Search
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Fragments of the Lost in Books
Jan 10, 2018
Different but enjoyable novel
When Jessa Whitworth's high school ex-boyfriend dies suddenly, it's as if the world stops. One moment Caleb is at her track meet, taking the butterfly necklace she handed to him, and the next, he's gone, his car washed over a flooded bridge on a stormy day. Caleb's mom eventually asks Jessa to pack up his room--she blames Jessa for the accident, since Caleb had gone to see her that day, and Jessa feels she cannot say no. She's left to clean out his room and winds up piecing together bits of Caleb's life as she does. Each photograph, article of clothing, and notebook reminds her of parts of her life with Caleb. Even worse, she realizes there is so much she didn't know about him. With that realization, Jessa wonders, what really happened the day Caleb went over the bridge?
This novel isn't really what I expected at all, though I should have realized that it would be less teen angst and more teen angst and psychological mystery combined, as the two Megan Miranda novels I have read, The Perfect Stranger: A Novel and All the Missing Girls, are more in the suspense/thriller category.
The biggest issue for me was that this one starts off really slow. It's hard to get into any kind of momentum as every forward plot movement is broken by Jessa finding something and immediately remembering back into her past with Caleb. I was a little frustrated in the beginning, wanting more to happen.
I really enjoyed the character of Jessa, though. She was a little hard on herself in relation to Caleb's death, but she was also a teen dealing with both the death of a loved one and a recent breakup (their split occurring not too long before his death). She came across as pretty realistic. The supporting cast was a little more nebulous for me--Caleb's mom was pretty harsh, and we didn't see too much of Jessa's family, though I liked her older brother, Julian. Caleb's best friend and neighbor, Max, was probably the other character that was easiest to get to know and he was rather well fleshed out. Caleb himself--whom we learn about through Jessa's point of view and flashbacks--is a hard one to figure out, but that only adds to the mystique of how he ended up at the bridge that day.
Overall, if you can bring a little patience, this book is one to enjoy. It eventually picks up and while the storyline is somewhat different (this whole novel is rather hard to describe), I really did enjoy it. I felt satisfied with the ending--it was worth reading. I enjoyed Miranda's two adult mysteries and while this is the first of her YA novels that I've read, I will definitely investigate others. 3.5 stars.
This novel isn't really what I expected at all, though I should have realized that it would be less teen angst and more teen angst and psychological mystery combined, as the two Megan Miranda novels I have read, The Perfect Stranger: A Novel and All the Missing Girls, are more in the suspense/thriller category.
The biggest issue for me was that this one starts off really slow. It's hard to get into any kind of momentum as every forward plot movement is broken by Jessa finding something and immediately remembering back into her past with Caleb. I was a little frustrated in the beginning, wanting more to happen.
I really enjoyed the character of Jessa, though. She was a little hard on herself in relation to Caleb's death, but she was also a teen dealing with both the death of a loved one and a recent breakup (their split occurring not too long before his death). She came across as pretty realistic. The supporting cast was a little more nebulous for me--Caleb's mom was pretty harsh, and we didn't see too much of Jessa's family, though I liked her older brother, Julian. Caleb's best friend and neighbor, Max, was probably the other character that was easiest to get to know and he was rather well fleshed out. Caleb himself--whom we learn about through Jessa's point of view and flashbacks--is a hard one to figure out, but that only adds to the mystique of how he ended up at the bridge that day.
Overall, if you can bring a little patience, this book is one to enjoy. It eventually picks up and while the storyline is somewhat different (this whole novel is rather hard to describe), I really did enjoy it. I felt satisfied with the ending--it was worth reading. I enjoyed Miranda's two adult mysteries and while this is the first of her YA novels that I've read, I will definitely investigate others. 3.5 stars.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Power Rangers (2017) in Movies
Feb 10, 2018 (Updated Feb 10, 2018)
Mmm, Doughnuts
I had no idea I'd been waiting all my life for a film which combined juvenile sci-fi, plastic karate, diversity-friendly teen angst, industrial levels of product placement for Krispy Kreme, and jokes about jerking off bulls, but it turned out that I was and here it is.
A bunch of high school kids discover magic medallions that turn them into (basically) action figures, tasked with stopping the evil Rita Repulsa from locating a mystical crystal hidden in a vital location somewhere on Earth (the vital location may or may not be connected to selling a range of delicious fried-dough confectionary), helped by the ghost of an ancient alien hero (the producers must have some juicy dirt on Bryan Cranston and have blackmailed him into appearing).
Now, the high school kids are all played by actors who are clearly in their 20s, the tone is all over the place (to put it mildly), and long before the end it has quietly transformed itself into a massive advert for toys, but this is still a weirdly diverting and undeniably fun film, mainly because - underneath all the complete nonsense - the script is solid and no-one seems to be taking it too seriously. All right, much of it makes no sense at all, but it does so in a rather charming way. The finest kind of bad movie. Best line - Bryan Cranston: 'Have you ever morphed before?' Black Power Ranger: 'Only in the shower.'
