Search

Search only in certain items:

It's Always the Husband
It's Always the Husband
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It’s Always the Husband by Michele Campbell was an unusual psychological drama detailing the lives of three main girls, Aubrey, Kate and Jenny who met at college and stayed friends for life. At least that’s what they’d like you to believe, from the outside looking in. Really, they were thrown together and kind of stuck with each other.

Relationships are tricky things, some best friends at school can totally be your worst nightmare, but if you’re too weak willed to get out of such a toxic relationship, before you know it, you’re stuck. I mean, if you’ve invested so much time and energy in a friendship, why would you give it all up? Especially now, when you’re all adults in your 40s, shouldn’t things be different?

When I say this story was unusual, what exactly did I mean by that? This is just my sort of book, I love psychological thrillers, but unfortunately I just didn’t feel for any of the characters at first. The story started slow, and I don’t think as much detail about their elite Carlisle college life at the beginning was needed. Maybe the odd flashback to something important, to show how the “Whipple Triplets” had pledged to be friends forever, when in fact it’s instantly obvious to the reader they’re actually frenemies from the day they first met. Again, I love books featuring frenemies, but there was just something about that whole first section which did not enthral me at all. However, as we moved on through to their later years where we meet them as adults, the pace picked up a bit, and like the blurb says, when someone is standing at the edge of the bridge and someone else is urging them to jump, I wanted to find out who and why! I didn’t get this far into the book to just give up!

We do get flashbacks every now and then and the suspense does pick up somewhat. I kind of knew payback was going to happen to the bitch of the group, but the unexpected twist at the end was interesting. There was just something clunky about the way the whole book was put together, like either I was missing something or it just did not read as smoothly as I’d have liked.

In addition, I get that their college life is all about popularity, money, sex, and much of it went by in a blur of drugs and alcohol, but at the same time, there was a lot of it going on in the story, and I half thought most of the substance abuse goings on was just too repetitive and didn’t really focus on the psychological issues they could have had at college. I don’t think all of it was needed.

Even so, I did finish this book, and I did like the ending, it just wasn’t completely enthralling enough for me to rate it higher than 3 stars, which is my ‘jolly good’ read, but not ‘really, really enjoyable’, and definitely not up there with ‘I’m going to talk about this for weeks’ five stars. Although, I could actually be talking about this for weeks, just not in the best light.
  
After The Cure
After The Cure
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A non-traditional zombie book that stays with you.
Contains spoilers, click to show
I loved this book. It had such a unique take on the zombie genre, rivaled perhaps only by M.R. Carey's The Girl with all the Gifts . Even compared to Carey's book, it's still in a league of its own. Just read the title. After the Cure.

Can you imagine what that would be like for the 'zombies'? To be cured, but have memories of all the horrible things they did while they were infected? To try to pick up again, to reintegrate into life? How positively horrifying.

Then there's the research to build a case against the jerks that started it all. There's intrigue, twists, horror, and discoveries, all told from the viewpoint of after the world almost ended, but humanity managed to save itself just in the nick of time. ...Right?

I haven't read the rest of this series, so I can't speak for it all...but I can speak for this book. This was, is, an awesome book that I highly recommend for zombie fans!
  
40x40

Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Tattooist of Auschwitz in Books

Mar 2, 2018 (Updated Mar 2, 2018)  
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Heather Morris | 2018 | Biography, History & Politics, Religion
7
8.7 (74 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wish it hadn't been written like a screenplay
The Tattooist of Auschwitz reads like a fictional story set during the Holocaust, but what makes it remarkable is the fact that it is anything but formulated.

Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, was given the task of tattooing identification numbers on others at the notorious concentration camp. There he meets Gita, another Slovakian, and he sets himself on a mission to escape with her to freedom by trading food and jewels, revealing his incredible street smarts. If he had been caught, he would have been killed - many owed him their survival.

There are elements where you do think it has been written for the screen, as the scenes fail to connect to one another fluidly. As a result, I did believe it to be a fictional story because the writing failed to completely flourish and the author struggles with the prose. In this respect, it is rather disappointing, however, the memoir is wonderful and it leaves you with huge respect for the Sokolovs.
  
40x40

Dana (24 KP) rated Bone Gap in Books

Mar 23, 2018  
Bone Gap
Bone Gap
Laura Ruby | 2017 | Children
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a strange book. But sometimes, strange is good. Different draws you in. And that is exactly what this book did. I read this book in one day, something I haven't really done in a while which speaks to it's ability to catch and keep my attention.

