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ClareR (5603 KP) rated The Pharmacist in Books

Jul 24, 2022  
The Pharmacist
The Pharmacist
Rachelle Atalla | 2022 | Contemporary, Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Pharmacist is the kind of book that I find I have to ration. I love it, but frankly the concept is terrifying. I read a lot of books about End Of Times, apocalypse, dystopia - I’m addicted, but I find I can’t stop thinking about them, and I even dreamt about The Pharmacist!

This isn’t a light read, and the dread isn’t even underlying: it’s constantly there, glowering in every paragraph, every sentence. The reader doesn’t know why these specially chosen people are all holed up in a bunker together, but something terrible, world changing, has happened.

And the claustrophobia! I could imagine the close living quarters, the smell of the not-quite-clean inhabitants, the fear of doing something to incur the wrath of the bunkers leader. Now, he’s quite some character: power mad and more than happy to use anyone to get what he wants. And although the pharmacist, Wolfe, is supplying him with ever greater supplies of drugs, she is the one who is at his mercy.

Whatever is outside the bunker is worse than what’s inside (I debate this, and would be much happier taking my chances on the outside!). And the tasks that the leader demands that Wolfe undertakes, get worse and worse.

This is an unrelentingly grim read, and I’m sure it says a whole lot about me when I say that I loved it. I looked forward - with trepidation - to reading every one of the ten instalments on The Pigeonhole.
  
Toki Tori
Toki Tori
Platform
The egg collecting puzzle game Toki Tori has arrived for the Nintendo Switch at a very attractive price of $4.99. The side scrolling classics tasks players with navigating a series of tropical themed levels. With over 80 levels and 5 settings players will have plenty to keep them busy.

The title character does possess some challenges as he cannot even jump but must use skills to get about such as Telewarp, Freeze –o-Matic, and InstantRock.

An example of this is using your powers to get a crab to move a box so that you can access an area that you would otherwise jump to if you were able to jump. Or there is using powers to draw in prey for a Frog so you can then enter his burb bubble and use it to float to a higher level.

Players can also freeze time and skip a level if the challenge becomes too great.

The game has bright and engaging graphics and runs at 60FPS and also offers HD Rumble and Video Capture support.

The game does offer some real challenges as aside from puzzle solving, players must think outside the box as a generation raised on jumping from one objective to another will find a bit of a learning curve to navigate. That being said, the game is fun and you cannot beat the price so if you want a nice mix of casual nostalgia and fun gaming for the entire family, then check this game out.

http://sknr.net/2018/03/30/92614/
  
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas | 2015 | Young Adult (YA)
9
8.7 (107 Ratings)
Book Rating
Brilliant world building (0 more)
Brilliant
Contains spoilers, click to show
I love Sarah j Maas and this book did not disappoint.

Feyre is a young girl hunting for food to feed her family. She takes the life of a deer and a wolf one day to keep her family from starving. Little did she know it would be a fairie that she killed and not a wolf.

In a time where the peace between humans and fairies is very fragile this is not the best thing she could have done. She thinks she's safe till one night a high lord fey comes to claim the debt.

Tamlin takes feyre over the wall to live her life in the spring court where all is not as rosy as it seems!

She falls in love just as he sends her home to keep her safe from the threats he's faving. Only for her to fight her way back to him to tell him she is in love with him.

What she finds is him taken and the truth behind a curse raging through the land. Amarantha the queen under the mountains has Tamlin wanting him to become hers. Feyre is not about to lose him. She is subjected to 3 tasks to save her love.

I loved every second of this book It had a very beauty and the beast feel to it but a bit more kick from our female lead!!

Sarah j Maas creates a fascinating world with all types of fairy, and takes you on a whole new journey into their world!



⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended

  
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Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Tau (2018) in Movies

Jun 7, 2020  
Tau (2018)
Tau (2018)
2018 | Sci-Fi, Thriller
When we first meet Julia, she's not very likeable and a cheap hooker to make ends meet. Whilst out doing her duties she is kidnapped by a crazy scientist wanting humans to experiment with. She wakes up in a prison like room, mask on her face, hands tied and a chip in her neck but she's not alone. She befriends 2 prisoners who are also in there with her and they manage to escape into a house which is run by a seemingly evil AI, this AI kills her newly made friends but just as she is about to be killed, the scientist which kidnapped her comes home and calls off the AI which we find out is called TAU. The scientist decides to keep Julia alive in exchange for her doing daily tasks for him, after setting some ground rules Julia reluctantly agrees. Every day whilst the scientist is out of the house Julia speaks to TAU and they build up a strange but nice friendship between human and computer, you get drawn into their friendship and almost wish TAU was human as their bond is so strong. What we thought was just a killer computer was infact just a lost little soul who doesn't know anything outside the house and thinks he must obey his creator. It reminds me a little of the Simpsons episode when the AI house tries to kill the Simpsons, except in this movie the AI is learning to become his own person.
Very fascinating movie if I do say so myself.
  
Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun
Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun
Cornelia Funke, Guillermo del Toro | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved the original film of this book (with the same name), so the thought of a book intrigued me, especially as it was written afterwards. And let’s face it, anything with fairytale connections is on to a winner where I’m concerned.

This book perfectly illustrates the cruelty and despair of the fascist regime under Franco. Ofelia tries to escape real life in her books, but this becomes increasingly difficult for her as her mother becomes more and more ill during her pregnancy. The brutality of her stepfather and his terrible methods of control is seen in the surrounding area and his own home: the lack of care for his wife, the plans to kill the anti-fascist fighters in the woods, and his methods of torture.

Ofelia escapes in to her imagination - or is Pan real? I loved this aspect and the tasks she was given to complete. I really enjoyed how the folktales were interwoven and alternated with real life (which had the harsher conclusions? Fairy tales don’t always have a happy ending), and gave an explanation to the origin of the Labyrinth.

The illustrations were beautiful too, and put faces to the characters - after all, it’s a long time since I saw the film. But this book stands so well on it’s own, and dare I say that you don’t need to have seen the film? Well, no, because I really enjoyed the film! So, read the book, and watch the film - you won’t regret it!
  
Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas
Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas
Adam Kay | 2019 | Biography, Health & Fitness, Humor & Comedy, Medical & Veterinary
10
7.6 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another amazingly funny look at the life of a doctor, but this time over the festive period.
I don’t think I will ever tire of reading Adam Kay’s work, from the diary entries full of sarcasm to the explanatory footnotes with a touch of humour, he makes his books so easy to read.
This book shows how medical staff don’t get the standard couple of weeks off that most people seem to get where they can binge on cheese and wine and forget which day of the week it is, whilst watching rubbish TV. They still have to work, and sometimes it’s the worst time of year because of people overindulging and not being careful with the most ordinary of tasks.
I don’t know how he manages to keep his sense of humour throughout both books and throughout his career in medicine, but I’m so glad that he does.
The final chapter was the most poignant one for me, where he talks about thanking the medical professionals with small gestures such as a Christmas card or donating to a charity. It shows that even though he is no longer in the profession, it isn’t too far from his heart (probably because his siblings still work in the profession) and he wants to make it better for those that do pull the short straw at Christmas.
Another brilliant read from Adam Kay, I can’t wait to read more from him (hopefully!). My only regret? Not reading this one around Christmas!
  
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
J.K. Rowling | 2016 | Children
10
9.0 (247 Ratings)
Book Rating
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#1 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3217515684">Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone</a> - ★★★★★
#2 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2371215543">Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</a> - ★★★★★
#3 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3275165909">Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</a> - ★★★★
#4 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3328396363">Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</a> - ★★★★★

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<b>Diving into the Harry Potter universe is a treat to my soul every time.</b>

There is something so familiar and comfortable to this world, especially Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, that always pulls me back to where it all started. 

Since there is a lot of drama going on with the author at the moment, I want to say just this. While I do not agree with some of the author’s statements, her work meant a lot to me throughout my years, and I have chosen to draw a line between her personal life and her work. You may have a different opinion, and that is valid too. 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling is one of my favorite books from the series. The year is filled with the Quidditch World Cup, the Triwizard Tournament, the fight for elves’ freedom, the beginning of the rising of evil and the terrible destiny of Cedric Diggory. 

