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Kristin (149 KP) rated Alice of the Rocks in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Elisa is a scullery maid in the castle’s kitchen in Florence, Italy, 1512. She is forbidden to speak to any of the nobles, and she must keep her face hidden and eyes downcast for fear of drawing attention to herself. But one evening, her path crosses with Count Claudio Moro who protects her from the roaming hands of another nobleman. It is highly improper for the two to converse, let alone have a relationship, but there is just something about Elisa which sticks in Claudio’s mind, and he must continue seeing her, even at a detriment to his own status.
Alice was orphaned as an infant at a convent in Italy in 2012, but she was adopted by the most wonderful couple. Now it is 2029, she is seventeen years old, and she and her parents are going on a family trip to her country of birth to visit family and see the sights. However, one of those sights for Alice comes by way of a strikingly-handsome young man who works at a villa where the family is staying. There is an instant attraction between the two, and it’s almost as if they have met one another before. Could this be just a simple summer fling, or is there more? And why is Alice suddenly having strange dreams and feelings of déjà vu?
This is a truly wonderful story told with love and care in every chapter. The characters pull you in from the very beginning, and it’s as if they are actually there with you, guiding you through each point in their lives. The transitions between time periods are flawless and unimposing, and the story flows in such a way that it’s almost like a movie. I could clearly see the entire novel playing in my head, making it very entertaining and fully engrossing, and the scenery of Italy is described so beautifully it sets a wonderful backdrop. I didn’t want to put it down, and I will admit running the gambit of emotions, from anger and sadness to joy and wonder.
If you fancy intrigue, romance, and a love which traverses both social and timely boundaries, I highly recommend this as your next read.
Elisa is a scullery maid in the castle’s kitchen in Florence, Italy, 1512. She is forbidden to speak to any of the nobles, and she must keep her face hidden and eyes downcast for fear of drawing attention to herself. But one evening, her path crosses with Count Claudio Moro who protects her from the roaming hands of another nobleman. It is highly improper for the two to converse, let alone have a relationship, but there is just something about Elisa which sticks in Claudio’s mind, and he must continue seeing her, even at a detriment to his own status.
Alice was orphaned as an infant at a convent in Italy in 2012, but she was adopted by the most wonderful couple. Now it is 2029, she is seventeen years old, and she and her parents are going on a family trip to her country of birth to visit family and see the sights. However, one of those sights for Alice comes by way of a strikingly-handsome young man who works at a villa where the family is staying. There is an instant attraction between the two, and it’s almost as if they have met one another before. Could this be just a simple summer fling, or is there more? And why is Alice suddenly having strange dreams and feelings of déjà vu?
This is a truly wonderful story told with love and care in every chapter. The characters pull you in from the very beginning, and it’s as if they are actually there with you, guiding you through each point in their lives. The transitions between time periods are flawless and unimposing, and the story flows in such a way that it’s almost like a movie. I could clearly see the entire novel playing in my head, making it very entertaining and fully engrossing, and the scenery of Italy is described so beautifully it sets a wonderful backdrop. I didn’t want to put it down, and I will admit running the gambit of emotions, from anger and sadness to joy and wonder.
If you fancy intrigue, romance, and a love which traverses both social and timely boundaries, I highly recommend this as your next read.
Merissa (11731 KP) rated Hidden (Fire and Iceland #1) in Books
Dec 15, 2018
Hidden (Fire and Iceland #1) by Megan Morgan
Hidden is the first book in the Fire and Ice series, and we start off with Vanessa as she wakes up outside, wondering what on earth has happened to her. She is found by two Icelandic men, who she can understand even though she knows they are speaking their own language. Not only that, but Vanessa senses she is being watched, and has no idea what has gone on, or why.
This is a long book that is a slow burner. The first half of the book I thoroughly enjoyed, as Vanessa learnt more about the Icelandic mythology, and just how pertinent to her situation it may be. Then, I'm afraid, I got a bit bored. There is a lot of repetition, with Vanessa telling the world how unfair life is. And then we have an attraction thrown into the mix, where his ghostly wife may or may not be involved. And then the ending... of which I won't say anything because I don't want to spoil it for anyone else.
There were lots of aspects of this book that I enjoyed, but I was left feeling vaguely unsatisfied. I have given it a 3-star rating though, because it WAS good! It just didn't hold me engrossed like I love to be in a book. There were no editing or grammatical errors that ruined my reading, which is another reason for 3-stars.
If you fancy something a bit different, and like the idea of Iceland, then I would recommend this book.
* 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!
