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CameraSim for iPhone
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Learn by doing: CameraSim for iPhone and iPad shows you how to use your DLSR camera! This is the...
Lock and Key: the Downward Spiral
10.0
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"Will leave you dying to know more." -Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series The New York...
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release!
I hadn't read anything by Dolly Alderton before but I'd heard great things about 'Everything I Know About Love' so when I heard about her fiction debut I knew I needed to try it! I love Dolly's voice, it's so wonderfully British which as someone who reads so much American based fiction was refreshing. There was quite a lot of heavy swearing so if that's not your thing be wary (but that's what you get for being British I guess). I loved the different aspects of ghosting that were covered from dating, to friendships fading, and to dementia and the ghosting of memories. It was such a poignant read. I enjoyed this book immensely but I just couldn't get invested, it took me quite a while to get through as I only found myself reading a chapter at a time so hence the reason for my lower rating but I think I'm slightly younger than the target audience for this book so that's potentially why but I'd say if you are older and single you'll definitely see a lot of yourself here, I'm young and single and I definitely did. It made me think a lot about the future.
I hadn't read anything by Dolly Alderton before but I'd heard great things about 'Everything I Know About Love' so when I heard about her fiction debut I knew I needed to try it! I love Dolly's voice, it's so wonderfully British which as someone who reads so much American based fiction was refreshing. There was quite a lot of heavy swearing so if that's not your thing be wary (but that's what you get for being British I guess). I loved the different aspects of ghosting that were covered from dating, to friendships fading, and to dementia and the ghosting of memories. It was such a poignant read. I enjoyed this book immensely but I just couldn't get invested, it took me quite a while to get through as I only found myself reading a chapter at a time so hence the reason for my lower rating but I think I'm slightly younger than the target audience for this book so that's potentially why but I'd say if you are older and single you'll definitely see a lot of yourself here, I'm young and single and I definitely did. It made me think a lot about the future.
Mothergamer (1539 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Vampyr in Video Games
Nov 16, 2020
The game is not totally terrible. I found the concept interesting and being set in 1918 London during the influenza epidemic and World War I made for an interesting setting. I really wished that there was fast travel in the game because walking back and forth between neighborhoods for quests and gathering information could be really tedious. I also felt that the game was hindered by the lack of a manual save because sometimes conversations would go wrong if you picked the wrong choice with an NPC and you would lose the clue forever and there's no way to redo it unless you want to start the entire game over again. I truly don't understand why that decision was made by the game developers and it could be really frustrating to use a conversation hint and not be able to have a redo. The combat isn't bad, figuring out what vampire abilities worked best for each fight was intriguing, but it wasn't too challenging which I liked. The story is good, but not great because there were some unanswered questions and some plot holes leaving more questions. Overall, I did enjoy the story and I'm glad I played through it at least once. Full Mothergamer review is here: http://lorrie28-mothergamer.blogspot.com/2020/11/mothergamer-plays-vampyr.html
Tom Jones recommended Rock 'n Soul by Solomon Burke in Music (curated)
Debbiereadsbook (1176 KP) rated Lost and Found (Tactical Solutions International #3) in Books
Sep 28, 2020
good but not great.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
You know sometimes, you just need a book you can read, and not really pay much attention to? One that doesn't tax the brain too much?
This is why I enjoyed this book. It was just what I needed after a particularly difficult day at work. I started it, and then I was done.
It's a really good book, but one that didn't blow me away.
I did enjoy the speed that things moved for Lissa and Cam. Usually, that would be a negative, but I think for these two, who have known each other forever, it was probably the best thing for them.
Some attention to the language used would have been good. At points it refers to certain parts of the male anatomy in the vernacular, slang and then, for some reason, it switches to the proper name for it. Kinda threw me, that.
It does get a bit steamy, but while it's hot, it's not a lot. If that makes any sense!
I liked that who I thought was the stalker, wasn't and I love being kept on my toes for that!
I liked it, but I didn't love it.
3 good solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
You know sometimes, you just need a book you can read, and not really pay much attention to? One that doesn't tax the brain too much?
This is why I enjoyed this book. It was just what I needed after a particularly difficult day at work. I started it, and then I was done.
It's a really good book, but one that didn't blow me away.
I did enjoy the speed that things moved for Lissa and Cam. Usually, that would be a negative, but I think for these two, who have known each other forever, it was probably the best thing for them.
Some attention to the language used would have been good. At points it refers to certain parts of the male anatomy in the vernacular, slang and then, for some reason, it switches to the proper name for it. Kinda threw me, that.
It does get a bit steamy, but while it's hot, it's not a lot. If that makes any sense!
I liked that who I thought was the stalker, wasn't and I love being kept on my toes for that!
I liked it, but I didn't love it.
