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ArecRain (8 KP) rated Tin Man (Bliss, #1.5) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I probably should have read Bliss before this, but I didnยt know Tin Man was the second in the series. It probably would have helped especially since there was so much going on. I love sci-fi but I tend to stay away from novels since it is so hard to translated sci-fi into words (and make them comprehendible). There was a lot going on in Tin Man and, while the author did a good job an explaining things, I still felt lost more than once. I loved the premise of this novel. Everything about was amazing. I became so engrossed that when the novel ended, I felt like a piece of me was left in the story. It was refreshing to read such a great LGBTQIA. I have been looking for novels like this, that arenยt so cookie cutter cut and dry LGBTQIA. I canยt wait to read more.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The Wailing (2016) in Movies
Oct 28, 2021
Babe, are you okay? You haven't even touched your rotting deer carcass. Better than ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ช๐ต๐ค๐ฉ - A weird, absolute gonzo ripper of a ghost movie bursting at the seams with occult gibberish that shrieks with the agonizing intensity of a dying animal and wraps up with one of the most genius conclusions of the 2010s decade. On top of all that it's also chock full of exposed-nerve performances, amazing cinematography, and all these dazzlingly staged setpieces (highlights include the multiple rituals that are thrilling as *hell* and the literally dizzying chase sequence in the cliffside woods). Can't really say this wastes a minute of its 156 minute runtime - starting by very engagingly stringing along a deceitfully simple mystery which gradually morphs into a messy blast of at least three different genres all handled with originality and a wicked sense of inertia - with one of the best child performances ever translated to film. One of the few "begs for a rewatch" movies that actually warrants one.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Blindspot - Season 3 in TV
May 23, 2018
This season should have been titled "really do we still have to bother with those tattoos?!". The series once again follows the FBI team, and Jane Doe in trying to solve mysterious tattoos on Jane's body, averting terrorist attacks as they go. Only this time, it is a whole new series of tattoos which have been ridiculously put on her in UV or something so were not obvious.
The tattoos are no longer solved in interesting manners, now there is 30 seconds devoted to that, the rest being rushing around with guns.
Some of the puzzles appear to have been solved by something like "so I took these numbers, rearranged them at random, converted each one to the letter of the alphabet, translated that into Dutch, then back into numbers and tried this as an IP address and found that a ship has just docked with the same name as your mother-in-law's maiden name, get over there pronto".
The overarching plot was fine and reasonably exciting, but there was so much deus ex machina that I just got really annoyed.
The tattoos are no longer solved in interesting manners, now there is 30 seconds devoted to that, the rest being rushing around with guns.
Some of the puzzles appear to have been solved by something like "so I took these numbers, rearranged them at random, converted each one to the letter of the alphabet, translated that into Dutch, then back into numbers and tried this as an IP address and found that a ship has just docked with the same name as your mother-in-law's maiden name, get over there pronto".
The overarching plot was fine and reasonably exciting, but there was so much deus ex machina that I just got really annoyed.
Jeremy Workman recommended Letter Never Sent (TBD) in Movies (curated)
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated The Word Trove in Books
Dec 21, 2020
Whimsical marmite
This tells a warm whimsical wonderous story of a word which has forgotten its meaning. Imagine if Alice had fallen into a dictionary instead of wonderland and you are about there. This will be marmite to readers, some not appreciating its magic and metaphors and others dreaming into the depths of its poetry and philosophy. It is a beautifully presented story and has been translated brilliantly to maintain meaning in a book about language. Another word, other than whimsical I would use to describe this journey is charming. From the delightful illustrations to the size and shape of the book itself, it is full of a sincere charm that will delight those who enjoy its pages. Those who won't like the book will find out almost from the first paragraph and if you don't, then put it down and pick up something else. Those that do, then allow yourself to go on its journey and think as well as smile in this wonderful and unique treasure of a novel.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Slave: The Hidden Truth about Your Identity in Christ in Books
Apr 27, 2018
John Macarthur has gone through meticulous study and research to uncover a truth about our relationship with Christ to a degree we have not exhausted as thoroughly as we should. Because of words being translated differently, we have lost a dynamic of that beautiful relationship: Now Macarthur has explained what it truly should look like.
Reading Slave has been truly convicting and enlightening. It gave me a whole new perspective on my relationship with Christ, and a fresh sense of peace. Christ is our Master and we are His slaves, and by explaining the culture and the true definition of the words that were originally written, we see salvation in a new light.
Not only was it engaging and convicting, it was easy to read. I've gotten Christian books that felt like I was reading college text books. And trust me when I say I don't like college text booksโI have a bunch of them and I avoid them at all costs. But MacArthur's writing was clear and concise yet thoroughly explained and can be easily understood by a wide range of readers.
Reading Slave has been truly convicting and enlightening. It gave me a whole new perspective on my relationship with Christ, and a fresh sense of peace. Christ is our Master and we are His slaves, and by explaining the culture and the true definition of the words that were originally written, we see salvation in a new light.
Not only was it engaging and convicting, it was easy to read. I've gotten Christian books that felt like I was reading college text books. And trust me when I say I don't like college text booksโI have a bunch of them and I avoid them at all costs. But MacArthur's writing was clear and concise yet thoroughly explained and can be easily understood by a wide range of readers.
Personally I think this should have also counted towards my classic read for the month aswell, but hey, I donโt make the rules . . oh, wait . .
For those of you not in the know The Iliad is Homers epic poem about the Trojan war, this version was translated by EV Rieu.