This is a long book that is a slow burner. The first half of the book I thoroughly enjoyed, as Vanessa learnt more about the Icelandic mythology, and just how pertinent to her situation it may be. Then, I'm afraid, I got a bit bored. There is a lot of repetition, with Vanessa telling the world how unfair life is. And then we have an attraction thrown into the mix, where his ghostly wife may or may not be involved. And then the ending... of which I won't say anything because I don't want to spoil it for anyone else.
There were lots of aspects of this book that I enjoyed, but I was left feeling vaguely unsatisfied. I have given it a 3-star rating though, because it WAS good! It just didn't hold me engrossed like I love to be in a book. There were no editing or grammatical errors that ruined my reading, which is another reason for 3-stars.
If you fancy something a bit different, and like the idea of Iceland, then I would recommend this book.
* 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!
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Connections In Death (In Death #48) in Books
Mar 11, 2019
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the In Death series is hands down my favorite series from any author in any genre. Terrific, well-written characters in a not-so-distant future NYC; the series manages to be both familiar and fresh, even after 48 installments. That's saying something.
The very first line of the very first chapter made me laugh out loud, and is so perfectly Eve Dallas:
"The legalized torture of socializing lined right up to premeditated murder when you added the requirement of fancy shoes."
Beginning with a cocktail party during which Eve and Roarke and other recurring characters are socializing and being generally hilarious, this installment was in my opinion a bit more "fun" than the previous installment. That's not to say that there aren't plenty of serious moments, of course, but I found a bit more levity throughout. For example, Eve's complete bewilderment when Roarke shows her the progress on the farm in Nebraska which he purchased on a bet between the two of them. This may have been one of my favorite moments.
The case Eve is working is gang-related, and much easier to navigate than the convoluted case at the center of #47. Crack's new girlfriend, Rochelle - who is also Roarke's top pick to run An Didean - loses her recovered addict/gangbanger brother in a gang hit, and we go from there. It was nice seeing Crack in a different light, as well, and I enjoy him with Rochelle.
Overall, a worthy installment. Can't wait for #49!
The very first line of the very first chapter made me laugh out loud, and is so perfectly Eve Dallas:
"The legalized torture of socializing lined right up to premeditated murder when you added the requirement of fancy shoes."
Beginning with a cocktail party during which Eve and Roarke and other recurring characters are socializing and being generally hilarious, this installment was in my opinion a bit more "fun" than the previous installment. That's not to say that there aren't plenty of serious moments, of course, but I found a bit more levity throughout. For example, Eve's complete bewilderment when Roarke shows her the progress on the farm in Nebraska which he purchased on a bet between the two of them. This may have been one of my favorite moments.
The case Eve is working is gang-related, and much easier to navigate than the convoluted case at the center of #47. Crack's new girlfriend, Rochelle - who is also Roarke's top pick to run An Didean - loses her recovered addict/gangbanger brother in a gang hit, and we go from there. It was nice seeing Crack in a different light, as well, and I enjoy him with Rochelle.
Overall, a worthy installment. Can't wait for #49!
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Jan 8, 2019
A little too cheesy
I really badly wanted to like this film, but for me it was a little too bad in places to really be anything other than just ‘ok’.
As stated by virtually everyone else who has reviewed it so far, the CGI is fantastic. For the most part, this film looks visually stunning. There are a few instances though where I thought some of the sets and costumes were a little too lurid and garish and looked a little bit ridiculous. But mostly it looked great. And I give a huge thumbs up to the fight scenes - I’m sick of watching shaky camera fights that give you motion sickness, so it was freshing to watch the brilliantly shot and choreographed scenes in this, the flowed very well. Jason Momoa is also fantastic, he plays Aquaman perfectly with just enough charm, brashness and charisma to make him funny and likeable. I even found myself liking Amber Heard, which is odd as I’ve never liked her in anything else. The rest of the cast though are hit and miss; the excellent Willem Defoe is underused, Patrick Wilson is misplaced and hamming it up far too much, and I can’t look at Nicole Kidman anymore without seeing all of the fakery and plastic in her face... and Black Manta? When he turned up in his fancy suit, he just looked like a goth version of Alpha from the Power Rangers. Very poor choice of bad guy there.
Where this film really falters though is the script and parts of the plot. Whilst this film is obviously meant to be silly, the script is horrendous and stilted in parts and the plot is beyond predictable. And I also thought the runtime is much too long. The cast, effects and director do their best, but it’s let down by the writing.
Also, did anyone else think the Karathen looked like a Kaiju? Didn’t clock she was voiced by Julie Andrews though until afterwards.
