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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2186 KP) rated Sayonara Slam (Mas Arai #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The World Baseball Classic has come to Dodger Stadium, and Mas Arai is excited about the upcoming match between Japan and Korea. He’s on hand early and witnesses a reporter drop dead at a press conference. Mas has no desire to get involved in the investigation until a friend’s grandson hires him as a driver and interpreter. What will they uncover?
I haven’t read most of the books in this series, but I’ve been wanting to return to it for a while now. The characters are good, although I think I missed some of the character development since I’m not super familiar with them. Some sub-plots bogged down the plot a bit early on, but as the book continued, the mystery got stronger. I learned a bit about World War II history along the way to the logical climax.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-sayonara-slam-by-naomi.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I haven’t read most of the books in this series, but I’ve been wanting to return to it for a while now. The characters are good, although I think I missed some of the character development since I’m not super familiar with them. Some sub-plots bogged down the plot a bit early on, but as the book continued, the mystery got stronger. I learned a bit about World War II history along the way to the logical climax.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-sayonara-slam-by-naomi.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lou Grande (148 KP) rated Suikoden II in Video Games
May 12, 2018
108 Characters (4 more)
Expanded World
Multiple Endings
Sidequests
Great Music
Favorite Game - Hands Down
Like the first game, Suikoden II centers on a young man who is pulled into a war between nations. Once again, you must collect the 108 Stars of Destiny, and your success determines how the story ends. Several characters from Suikoden I appear here, as the story is only set a few years after. I love everything about this game, down to the sprites. Although it follows the same basic formula as the first, it improves on it in almost every way. The music is better, the battle system is better, and the plot is much more far-reaching and ambitious--and heartbreaking, depending on how you play your cards. Luca Blight is a terrifyingly human villain. It's a pity this game was so rare in its day.
John Bailey recommended Rome, Open City (1945) in Movies (curated)
John Bailey recommended Paisan (Paisà) (1948) in Movies (curated)
John Bailey recommended Germany Year Zero (1948) in Movies (curated)
Kristin (149 KP) rated Secrets of the Apple Tree Tavern in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Francis is a scared little boy who just lost his entire family. Luckily, he has a guardian angel in the form of a policeman who smuggles him to a friend who will raise little Francy as her own. Over the years, Francy grows into Frank, a wonderful young man who travels to Dublin and back during the height of World War II and shares many exciting adventures and mysteries with friends and family along the way.
This is a well-researched story that really makes you feel as though you are in 1930s/40s/50s Brooklyn, as well as Dublin during the war. The characters are easy to identify with, and the story itself keeps a very good pace while still providing detailed background on the locations, time period, and characters themselves. You can almost picture yourself as a patron at the bar, sitting right alongside Frank, Butch, Johnny, etc., listening to all the stories from over the years. The cliffhanger is one that I’m interested to see resolved, and I will certainly be awaiting the next installment to see how everything falls in line.
4 ½ stars
Francis is a scared little boy who just lost his entire family. Luckily, he has a guardian angel in the form of a policeman who smuggles him to a friend who will raise little Francy as her own. Over the years, Francy grows into Frank, a wonderful young man who travels to Dublin and back during the height of World War II and shares many exciting adventures and mysteries with friends and family along the way.
This is a well-researched story that really makes you feel as though you are in 1930s/40s/50s Brooklyn, as well as Dublin during the war. The characters are easy to identify with, and the story itself keeps a very good pace while still providing detailed background on the locations, time period, and characters themselves. You can almost picture yourself as a patron at the bar, sitting right alongside Frank, Butch, Johnny, etc., listening to all the stories from over the years. The cliffhanger is one that I’m interested to see resolved, and I will certainly be awaiting the next installment to see how everything falls in line.
4 ½ stars
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Jul 28, 2020
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Dunkirk (2017) in Movies
Jul 11, 2019
In May 1940, as Germany advanced into France, Allied troops found themselves surrounded at the town of Dunkirk with little time to escape. In the distance, the Germans sought to capture or kill each of the nearly 400,000 men. French and British soldiers began the slow process to evacuate using every naval or civilian ship available. Dunkirk examines the heroism involved by everyone on the land, sea, and air in their attempt to get their countrymen home.
When we discuss, reflect, or are taught about World War II, we often think the turning points of the war as the Battle of the Bulge, Leningrad, Midway, or D-Day. In doing this, we overlook moments like Dunkirk. Christopher Nolan exposes how vital this moment was in determining the fate, not only of the war, but the world in Dunkirk.
It is hard to describe what the film is like just from the visuals. It captures you and surrounds you by making the audience feel as though they are witnessing these events from a third-person perspective, as well as, through the eyes of those involved. The film itself is not limited to just the war or a discussion of the circumstances that led up to the war itself. There are no major battles shown, however, the film demonstrates quite vividly the horrors of war, the confusion, the chaos, the brutality, and the fear that each moment might be your last.
