Search
Search results
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs: A Candle and a Promise in Books
Sep 24, 2020
For me, it is always incredibly sad to read holocaust memoirs or any memoirs related to concentration camps. The amount of suffering it has brought to the innocent people, it is hard to comprehend.
The description of this book is pretty accurate. This book is a story of a poor polish- Jewish boy called Hank, and how he survived the Holocaust. The story starts with Hank’s childhood to post survival activities. After being taken to the concentration camp, Hank did not stay for long in one place, he was transported many times to different camps, and he shared the events he had to endure and people he met.
The book is accompanied by plenty of photos of different events, different concentration camps which Hank was transported to, and also pictures of Hank’s family. I loved the short chapters, and I finished this memoir in one sitting. For me it was gripping and I really wanted to find out what happened next after each chapter. So, to conclude, I am very happy that Hank had a chance to survive and shared his experiences with all the readers. It was a horrible period in human history, and I believe that it should not be left forgotten. So, if you into WWII books, give this book a go, it is a chilling read, filled with pain and sorrow, but it shows, that even in the worst of times, some people can still keep their kindness.
The description of this book is pretty accurate. This book is a story of a poor polish- Jewish boy called Hank, and how he survived the Holocaust. The story starts with Hank’s childhood to post survival activities. After being taken to the concentration camp, Hank did not stay for long in one place, he was transported many times to different camps, and he shared the events he had to endure and people he met.
The book is accompanied by plenty of photos of different events, different concentration camps which Hank was transported to, and also pictures of Hank’s family. I loved the short chapters, and I finished this memoir in one sitting. For me it was gripping and I really wanted to find out what happened next after each chapter. So, to conclude, I am very happy that Hank had a chance to survive and shared his experiences with all the readers. It was a horrible period in human history, and I believe that it should not be left forgotten. So, if you into WWII books, give this book a go, it is a chilling read, filled with pain and sorrow, but it shows, that even in the worst of times, some people can still keep their kindness.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Pulse (2006) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
Offensively awful, legitimately reprehensible filmmaking. I challenge anyone to find a worse American remake of Japanese horror than this. Not at all shocking how mercilessly they unceremoniously gutted the original of any sense of breadth, nuance, emotion, horror, intelligence, memorability, you know - all of that stuff that actually makes a half-decent horror film because apparently us dumb Yanks just couldn't handle any ounce of it... but by God did it have to look like moldy garbage too? This may be the worst looking film I've ever seen, whoever color-coded this to look like a chemical reaction between bleach and rotting flesh better have been blacklisted from working in the film industry since. I had to stop somewhere around the halfway point (which still felt like a goddamn century even though this barely touches 90 minutes with credits) because I felt physically ill from stomaching these shit visuals for that long. Of course it's ineptly acted, too. Is this what they thought the original meant? Some doltish technophobic lecture about how cell phones are as evil as murderous demons which also doesn't have a single milliliter of character to its name? The kind of stuff that could feasibly be used in torture chambers to get information out of people. So ironic that it kept the name, because it honestly doesn't have any pulse to speak of. Needed a trigger warning for pure stupidity.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated All the Money in the World (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.
This is a difficult one to sum up. I managed to see this by the skin of my teeth, it flew out of the listings almost as quickly as it arrived. The trailer did the film a lot of good, there was enough intrigue and star quality to make it appeal. But I'm not sure it delivered what I was hoping for.
Plummer worked well as the formidable Getty. I'm not sure I could have seen Kevin Spacey playing the part, the initial casting seems truly bizarre. I can't help but wonder how much the reshooting affected the final product. For a week and a half of reshoots though you have to give them credit for the efficiency of it.
Even now I'm struggling to find things to say about this one. I was left bored and surprisingly unengaged. A terrible habit that I haven't actually done in about a year resurfaced during this film... when I'm bored and without anything to do I will sit and bite my nails, and about half way into this film I was fully aware that I was rapidly losing length on my nails.
The story is an interesting one but it never felt like it really made its way from being a two dimensional story.
This is a difficult one to sum up. I managed to see this by the skin of my teeth, it flew out of the listings almost as quickly as it arrived. The trailer did the film a lot of good, there was enough intrigue and star quality to make it appeal. But I'm not sure it delivered what I was hoping for.
Plummer worked well as the formidable Getty. I'm not sure I could have seen Kevin Spacey playing the part, the initial casting seems truly bizarre. I can't help but wonder how much the reshooting affected the final product. For a week and a half of reshoots though you have to give them credit for the efficiency of it.
Even now I'm struggling to find things to say about this one. I was left bored and surprisingly unengaged. A terrible habit that I haven't actually done in about a year resurfaced during this film... when I'm bored and without anything to do I will sit and bite my nails, and about half way into this film I was fully aware that I was rapidly losing length on my nails.
The story is an interesting one but it never felt like it really made its way from being a two dimensional story.
Andrew Kennedy (199 KP) rated Alien: Covenant (2017) in Movies
Aug 31, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
A new Alien film is something I look forward too. They promised we would find out about xeno origins and see new strains. Plus, Ridley was directing, what could go wrong?
