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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
1998 | Hip-hop, Rhythm And Blues, Soul

"This album is flawless. From production to writing to everything, that album is just good. There is not much more to say about it than that album is fucking perfect. Some albums are just perfect. Amy Winehouse Back To Black is fucking perfect. The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill album is perfect. It won eight grammies or something. Start-to-finish, every song, literally every single song, is a number one. Not in the terms of success, but sonically, it's solid songwriting at it's best. From production to writing, to delivery, to performance, stylistically, I could sing that entire album, it's just so perfect. It's like eating the most well-rounded meal, all of your favourite foods from start to dessert, everything is your very favourite, cooked exactly the way you want it to be. Sometimes I'll put on that album and I just can't believe how easy it is to explain, because it's just so fucking perfect. And the way she came off Fugees and did that was so cool. She is a badass. She is so unapologetic. Oh I love her. She's my generation's Nina Simone."

Source
  
Bag of Bones
Bag of Bones
Stephen King | 1998 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.3 (44 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is my first encounter with this famous author and I was quite pleased with it. When I started reading the book it didn’t make me very excited. To this time I think that it could’ve been at least 150 pages less than it actually was. In my opinion, the beginning was too dragged and the information which actually was necessary could’ve fit in couple chapters. Once Mike actually gets to Sara Laughs then all the fun begins. I liked the characters chosen for this novel, they were realistic and very believable.

The plot was quite layered, and there were multiple stories unfolding in this book, that kept me intrigued. The book is perfect for a big screen, and if the right crew would’ve worked on it could be an amazing thriller. I had an opportunity to see the screen making with Pierce Brosnan and it didn’t make me very happy. I loved Mr King’s writing style and little clues of what will happen. So, overall, I had a slow beginning with this book but once I got to the fun bit I couldn’t put it away. I will definitely indulge myself into more of Mr King’s writing.
  
This is the fifth installation of The Earthsea Cycle.In this book is a collection of short stories from different eras and locations within Earthsea. There are tons of links to other tales in this series throughout this book, including character crossovers. There's even a whole section on describing Earthsea at the end, giving a real in-depth history of the land and it's cultures.

I am getting a little bored with this series, but I think it's just because of how the writing has a rather archaic feel. This writing really does help create the universe, but it's just not my thing. I appreciate how effective it is in creating the world of Earthsea and immersing you in the book, though.

My favourite tale in this book is the final one, where a woman is allowed entrance into Roke School. I'm interested in seeing if equality returns to Earthsea - women with power are looked down upon, whereas sorcerers, wizards and especially mages are respected for their power.

I will stil finish reading this series, despite not loving it as much as I maybe should. 3 stars.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Brave New World in Books

Sep 10, 2019  
Brave New World
Brave New World
Aldous Huxley | 1932 | Fiction & Poetry
5
7.7 (44 Ratings)
Book Rating
Interesting idea, but poorly executed
I tried to read this many years ago, and I remember getting a couple of chapters in and giving up, but I couldn't recall why so decided to give it another go.

I can now see why I gave up on this book. The plot itself is a great idea, and similar in a way to the wonderful 1984. However unlike 1984, I found this book to be very poorly executed and i just couldn't get into the writing style at all. I love the idea of a dystopian future, but a lot of the features of this future society feel like they've been named by a child and a lot aren't explained enough to truly comprehend what's going on. The writing style too comes across as very confused and I really struggled with it. The characters are a good idea and flawed, but rather underdeveloped. In fact the whole book feels quite underdeveloped and its only a chapter or so at the end that I truly enjoyed.

I really wish this had been better written, as it's a fantastic idea for a novel.
  
Letters to God
Letters to God
CM Harris | 2025 | Children
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I like this children's book. Its style is different and enjoyable. It has letters written by children, and it reads in that kind of way. Children are asking about some other things. They are all mean as you turn a page in the book. A different child writes a new letter. They could be thanking God for something, writing to help heal a loved one, or telling God how they feel. Each one is different. On the other page is a scripture or quote from the bible that goes along with it.

The pictures are well done. I would say that each page showcases a different family. They are all different in many different ways, from a mommy and a sibling to a family of a few to more than one of two.

This book is a quick and easy read. But it teaches children about kindness, love, and how talking to God is okay—doing so anywhere or any place or writing your prayer down is also fine. God will listen or hear any forms of payers even if they are written and sent to him that way.
  
Night of Ash (Odriel's Heirs #2.5)
Night of Ash (Odriel's Heirs #2.5)
Hayley Reese Chow | 2022 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
NIGHT OF ASH is book 2.5 in the Odriel's Heirs series and we catch up with Aza and co as they recover from the last battle but realise the war isn't yet over.

It's not a long book and you will definitely have to have read at least Idriel's Children before this one but, oh man, it packs a wallop! The writing is so good, I was crying over a character I hardly met! Samar Bhalla is there and gone but what an impact he had. And that, my dears, is how good this author's writing is!

Night of Ash bridges the gap between Idriel's Children and Time Orphan, which I honestly can't wait for. Novellas aren't usually my thing but this one makes no apologies. It is bold and full of action, killing me with emotion. Absolutely fantastic and HIGHLY recommended by me. Just make sure you read the whole series.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* 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!
  
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ClareR (6230 KP) rated The Last One in Books

Aug 29, 2023  
The Last One
The Last One
Will Dean | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Last One had me riveted from the first page. I mean, what must be going on in the mind of Will Dean that makes him write like this? I’ve asked the same question many times before of Stephen King, and I could see him writing something along these lines 30 years ago: a woman wakes up on a cruise ship that holds over 1000 people - and they’re all gone. Every single one of them. Where could they be? The boat is out at sea - surely the boat can’t have been evacuated and she’s just left there alone?

And it just gets stranger and stranger. There were times that I really didn’t want to read on. I hated Will Dean for writing certain things - how could he even think them?! 🤭 Genius. It made me feel supremely uncomfortable, angry, SO ANGRY, frustrated, and a bit sad, too.

I can’t/ won’t say any more about the plot. To say anything at all would be to give it away - and the reveal is EVERYTHING!

This is one of those books that I’ll be thrusting into peoples hands saying: “Read this, now! It’ll drive you MAD, but you’ll love it!!”
  
The Long Summer
The Long Summer
Colleen Nye | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Thank you to the publisher, author and Blind Date With A Book for this Kindle copy.

Colleen Nye's romantic novel was just not my cup of tea. Apart from the fact that it was sickly sweet it felt like reading a Disney novel. It seemed very far-fetched and the writing style was a little bit too simple. Just to say I am not a fan of the romantic genre anyway and received this as part of a great initiative to read books that are not your usual milieu.
  
The Paperboy (2012)
The Paperboy (2012)
2012 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
9
6.6 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The twists (0 more)
Can you really know someone after writing a few letters? This was an interesting film based on a true story of a woman who believed she had found her true love. the fact he was in prison for murder did not faze her and she was determined to have him released. She contacts two writers to investigate his case to try and get him freed. I really wanted to find out whether he was innocent or not and the twists and turns keep you gripped throughout. Very compelling.