Dunkirk, masterfully tells the story of those involved in the evacuation of those troops that found themselves being pursued by Nazi Germany. Each frame will have audiences fearing for the safety of the men on the screen and hoping that they will somehow make it home despite all indications that their fate is sealed. Nolan gives audiences the opportunity to see the events in a multilayered way so that we can understand all of the moving parts involved in this massive undertaking. It renews the appreciation that many of us have for those who fought in World War II and offers a new sense of appreciation for younger generations who are far removed from those events. Most impressive about the film is its ability to be more historically accurate in displaying the different people who actually were fighting. It is not, like Saving Private Ryan, a film that exaggerates American participation in the war to make it look as though the only people fighting were Americans and Nazis. Dunkirk shows how the French, British, and Belgians, of various colors and backgrounds were fighting well before summer of 1944.
The film also pulls of quite an ambitious task by removing the Nazis from the film. This is not to say that there is no German presence in the film, rather, they minimize the focus on the Nazis in order to keep the focus on those evacuating and those involved in assisting with the efforts. In my viewing, I felt that this strengthened the film in adding to the fear by having a faceless enemy, one that could be lurking around the corner or coming around the corner at any moment. This added to the tension to make audiences feel the fear that so many of these young men must have had as they waited to board their ships to get home.
Dunkirk is impressive, emotional, and full of tension. It raises the bar with respect to how historically-based films should be in the representation of events. It does not rely on one linear story to capture the audience. It is an intelligent and overdue homage to the men and women who did all they could to ensure that these men made it home.
When we discuss, reflect, or are taught about World War II, we often think the turning points of the war as the Battle of the Bulge, Leningrad, Midway, or D-Day. In doing this, we overlook moments like Dunkirk. Christopher Nolan exposes how vital this moment was in determining the fate, not only of the war, but the world in Dunkirk.
It is hard to describe what the film is like just from the visuals. It captures you and surrounds you by making the audience feel as though they are witnessing these events from a third-person perspective, as well as, through the eyes of those involved. The film itself is not limited to just the war or a discussion of the circumstances that led up to the war itself. There are no major battles shown, however, the film demonstrates quite vividly the horrors of war, the confusion, the chaos, the brutality, and the fear that each moment might be your last.
Dunkirk, masterfully tells the story of those involved in the evacuation of those troops that found themselves being pursued by Nazi Germany. Each frame will have audiences fearing for the safety of the men on the screen and hoping that they will somehow make it home despite all indications that their fate is sealed. Nolan gives audiences the opportunity to see the events in a multilayered way so that we can understand all of the moving parts involved in this massive undertaking. It renews the appreciation that many of us have for those who fought in World War II and offers a new sense of appreciation for younger generations who are far removed from those events. Most impressive about the film is its ability to be more historically accurate in displaying the different people who actually were fighting. It is not, like Saving Private Ryan, a film that exaggerates American participation in the war to make it look as though the only people fighting were Americans and Nazis. Dunkirk shows how the French, British, and Belgians, of various colors and backgrounds were fighting well before summer of 1944.
The film also pulls of quite an ambitious task by removing the Nazis from the film. This is not to say that there is no German presence in the film, rather, they minimize the focus on the Nazis in order to keep the focus on those evacuating and those involved in assisting with the efforts. In my viewing, I felt that this strengthened the film in adding to the fear by having a faceless enemy, one that could be lurking around the corner or coming around the corner at any moment. This added to the tension to make audiences feel the fear that so many of these young men must have had as they waited to board their ships to get home.
Dunkirk is impressive, emotional, and full of tension. It raises the bar with respect to how historically-based films should be in the representation of events. It does not rely on one linear story to capture the audience. It is an intelligent and overdue homage to the men and women who did all they could to ensure that these men made it home.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2186 KP) rated Evil for Evil in Books
Jun 7, 2021 (Updated Jun 7, 2021)
Billy’s Trip to Ireland Isn’t What He Expected
Billy Boyle has been asked to find fifty stolen Browning Automatic Rifles. He’s less than thrilled, however, because it appears that the thieves are the IRA, and Billy and his family have always supported the IRA in their quest to unite Ireland. Still, if the IRA is planning to give the guns to the Germans, he knows he needs to find them. His investigation makes him question what he has always thought about the people of Ireland. But as the bodies pile up, can Billy find the guns before it is too late?
I’m really torn with this series. On the one hand, I enjoy the history we get as we delve into another aspect of World War II. It really makes the World War part come into focus. The mystery is good, with plenty of twists and action without being too over the top. Billy is a fantastic main character who matures a little here once again. We don’t see much of the supporting characters, but the new characters are strong and help pull us into the story. Unfortunately, I feel like the story and characters are drowning in too much detail. It might be me since these books take me longer to read than I am used to. But I can’t help but think a little editing would make me enjoy these books more because there are definitely parts I do enjoy.
I’m really torn with this series. On the one hand, I enjoy the history we get as we delve into another aspect of World War II. It really makes the World War part come into focus. The mystery is good, with plenty of twists and action without being too over the top. Billy is a fantastic main character who matures a little here once again. We don’t see much of the supporting characters, but the new characters are strong and help pull us into the story. Unfortunately, I feel like the story and characters are drowning in too much detail. It might be me since these books take me longer to read than I am used to. But I can’t help but think a little editing would make me enjoy these books more because there are definitely parts I do enjoy.
