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BTPBookclub (18 KP) rated Caraval in Books
May 14, 2019
Outstanding. Brilliant.
Wow. One, why haven’t I read this book sooner? Two, I cannot believe this is her debut novel at all, I could not tell it was that brilliant. Very impressed. I love the cover of this story too, magical. I also loved how the story was told through short chapters, including letters and clues. Made it an easy, fast paced read I didn’t want to finish.
I cannot wait to see what lies ahead in the sequel (Legendary). I can honestly say I have not read anything similar to this story before and I absolutely loved it! I awarded a well deserved five stars and already know it is going to be in my top 20 of 2018. A must buy and read from me. I would love to see this book turned into a film. It will mess with the readers head in parts but remember… It’s only a game
I cannot wait to see what lies ahead in the sequel (Legendary). I can honestly say I have not read anything similar to this story before and I absolutely loved it! I awarded a well deserved five stars and already know it is going to be in my top 20 of 2018. A must buy and read from me. I would love to see this book turned into a film. It will mess with the readers head in parts but remember… It’s only a game
Awix (3310 KP) rated Booksmart (2019) in Movies
May 20, 2019 (Updated May 20, 2019)
Olivia Wilde's directorial debut is a frantic, absurd, very funny farce. Two diligent high-schoolers are appalled to discover their more-laid back peers have got into colleges just as good as theirs, and resolve to make up for years of focused hard work by having a wild night of partying before they graduate.
The relentless pace of the film and the hit-rate of its stream of gags is hugely impressive; the film manages to make jokes at the expense of many aspects of modern life without seeming cynical or negative. However, the depiction of friendship is affecting, the emotional beats of the film are genuinely moving, and it's genuinely refreshing to see a film with such an upbeat vibe to it and a cast of characters who are all likeable. Anyone who has been a teenager will be able to relate to this; one of the funniest films of the year so far.
The relentless pace of the film and the hit-rate of its stream of gags is hugely impressive; the film manages to make jokes at the expense of many aspects of modern life without seeming cynical or negative. However, the depiction of friendship is affecting, the emotional beats of the film are genuinely moving, and it's genuinely refreshing to see a film with such an upbeat vibe to it and a cast of characters who are all likeable. Anyone who has been a teenager will be able to relate to this; one of the funniest films of the year so far.
On the day Winnie Johnson has to close her bakery due to a huge rent increase, she inherits an antique ambulance. She decides to use it to reopen her bakery as a mobile business, rushing her desserts to those in need. But when her neighbor is murdered, it puts a definite damper on her plans. Who would kill an elderly man?
The mystery aspect takes a back seat at times to getting the new business up and running, but I find the concept of this business absolutely brilliant. I’m wondering why no one hasn’t tried this in real life. The mystery does reach a logical conclusion that wraps things up. The characters are strong, and I’m looking forward to seeing where relationships go in future books. Rush out and get this debut.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-eclair-and-present-danger.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The mystery aspect takes a back seat at times to getting the new business up and running, but I find the concept of this business absolutely brilliant. I’m wondering why no one hasn’t tried this in real life. The mystery does reach a logical conclusion that wraps things up. The characters are strong, and I’m looking forward to seeing where relationships go in future books. Rush out and get this debut.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-eclair-and-present-danger.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Circle of Influence (Zoe Chambers Mysteries, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
After an especially tension filled Township Board meeting, paramedic Zoe Chambers is called to an abandoned car with a dead body in the front seat. That discovery on a cold winter night plunges Zoe and Police Chief Pete Adams into a complex mystery that hits too close to home. Where will it end?
I shouldn’t have put this debut off for so long. It’s an amazing book full of great writing. The characters are strong, and they pull us into the story quickly. There are so many twists and turns along the way, but everything makes perfect sense by the time we reach the end. Zoe and Pete share third person narrator duties, something the author uses perfectly to let us get to know the leads and build the tension in the story.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-circle-of-influence-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I shouldn’t have put this debut off for so long. It’s an amazing book full of great writing. The characters are strong, and they pull us into the story quickly. There are so many twists and turns along the way, but everything makes perfect sense by the time we reach the end. Zoe and Pete share third person narrator duties, something the author uses perfectly to let us get to know the leads and build the tension in the story.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-circle-of-influence-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lila Maclean is excited to be teaching her first semester as a professor. She’s not so happy with her department chair, however, especially after he shoots down her idea for a course on mysteries and basically tells her to sit down and observe. Walking into a department meeting a couple of hours later, she finds him stabbed to death on a table. With rumors that she knows more than she is saying, she decides to find the killer herself.
This is a fun debut. The college came alive for me, and I really enjoyed the setting. Now that Lila’s co-workers won’t be suspects, I’m looking forward to seeing them grow more as well since I liked most of them. While the book starts out quickly, I did feel the pace lagged a little in the middle before things came together for a logical end.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-semester-of-our-discontent.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a fun debut. The college came alive for me, and I really enjoyed the setting. Now that Lila’s co-workers won’t be suspects, I’m looking forward to seeing them grow more as well since I liked most of them. While the book starts out quickly, I did feel the pace lagged a little in the middle before things came together for a logical end.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-semester-of-our-discontent.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Feta Attraction (Greek to Me Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Georgie’s husband goes missing, she doesn’t think much of it. Spiro has done that several times since he came out of the closet. However, when he doesn’t show up for an appointment, she begins to worry, and the strange notes she is receiving aren’t helping. However, finding the body floating in the St. Lawrence River really makes her start to investigate. What is going on?
