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ClareR (5991 KP) rated Ghost Wall in Books
Feb 11, 2019
A disturbing look at family dynamics.
This novella really packs a punch. Its uncomfortable subject matter is presented in an uncomfortable setting. Slivie, her checkout assistant mum and bus driver dad, spend their summer holidays recreating life in Iron Age Britain, along with an archaeology professor and some of his students. Silvie's dad is a very keen, knowledgable amateur archaeologist, and is well respected by the professor. However, he is an unhappy man. He seems to hate the way he lives, and takes his frustrations (physically) out on his wife and daughter. I actually thought Silvie was far younger than it transpired that she was, purely because of the way her father spoke to and treated her.
The book becomes darker as it goes on, as we see more of Silvie's dads' outdated ideas of masculinity and a woman's station in life, and the conclusion is simply stunning.
This is well worth a read in my opinion.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and fairly review.
The book becomes darker as it goes on, as we see more of Silvie's dads' outdated ideas of masculinity and a woman's station in life, and the conclusion is simply stunning.
This is well worth a read in my opinion.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and fairly review.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Martyrs (2008) in Movies
Mar 29, 2019 (Updated Mar 29, 2019)
Hard to handle
Director Pascal Laugier said he modeled the ideas and script for this film after "Hostel" and you can see a lot of comparisons from the obvious plot similarities to the definite two sections of both films showcasing different styles and subtexts.
Martyrs is more cerebral, darker and more supernatural getting into the characters minds somewhat, but still having that brutal, visceral element for sure.
I would have to say some of the brutality may be unnecessary; however, I think one of the points of the film is how much a human being can endure, so it's hard to make a conclusion on that.
If you don't like movies like Hostel or Saw I can't seeing you like this one either since they have similar plot devices. I found a lot of this film interesting as it takes chances and definitely shows you things you haven't seen before.
If someone said it was "torture porn shite" it would be hard to argue with them either. All your point of view I guess.
Martyrs is more cerebral, darker and more supernatural getting into the characters minds somewhat, but still having that brutal, visceral element for sure.
I would have to say some of the brutality may be unnecessary; however, I think one of the points of the film is how much a human being can endure, so it's hard to make a conclusion on that.
If you don't like movies like Hostel or Saw I can't seeing you like this one either since they have similar plot devices. I found a lot of this film interesting as it takes chances and definitely shows you things you haven't seen before.
If someone said it was "torture porn shite" it would be hard to argue with them either. All your point of view I guess.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated The Hazel Wood in Books
Mar 24, 2018
My kind of fairytales
I really did enjoy The Hazel Wood but I might be a bit biased because I really love Fairytales especially the darker more Twisted original versions of fairy tales and the Hazel Wood really captured the essence of what made me really love those type of stories.
Alice is really one of those characters where you're not quite sure if you like her you don't like but in the end I really did grow to appreciate her Melissa Albert really put a lot of thought into the character and the concept of Nature vs nurture. And one of my favorite things about Alice is that she is really under no illusion that she is a good person she knows she's messed up and owns it pretty well.
The one thing I really wished was explored more were the other fairy tales since we only really get to know two of them The Hazel Wood is a universe I would definitely love to come back to and be able to learn more about
Alice is really one of those characters where you're not quite sure if you like her you don't like but in the end I really did grow to appreciate her Melissa Albert really put a lot of thought into the character and the concept of Nature vs nurture. And one of my favorite things about Alice is that she is really under no illusion that she is a good person she knows she's messed up and owns it pretty well.
The one thing I really wished was explored more were the other fairy tales since we only really get to know two of them The Hazel Wood is a universe I would definitely love to come back to and be able to learn more about
Mike Carlson (115 KP) rated Batman And Robin Vol. 3: Death Of the Family in Books
Mar 27, 2018
"Death Of The Family" contains the Joker's return (also introduction into the New 52) and attack on the Bat family. Other titles feature the clown taking on Red Hood, Red Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and Batman. Each one of those arcs concludes with issue #17 of the New 52 Batman. This volume centers on Joker's attack on Damian, the current Robin, and finishes with the issue mentioned above.
