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How to Survive an Atomic Attack: A Cold War Manual
John Christopher and Department of Defense
Book
Official US government advice on how to survive an atomic attack - including full instructions on...
David McK (3562 KP) rated Soul Music (Discworld, #16; Death, #3) in Books
Jul 1, 2024
You gotta love a bit of Terry Pratchett.
Only he could take The Grim Reaper, and turn him into not-so-much a figure of fun, but use him to examine life and mortality and the nature of human existence.
I think there's five such books in which he takes a starring role in the entire Discworld series - those would be (in order) 'Mort', 'Reaper Man', this one, 'Hogfather' and 'Thief of Time'], with all but the first featuring the Death of Rats ("SQUEEK"), and with the latter three also featuring his grand-daughter Susan.
That, thus, makes this the first novel to do so, with plenty of puns and jokes around the music industry here as a new force comes into being on the Discworld: that of "Music with Rocks In".
For my money, this is top-tier Pratchett.
Only he could take The Grim Reaper, and turn him into not-so-much a figure of fun, but use him to examine life and mortality and the nature of human existence.
I think there's five such books in which he takes a starring role in the entire Discworld series - those would be (in order) 'Mort', 'Reaper Man', this one, 'Hogfather' and 'Thief of Time'], with all but the first featuring the Death of Rats ("SQUEEK"), and with the latter three also featuring his grand-daughter Susan.
That, thus, makes this the first novel to do so, with plenty of puns and jokes around the music industry here as a new force comes into being on the Discworld: that of "Music with Rocks In".
For my money, this is top-tier Pratchett.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Depravity (Beastly Tales, #1) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
First off, let me say how furious I am that this is a three part series with each novel ending in a cliff hanger. Each novel has enough meat to it to count as individual novel, but they all end in maddening cliffhangers. I loathe cliff hangers more than I loathe serials.
That being said, this series had me from page one and I couldnt put it down until the very last one. I missed a lot of sleep for it I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, especially if there erotica involved. This is definitely one of the better retellings of Beauty and the Beast, albeit a very dark one. The female lead is almost raped more times than I can count, abused by her obnoxious sisters, manipulated by an arrogant sorceress, and subjected to dealing with a short tempered man child stuck in a beasts body. Through it all, Benella stays determined and loved her grit.
There are some themes that may not sit well with some people, especially with the Beasts treatment of Benella in the second novel. I think they are missing the point of this story, however. The premise is not just about looking beyond aesthetic value, it is about personal growth. While it is the Beautys purpose to look beyond outer appearances to appreciate what people have on the inside; it is the Beasts role to develop from well a beast to a better person. I feel that most people look past that.
This is a great series for those looking for an adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast and can handle the dark themes and cliff hangers that come with it. If you can accept an anti-hero with faults who falls for a strong woman who can hold her own in a hateful sexist world, then this is definitely the series for you.
That being said, this series had me from page one and I couldnt put it down until the very last one. I missed a lot of sleep for it I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, especially if there erotica involved. This is definitely one of the better retellings of Beauty and the Beast, albeit a very dark one. The female lead is almost raped more times than I can count, abused by her obnoxious sisters, manipulated by an arrogant sorceress, and subjected to dealing with a short tempered man child stuck in a beasts body. Through it all, Benella stays determined and loved her grit.
There are some themes that may not sit well with some people, especially with the Beasts treatment of Benella in the second novel. I think they are missing the point of this story, however. The premise is not just about looking beyond aesthetic value, it is about personal growth. While it is the Beautys purpose to look beyond outer appearances to appreciate what people have on the inside; it is the Beasts role to develop from well a beast to a better person. I feel that most people look past that.
This is a great series for those looking for an adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast and can handle the dark themes and cliff hangers that come with it. If you can accept an anti-hero with faults who falls for a strong woman who can hold her own in a hateful sexist world, then this is definitely the series for you.
ClareR (5879 KP) rated The Drowned City in Books
Apr 15, 2021
The Drowned City is the first book in a new series by Karen Maitland, and it bodes really well for the next book!
Jacobean England, where a year to the day after the failed Gunpowder Plot, a huge wave destroys much of Bristol, killing hundreds of people and destroying homes and businesses. This is a superstitious time, where the blame is put on witches and demons. And Catholics.
