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Self-Portrait with Boy
Book
A compulsively readable and electrifying debut about an ambitious young female artist who...

The Dead and the Dark
Book
Imagine Riverdale crossing streams with Stephen King's The Outsider and you'll get a sense of this...

Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Money Monster (2016) in Movies
Jul 19, 2017
Chemistry (1 more)
Good direction
A good start
This is a very impressive directorial debut from Jodie Foster. The movie stars two of the best actors in the industry, Julia Roberts and George Clooney. The two of them have a believable and amusing chemistry and the other players in the story also work together to achieve what is a thrilling if somewhat predictable time. The movie is well directed, but the script could definitely be a bit tighter and could also perhaps hide the twists in a more subtle way, but there is a sense of tension throughout the movie and there is definitely some fun to be had, just don’t expect anything more than a fairly shallow but still exciting film.

Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane] by [Katherine Howe] was a unique view of the Salem witch panic. Connie is a modern day researcher with an overly obsessive adviser. The summer after she completes her oral her mother asks her to get her grandmothers house ready to sell. She the house has been abandoned for quite some time and has a deep history to share.
This story shows how we never know the true depth of history, especially our own personal history. The mosaic that the intermingling character stories weave is a great driving force for this novel.
My one complaint was it was a bit on the predictable side but for a debut novel it is a must read.
This story shows how we never know the true depth of history, especially our own personal history. The mosaic that the intermingling character stories weave is a great driving force for this novel.
My one complaint was it was a bit on the predictable side but for a debut novel it is a must read.

Merissa (13194 KP) rated Wild Lavender (The Aurelian Guard #1) in Books
Mar 18, 2019
Wild Lavender (The Aurelian Guard #1) by Nicole Elizabeth Kelleher
WILD LAVENDER is the first book in The Aurelian Guard series, and is also the debut novel by this author. We are transported to a medieval world, where things aren't always equal or what they seem.
I found this book to be a strong opening to this series. We not only have strong characters on both sides of the conflict, but the world-building is there without overpowering the story. The romance comes later, after a horrific start for Anna. She surely deserves all the love she can get!
With no errors that I noticed, I loved this fantasy world, and I can't wait to read more. Absolutely recommended by me.
I found this book to be a strong opening to this series. We not only have strong characters on both sides of the conflict, but the world-building is there without overpowering the story. The romance comes later, after a horrific start for Anna. She surely deserves all the love she can get!
With no errors that I noticed, I loved this fantasy world, and I can't wait to read more. Absolutely recommended by me.

Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated In Her Footsteps in Books
Jun 5, 2019
In this exciting domestic thriller by Ruth Harrow, Harriet tells the story of her abuse and her efforts to go into hiding from her husband Dan.
Having fled from London, she sets up shop in Coventry, rebuilding her life, working and cautiously making new friends again. From the outside all looks well. However, the reader is led into a false sense of security and slowly we watch Harriet’s paranoia get the better of her, and cannot help but wonder if she is just worried because her past, or if there is something deeper going on.
In Her Footsteps was an entertaining debut book, broaching difficult topics surrounding physical abuse and the emotional distress it causes. I’ll be looking out for more from this author in the future.
Having fled from London, she sets up shop in Coventry, rebuilding her life, working and cautiously making new friends again. From the outside all looks well. However, the reader is led into a false sense of security and slowly we watch Harriet’s paranoia get the better of her, and cannot help but wonder if she is just worried because her past, or if there is something deeper going on.
In Her Footsteps was an entertaining debut book, broaching difficult topics surrounding physical abuse and the emotional distress it causes. I’ll be looking out for more from this author in the future.

Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
“Marvel has gone mad.” This was the kind of reaction that many film-fans greeted the news of a film adaptation of Guardians of the Galaxy, one of the comic-book company’s lesser known band of heroes.
Thankfully, the film is an absolute masterclass. With the best ensemble cast of the entire MCU, some crazy set design and a great soundtrack, James Gunn’s MCU directorial-debut is practically perfect in every single way. We even get a decent villain in Lee Pace’s Ronan the Accuser. Plus, it’s got Glenn Close spouting absolute nonsense and Vin Diesel getting paid a ridiculous amount of money to say three words over and over again. What could be better?
https://moviemetropolis.net/2018/04/21/the-entire-marvel-cinematic-universe-ranked/
Thankfully, the film is an absolute masterclass. With the best ensemble cast of the entire MCU, some crazy set design and a great soundtrack, James Gunn’s MCU directorial-debut is practically perfect in every single way. We even get a decent villain in Lee Pace’s Ronan the Accuser. Plus, it’s got Glenn Close spouting absolute nonsense and Vin Diesel getting paid a ridiculous amount of money to say three words over and over again. What could be better?
https://moviemetropolis.net/2018/04/21/the-entire-marvel-cinematic-universe-ranked/

Dakota Morrill (17 KP) rated Lady Bird (2017) in Movies
Mar 2, 2018
Simple, relatable, beautiful.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut Is truly a spectacular one. Lady Bird is a masterpiece of simplicity. The simply story of a typical teenage girl trying to find who she is and what she wants. The love-hate relationship of Christine and her mother showcasing their struggle to demonstrate of perhaps understand their feelings added a much welcome layer of interesting plot on top of the typical struggles of an awkward high schooler.
If anything, I believe you can learn a few things from this film about forming and maintaining relationships with your parents or child(ren) in hope that when your time with them comes to a close you’ll have no regrets.
If anything, I believe you can learn a few things from this film about forming and maintaining relationships with your parents or child(ren) in hope that when your time with them comes to a close you’ll have no regrets.

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2398 KP) rated Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Charlie's high school rival, successful novelist Godfrey Priest, comes to down, Charlie isn't too thrilled. Godfrey was always an ego driven jerk, and time and success hasn't changed any of that. But when Godfrey is killed and Charlie finds the body, he starts poking around trying to figure out who did it.
This series debut had lots of twists to the plot, even in the first 100 pages. The characters were real and fresh right out of the gate as well. I truly felt for them. I can't wait to visit them with the next book in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-review-murder-past-due-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This series debut had lots of twists to the plot, even in the first 100 pages. The characters were real and fresh right out of the gate as well. I truly felt for them. I can't wait to visit them with the next book in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-review-murder-past-due-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2398 KP) rated Death of a Crabby Cook (Food Festival Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Darcy has taken a job helping her aunt in her San Francisco food truck. On her first day, Aunt Abby gets into an argument with the chef at a nearby restaurant who wants the food trucks, which he views as competition, gone. When he is murdered that night, Abby becomes the chief suspect.
This was a wonderful debut. The characters were real and fun to spend time with. I absolutely love how the romance is already progressing. The plot is strong with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the very end. I'm already hungry for the sequel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-death-of-crabby-cook-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was a wonderful debut. The characters were real and fun to spend time with. I absolutely love how the romance is already progressing. The plot is strong with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the very end. I'm already hungry for the sequel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-death-of-crabby-cook-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.