It is a darker storyline, and I love the New 52 Joker's psychosis. He thinks he's Batman's best friend. That he keeps the Dark Knight sharp while all the sidekicks make the Bat weak. It's intriguing, even more so when he interacts with Damian. This story basically boils down to two interesting characters butting heads.
Preceding it is a prologue issue in which Damian lures Bruce out of country with a familial scavenger hunt in order to take over as Batman for a few days. The epilogue is an issue in which all three residents of Wayne Manor have nightmares.
Start to finish, it was a solid piece of entertainment.
It is a darker storyline, and I love the New 52 Joker's psychosis. He thinks he's Batman's best friend. That he keeps the Dark Knight sharp while all the sidekicks make the Bat weak. It's intriguing, even more so when he interacts with Damian. This story basically boils down to two interesting characters butting heads.
Preceding it is a prologue issue in which Damian lures Bruce out of country with a familial scavenger hunt in order to take over as Batman for a few days. The epilogue is an issue in which all three residents of Wayne Manor have nightmares.
Start to finish, it was a solid piece of entertainment.
Very Black Mirror-esque
This is such a great idea for a story, you can almost imagine a slightly darker version of it featuring on Black Mirror. The idea of there being a genetic match out there for everyone found through a dating website is so plausible and in keeping with today’s society that it wouldn’t surprise me if something like this was to happen in my lifetime. It’s an intriguing take on modern dating too and for someone who sadly has experience in dating websites, it’s very relatable.
It’s well written and it does well to hold your attention by breaking into 5 separate stories with different characters all related by the same matching experience, in small bite sized chapters. The characters themselves are all likeable in their own way and you get very invested in their stories. There are a number of twists and my only criticism would be that some parts of this story get a little bit far fetched. It’s fiction, but I did find myself questioning the plausibility in parts. That said, I really couldn’t put it down.
It’s well written and it does well to hold your attention by breaking into 5 separate stories with different characters all related by the same matching experience, in small bite sized chapters. The characters themselves are all likeable in their own way and you get very invested in their stories. There are a number of twists and my only criticism would be that some parts of this story get a little bit far fetched. It’s fiction, but I did find myself questioning the plausibility in parts. That said, I really couldn’t put it down.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of LEGO Jurassic World in Video Games
Jun 11, 2018
Loads of fun
Having played Lego HP and been slightly frustrated about it, I hadn’t been expecting much from this. Especially as I didn’t realise that it contained all 4 films - I just thought it was the one for Jurassic World.
All I can say is I’m glad it has all 4 films. Although each film/level set is fairly short and doesn’t quite feature everything from the films, they’re still an awful lot of fun. I love the fact that it uses real dialogue from the films (sometimes randomly during a level which makes it even funnier) and the Lego versions of well known scenes are hilarious. The gameplay is a lot more action based and more interesting than the HP games, which makes it even more entertaining. My only criticism and this is being picky, is that the film plays down some of the darker elements especially of the first film. Whilst the lighter Lego alternative is pretty funny, part of me would have loved to see severed arms etc instead.
All I can say is I’m glad it has all 4 films. Although each film/level set is fairly short and doesn’t quite feature everything from the films, they’re still an awful lot of fun. I love the fact that it uses real dialogue from the films (sometimes randomly during a level which makes it even funnier) and the Lego versions of well known scenes are hilarious. The gameplay is a lot more action based and more interesting than the HP games, which makes it even more entertaining. My only criticism and this is being picky, is that the film plays down some of the darker elements especially of the first film. Whilst the lighter Lego alternative is pretty funny, part of me would have loved to see severed arms etc instead.
Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children in Books
Jun 4, 2018
I’ve got mixed opinions about this one. I mostly enjoyed reading it, but towards the end you begin to realize that you are being set up for a sequel, which disappoints me every time.
I really did love the premise…especially how Riggs uses the old photographs as part of his narrative, but I’m just a bit underwhelmed overall. I love how Riggs brings up the idea that all of these children are stuck emotionally in adolescence, but then he doesn’t really ever develop that and build it as a plot point.
For some reason, the end feels very similar to The Golden Compass for me. Everything is very rushed and the tone of the narrative gets much darker and everything builds to a climax that doesn’t mesh very well with the rest of the narrative and leaves so much unresolved that I’m just frustrated rather than intrigued.
