morfydd Clark), a live-in nurse and her patient Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a retired dancer who is terminally ill with cancer. The sweet connection between the two of them is subtle but well realised, making it all the more uncomfortable when things take a sinister turn.
The religious premise is nothing new in this genre, and there is a bit of a Rosemary's Baby vibe going on, but it's execution is pretty much flawless. Maud's devotion to God is occasionlly terrifying, but her human doubt and her occasional shake in faith stops the narrative from going full blown religious fanatic, and instead touches upon mental health issues. For all of her preaching at Amanda, Maud is the one who is portrayed as lost and lonely, trying to suppress past trauma. Her character is certainly a sympathetic one.
95% of its runtime is a slow burn, one that is complimented by wonderful cinematography and a haunting music score. However, I'm struggling to think of a film in recent memory that escalates so severely in such a short space of time, when the other 5% finally hits. To say anymore would be stepping into spoiler territory, but I will say that it's beautifully horrifying to watch unfold, with a final shot that will be seared into my brain for a while.
Rose Glass has created a true horror masterpiece with Saint Maud. Her presence withing the horror genre is a welcome one, and I'm excited to see what she does next.
Jarvis Cocker recommended Basement Five by Basement Five in Music (curated)
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Ace of Spades in Books
Jul 22, 2021
A dark thriller that delves into racism
Devon and Chiamaka are both Senior Prefects at Niveus Private Academy, a super elite school for the wealthy. Chiamaka has been working her entire life to attain success and popularity at Niveus, while Devon, a scholarship student, focuses on his music. The only black students in their school, they aren't exactly friends. But then the two of them suddenly become the target of Aces--an anonymous texter and bully who seems determined to ruin their lives. Aces knows all their secrets, ones that could destroy everything they've worked for. This seems beyond a high school prank. Who is Aces and what do they want?
This was a very hyped book and while I enjoyed it, it didn't live up to the hype for me. This is a really rare opinion, so please take it with a grain of salt. It got better over time, but I had a hard time getting into it, finding it slow and choppy. The plot seemed disjointed and when the big twists are revealed, they seem off with the earlier pieces of the story. I understood the concept, but couldn't really see how it all related, or believe that it all worked together so seamlessly.
The book certainly is timely and its themes of racism and hatred are strong and well-done. It's terrifying because it's true, so to speak. You'll feel for Chia and Devon, though I found myself wishing I knew more about them and that their stories didn't jump from one place to another. Perhaps taking a step back, seeing the tale as an allegory, helps more, but even then I'm not sure (trying to avoid spoilers).
Overall, this is an interesting story, but it was jumpy and made some crazy leaps at times. 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars here.
This was a very hyped book and while I enjoyed it, it didn't live up to the hype for me. This is a really rare opinion, so please take it with a grain of salt. It got better over time, but I had a hard time getting into it, finding it slow and choppy. The plot seemed disjointed and when the big twists are revealed, they seem off with the earlier pieces of the story. I understood the concept, but couldn't really see how it all related, or believe that it all worked together so seamlessly.
The book certainly is timely and its themes of racism and hatred are strong and well-done. It's terrifying because it's true, so to speak. You'll feel for Chia and Devon, though I found myself wishing I knew more about them and that their stories didn't jump from one place to another. Perhaps taking a step back, seeing the tale as an allegory, helps more, but even then I'm not sure (trying to avoid spoilers).
Overall, this is an interesting story, but it was jumpy and made some crazy leaps at times. 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars here.