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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Buried in a Bog (County Cork, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Maura Donovan is fulfilling a promise to her Gran and visiting the part of Ireland where the family originated. However, her time of discovering family history is interrupted by two bodies – one dredged up from a bog and one more modern victim.
Sadly, the mystery takes a back, back seat to the story of Maura learning family history and discovering the part of Ireland. The author obviously loves the area and brings it to vivid life, but it over shadows the mystery, which takes a back seat. The characters were enjoyable, but not enough to make me long for a repeat visit to County Cork.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-buried-in-bog-by-sheila.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Sadly, the mystery takes a back, back seat to the story of Maura learning family history and discovering the part of Ireland. The author obviously loves the area and brings it to vivid life, but it over shadows the mystery, which takes a back seat. The characters were enjoyable, but not enough to make me long for a repeat visit to County Cork.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-buried-in-bog-by-sheila.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Promise in Books
Feb 28, 2019 (Updated Mar 1, 2019)
More of a slow building suspense novel then a psychological thriller.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
I was intrigued as soon as I read the opening of The Promise by Teresa Driscoll. The story has a few twists and turns but, based on the book's description and opening, I expected it to be much darker than it is. However, although I enjoyed the novel, I would not consider it to be dark. It is more of a slow building suspense novel then a psychological thriller.
Three girls, Beth, Sally, and Carol, were best friends at a boarding school and as close as sisters. Something happens and they make a promise to never tell the secret of what happened.
Years later, all of them have been affected by the secret in different ways. Beth and Sally are still close friends but Carol has become estranged. When they find out the boarding school is to be sold and demolished, fearing their secret will be revealed, Beth and Sally attempt to find Carol..
Driscoll wanted to establish a intense connection between the girls but did not want to make them sisters. The setting helps you to understand why the girls would keep the secret.
I have added Teresa Driscoll's I Am Watching You to my want to read list.
Published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/28/19.
I was intrigued as soon as I read the opening of The Promise by Teresa Driscoll. The story has a few twists and turns but, based on the book's description and opening, I expected it to be much darker than it is. However, although I enjoyed the novel, I would not consider it to be dark. It is more of a slow building suspense novel then a psychological thriller.
Three girls, Beth, Sally, and Carol, were best friends at a boarding school and as close as sisters. Something happens and they make a promise to never tell the secret of what happened.
Years later, all of them have been affected by the secret in different ways. Beth and Sally are still close friends but Carol has become estranged. When they find out the boarding school is to be sold and demolished, fearing their secret will be revealed, Beth and Sally attempt to find Carol..
Driscoll wanted to establish a intense connection between the girls but did not want to make them sisters. The setting helps you to understand why the girls would keep the secret.
I have added Teresa Driscoll's I Am Watching You to my want to read list.
Published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/28/19.
Jaime Lynch (18 KP) rated Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in Books
Jul 1, 2017
The Gateway Book to a Lifelong Addiction
I started reading the Harry Potter series while lifeguarding during a particularly rainy summer season. (I promise there were no people in the pool while I indulged) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a book that introduces you to Hogwarts and the magics of the wizarding world. It's not the best of the series, but that's okay. It gets better as you get more invested in the series. That being said, it is awesome to go back and re-read the first book to see all of the references that are made that relate to later events and people.
ClareR (5603 KP) rated The Promise in Books
Oct 12, 2021
The Promise is on the Booker Prize 2021 shortlist, and I can see why. I enjoyed this book immensely - I love the idea of being a fly on the wall of a white South Africans house during and after Apartheid, and this pretty much sold the book to me before I even started reading it. The fact that we only drop in to the lives of this family during times of death and the subsequent funerals was a really interesting angle to take. These were people under a great deal of stress due to the fact that someone in their close family had died - even though they weren’t a close family at all. There are four funerals, each completely different in style, religion (or not) and ways in which they died.
As time moves on, Apartheid ends, Nelson Mandela becomes President. But does life change that much for the Swarts? Do they uphold the promise made at the beginning of the book, as overheard by the youngest daughter when her mother was dying? Laws may change, but do people’s attitudes?
This is a disjointed family: there doesn’t seem to be a single close relationship between any of them. They all seem to be selfish people who resent the new South Africa, as they lose social standing, money, and are directly affected by the rise in crime.
It was a thoroughly engrossing book, and I lost myself in it every time I sat down to read. It’s a really good, character-driven novel. Now to wait and see if it wins!!
As time moves on, Apartheid ends, Nelson Mandela becomes President. But does life change that much for the Swarts? Do they uphold the promise made at the beginning of the book, as overheard by the youngest daughter when her mother was dying? Laws may change, but do people’s attitudes?
This is a disjointed family: there doesn’t seem to be a single close relationship between any of them. They all seem to be selfish people who resent the new South Africa, as they lose social standing, money, and are directly affected by the rise in crime.
