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Finding Fraser
K.C. Dyer | 2015
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a fun read, even for someone who has never read any of the Outlander series.

The book alternates between chapters telling us the story, and blog posts that Emma writes as she goes along. The blog posts are short and sweet, and sometimes provide a little insight into things that have not yet been fully disclosed in the story.

I did feel that the heroine was a bit naive for 29. I often wanted to yell into the book at her, and to point out how blind she was being, or how ridiculous some of her choices were. Even so, Emma is a likable character, and I couldn’t help but root for her and wish her success in her quest to find love.

NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
  
SA
Sam and Emma
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sam and Emma by Donald Nelsen is a cute story with a simple yet direct message. The message simply is; we are different. We live different lives, live in different places, eat different foods, and look different. While we are all different, it is important to accept all the differences.

This is a story about Sam and dog and Emma the cat. Sam is is kind dog who wanted to get to know about others. Emma was proud and while she is the one who wanted to go on the adventure was unaccepting.

This is a book about accepting others for who they are. The illustrations are simple but convey the message clearly. I would love to have this book in my classroom to teach about understanding and welcoming all views and thoughts.

I received a copy of this book from Dover Publications via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
  
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Kristin (149 KP) rated Wonderstruck in Books

Dec 7, 2018  
W
Wonderstruck
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'll begin by saying the cover is fantastic; I couldn't stop looking at it! That being said, it's that feeling, the one that every picture has a story to tell, that is the inspiration behind the stories in this anthology. They go from "drabbles" of 100 words to short stories and novellas, and each is as unique as the author who wrote it. It's amazing how so many people can look at the same picture and yet draw a completely different tale from it, all the while bringing those thoughts and images into reality for the reader. I hope this idea will be continued into another book (or several!), using different pictures, or perhaps with each author being given an opening line and having to write a story from that. Loved it!! =)

5 stars
  
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ashezbookz (32 KP) rated Hotel Ruby in Books

Jul 5, 2018  
HR
Hotel Ruby
10
9.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I LOVED this book. I adored every second. It was fast paced and I couldn't put it down. I just wanted to know what was going to happen from one second to the next.

It starts off getting right into the thick of Hotel Ruby, and it has a steady progression of interesting characters and side plots and thoughts.

There was just enough gore and violence and enough lovey dovey stuff too. It was the perfect balance for me.

Honestly I wish this were a series I'd love to read more from the Hotel but it just ended so great that ... I can't be sad about it. The end was slightly predictable of course I swear I've seen a movie like this and it reminded me a lot of AHS Hotel while reading it - perhaps that's why I liked it so much. I'll definitely be buying it to reread later!
  
The Last Piece of My Heart
The Last Piece of My Heart
Paige Toon | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
If you want a book that will calm you down, relax you, show you love and emotion, but at the same time turn your world around and make you cry at 2am, this is the perfect book for you!

Filled with so much love, laughter, happiness, tears, travelling, 7 second long hugs and intimate moments, this book has left me speechless until the very last page.

You will travel the world around with Bridget, and listen to her playlist, keep track of her thoughts and be a witness while she tries to take her pieces of her heart sorted out together again.

But she will fall in love with a person she's expected least - a tiny little baby girl!
Definitely a book that I would recommend to all of you that love these type of stories, and all of you that don't - because you'll love this one regardless!
  
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians
Kevin Kwan | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
8.4 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
I picked this up after I saw the movie because I liked it so much, and I’m very glad I did.
Rachel Chu is thrust into the lifestyle of the crazy rich in Singapore when she and her boyfriend Nick travel to attend a wedding of Nick’s best friend. She is treated horribly by Nick’s traditional family and their friends, who are trying their best to get her out of the picture. We follow as Rachel learns about Nick’s past and family, secrets of her own past, and see her struggle to figure out who she is or what she should do.
 The book changes perspective every chapter, so you really get the back story on and thoughts of all the main characters. You learn about this lifestyle that is so extravagant I couldn’t even dream that big. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to pick up the next book!
  