What can I say about this, without sounding like a complete philistine? It is essentially a Soap Opera based around testosterone fuelled macho men and a bunch of Gods having a hissy fit! I loved it!
Crivens, thereโs a lot of people in it though!! It did take me a little while to get into it, and being a little rusty on my Greek mythology I kept forgetting who was on whose side, but I eventually found my stride, and if you can wade through all the different ways that different people were killed (Homer does really like describing how each person died, potentially the Tarantino of his day!) It is a really detailed account of a mythological war that inspired a whole wealth of literature, and I can see why it is a classic.
For those of you not in the know The Iliad is Homers epic poem about the Trojan war, this version was translated by EV Rieu.
What can I say about this, without sounding like a complete philistine? It is essentially a Soap Opera based around testosterone fuelled macho men and a bunch of Gods having a hissy fit! I loved it!
Crivens, thereโs a lot of people in it though!! It did take me a little while to get into it, and being a little rusty on my Greek mythology I kept forgetting who was on whose side, but I eventually found my stride, and if you can wade through all the different ways that different people were killed (Homer does really like describing how each person died, potentially the Tarantino of his day!) It is a really detailed account of a mythological war that inspired a whole wealth of literature, and I can see why it is a classic.
ClareR (5674 KP) rated The Sixteen Trees of the Somme in Books
Mar 2, 2019
Such a beautifully written and translated novel - I struggled to put this one down. It's another of those 'cooking one-handed' books (warning: this may result in burns of both person and food!).
Edvard has grown up with his grandfather on a remote farm in the Norwegian mountains after the mysterious death of his parents when he was a small child.
After his grandfather dies, Edvard decides to leave his solitary life on the farm and investigate what happened. His journey takes him to the northernmost Scottish Shetland Islands where his Great Uncle lived the last years of his life, and to a small woodland in the Somme, where his parents died.
The descriptions of the bleak Scottish islands, the lush woodland in the Somme, and Edvard potato farm in Norway are stunning. The Wars are described in heartbreaking terms: the loss and the grim reality of war, families torn apart and suspicions aimed at friends and family members. And at its heart, a boy without parents, orphaned with he death of his grandfather, trying to make sense of his familys past.
A truly gorgeous book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher (MacLehose Press) for my copy of this book.
Edvard has grown up with his grandfather on a remote farm in the Norwegian mountains after the mysterious death of his parents when he was a small child.
After his grandfather dies, Edvard decides to leave his solitary life on the farm and investigate what happened. His journey takes him to the northernmost Scottish Shetland Islands where his Great Uncle lived the last years of his life, and to a small woodland in the Somme, where his parents died.
The descriptions of the bleak Scottish islands, the lush woodland in the Somme, and Edvard potato farm in Norway are stunning. The Wars are described in heartbreaking terms: the loss and the grim reality of war, families torn apart and suspicions aimed at friends and family members. And at its heart, a boy without parents, orphaned with he death of his grandfather, trying to make sense of his familys past.
A truly gorgeous book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher (MacLehose Press) for my copy of this book.
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Ascension (Phobos #1) in Books
Jul 6, 2018
A great concept
Six boys and six girls are chosen to be the first people to colonise Mars in a speed-dating show like no other. We follow Leonor mainly, as she navigates her life and 'dates' on board the Cupido. It's a bit 'cheesy' in places, and you do get a sense of the fact that it has been translated from French: it gives the language a more lyrical feel (in my opinion). The story though, is great!
I'm not a fan at all of reality TV. I'll turn the channel over every time. This novel shows the whole ridiculousness of the concept: a few 6 minute dates before you choose your life partner?! Madness!
This novel also shows how corrupt big business and government can be in the race to make more and more money. Lots to think about whilst you're reading - the ideas have to come from somewhere!
I liked where the story cut away from the space ship to the organisers of the TV show and two other characters, Andrew and Harmony. I think they may be quite important in the following books in this trilogy. And yes, I have preordered book 2, which incidentally, releases in October!
Thanks to Readers First for my copy of this book.
I'm not a fan at all of reality TV. I'll turn the channel over every time. This novel shows the whole ridiculousness of the concept: a few 6 minute dates before you choose your life partner?! Madness!
This novel also shows how corrupt big business and government can be in the race to make more and more money. Lots to think about whilst you're reading - the ideas have to come from somewhere!
I liked where the story cut away from the space ship to the organisers of the TV show and two other characters, Andrew and Harmony. I think they may be quite important in the following books in this trilogy. And yes, I have preordered book 2, which incidentally, releases in October!
Thanks to Readers First for my copy of this book.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Proof (2005) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020
๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฃ ๐๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ, a movie about advanced mathematics that couldn't possibly be more stupid. A quote on the back of the DVD case advertised this sappy drivel as "The kind of movie that's made for Oscar" - and I have to say, I couldn't agree more: in that it's overdramatized into ruin, sickeningly melodramatic to the point of near offense, talks a great deal but says nothing (has lengthy asides about conditioners and pointless math puns to pad out this pathetic non-story), everyone overacts, and it reeks of a pretentious stage production poorly translated to the screen with minimal effort. Overly literary for no reason whatsoever, despite the fact that it's nothing more than unnecessary, surface-level jargon which actively refuses to show even a hint of depth. What I'm sure would be at least *ever so slightly* more compelling on the stage absolutely falls apart on screen with no sense of what this should have kept/added/omitted/etc. to make it work. The only proof to come out of this is that John Madden remains one of the reigning kings of bad, intolerable Oscar bait. Glad he gave up this shit for worlds better stuff like ๐๐ช๐ด๐ด ๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฆ. Lowpoint cringe cinema.