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A wonderful birthday present from Keith and Sarah, i blew through this in less than a week. Granted, there are some big, beautiful full-page pictures, but the story of the Back To The Future trilogy is just as fascinating. As a long time fan, (Back to the Future is a perfect trilogy, and I'll challenge anyone to fisticuffs who says otherwise!) a lot of this information I knew. But I also found MANY undiscovered nuggets that made me love it even more. In depth and accessible, with a week by week breakdown of what was shot, when, where and how. The last chapters go beyond the Trilogy to cover the Ride at Universal Studios and the CBS cartoon series, this is truly the Ultimate Visual history. (Published before the start of IDWs comic series, it unfortunately misses those.)
  
Slaughterhouse 5: The Children's Crusade - A Duty-dance with Death
Slaughterhouse 5: The Children's Crusade - A Duty-dance with Death
Kurt Vonnegut | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.1 (27 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was not an easy read, and was odd in places (but that's the point of it, right?). If I'm right, it's about the pointlessness of war, and of living and dying. Anti-religion, anti-government, anti-war, basically. The act of the main character being able to move seamlessly through time gave the impression that everything had already happened, will happen again, and is yet to happen.
Confused yet? I was. Well, I was until I read some passages several times, and flicked back to certain parts. Honestly, I'm glad it wasn't any longer. This was hard work, and decidedly harrowing in places. I'm glad I've read it at last though.
I think I must have some masochistic tendencies when it comes to reading material (and not in the erotica sense, necessarily!!). I do like a book that's a challenge!
  
A Storm of Swords: Part 1 Steel and Snow (Reissue)
A Storm of Swords: Part 1 Steel and Snow (Reissue)
George R.R. Martin | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.5 (26 Ratings)
Book Rating
This series just gets better and better with each book. While this is certainly quite a long read, it winds up being very rewarding as the last half of it is filled with enough shocks and twists to leave one's head spinning. I can't really go into very much detail about what happens so as not to inadvertently spoil anything for anyone who has managed to avoid finding out the major details thus far, but suffice it to say, that it is in this book when it becomes apparent that surviving through this epic story is a challenge that an increasingly slim number of characters appear to be up to. I can honestly say that I don't really know where exactly the story is going to go next, but I am very excited to find out!
  
Real Genius (1985)
Real Genius (1985)
1985 | Comedy
80s Comedy fun!
When you are super smart and your parents want you to go to college at 15, you hope you get a roommate like Chris Knight. Super smart, of course, but he has also learned street smartz and how to relax and have fun as well as work. Now the smart club, faces the challenge of getting a large, high-powered laser beam to work. What's it all for?

Maybe a little far-reaching plot aside, the film has so many funny moments like ice in the hallways, a random guy living in your closet and swimming with student beauticians not to mention a great 80s soundtrack, it is hard not to love it. I have to admit, every time I hear "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" I think of "Real Genius".

  
40x40

Andy K (10821 KP) Jun 8, 2018


The Grizzled
The Grizzled
2015 | Card Game, World War I
Cooperation is great (3 more)
Difficulty is spot on
Small and can easily be carried around
Nothing like any other game
Tiny bit challenging to learn (0 more)
The Grizzled was a sleeper hit in our group. I bought it expecting us to play a few games and then put it on the shelf. But we were pleasantly surprised at how great of an experience it was.

The game is cooperative, and has the difficulty just right. You do t want a game that you win on your first try, but you also don't want something impossible. We were really happy to have the challenge of losing our first few games,

The game is further enhanced by its size. It can easily be carried in a purse. This has led to a lot of impromptu games that would be impossible with a bigger game.
  
A Study in Scarlet
A Study in Scarlet
Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Billingham | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Although I might be a fan of historical fiction, books that were published before I was born are not ones I usually pick up.

Don't get me wrong, there are some brilliant writers; Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck, the Austen's, all amazing writers, brilliant minds, but their writing style doesn't appeal to me. I would only pick up their books because of an academic reading list, and since academia doesn't need me to read fiction, I avoid it.

A very wise person recently told me that avoiding things is something I should avoid. Which is one of the reasons why I love this read harder challenge, taking you out of your comfort zone and expanding your reading is the best way to gain perspective.

Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/01/read-harder-1900-1950.html
  
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
2008 | Drama
Strange and unique, just like its writer/director!
To say the films of Charlie Kaufman are not a one-of-a-kind experience would be a gross understatement. Anyone who has seen Adaptation or Being John Malkovich would agree.

This film follows its own path (or lack thereof) through the life of a troubled playwright, his relationships with women and his ultimate desire to leave a lasting impression on the world.

Not sure if I became fully immersed in this one or not. Having just finished it may need to sink in a little. I definitely love the strange and unusual and this one foots the bill for sure.

 It was glorious, yet tragic to see another amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman performance knowing he won't give us any more of them.

Recommended for those who seek a challenge.

  
TK
The Karamazov Brothers
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2017
Category: Russian Classic

This book took me a little while to get into, but once I got through the first few chapters, I was hooked! This is a long, philosophically dense book, but do not let that deter you. It is anything, but boring, and it will make you think. The main conflict in the novel is Faith vs Doubt. The characters are so dynamic that I believed they were real people. Definitely take your time reading this one. I read it in two months, and there is so much to it that I want to read it again. I think I will read a different translation every time. I actually regret that I can't read it in Russian. I would love to experience this novel in it's original glory.