As stated by virtually everyone else who has reviewed it so far, the CGI is fantastic. For the most part, this film looks visually stunning. There are a few instances though where I thought some of the sets and costumes were a little too lurid and garish and looked a little bit ridiculous. But mostly it looked great. And I give a huge thumbs up to the fight scenes - I’m sick of watching shaky camera fights that give you motion sickness, so it was freshing to watch the brilliantly shot and choreographed scenes in this, the flowed very well. Jason Momoa is also fantastic, he plays Aquaman perfectly with just enough charm, brashness and charisma to make him funny and likeable. I even found myself liking Amber Heard, which is odd as I’ve never liked her in anything else. The rest of the cast though are hit and miss; the excellent Willem Defoe is underused, Patrick Wilson is misplaced and hamming it up far too much, and I can’t look at Nicole Kidman anymore without seeing all of the fakery and plastic in her face... and Black Manta? When he turned up in his fancy suit, he just looked like a goth version of Alpha from the Power Rangers. Very poor choice of bad guy there.
Where this film really falters though is the script and parts of the plot. Whilst this film is obviously meant to be silly, the script is horrendous and stilted in parts and the plot is beyond predictable. And I also thought the runtime is much too long. The cast, effects and director do their best, but it’s let down by the writing.
Also, did anyone else think the Karathen looked like a Kaiju? Didn’t clock she was voiced by Julie Andrews though until afterwards.
Jennifer Daniell (108 KP) rated The Stillwater Girls in Books
Jun 9, 2019
A twisting and turning pair of storylines that you won't see coming.
Wren and Sage have spent their entire lives hidden away from the Evils of the world in
a one room off grid cabin with their younger sister Evie and their Mother, who protects and
provides for them. Then Evie got sick and Mother made the decision to take her and seek medical help.
That was months ago, Wren and Sage still wait for their return and supplies are running low, as is hope.
One day three knocks on the door changes everything as a stranger has come looking for Mother and he won't take
no for an answer. The girls are left to take their fates into their own hands and discover that everything
they thought they knew is wrong.
From the outside looking in, Nicolette has the perfect life. She is married to the love of her life, a successful photographer,
and they frequently travel the world together for his work. They have all the nice cars, the big fancy house. But something is missing, the
one thing Nicolette can't have - a child. And lately Brent seems to be pulling away, almost as if he's hiding something. Then she finds a photograph - and
that he's been taking money from her trust in secret. Determined to get to the bottom of what seems to be a spiraling situation, Nicolette starts digging
and finds more than she could have ever expected to find.
a one room off grid cabin with their younger sister Evie and their Mother, who protects and
provides for them. Then Evie got sick and Mother made the decision to take her and seek medical help.
That was months ago, Wren and Sage still wait for their return and supplies are running low, as is hope.
One day three knocks on the door changes everything as a stranger has come looking for Mother and he won't take
no for an answer. The girls are left to take their fates into their own hands and discover that everything
they thought they knew is wrong.
From the outside looking in, Nicolette has the perfect life. She is married to the love of her life, a successful photographer,
and they frequently travel the world together for his work. They have all the nice cars, the big fancy house. But something is missing, the
one thing Nicolette can't have - a child. And lately Brent seems to be pulling away, almost as if he's hiding something. Then she finds a photograph - and
that he's been taking money from her trust in secret. Determined to get to the bottom of what seems to be a spiraling situation, Nicolette starts digging
and finds more than she could have ever expected to find.
Amazing Crayon Drawing was truly amazing. Remember how Awesome used to be a word to describe something that was truly "Awe-some?" well, it's Awesome.
Looking at the drawings were really inspiring and amazing. When I think of crayons, I think of cheap kids art supplies. My family business is retail art supplies and art classes for kids ages 4-12, and we don't have your typical Crayola crayons. We have the fancy pastels and the high-quality pencils and stuff. But Hammond uses Crayola, something I never considered a professional artist's tool.
Crayon drawing looks a lot like colored pencil or hard pastel on a gritty paper. depending on how hard you press you get either a buffed glossy look, or a light colored pencil look.
The instructions are good, though I can't draw and don't feel that this book would make me any better at it, but it definitely leads artists through the step by step process of laying down colors in a realistic way.
Recommendation: Ages 8+ to anyone who loves to draw with color (at a very reasonable price).
Looking at the drawings were really inspiring and amazing. When I think of crayons, I think of cheap kids art supplies. My family business is retail art supplies and art classes for kids ages 4-12, and we don't have your typical Crayola crayons. We have the fancy pastels and the high-quality pencils and stuff. But Hammond uses Crayola, something I never considered a professional artist's tool.