A bunch of high school kids discover magic medallions that turn them into (basically) action figures, tasked with stopping the evil Rita Repulsa from locating a mystical crystal hidden in a vital location somewhere on Earth (the vital location may or may not be connected to selling a range of delicious fried-dough confectionary), helped by the ghost of an ancient alien hero (the producers must have some juicy dirt on Bryan Cranston and have blackmailed him into appearing).
Now, the high school kids are all played by actors who are clearly in their 20s, the tone is all over the place (to put it mildly), and long before the end it has quietly transformed itself into a massive advert for toys, but this is still a weirdly diverting and undeniably fun film, mainly because - underneath all the complete nonsense - the script is solid and no-one seems to be taking it too seriously. All right, much of it makes no sense at all, but it does so in a rather charming way. The finest kind of bad movie. Best line - Bryan Cranston: 'Have you ever morphed before?' Black Power Ranger: 'Only in the shower.'
Merissa (12061 KP) rated Borrowing Blue: Made Marian Series Book 1 in Books
Apr 3, 2018
Borrowing Blue (Made Marian #1) by Lucy Lennox
Borrowing Blue is the first book in the Made Marian series, and it has immediately made me want to go out and buy the rest of the series! Blue and Tristan are amazing, and I love them both so much! Jeremy is a douche, and I feel sorry for Brad. As for Tristan's brother and ex-wife, I tried to like them, I really did. In fact, I probably like her more than him, because at least she was nice to Blue! Set mainly in a vineyard, this book is a feel-good book, but with enough angst to keep you on your toes. There are also some laugh out loud moments, and plenty of steam coming off the pages too.
Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, this book grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go until I'd finished it. Blue and Tristan are absolutely perfect for each other, although I love the Marian family as a whole. I really can't wait to read more. I just hope that Granny, Irene, and Aunt Tilly pay frequent visits, because they ROCK! Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, this book grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go until I'd finished it. Blue and Tristan are absolutely perfect for each other, although I love the Marian family as a whole. I really can't wait to read more. I just hope that Granny, Irene, and Aunt Tilly pay frequent visits, because they ROCK! Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (12061 KP) rated Melting For You (Neighborhood Shindig #1) in Books
Jun 19, 2019
Melting For You (Neighborhood Shindig #1) by A.M. Arthur
Melting For You is the first book in the Neighborhood Shindig series. This is decidedly lower angst than previous books by Ms. Arthur I have read, and we meet Joel and Isaiah. Joel has had the dirty done to him by his (ex) partner, in both his personal and professional lives. Isaiah has returned home to look after his dad after he had a heart attack, and also, hopefully, to build a better relationship with him.
The relationship between Joel and Isaiah starts off fast, but then slows down some, as they spend time together doing things, not just each other. I loved how the two of them worked together, and bounced ideas around. One major plus for me were the excellent descriptions of the Neighborhood Shindig itself. I could see it clearly in my mind, and my mouth was certainly watering with the descriptions given.
If I had anything bad to say about the book, it would be the ending felt a bit rushed to me. I only had six minutes reading time left, and neither Joel nor Isaiah had spoken to the other about staying. Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and look forward to returning to the Shindig. Definitely 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!
The relationship between Joel and Isaiah starts off fast, but then slows down some, as they spend time together doing things, not just each other. I loved how the two of them worked together, and bounced ideas around. One major plus for me were the excellent descriptions of the Neighborhood Shindig itself. I could see it clearly in my mind, and my mouth was certainly watering with the descriptions given.
If I had anything bad to say about the book, it would be the ending felt a bit rushed to me. I only had six minutes reading time left, and neither Joel nor Isaiah had spoken to the other about staying. Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and look forward to returning to the Shindig. Definitely 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!
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Dirty Angels (Dirty Angels, #1) in Books
Mar 11, 2020
I bought this years ago, 2015 to be exact, and have put it off for a long time when my taste changed from New Adult to Young Adult and Urban Fantasy. I chose it as a challenge read on here so I would finally read it.
So this starts with a prologue. Luisa decides to run away from her abusive drug lord husband in the spur of the moment decision, only to be captured by the enemy. It then moves into Chapter One and we see how she came to be married to Salvador and how she came to be in Javier's captivity. Javier wants her as a hostage so he can negotiate for something Salvador has and the longer they spend around each other, the more they begin to understand each other and feelings emerge.
I'm not really into mafia/cartel books. I find them to be rather violent and prefer sweeter stories with some angst in them. There were some times in this when I just couldn't read all the description and just skipped entire paragraphs, especially the bit with Franco. I also skipped quite a bit towards the end just wanting that final showdown between Javier and Salvador.
I didn't really get their romance. I understand Luisa looking for any light in the blackness that she's living but I still thought Javi was a bit dark, though he did have some nice moments.
I won't be continuing the series.