Daniel Pursglove is freed from Newgate jail where he has been imprisoned, suspected of witchcraft, by one of King James’ closest advisors, Charles FitzAlan. He is given the task of tracking down Spero Pettingar - the man who got away during the arrests of the Gunpowder Plot. He is suspected of going to Bristol to recruit supporters - namely Jesuits.
The descriptions of Newgate Prison are horrific - as are those of a destroyed Bristol. This is a really atmospheric book with some great descriptions. Not that you’d really want to be, but you can imagine yourself there, amidst the mud, filth and decay.
I really liked how the chapters flashed between Daniel and London, where we would see the King or Robert Cecil (a man who fascinates me!).
Daniel doesn’t seem to me to be the most accomplished investigator. Most of what he discovers he does by accident, but he does get results. Just not the ones he was necessarily asked to get.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next in this series, it really has piqued my interest!
Jacobean England, where a year to the day after the failed Gunpowder Plot, a huge wave destroys much of Bristol, killing hundreds of people and destroying homes and businesses. This is a superstitious time, where the blame is put on witches and demons. And Catholics.
Daniel Pursglove is freed from Newgate jail where he has been imprisoned, suspected of witchcraft, by one of King James’ closest advisors, Charles FitzAlan. He is given the task of tracking down Spero Pettingar - the man who got away during the arrests of the Gunpowder Plot. He is suspected of going to Bristol to recruit supporters - namely Jesuits.
The descriptions of Newgate Prison are horrific - as are those of a destroyed Bristol. This is a really atmospheric book with some great descriptions. Not that you’d really want to be, but you can imagine yourself there, amidst the mud, filth and decay.
I really liked how the chapters flashed between Daniel and London, where we would see the King or Robert Cecil (a man who fascinates me!).
Daniel doesn’t seem to me to be the most accomplished investigator. Most of what he discovers he does by accident, but he does get results. Just not the ones he was necessarily asked to get.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next in this series, it really has piqued my interest!
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Unbound (Colours of Love, #1) in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Grace Lawson is about to start the greatest internship. She gets to spend three months in London, interning at Huntington Ventures. Jonathan Huntington, the company's CEO is a gorgeous guy who is almost always wearing black. Catching the red-eye to London from Chicago, and having to rush off the plane to make it to her new job on time, Grace runs(literally)into Jonathan Huntington at the airport. Making the mistake of thinking he was there to pick her up, she gets a ride with him in his limo(along with some colleagues he was actually waiting for) to the office. Feeling embarrassed the whole time.
Once at Huntington Ventures, Jonathan extends her internship from working in the investment department to working side by side with him. Grace or no one else in the company was expecting this turn of events. Jonathan has never had an intern working with him before. Will Grace be able to work this closely with Jonathan without falling in love with him? Everyone has warned her about this man, including Jonathan himself. This is going to be an interesting and exciting three months.
Unbound is the first in the Colors of Love series by Kathryn Taylor. I'm not sure how many books total are in the series. Book two Uncovered, is set to be released in the United States on August 17, 2015.
This book starts off a lot like 50 Shades of Grey. The virgin meets this wealthy, handsome man and is enticed by his power and the fact that he is unattainable. Jonathan's sexual desires aren't sadistic the way Christian Grey's are, I would say he's just a bit kinky. Then there's a little "Eyes Wide Shut"(Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman sex club movie) thrown in. I enjoyed this book. The erotic scenes are believable. I think a few words may have been lost in translation, though, as I believe this book was first written in German. For instance, the word clit is never used, but "sensitive place" is used quite a bit and, in my opinion, in those instances, clit would have been an appropriate word to use.
I'm not a big fan of Jonathan Harrington, he seems to be abrasive to everyone. Grace seems a little naive for a woman embarking on her own to London for three months. Maybe these two are meant to be or maybe we have another erotic romance series on our hands that we will grow to love to hate like 50 Shades and the Crossfire series. Either way, come on August for Colors of Love #2 - Uncovered.
Once at Huntington Ventures, Jonathan extends her internship from working in the investment department to working side by side with him. Grace or no one else in the company was expecting this turn of events. Jonathan has never had an intern working with him before. Will Grace be able to work this closely with Jonathan without falling in love with him? Everyone has warned her about this man, including Jonathan himself. This is going to be an interesting and exciting three months.