It was a thoroughly engrossing book, and I lost myself in it every time I sat down to read. It’s a really good, character-driven novel. Now to wait and see if it wins!!
Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated Justice League International, Vol. 2 in Books
Nov 30, 2020
With the exception of the opening issue of this volume (Issue 7, "Moving Day"), the rest of this volume is a snoozer!
The remainder of the book was given to crossovers for two different, unrelated events ("Millennium" and then a x-over with SUICIDE SQUAD), as well as a Annual that should have been included in Volume 1, as that's where it took place!
Other than the first appearance of G'Nort, who happens to be one of my favorite DC characters, there is really no need to want to check this Volume out. Seriously, even you are a completist, there is really nothing here that you could not live without. Promise!
Now, onto Volume Three..!
The remainder of the book was given to crossovers for two different, unrelated events ("Millennium" and then a x-over with SUICIDE SQUAD), as well as a Annual that should have been included in Volume 1, as that's where it took place!
Other than the first appearance of G'Nort, who happens to be one of my favorite DC characters, there is really no need to want to check this Volume out. Seriously, even you are a completist, there is really nothing here that you could not live without. Promise!
Now, onto Volume Three..!
Sonofdel (6265 KP) rated The Strange Ones (2018) in Movies
Jan 23, 2019
Not worth watching
This film had a lot of promise looking at the synopsis but it really was one of the worst films i have seen for a long time. The convoluted plot did not add to any excitement. No empathy could be felt for anyone because you never know what has happened or to be honest care. It trundles along and t was only on just over 75 minutes and to be honest this was an hour too long. Sorry but this film was bad, really bad
Lindy West recommended Wow, No Thank You in Books (curated)
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated The Promise in Books
Jun 18, 2019
I Promise, This is an Enjoyable Book
Elvis Cole is hired to track down a woman, and the most promising clue takes him to a house that appears to be empty. When Cole gets no answer, he tries to leave only to be trapped by the police swarming into the neighborhood looking for a suspect on the run. Meanwhile, K-9 officer Scott James and his dog, Maggie, are tracking the suspect to the very house Cole was interested in. Inside, they find a dead body and a room full of explosives. As the two cases intertwine, can the two find a way to work together?
Knowing Scott and Maggie were going to be featured very heavily in this book was what got me reading the Cole and Pike books several years ago, so it was nice to finally get to read this one. I’m happy to say it lived up to the promise of the premise. The book is another great thriller with plenty of things happening to keep us interested. Both sets of characters contribute something to the eventual outcome. I did think there was a plot hole early on in the book, but it was resolved by the time we reach the climax. The characters were a little thin again, although I enjoyed getting to see a bit of a different side to John Stone here. The violence, language, and general depravity is definitely toned down from the previous book, although there is still more than in my typical cozies, which is no surprise. Fans of author Robert Crais or either set of characters will be pleased by this book.
Knowing Scott and Maggie were going to be featured very heavily in this book was what got me reading the Cole and Pike books several years ago, so it was nice to finally get to read this one. I’m happy to say it lived up to the promise of the premise. The book is another great thriller with plenty of things happening to keep us interested. Both sets of characters contribute something to the eventual outcome. I did think there was a plot hole early on in the book, but it was resolved by the time we reach the climax. The characters were a little thin again, although I enjoyed getting to see a bit of a different side to John Stone here. The violence, language, and general depravity is definitely toned down from the previous book, although there is still more than in my typical cozies, which is no surprise. Fans of author Robert Crais or either set of characters will be pleased by this book.
tonidavis (353 KP) rated Alita: Battle Angel (2019) in Movies
Feb 11, 2019
Graphic (2 more)
Set
Cgi
Hollywood once again taking strong female hero turing her to love sick fool
I was so excited for this film. However I left feeling disapointed. There was so much promise in this film. Great ine liners that showed a strong girl and one part had her in a bar and fighting for the right reason fighting for the little guy for what right. However instead of a great story and plot and a strong female hero we got left with a love sick tween who motivations for seeing the end of the villain purely on tween love rather than somone who was fighting for the greater good and this left me sad.
Kacey Dunbar (6 KP) rated Love Never Dies - Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway Musical (2010) in Movies
Dec 14, 2018
Music (3 more)
Acting
Voices
Scene Transitions
Amazing Sequel of Epic Proportions
*NO SPOILERS, I promise* This being my very first musical, suffice it to say I was floored by the quality of the show. The actors really managed to bring the emotion out in this compelling sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. It follows the story of Christine and Erik 10 years later after their first fateful encounter. Nothing about the performance disappointed me. Minus a single technical difficulty that was resolved in less than 10 minutes, there were no interruptions. The music was also amazing. If you're not interested yet you might as well stop reading. For those of you who are, I seriously recommend following the crew for info on their upcoming shows. It's so worth the money and time you spend on it.