Unfortunately, a colleague has already lent me the next book, so I feel obligated to continue with the series. Maybe…
I really did love the premise…especially how Riggs uses the old photographs as part of his narrative, but I’m just a bit underwhelmed overall. I love how Riggs brings up the idea that all of these children are stuck emotionally in adolescence, but then he doesn’t really ever develop that and build it as a plot point.
For some reason, the end feels very similar to The Golden Compass for me. Everything is very rushed and the tone of the narrative gets much darker and everything builds to a climax that doesn’t mesh very well with the rest of the narrative and leaves so much unresolved that I’m just frustrated rather than intrigued.
Unfortunately, a colleague has already lent me the next book, so I feel obligated to continue with the series. Maybe…
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Denial (Careless Whispers, #1) in Books
Jul 10, 2018
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have been wanting to read this book since it came out but I never found the time to sit down and truly start to read it. Lisa is a phenomenal author and I forgot how much I love Lisa Renee Jones' books. Lisa has a way with words and truly engulfs you in the story. Her characters speak for themselves and it seems that they constantly jump off the page and become your new best friend.
I love how much Lisa puts into her books. The characters, the scenery, the plot twists all have you wanting more. Ella is a likable character in the Inside Out series and it is nice to see, even with amnesia, she is likable. I loved getting to know her as a character and I cannot wait for the next book.
If you're looking for a fun book that has darker undertones, this one is for you! Seriously, just read it.
I have been wanting to read this book since it came out but I never found the time to sit down and truly start to read it. Lisa is a phenomenal author and I forgot how much I love Lisa Renee Jones' books. Lisa has a way with words and truly engulfs you in the story. Her characters speak for themselves and it seems that they constantly jump off the page and become your new best friend.
I love how much Lisa puts into her books. The characters, the scenery, the plot twists all have you wanting more. Ella is a likable character in the Inside Out series and it is nice to see, even with amnesia, she is likable. I loved getting to know her as a character and I cannot wait for the next book.
If you're looking for a fun book that has darker undertones, this one is for you! Seriously, just read it.
Kristy S. (3 KP) rated Kindle E-Reader in Tech
Aug 10, 2018
Perfect for an avid reader who can't carry all their books with them
I purchased a Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader a few years ago. I had previous thought that "I could never give up holding a book." However, the Kindle has been a lifesaver on trips. It is small, light, and easy to take with me wherever I go. I purchased a case, so I could have the feeling of holding a book and to protect the tech. The Paperwhite looks like paper, but has a back light for when I am in darker spaces. I am able to download books from Amazon instantly as well as get books from my library delivered. In the end, it has saved me a ton of money as I am on several discount e-book newsletters and I can check out many books from the library no matter where I am. My only complaint is that the touch screen has a bit of lag time, but otherwise it is fantastic.
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Coercion: The Complete Collection (The Montana Dragons 1) in Books
Nov 12, 2018
Fast Paced Dragon Shifter
This is the first book I have read by Chloe Cole. It's been sitting on my kindle for quite some time so when I was looking for a good paranormal shifter book, I figured this one would do. I wasn't expecting much but I have to say I was impressed.
Chloe Cole was able to create a world that kept me entertained. I enjoyed the characters and the plot line was fun. I was a little nervous with the title Coercion but I was happy to see that this didn't turn into a darker story. The plot moved steadily and the characters experienced an instant love type story. At times, I found myself annoyed but all in all I did enjoy the plot. I do wish that we saw more growth in the characters though.
Ultimately, it kept me entertained and it was a nice, quick read. I would give it 3 1/2 stars so I'm giving it 4 because I always round up.
Chloe Cole was able to create a world that kept me entertained. I enjoyed the characters and the plot line was fun. I was a little nervous with the title Coercion but I was happy to see that this didn't turn into a darker story. The plot moved steadily and the characters experienced an instant love type story. At times, I found myself annoyed but all in all I did enjoy the plot. I do wish that we saw more growth in the characters though.
Ultimately, it kept me entertained and it was a nice, quick read. I would give it 3 1/2 stars so I'm giving it 4 because I always round up.