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Andy K (10823 KP) created a poll

Nov 3, 2018  
Poll
1994 saw 3 of the most memorable Best Picture nominees in the same year of all time.

Here's how they broke down for box office performance:

Forrest Gump - $329 million (top grossing film of the year)

Pulp Fiction - $107 million (10th highest grossing film of the year)

The Shawshank Redemption - $28.3 million (51st highest grossing film of the year) - sad to say beaten by In the Army Now starring Pauly Shore

Here are their current IMDb star rankings:

Forrest Gump - 8.8
Pulp Fiction - 8.9
The Shawshank Redemption - 9.3

These films are all about to turn 25 years old in a few months. Although Forrest Gump won Best Picture in 1994, has it endured as well as the others? What do you think?

Which is your favorite?

Feel free to also comment your thoughts below. I would love to hear them.


Forrest Gump
Pulp Fiction
The Shawshank Redemption
Vote
     
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Sarah (7800 KP) created a post in Dear Smashbomb....

Jan 18, 2019  
Fellow Smashbombers, I'm interested to get your thoughts on a few notions that have cropped up in my life recently.

Firstly, people keep telling me that everything happens for a reason and that sometimes you have to sit back and stop thinking about something and it'll happen when you least expect it. Do you think that's true?

Secondly in the last book I read the main character was advised to say yes to everything to open up any possibilities. I'm debating whether to try this myself and see where it takes me, but I'm intrigued to know if anyone else has ever followed the same advice?

And lastly, is it better to do/say something and risk a bad outcome, rather than regret never doing it at all?

I'm interested to know everyone's different views on these areas, as my own are very conflicted!
  
Show all 5 comments.
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Katie (868 KP) Jan 20, 2019 (Updated Jan 20, 2019)

1. I don’t think that’s true.


2. Probably a good experiment within reason. Beware that people could take advantage of the person who always says yes. Think about if you said yes to every possible task at the work place or at home, might be new experiences but it could also get you into a bind. It may also be good to set certain boundaries for yourself. Saying no isn’t always bad and can be empowering as well.

3. Depends on how much that thing means to you and what the risks are of saying/doing it. Will you lose a lifelong friendship because you just had to say something minutely important? Maybe that thing will always bother you but maybe you’d rather not lose that person. However standing up for beliefs/rights/etc despite risks has always been important for the betterment of humanity.

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Rebekah Palmer Pierce (225 KP) Jan 20, 2019

I had something like that going on in my life a few years ago. I do believe everything happens for a reason even though sometimes life is hard and it hurts. I have had my share of crying from just feeling so broken at times. I discovered that during that time in my life I was growing and I had to just focus on me for a while and I took the time to discover who I was. I knew I was a mom, a sister, a daughter ect. But I didnt know who I truly was. I took time to just focus on me and once I figured out who I was and learned to love me first I became a better mom,sister, daughter ect. Even the people around me saw the difference and said they could tell how much happier I was. I the years since then I can look back now and see how my trials have allowed me to learn and grow. That in return has allowed me to help others. I dont think I am changing the world, but I do think I have helped to show others love and kindness when needed, and been strong enough and secure enough to help give a little light when times looked dark. My faith has taught me things come to pass. Hard times come but they pass. This will pass for you. Find out who you are and what you want, and then go for it.

TP
The Princes in the Tower
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wilkinson admits that in writing the second part of her biography of Richard III, she became too bogged down with the whole 'princes in the tower' enigma and so chose to pull some of her thoughts together in this book.

Each chapter looks at a different suspect of aspect of the mystery. I've given only three stars not because there was anything particularly wrong with what was written, I think I just expected that Wilkinson had uncovered something new or had a stunning new theory to present! The downside with reading non-fiction books on the Kindle can be that you get to about 75% in and it suddenly ends with the rest of the book being footnotes, bibliography etc.

It is a good and lucid look at the facts and the arguments, so not a bad book, just nothing new and didn't meet the expectations I had formed.