You could end up making a film that feels like a remake of the first film.
The set up to get us to the planet, crew interaction and things going badly wrong on the planet feels so familiar.
So the positives, Michael Fassbender is outstanding in his performance as Walter/David. He seriously acts rings round anybody else.
The score is fabulous and rich.
Danny McBride is also noteworthy for his performance.
Katherine Waterston is likeable but feels like trying to be Ripley but not.
Negatives the Xenos get very little screen time. I think were 45 mins+ in before we see one.
Billy Crudup is very unlikeable and his death barely made me care.
The origin story ending up been David created the xenos. I don't know this stuck in my craw a bit. I just feel vengeful synthetic created the ultimate organism is a bit of a let down.
After, the first film Scott said he expected other sequels to ask "where did the xeno come from?" question.
The problem is that question is difficult to give a satisfactory answer too. Like most fandom people have there own theories and in truth does it matter?
Covenant has big ideas, it just doesn't execute them all properly.
You could end up making a film that feels like a remake of the first film.
The set up to get us to the planet, crew interaction and things going badly wrong on the planet feels so familiar.
So the positives, Michael Fassbender is outstanding in his performance as Walter/David. He seriously acts rings round anybody else.
The score is fabulous and rich.
Danny McBride is also noteworthy for his performance.
Katherine Waterston is likeable but feels like trying to be Ripley but not.
Negatives the Xenos get very little screen time. I think were 45 mins+ in before we see one.
Billy Crudup is very unlikeable and his death barely made me care.
The origin story ending up been David created the xenos. I don't know this stuck in my craw a bit. I just feel vengeful synthetic created the ultimate organism is a bit of a let down.
After, the first film Scott said he expected other sequels to ask "where did the xeno come from?" question.
The problem is that question is difficult to give a satisfactory answer too. Like most fandom people have there own theories and in truth does it matter?
Covenant has big ideas, it just doesn't execute them all properly.
Dear Michael, love Dad.
5.0
Rate It
Book
Dear Lupin Letters, Laughter and all the things we leave unsaid... Dear Michael, Moving...
The Sealwoman's Gift
8.0
Rate It
Book
***SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN, THE WAVERTON GOOD READ AWARD & LONGLISTED FOR THE BEST FIRST...
Historical Fiction
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Strength Check (Dungeons and Dating #1) in Books
Aug 27, 2021 (Updated Aug 27, 2021)
Roxie is trying to run a successful business with her closest friends at the same time as trying to put back together her heart that has been torn to shreds.
Mel has moved states to get farther up the career ladder as well as far away as possible from her toxic ex who is not getting we are just friends.
When Roxie first sees Mel a fire starts to burn will it be extinguished or will the flames devour them both and give them both a sense of worth and the love they've both been missing out on?
This was just a gorgeously written story it really made my heart melt. The feelings that Roxie gets about herself, feels like I'm reading my own story the self doubt through years of abuse and put downs plays that heavily on her that she feels she has to destroy what she feels could be something good because she doesn't think she's worth it, it is absolutely heartbreaking!
I love that the friendship with Mel helps with her healing process and that they are both helping each other recover along with the friends who are as close a family.
It really does give you that warm fuzzy feeling. I did find myself shouting at Roxie a couple of times and Mel if I'm honest but it was worth the wait. Deffinatly recommend 4/5
Mel has moved states to get farther up the career ladder as well as far away as possible from her toxic ex who is not getting we are just friends.
When Roxie first sees Mel a fire starts to burn will it be extinguished or will the flames devour them both and give them both a sense of worth and the love they've both been missing out on?
This was just a gorgeously written story it really made my heart melt. The feelings that Roxie gets about herself, feels like I'm reading my own story the self doubt through years of abuse and put downs plays that heavily on her that she feels she has to destroy what she feels could be something good because she doesn't think she's worth it, it is absolutely heartbreaking!
I love that the friendship with Mel helps with her healing process and that they are both helping each other recover along with the friends who are as close a family.
It really does give you that warm fuzzy feeling. I did find myself shouting at Roxie a couple of times and Mel if I'm honest but it was worth the wait. Deffinatly recommend 4/5
ClareR (5955 KP) rated The Chateau in Books
Oct 19, 2021
Nick and Aura have moved from the UK to France, to escape from some mystery event that has happened in their past. And quite honestly, the Chateau they buy is like something out of The Money Pit (I’m showing my age here!). I should start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this, BEFORE I say that the crumbling chateau was a pretty accurate metaphor for the state of their relationship. ANd try as I might, I found myself rooting for their sticky end, in whatever way it would come (I do so love to hate the main characters of a book!!). Nick and Aura are those stereotypical Brits who move to a foreign country without speaking the language, and never really learn how to speak it when they’re there - not that they’re given much of a chance.
Their small ex-pat community is full of the rich, spoilt and slightly/ very depraved.
Information about Nick and Aura is dished out in flashbacks, and I didn’t know who to feel the most sorry for. Oh hang on, I did. It was the children. To have parents like these *shakes head*.