Unbound is the first in the Colors of Love series by Kathryn Taylor. I'm not sure how many books total are in the series. Book two Uncovered, is set to be released in the United States on August 17, 2015.
This book starts off a lot like 50 Shades of Grey. The virgin meets this wealthy, handsome man and is enticed by his power and the fact that he is unattainable. Jonathan's sexual desires aren't sadistic the way Christian Grey's are, I would say he's just a bit kinky. Then there's a little "Eyes Wide Shut"(Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman sex club movie) thrown in. I enjoyed this book. The erotic scenes are believable. I think a few words may have been lost in translation, though, as I believe this book was first written in German. For instance, the word clit is never used, but "sensitive place" is used quite a bit and, in my opinion, in those instances, clit would have been an appropriate word to use.
I'm not a big fan of Jonathan Harrington, he seems to be abrasive to everyone. Grace seems a little naive for a woman embarking on her own to London for three months. Maybe these two are meant to be or maybe we have another erotic romance series on our hands that we will grow to love to hate like 50 Shades and the Crossfire series. Either way, come on August for Colors of Love #2 - Uncovered.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Raging Heat (Nikki Heat, #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
With Hurricane Sandy bearing down on NYC, Nikki is racing to solve the murder of a man who fell from a plane. Are the clues leading to a powerful politician? Or is she ignoring the true trail and the clues that her boyfriend Rook is finding?
While there are scenes and lines that fans of Castle will love, this book works well as a mystery on its own. And the arrival of Sandy, while predictably timed, does add a great new layer to the story. Some interesting character development and this book is another winner is one of the most brilliant tie in series of all time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-raging-heat-by-richard.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While there are scenes and lines that fans of Castle will love, this book works well as a mystery on its own. And the arrival of Sandy, while predictably timed, does add a great new layer to the story. Some interesting character development and this book is another winner is one of the most brilliant tie in series of all time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-raging-heat-by-richard.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Dictionary of the Ben Cao Gang Mu: Chinese Historical Illness Terminology: Volume 1
Paul U. Unschuld and Zhibin Zhang
Book
The Ben cao gang mu, compiled in the second half of the sixteenth century by a team led by the...
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated The Unidentified Redhead (Redhead, #1) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
This is my second book by the author, the first being Wallbanger which I loved.
I liked this one to start with. Younger man older woman romances can always be interesting and how these two got together was just that. It was cute and flirty.
I just didn't always get the humour these two shared. Maybe it's because I'm a Brit...but so was Jack, so I'm a little stumped there.
The rest of the storyline didn't grab me either. It was almost like nothing happened in the story but their budding romance, which would be fine normally but I wasn't 100% behind it.
I haven't decided if I'll continue the series but at the moment I'm hovering more over the 'not' side of things.
I liked this one to start with. Younger man older woman romances can always be interesting and how these two got together was just that. It was cute and flirty.
I just didn't always get the humour these two shared. Maybe it's because I'm a Brit...but so was Jack, so I'm a little stumped there.
The rest of the storyline didn't grab me either. It was almost like nothing happened in the story but their budding romance, which would be fine normally but I wasn't 100% behind it.
I haven't decided if I'll continue the series but at the moment I'm hovering more over the 'not' side of things.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Worth It (Forbidden Men, #6) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
Not as good as some of the others
This series is a must buy for me. I've loved all of them so far, some more than others, admittedly, but none less than four stars.
This one didn't hook me as much as the others but I still felt a lot of emotion when it came to Knox. The poor guy. I wanted to equally hug him and slap him through out the present parts of the story.
I really like how the stories are inter twining. Cousins, brothers, best friends, school friends...its a little complicated at times but I like it.
My favourite Forbidden man has got to be Ten, still, but they're all really great. I can't wait to read Asher's story next!
This series is a must buy for me. I've loved all of them so far, some more than others, admittedly, but none less than four stars.
This one didn't hook me as much as the others but I still felt a lot of emotion when it came to Knox. The poor guy. I wanted to equally hug him and slap him through out the present parts of the story.
I really like how the stories are inter twining. Cousins, brothers, best friends, school friends...its a little complicated at times but I like it.
My favourite Forbidden man has got to be Ten, still, but they're all really great. I can't wait to read Asher's story next!
Gentleman Sinner
8.0
Rate It
Book
His scars run deep. His love runs fierce. Izzy White knows of the darkness in this world. After...