Crayon drawing looks a lot like colored pencil or hard pastel on a gritty paper. depending on how hard you press you get either a buffed glossy look, or a light colored pencil look.
The instructions are good, though I can't draw and don't feel that this book would make me any better at it, but it definitely leads artists through the step by step process of laying down colors in a realistic way.
Recommendation: Ages 8+ to anyone who loves to draw with color (at a very reasonable price).
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Monopoly: Game of Thrones in Tabletop Games
Apr 4, 2018
A must for Monopoly and GOT fans
I'd been waiting for a Game of Thrones themed Monopoly for such a long time, and it does not disappoint.
To start with, the box and entire contents look very high quality and they really make the most of the Games of Thrones theme. The box decoration is sleek and minimal and looks quite fancy, and the instructions are on a rolled up, red ribbon tied scroll. The playing pieces are good choices, although i do wish there was a dragon (as opposed to an egg) as it may stop the constant bickering over who gets to be the Direwolf... The money, cards and properties too are all well suited and really fit in with the theme, to allow you to finally own your own little corner of Westeros.
Of course if you're not a Game of Thrones or Monopoly fan, then this isn't going to appeal. But if you love both, then I'd highly recommend adding this to your game collection. You won't want to play standard Monopoly ever again!
To start with, the box and entire contents look very high quality and they really make the most of the Games of Thrones theme. The box decoration is sleek and minimal and looks quite fancy, and the instructions are on a rolled up, red ribbon tied scroll. The playing pieces are good choices, although i do wish there was a dragon (as opposed to an egg) as it may stop the constant bickering over who gets to be the Direwolf... The money, cards and properties too are all well suited and really fit in with the theme, to allow you to finally own your own little corner of Westeros.
Of course if you're not a Game of Thrones or Monopoly fan, then this isn't going to appeal. But if you love both, then I'd highly recommend adding this to your game collection. You won't want to play standard Monopoly ever again!
The story is told from multiple perspectives, mainly by Volnay – The Inspector of strange and unexpected death, and Casanova – the seducer of everyone with a vagina. The main character I think is Volnay, and most of the time he shares his findings, uncovered with the help of his companion, the Monk. Casanova is just there, and his story was not very interesting to me, he was more of an obstacle rather than an intriguing participant. The characters are very sophisticated, refined, and most of the time very rich. The atmosphere in this book is quite grand, pompous and fancy, however, there are parts of filthiness and prostitution from time to time as well. My favourite character in this book has to be the Monk, he is the smartest and most intriguing of all of them, and Volnay would be nothing without him.
This book was quite a slow burner for me. First of all, there is not much progress happening towards the murders, and secondly, it is a very political book. There is a lot of scientific talks about alchemy, potions and other science-related things, that sound interesting, but at the same time doesn’t make sense to me at all. :/ The topics discussed in this book were paedophilia (the king was a paedophile), prostitution, scientific inventions, alchemy, French political affairs, etc. There were not many things happening in this book, and I missed the twists and turns to speed up this book.
The writing style of this book is very rich and sophisticated, the author has to be a true intellectual, who is into philosophy and science. It is a translation from French, that’s why it is filled with French expressions and place names. The chapters were too long for my liking and felt quite draggy sometimes. The ending was quite interesting but didn’t leave me fully satisfied. So, to conclude, it is a very complex novel, filled with refined characters, and very layered and political plot. This book is very beautifully written and I believe that the author is very gifted, to be able to write a book like this, but the reader has to be an intellectual as well, to appreciate and enjoy it. So if you are into 18th century France, and enjoy books about politics and science, this historical thriller will be for you.
This book was quite a slow burner for me. First of all, there is not much progress happening towards the murders, and secondly, it is a very political book. There is a lot of scientific talks about alchemy, potions and other science-related things, that sound interesting, but at the same time doesn’t make sense to me at all. :/ The topics discussed in this book were paedophilia (the king was a paedophile), prostitution, scientific inventions, alchemy, French political affairs, etc. There were not many things happening in this book, and I missed the twists and turns to speed up this book.
The writing style of this book is very rich and sophisticated, the author has to be a true intellectual, who is into philosophy and science. It is a translation from French, that’s why it is filled with French expressions and place names. The chapters were too long for my liking and felt quite draggy sometimes. The ending was quite interesting but didn’t leave me fully satisfied. So, to conclude, it is a very complex novel, filled with refined characters, and very layered and political plot. This book is very beautifully written and I believe that the author is very gifted, to be able to write a book like this, but the reader has to be an intellectual as well, to appreciate and enjoy it. So if you are into 18th century France, and enjoy books about politics and science, this historical thriller will be for you.