There are so many twists and turns that you won’t know who to trust - right up to the Big Ending, and oh! How I loved it!
I think in the end, everyone got just what they deserved.
Highly recommended!
And many thanks (once again)to The Pigeonhole for continuing to help me with my NetGalley reading!
Their small ex-pat community is full of the rich, spoilt and slightly/ very depraved.
Information about Nick and Aura is dished out in flashbacks, and I didn’t know who to feel the most sorry for. Oh hang on, I did. It was the children. To have parents like these *shakes head*.
There are so many twists and turns that you won’t know who to trust - right up to the Big Ending, and oh! How I loved it!
I think in the end, everyone got just what they deserved.
Highly recommended!
And many thanks (once again)to The Pigeonhole for continuing to help me with my NetGalley reading!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Hidden Hope ( Hope book 1) in Books
Dec 7, 2022
219 of 230
Kindle
Hidden Hope ( Hope book 1)
By Elizabeth Knight
⭐️⭐️⭐️
It all started with a naked man in an alley….
Oh did that get your attention?
Good, now listen up. For years I’ve been fighting to be on my own and out from under my father’s control. I thought I’d finally managed it after I got my dream job in a London emergency room. Things were going great. I was making good money and even had a place of my own. I should have known the good times wouldn’t last. I apparently was engaged to a man my father picked out and soon found myself kidnapped, tortured, and forced into becoming someone else.
My whole life I’ve been lied to and something was hidden inside me... and now it’s set free.
It was good. Easy to follow exactly what you come to expect from this type of book and subject. I liked her writing style. My only issues if without being to harsh and it’s not necessarily just this book, why oh why when it’s a newly turned female wolf alpha or not to they turn her in to a raging nympho who has to mate every male in site? It gets a bit tedious and I’m not taking anything away from this author as I actually liked the book but this is becoming a bugbear of mine.
Kindle
Hidden Hope ( Hope book 1)
By Elizabeth Knight
⭐️⭐️⭐️
It all started with a naked man in an alley….
Oh did that get your attention?
Good, now listen up. For years I’ve been fighting to be on my own and out from under my father’s control. I thought I’d finally managed it after I got my dream job in a London emergency room. Things were going great. I was making good money and even had a place of my own. I should have known the good times wouldn’t last. I apparently was engaged to a man my father picked out and soon found myself kidnapped, tortured, and forced into becoming someone else.
My whole life I’ve been lied to and something was hidden inside me... and now it’s set free.
It was good. Easy to follow exactly what you come to expect from this type of book and subject. I liked her writing style. My only issues if without being to harsh and it’s not necessarily just this book, why oh why when it’s a newly turned female wolf alpha or not to they turn her in to a raging nympho who has to mate every male in site? It gets a bit tedious and I’m not taking anything away from this author as I actually liked the book but this is becoming a bugbear of mine.
ClareR (5955 KP) rated Time After Time in Books
Dec 9, 2022
Time After Time is a heartwarming and entertaining read about acceptance and not settling for second best.
Tabby works in a second hand shop and one day tries on a ring that she has taken a shine to - and is instantly transported back to the 1980’s. Her life becomes more interesting as she makes a new friend and sees her beloved 1980’s in the flesh.
In 2022, Tabby feels stifled. Her long term boyfriend, David, has a very fixed, old fashioned idea of what “his woman” should be doing with her time (cooking for him and having children seem to feature highly). And back at her family home, Tabby’s father drops a bombshell that leaves her mother reeling.
The characters are lovely (except the chauvinist David, of course!), Tabby could be a bit ‘ditsy’ at times, but that tended to add to her charm.
I do feel that more could have been done with the time travel aspect, but I think that’s more the science fiction fan in me (and the book would probably have needed to be a lot longer) - no one else reading on the Pigeonhole seemed to have the same opinion! In fact I do realise that the limited sci-Fi element may well make it more appealing to a lot of readers.
I really did enjoy this - a perfect summer read - or a winter read to remind you of the better weather!
Tabby works in a second hand shop and one day tries on a ring that she has taken a shine to - and is instantly transported back to the 1980’s. Her life becomes more interesting as she makes a new friend and sees her beloved 1980’s in the flesh.
In 2022, Tabby feels stifled. Her long term boyfriend, David, has a very fixed, old fashioned idea of what “his woman” should be doing with her time (cooking for him and having children seem to feature highly). And back at her family home, Tabby’s father drops a bombshell that leaves her mother reeling.
The characters are lovely (except the chauvinist David, of course!), Tabby could be a bit ‘ditsy’ at times, but that tended to add to her charm.
I do feel that more could have been done with the time travel aspect, but I think that’s more the science fiction fan in me (and the book would probably have needed to be a lot longer) - no one else reading on the Pigeonhole seemed to have the same opinion! In fact I do realise that the limited sci-Fi element may well make it more appealing to a lot of readers.
I really did enjoy this - a perfect summer read - or a winter read to remind you of the better weather!