3 good solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Twin Tales: Alike and Different in Books
Oct 24, 2021
Twin Tales is a book about twins that are alike and different. Children all want to feel special. Even twins have their personalities. Parents sometimes dress their children the same and do not allow their children to be themselves.
This book explains it to show that twins can be alike in many ways but also very different. Each person should get to know each one, and then you will be able to tell a twin apart. I have grown up with twins. I could tell them apart, but my mom could not even remember who was who.
I knew what this book was trying to do. It is trying to explain that all identical twins and fraternal twins will like the same things. That's okay. The pictures are lovely. The author did a fantastic job showing that twins can be alike with some things but can be very different. They still will get along. Twins are just like any other children.
Children will enjoy this book and learn about twins. If you are a twin, then this book is made for you. The picture book is suitable for all children. Parents and children can learn and teach each other while reading this book. Children can learn from each other as well and read this book together as well. It's okay to be different from your twin.
This book explains it to show that twins can be alike in many ways but also very different. Each person should get to know each one, and then you will be able to tell a twin apart. I have grown up with twins. I could tell them apart, but my mom could not even remember who was who.
I knew what this book was trying to do. It is trying to explain that all identical twins and fraternal twins will like the same things. That's okay. The pictures are lovely. The author did a fantastic job showing that twins can be alike with some things but can be very different. They still will get along. Twins are just like any other children.
Children will enjoy this book and learn about twins. If you are a twin, then this book is made for you. The picture book is suitable for all children. Parents and children can learn and teach each other while reading this book. Children can learn from each other as well and read this book together as well. It's okay to be different from your twin.
Merissa (11984 KP) rated The Little Morgen (Fairytales of the Myth #2) in Books
Jan 27, 2021 (Updated Aug 7, 2023)
THE LITTLE MORGEN is the second novella in the Fairytales of the Myth series, and in case you've not realised, this time it is the Little Mermaid that gets the dark retelling.
This one I didn't enjoy quite as much, and let me tell you why. There is just too much that goes on for the number of pages you get! This made the story feel a bit disjointed to me, the pace is slightly too quick. There were so many characters and I didn't really get a feel for any of them, including Thalliya and Ragnar. There was no time to build a connection between them, or for a relationship to develop. I also found the epilogue slightly confusing as I've only just read Burn Baby Burn and the names given for Bjerner's parents jolted me.
What I did enjoy was the amount of world-building Miranda Grant puts into every story. The details were amazing. One of my favourite parts was when Ragnar bit into an orange!
So, not one of my favourites, but still a great story if you like dark and twisted retellings.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 27, 2021
This one I didn't enjoy quite as much, and let me tell you why. There is just too much that goes on for the number of pages you get! This made the story feel a bit disjointed to me, the pace is slightly too quick. There were so many characters and I didn't really get a feel for any of them, including Thalliya and Ragnar. There was no time to build a connection between them, or for a relationship to develop. I also found the epilogue slightly confusing as I've only just read Burn Baby Burn and the names given for Bjerner's parents jolted me.
What I did enjoy was the amount of world-building Miranda Grant puts into every story. The details were amazing. One of my favourite parts was when Ragnar bit into an orange!
So, not one of my favourites, but still a great story if you like dark and twisted retellings.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 27, 2021
Merissa (11984 KP) rated The Alpha's Daughter (The Wolvers #3) in Books
May 17, 2023
I will start by saying that I was unaware that this was book 3 in the series. It in no way affected my enjoyment of the book (as you can see by the 5-star rating), and at no point did I feel like I had missed out on anything.
This is a perfectly sized book - not too long, but certainly long enough to get your teeth into. One of the things that I loved is that you get everything here - the beginning, middle, climax and epilogue of their story. How fantastic is that? I was not left wanting, indeed, I was completely satisfied by the story of Jazz and Griz.
I won't go into a breakdown of the story, you have the synopsis and other reviews for that. What I will say is that this is exceptionally well-written, with a fast and flowing pace that kept my attention on every word. I connected with all the characters and certainly wept more than a few tears for them. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it certainly won't be the last. Highly recommended!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 9, 2016
This is a perfectly sized book - not too long, but certainly long enough to get your teeth into. One of the things that I loved is that you get everything here - the beginning, middle, climax and epilogue of their story. How fantastic is that? I was not left wanting, indeed, I was completely satisfied by the story of Jazz and Griz.
I won't go into a breakdown of the story, you have the synopsis and other reviews for that. What I will say is that this is exceptionally well-written, with a fast and flowing pace that kept my attention on every word. I connected with all the characters and certainly wept more than a few tears for them. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it certainly won't be the last. Highly recommended!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 9, 2016
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Lost In Translation (2003) in Movies
May 13, 2018
Solid Film
When a famous actor hops over to Tokyo to shoot a commercial, he meets a young woman that fills an empty void in his life.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
My son hates dramas and rightfully so as he's a thirteen-year-old boy. He wants to see things blowing up and people getting thrown through walls. Yet somehow, the first ten minutes of Lost In Translation sucked him in as much as it did me prompting him to watch the whole thing. From the time he touches down in Tokyo, Bob Harris (Bill Murray) sucks you in and holds on to your attention for dear life. You're anxious to see what this man is going to do next.