So this starts with a prologue. Luisa decides to run away from her abusive drug lord husband in the spur of the moment decision, only to be captured by the enemy. It then moves into Chapter One and we see how she came to be married to Salvador and how she came to be in Javier's captivity. Javier wants her as a hostage so he can negotiate for something Salvador has and the longer they spend around each other, the more they begin to understand each other and feelings emerge.
I'm not really into mafia/cartel books. I find them to be rather violent and prefer sweeter stories with some angst in them. There were some times in this when I just couldn't read all the description and just skipped entire paragraphs, especially the bit with Franco. I also skipped quite a bit towards the end just wanting that final showdown between Javier and Salvador.
I didn't really get their romance. I understand Luisa looking for any light in the blackness that she's living but I still thought Javi was a bit dark, though he did have some nice moments.
I won't be continuing the series.
Nirvana - A Tour Diary
Book
Afforded the kind ofaccess a journalist can only dream of, Andy Bollen gives fansanew story focusing...
Merissa (12061 KP) rated Art and Soul in Books
Sep 14, 2020
Art and Soul is the debut book by Claire Huston and is both genteel and charming.
Claire is returning to work after taking a year off on maternity leave but she is finding it hard to get her clients back. Charlie is a painter sinking into obscurity, through both circumstances and his own behaviour. Together, these two can get Charlie back into the limelight and get him the woman of his dreams... but what about Claire?
For a simple storyline, this book was surprisingly complex and intriguing. Claire was a great character, being straightforward in certain situations and yet completely blind in others. Charlie was the more tentative of the two, easily being led by Claire and Rachel. I would have liked him to have been a little stronger but then I'm not the author!
Two things I loved about this book - 1) the main characters are not in their 20's! and 2) it was set in the UK. It makes a nice change for it not to be the US.
The scene setting was brilliant and both Claire and Charlie are helped along by a wonderful supporting cast. This was a lighthearted read without any major angst that kept my interest and the pages turning. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Claire is returning to work after taking a year off on maternity leave but she is finding it hard to get her clients back. Charlie is a painter sinking into obscurity, through both circumstances and his own behaviour. Together, these two can get Charlie back into the limelight and get him the woman of his dreams... but what about Claire?
For a simple storyline, this book was surprisingly complex and intriguing. Claire was a great character, being straightforward in certain situations and yet completely blind in others. Charlie was the more tentative of the two, easily being led by Claire and Rachel. I would have liked him to have been a little stronger but then I'm not the author!
Two things I loved about this book - 1) the main characters are not in their 20's! and 2) it was set in the UK. It makes a nice change for it not to be the US.
The scene setting was brilliant and both Claire and Charlie are helped along by a wonderful supporting cast. This was a lighthearted read without any major angst that kept my interest and the pages turning. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Again Again in Books
Jun 12, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
In Again Again, E. Lockhart is inventive in the way she tells the story of Adelaide Buchwald and her life. Lockhart asks if you could redo some events or moments in your life, would you? Again Again shows for every opportunity you did not take; there is a different one that you did. It reminded me of the old saying, "When one door closes, another opens."
I found the synopsis misleading in that it did not match the energy of the book. The story is a nicely paced story about a teenage girl with ups and downs. The synopsis sounded as if it was describing an adventure movie.
I had difficulty getting into the story, but once I realized Lockhart's intent, I found it flowed well. Again Again is a charming story that is not a new one. However, how Lockart reveals the story is what makes this a good read.
Again Again is marketed as a romance. While there is some teenage angst, it is more of a book of Adelaide trying to live an as-happy/normal-as-a-teenager-can-be life and deal with complex emotions, happy, grief, fear, anger, love, etc.
Also, be sure to read Emily Lockhart's We Were Liars.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/12/20.
In Again Again, E. Lockhart is inventive in the way she tells the story of Adelaide Buchwald and her life. Lockhart asks if you could redo some events or moments in your life, would you? Again Again shows for every opportunity you did not take; there is a different one that you did. It reminded me of the old saying, "When one door closes, another opens."
I found the synopsis misleading in that it did not match the energy of the book. The story is a nicely paced story about a teenage girl with ups and downs. The synopsis sounded as if it was describing an adventure movie.
I had difficulty getting into the story, but once I realized Lockhart's intent, I found it flowed well. Again Again is a charming story that is not a new one. However, how Lockart reveals the story is what makes this a good read.
Again Again is marketed as a romance. While there is some teenage angst, it is more of a book of Adelaide trying to live an as-happy/normal-as-a-teenager-can-be life and deal with complex emotions, happy, grief, fear, anger, love, etc.
Also, be sure to read Emily Lockhart's We Were Liars.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/12/20.
Wonder Valley: A Novel
Book
When a teen runs away from his father's mysterious commune, he sets in motion a domino effect that...
thriller
Forsvundet NU
Navigation
App
Folk forsvinder dagligt! Der forsvinder hele tiden personer i Danmark og resten af verden. Især...