Harry has a weird dream about Voldemort at the beginning of the book. He lets Sirius Black know in a letter. Then, he and his friends, as well as the whole Weasley family attend the Quidditch World Cup, where there is an incident with Harry’s wand - that will start this book in a very dark way.

As the new school year of Hogwarts begins, Dumbledore has an exciting announcement to make. Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard tournament this year!

<b><i>“The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago, as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry - Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the Tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities - until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the Tournament was discontinued.”</i></b>

When the Goblet of Fire selects the three champions for each house, everyone is ready to move on. Viktor Krum, from Durmstrang, was selected first, followed by Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons. The Goblet selected Cedric Diggory as the Hogwarts Champion.

But then, the Goblet spits out one more name - Harry Potter!

But how is that possible, when Harry hasn’t put his name in?

<b><i>“Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?” Dumbledore asked calmly. </i></b>

Careful of the fact that someone wants Harry to be in danger, he still needs to compete in the three tasks of the tournament. I loved all three tasks and how smart some wizards had to be to overcome their challenges.

I also really loved the Yule Ball, and the atmosphere it had. Everyone seemed happier and forgot their worries for the evening. Things were calming down before the real storm began. 

The part I loved the most, which wasn’t included in the movies, was Harmione’s fight for the rights of the elves. She fought that they deserved to be free and be paid for their work, not be slaves to witches and wizards. On top of all this, what I loved most was Dobby’s story in this whole situation.

<b>Also, did you know this?</b>

Hermione’s name is pronounced “Her-my-oh-nee”. I have somehow always known this at the back of my mind, but because it’s pronounced as “Her-my-nee” in the movies, I have been saying it like that for a very long time. 

<b><i>“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”</i></b>

Still a favourite and still amazing. After all this time? Always! 

<b><i>“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.”</i></b>

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Earthfall
Earthfall
Action
Left 4 Dead and its sequel Left 4 Dead 2 became must play games for fans who loved the four player co-op gameplay as players worked with one another to accomplish tasks and survive legions of undead and supernatural enemies.

The sequel came soon after the original and despite rumors and the best hopes of the gaming community; a new chapter in the series has yet to appear.

Thankfully Holospark have stepped up to offer gamers an enjoyable and intense gaming experience for fans who have grown weary of waiting for a new installment of Left 4 Dead. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Earthfall deals with the aftermath of an Alien invasion where four characters must work with one another to accomplish tasks, defeat wave after wave of enemies and survive.

Players can play with one another or play with A.I. controlled Bots whose ability level can be adjusted by players at the start of the level.

Weapons ranging from shotguns, pistols, bladed weapons, machine guns, and heavy weapons can be found along the way or printed at 3D Printers to help the odds of survival. There are also health kits, stations, ammo boxes, and Stimulant shots which will all have their place as the gameplay unfolds.

Teamwork is the key as the enemies are abundant and fast. While they may not have the best A.I. out there and rush straight at you; the fact that they are so abundant and attack from multiple directions at once really increases the challenge.

There are several types of enemies as well as boss Aliens who show up at various points of a level to throw a wrench into your strategy. Once a player is down, they can be revived by other players which often puts players in the difficult task of trying to stay alive or rushing into danger to try to save other players.

There are also devices such as auto and manned gun emplacements which can shred enemies, but overheat if continuous fire is used.

The game does offer various levels of difficulty so players can find one that best meets their gameplay style. Some may find the gameplay a bit dated but when you factor in the game was made by an Indie developer and has a list price for $30.00; it has some great things going for it. I have played the game well-over a year in early access phase and I have really enjoyed seeing the improvements to the game as it made its way to full release. The new maps are really good and there are more coming for gamers to enjoy as well. What is also really enjoyable to see is that Holospark seems very open to suggestions of the community and will continue to tweak the game going forward.

While some will likely say the graphics are a bit out of date and the dialogue is a bit standard, it is important to note that this is a game designed for fans of Left 4 Dead and is done by an smaller developer and not one of the mega-publishers, as such, I found the quality of the graphics and gameplay more than good enough for modern systems and at no time did I ever find it as a distraction to the gameplay as I was immersed from the get go.