Characters: 10
Staying on Bob for a moment, his character made the film. His dry sense of humor and pure disinterest in everything going on around him is so sincere and captured just perfectly. He's torn between his sense of duty with work and family, so much so that he's almost forgotten how to enjoy life. When Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) comes along, everything changes for him. Charlotte is innocent and sweet and is somehow drawn to Bob like a moth to a flame. Like most "opposites attract" relationships, the two fit extremely well together and add a sense of appeal to the film. Watching them both interact with the Japanese people and try to bridge cultural and language gaps was easy comedy that works everytime.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 7
Genre: 10
Memorability: 9
There are a number of memorable scenes that stick out in my head with a couple of favorites I keep replaying. The first is where he's trying to shoot his commercial. The director is trying to relay something to Bob in Japanese which a translator is telling Bob in English. The scene is only five minutes long and had me cracking up from start to finish. In my other favorite scene, Bob has a run-in in his hotel room with a Japanese prostitute. Again, the language disparity makes the entire interaction one hilarious situation.
Outside of memorable scenes, Lost In Translation gives you a pause for introspection and contemplative thought. Oftentimes we wander aimlessly through the relationships in our lives...but what do they really mean? What are relationships without happiness or closeness? What is the real meaning of a connection?
Pace: 9
Plot: 10
Had this film's story taken place in North America somewhere, it wouldn't have been nearly as impactful. With the setting in Japan, it throws a monkey-wrench into a plot that could have been extremely simple and makes it way more intriguing. Are Bob and Charlotte truly falling for each other or are they just connecting because they are lonely and so far from home? Definite food for thought.
Resolution: 8
Ah, the famous ending of Lost In Translation. What did she say? What does it all mean? How does the story end anyway? The ending, while it does leave you hanging, is an intriguing one for sure. I understand the ambiguity and I don't love it, but I'm ok with it.
Overall: 92
Bill Murray is like the Marvel Cinematic Universe...on steroids. They have been putting out hits for a decade now. Murray has been starring in classics for decades. This film is another notch on his belt. Loved it!
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
My son hates dramas and rightfully so as he's a thirteen-year-old boy. He wants to see things blowing up and people getting thrown through walls. Yet somehow, the first ten minutes of Lost In Translation sucked him in as much as it did me prompting him to watch the whole thing. From the time he touches down in Tokyo, Bob Harris (Bill Murray) sucks you in and holds on to your attention for dear life. You're anxious to see what this man is going to do next.
Characters: 10
Staying on Bob for a moment, his character made the film. His dry sense of humor and pure disinterest in everything going on around him is so sincere and captured just perfectly. He's torn between his sense of duty with work and family, so much so that he's almost forgotten how to enjoy life. When Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) comes along, everything changes for him. Charlotte is innocent and sweet and is somehow drawn to Bob like a moth to a flame. Like most "opposites attract" relationships, the two fit extremely well together and add a sense of appeal to the film. Watching them both interact with the Japanese people and try to bridge cultural and language gaps was easy comedy that works everytime.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 7
Genre: 10
Memorability: 9
There are a number of memorable scenes that stick out in my head with a couple of favorites I keep replaying. The first is where he's trying to shoot his commercial. The director is trying to relay something to Bob in Japanese which a translator is telling Bob in English. The scene is only five minutes long and had me cracking up from start to finish. In my other favorite scene, Bob has a run-in in his hotel room with a Japanese prostitute. Again, the language disparity makes the entire interaction one hilarious situation.
Outside of memorable scenes, Lost In Translation gives you a pause for introspection and contemplative thought. Oftentimes we wander aimlessly through the relationships in our lives...but what do they really mean? What are relationships without happiness or closeness? What is the real meaning of a connection?
Pace: 9
Plot: 10
Had this film's story taken place in North America somewhere, it wouldn't have been nearly as impactful. With the setting in Japan, it throws a monkey-wrench into a plot that could have been extremely simple and makes it way more intriguing. Are Bob and Charlotte truly falling for each other or are they just connecting because they are lonely and so far from home? Definite food for thought.
Resolution: 8
Ah, the famous ending of Lost In Translation. What did she say? What does it all mean? How does the story end anyway? The ending, while it does leave you hanging, is an intriguing one for sure. I understand the ambiguity and I don't love it, but I'm ok with it.
Overall: 92
Bill Murray is like the Marvel Cinematic Universe...on steroids. They have been putting out hits for a decade now. Murray has been starring in classics for decades. This film is another notch on his belt. Loved it!