This is a book about love and magic, but not in the way you may think. The characters are all dealing with the stress of the disappearance of Roza, a mysterious woman who just showed up one day. They are all dealing with it in their own way, but are still struggling, most of the time separately.

I loved the magic in this book. It was very dark and mysterious and dangerous, but it wasn't overly mystical. It felt real and just so freaking great.

I am excited by Ruby's writing. I want to find more she has written to be able to get a feel for her writing style because it's something I admire!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
  
Your Closest Friend
Your Closest Friend
Karen Perry | 2018 | Crime, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What a unique story and nothing like anything I've read before. You are thrown into the middle of a terrorist attack at the beginning of the story and not knowing whether she is going to survive or not, Cara confides her deepest secrets to the young lady who plucked her to safety. Secrets that should have stayed hidden as they are now used against her.

The writing style is easy to read and flows really well with each chapter written from the perspectives of the 2 main characters - Cara and Amy - which works extremely well for this book and the story. I did feel there was a bit of a lull in the middle but it certainly makes up for it as we move towards the thrilling conclusion.

Never having read anything by these authors before (Paul Perry and Karen Gillece ), I will most certainly keep my eyes open in future and thank you to the Publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for once again introducing me to yet another great book that would likely have passed me by.
  
The Misadventures of Michael McMichaels book is about another moral lesson that we need to teach lesson. This story about an borrowed bracelet but do your children or child know the different between borrowing and stealing?

This story plot put Michael in a predicament. Does he know the different or not? You will see that he does something he thinks is justified as he not harming anyone one and has learned lesson about what did in book one. If you have not that is a good book to read a well and is the beginning of the series.

Tony Penn does a good job with this moral lesson and bringing it out for children to learn and understand the concept. He also does it where young children can learn and enjoy the book. This is a good book for parents as well as young children and readers.

The picture are done well. I do enjoy the misadventures that the young Michael goes though. I can see young children learning from this book and the moral lesson behind the book.
  
People had been going on about this film for a few months before I decided “right everyone’s going on let’s see what the fuss it about” and damn why did I wait so long and miss out on seeing this on the big screen! It was fabulous! The colours, wardrobe, songs and cinematography was amazing! And a film you could watch on repeat.

Your transported away and back to the 19th century to P.T Barnums childhood pointing out the social hierarchies and the struggles he grew up with, while growing up and falling for a girl that’s upper class and showing he sacrifices she also made for love.

Fast forward a couple of years and there’s still a struggled combined with keeping his promises to his wife and children. Until he realised his dream of showcasing the worlds oddities,we follow his journey into success, downfalls, love, loss and an ongoing battle. A story that keeps you locked to the screen,smiling, crying and defiantly singing along!

A lovely addition to my favourite musicals list!
  
40x40

Hazel (2934 KP) rated We Can See You in Books

Jul 7, 2019  
We Can See You
We Can See You
Simon Kernick | 2019 | Crime, Thriller
7
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Good but not his best
I am a massive Simon Kernick fan and devour his books as soon as I get my hands on them but this one wasn't devoured as much as nibbled on over a couple of days whilst relaxing in the sunshine on my recent holiday.

It's well written, easy to read and a good story but I did find it a little predictable and, at times, stretched reality a little too much even for a work of fiction. The characters are well developed but I didn't find myself becoming invested in them as much I would have liked so wasn't particularly bothered what their ultimate fates would be.

There are the usual twists, turns and surprising revelations that Mr Kernick has a knack of smacking you round the face with which make you keep reading; it just didn't hit the mark quite as much for me as his other books have but it's still enjoyable and worth reading.

My thanks must go to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
  
Aladdin (1992)
Aladdin (1992)
1992 | Action, Animation, Comedy
Robin Williams (0 more)
Friend Like Me.
Aladdin- such a classic. I love this movie, its perfect. Why did their have to remake it, last year with Will Smith as the Genie. Why!!! Oh yea cause $$$. Anyways the songs so perect, you have.."Arabian Nights", "One Jump Ahead", "Friend Like Me", "Prince Ali"and "A Whole New World".

The plot: When street rat Aladdin frees a genie from a lamp, he finds his wishes granted. However, he soon finds that the evil has other plans for the lamp -- and for Princess Jasmine. But can Aladdin save Princess Jasmine and his love for her after she sees that he isn't quite what he appears to be?

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:

"Friend Like Me" – Nominated
"A Whole New World" – Nominated

Also you cant forgot about Robin Williams as the Genie. So excellent, so perfect, so funny, so hilarious, so amazing, so wonderful, such a great person.

A classic to all.