Lee (2222 KP) rated Dumbo (2019) in Movies
Mar 31, 2019
It's set to be a busy year for live action Disney remakes, with Aladdin and The Lion King already lined up for release this year. Kicking things off though, is this reimagining of the 1941 classic Dumbo, with Tim Burton directing.
It's 1919 and Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) has returned from World War I, arriving by train to join the Medici Brothers Circus, where he worked before the war as a performer. But Holt has a number of issues to contend with on his return, the least of which being the loss one of his arms while in service. He's greeted at the station by his two young children, Milly and Joe, who lost their mother, Holt's wife, to influenza while he was away. On top of that, he learns that while he was away, the cash strapped circus owner, Max Medici (Danny DeVito) decided to sell the horses that were part of Holt's star act. Holt is put in charge of pregnant elephant Jumbo, with Max hoping that the arrival of a cute baby elephant will bring in the much needed crowds. It's a lot for Holt to come to terms with and adjust to.
Soon after, the baby elephant is born. But with clumsy, oversized ears, he's not quite the cute crowd pleaser they had all hoped for. Attempts to hide his ears only end in disaster, and ridicule from the circus crowds. Milly and Joe fall in love with the new arrival, and when they discover that he has the ability to use those big ears for flying, interest in him is quickly renewed.
The flying elephant not only draws in the crowds, but also the attentions of V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who offers Max a deal for him and his circus troupe to join his huge fancy theme park. It's at this point that the movie should really begin to soar, having introduced the circus family and their new arrival. Unfortunately, the arrival of Vandevere signals a sharp downward spiral in terms of story telling. The circus cast are all but forgotten, with the story focusing instead on the tired, familiar tale of sleazy, greedy businessman who is only interested in money and success, at the expense of the poor, trusting people who believed him.
The computerised Dumbo is simply oozing cuteness and technical wizardry. The eyes and the facial expressions are wonderful and he manages to steal every scene he is in. Every time he takes flight, it is a joy to watch. Unfortunately though, this version of Dumbo is trying to add a lot more to the original story and ends up becoming bit of a drag at times. The human characters are poorly written and mostly forgettable, and the movie really only soars when Dumbo himself does. While trying to steer clear of being a straight up remake, opting instead for the addition of plot and characters, it ultimately loses a lot of the charm. As with the recent remake of Beauty and the Beast, it's another case of style over substance.
It's 1919 and Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) has returned from World War I, arriving by train to join the Medici Brothers Circus, where he worked before the war as a performer. But Holt has a number of issues to contend with on his return, the least of which being the loss one of his arms while in service. He's greeted at the station by his two young children, Milly and Joe, who lost their mother, Holt's wife, to influenza while he was away. On top of that, he learns that while he was away, the cash strapped circus owner, Max Medici (Danny DeVito) decided to sell the horses that were part of Holt's star act. Holt is put in charge of pregnant elephant Jumbo, with Max hoping that the arrival of a cute baby elephant will bring in the much needed crowds. It's a lot for Holt to come to terms with and adjust to.
Soon after, the baby elephant is born. But with clumsy, oversized ears, he's not quite the cute crowd pleaser they had all hoped for. Attempts to hide his ears only end in disaster, and ridicule from the circus crowds. Milly and Joe fall in love with the new arrival, and when they discover that he has the ability to use those big ears for flying, interest in him is quickly renewed.
The flying elephant not only draws in the crowds, but also the attentions of V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who offers Max a deal for him and his circus troupe to join his huge fancy theme park. It's at this point that the movie should really begin to soar, having introduced the circus family and their new arrival. Unfortunately, the arrival of Vandevere signals a sharp downward spiral in terms of story telling. The circus cast are all but forgotten, with the story focusing instead on the tired, familiar tale of sleazy, greedy businessman who is only interested in money and success, at the expense of the poor, trusting people who believed him.
The computerised Dumbo is simply oozing cuteness and technical wizardry. The eyes and the facial expressions are wonderful and he manages to steal every scene he is in. Every time he takes flight, it is a joy to watch. Unfortunately though, this version of Dumbo is trying to add a lot more to the original story and ends up becoming bit of a drag at times. The human characters are poorly written and mostly forgettable, and the movie really only soars when Dumbo himself does. While trying to steer clear of being a straight up remake, opting instead for the addition of plot and characters, it ultimately loses a lot of the charm. As with the recent remake of Beauty and the Beast, it's another case of style over substance.