If you are a fan of Left 4 Dead and want an affordably priced game that incorporates several of the best elements of the prior game, then you will not want to miss Earthfall.

http://sknr.net/2018/07/16/earthfall/
  
The Music Man: Other Dimensions
The Music Man: Other Dimensions
Moonyani Write | 2019 | Children, Science Fiction/Fantasy
2
2.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I enjoyed how the students from our dimension and those from the other dimension interacted with each other. (0 more)
The amount of repetition is this book was a major issue for me and made it extremely hard to read. To be honest I got bored with it quickly. (0 more)
Honest Review for Free Copy of Book
Before you read this review I just want to mention that I do like the idea behind this book and do not want to discourage anyone from reading it. This was just my personal opinion as all my reviews are.

 The Music Man: Other Dimensions by Moonyani Write picks up directly where the previous one left off. It has the same writing style as the previous one for those who enjoyed that. However, at the time of my writing this the book could still use some work (although keep in mind I am just a reader and not an editor).

 This second book welcomes back The Music Man (Cornelius), Jimmy, and his friends at a boarding school for the musically gifted. At first, Jimmy believes all the previous events are just a dream but he soon pins down Cornelius, who just happens to be a teacher at his school and learns the truth. The bad news is Hornsbury and the witches have returned in the other dimension and are trying to steal the other Jimmy’s talents and take over the world.

 Before Jimmy and his friends can stop Hornsbury and save everyone they must complete a few other tasks. The first of these tasks is to save Chris from his possession and return the book he stole to its rightful owner, Priala. Priala is a powerful witch and on the side of good who has agreed to help stop Hornsbury so long as she gets her spellbook back first. They also want to help Phillip regain his human form and free all those already possessed by Hornsbury. Sadly all seems lost when both Jimmy’s and Cornelius’s girlfriend are captured by Honsbury. It then becomes a race against the clock to stop him before it is too late.

 I enjoyed how the students from our dimension and those from the other dimension interacted with each other. It was interesting to see how the friendships formed almost instantly between many of them. Of course, the surprise at the end was nice, although it mirrored the ending of the first book. The amount of repetition is this book was a major issue for me and made it extremely hard to read. To be honest I got bored with it quickly. The story is slow to make progress and it seems like there are character descriptions thrown in at random which interrupts the flow of the story. It could be the format that I received this book in but yet again there were few paragraphs and almost every sentence started a completely new line.

 This book is ideal for children as I found nothing inappropriate in it. It might be a bit on the long side for some younger readers but making one chapter at a time a reading goal should help with that issue. I rate this book 1 out of 4. Unfortunately, I found this book to be way too repetitive and slow to be enjoyable. In contrast, the big battle at the end that everything was leading up to was over so quickly that it didn’t create any tension or excitement. I do not like doing this but in this book’s current condition I can not recommend it.

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Since You&#039;ve Been Gone
Since You've Been Gone
Morgan Matson | 2014 | Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.4 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Relatable Teen Story (3 more)
Fun 'Dare' Concept
Quick, Light Read
Beautiful Descriptions.
Would've Preferred More Closure (0 more)
Her best friend disappeared and with her all their summer plans.. now what will Emily do?
Since You've Been Gone is a story about best friends. Sloane vanishes right as the summer was about to begin, leaving nothing but a list of daring tasks to be completed. Emily, a natural introvert, begins to retreat to that introverted place without Sloane around. Emily becomes desperate to find out what happened to her best friend, and begins the list Sloane left her. As she sets out to complete the list she runs into unexpected individuals who help push her to complete the list and in the process find herself.

I loved this book. The entire time I was reading I couldn't help but thing of the adventures my childhood/high school best friend and I had. This quick, light read is highly relatable with a wonderful reminiscing quality. Additionally, the descriptions were absolutely stunning. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: "...kissing with the urgency of the rain that was pounding down all around us and onto the hood of the car." Morgan Matson finds beautiful ways to say simple things that help the reader see the passion and strong feelings teenagers go through and feel.

Being a stand alone book, it had a good finality to it however, I found it ended abruptly and could've used an epilogue to explain some of the lose ends. Some of that desire is most likely because I loved the book so much and simply wanted more!