There are lots of threads at the start of this book, but they soon begin to weave into one coherent story. Georgie helps hold things together, too; she is such a likable main character, you can’t help but root for her to get a happy ending. I really enjoyed this debut and think it looks like the start of a fun series.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-feta-attraction-by-susannah.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
There are lots of threads at the start of this book, but they soon begin to weave into one coherent story. Georgie helps hold things together, too; she is such a likable main character, you can’t help but root for her to get a happy ending. I really enjoyed this debut and think it looks like the start of a fun series.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-feta-attraction-by-susannah.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated A Muddied Murder (A Greenhouse Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Megan Sawyer’s plans to revitalize her family’s farm and open a small store and café are constantly hitting the road block of Simon Duvall. Simon is the head of the local zoning commission, and he keeps failing her on every inspection. After the latest one, Megan finds Simon murdered in the farm’s barn. Naturally, the police are looking at Megan as a suspect, but all Megan can wonder is why Simon was killed in the barn.
This is a wonderful debut! There are some secrets in Megan’s family that come to light over the course of the book and add another layer to the story. I can’t wait to see where that goes next. The mystery of Simon’s murder is also very well done with plenty of surprises along the way. Top that off with great characters. I can’t wait to return for the sequel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-muddied-murder-by-wendy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a wonderful debut! There are some secrets in Megan’s family that come to light over the course of the book and add another layer to the story. I can’t wait to see where that goes next. The mystery of Simon’s murder is also very well done with plenty of surprises along the way. Top that off with great characters. I can’t wait to return for the sequel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-muddied-murder-by-wendy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
MoMoBookDiary (20 KP) rated A Mind Polluted in Books
Oct 1, 2018
I was hooked from the first page of Martin Geraghty’s awesome debut novel. I read it in two sittings and was up until after 2am unable to sleep until I reached the final page – and then for some time afterwards as Connor’s story swirled around inside my head.
I am still thinking of the emotional rollercoaster from this gritty and dark tale a few days after finishing. The story takes the reader on an experience unlike any other book I’ve ever read!
The secret overheard by the lead character is shocking and the author has, in my view, described the emotions and reactions from all concerned perfectly. It is a fast paced novel which is set in four parts and definitely a ‘one more page’ type of story.
I am finding it difficult to write the review in a way not to give anything away. I can’t wait to read more from this very talented author.
I am still thinking of the emotional rollercoaster from this gritty and dark tale a few days after finishing. The story takes the reader on an experience unlike any other book I’ve ever read!
The secret overheard by the lead character is shocking and the author has, in my view, described the emotions and reactions from all concerned perfectly. It is a fast paced novel which is set in four parts and definitely a ‘one more page’ type of story.
I am finding it difficult to write the review in a way not to give anything away. I can’t wait to read more from this very talented author.
David McK (3600 KP) rated Traitor's Blood (Civil War Chronicles #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Billed as 'The Sharpe of the Civil War' (ever notice how these types of novels always use that character as their benchmark?), it's easy to see the influence of Cornwell's most famous creation on this novel, which (according to the author) is the first in a planned series of 10 books set during the English Civil War.
This is told from the POV of a soldier in the (doomed) Royalist army: a soldier who has a history with some in authority (like Sharpe and Wellesley), and who is chosen to go behind the enemy lines on a top secret mission (again, like Sharpe), with the beginning and end of the novel taking place during one of the battles of that war (yet again, just like a Sharpe novel ...). Enjoyable enough, and gets off to a strong start, but is just not as polished as one of Cornwells books. Still, an impressive effort for a debut novel, and I may pick up more of the sequels ...
This is told from the POV of a soldier in the (doomed) Royalist army: a soldier who has a history with some in authority (like Sharpe and Wellesley), and who is chosen to go behind the enemy lines on a top secret mission (again, like Sharpe), with the beginning and end of the novel taking place during one of the battles of that war (yet again, just like a Sharpe novel ...). Enjoyable enough, and gets off to a strong start, but is just not as polished as one of Cornwells books. Still, an impressive effort for a debut novel, and I may pick up more of the sequels ...
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated District 9 (2009) in Movies
Jul 26, 2019 (Updated Jul 26, 2019)
When Aliens Attack
Contains spoilers, click to show
District 9- was a intresting film.
The film is partially presented in a found footage format by featuring fictional interviews, news footage, and video from surveillance cameras witch is really intresting.
The story, which explores themes of humanity, xenophobia and social segregation, begins in an alternate 1982, when an alien spaceship appears over Johannesburg, South Africa. When a population of sick and malnourished insectoid aliens are found aboard the ship, the South African government confines them to an internment camp called District 9. Years later, during the government's relocation of the aliens to another camp, one of the confined aliens named Christopher Johnson tries to escape with his son and return home, crossing paths with a bureaucrat named Wikus van der Merwe.
It was Neill Blomkamp director debut and he did a great job.
District 9- mixs sci-fi with action, found footage, horror, suspense, thrills, chills, drama all into one film.
A highly reccordmend movie.
The film is partially presented in a found footage format by featuring fictional interviews, news footage, and video from surveillance cameras witch is really intresting.
The story, which explores themes of humanity, xenophobia and social segregation, begins in an alternate 1982, when an alien spaceship appears over Johannesburg, South Africa. When a population of sick and malnourished insectoid aliens are found aboard the ship, the South African government confines them to an internment camp called District 9. Years later, during the government's relocation of the aliens to another camp, one of the confined aliens named Christopher Johnson tries to escape with his son and return home, crossing paths with a bureaucrat named Wikus van der Merwe.
It was Neill Blomkamp director debut and he did a great job.
District 9- mixs sci-fi with action, found footage, horror, suspense, thrills, chills, drama all into one film.
A highly reccordmend movie.