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Robz H (21 KP) rated Westworld - Season 1 in TV
May 24, 2017
Amazing soundtrack (4 more)
Well written and completely engaging from start to finish
Spectacular cinematography
Plot twists that properly knock you for six
A very fascinating take on what makes humans tick
Phenomenal
This show is amazing. If binge watching TV shows was an Olympic sport, I would certainly be in contention to represent my country, but I haven't sat down and watched the first episode of a show and then remained firmly on my arse until I'd watched the entire season since I discovered Game of Thrones.
Everything about this show reeled me in immediately. The opening theme, the cast and the portrayal of their characters, the storyline and the way it unraveled in front of me... A very special chord that was struck with me (punny!) was the soundtrack - that moment when I was entirely engrossed in what I was seeing and the fleeting thought of "Hey that sounds like Paint It Black..." then having the realisation that it WAS Paint It Black left me in love with this show from the very get go.
I recommend this show at every possible opportunity as something that should be watched sometime between immediately and ASAFP.
Everything about this show reeled me in immediately. The opening theme, the cast and the portrayal of their characters, the storyline and the way it unraveled in front of me... A very special chord that was struck with me (punny!) was the soundtrack - that moment when I was entirely engrossed in what I was seeing and the fleeting thought of "Hey that sounds like Paint It Black..." then having the realisation that it WAS Paint It Black left me in love with this show from the very get go.
I recommend this show at every possible opportunity as something that should be watched sometime between immediately and ASAFP.
Gloria (27 KP) rated Desert Blood: The Juarez Murders in Books
Jul 18, 2017
A Mystery Unlike Any Other
Gaspar de Alba brings a fine writer's sensitivity and the open heart of her heritage. The result is a novel that takes your breath away, page after page, and grabs your heart.
Desert Blood is a mystery unlike any other. Gripping, heart-wrenching, set against the tough, lacerating reality of border-town engaging mystery, but it is more than well-written entertainment. It is an important book that sheds light on the Juárez murders--the ongoing slaughter of young Mexican women in the border city of Juárez by persons unknown. Desert Blood weaves together its fictional tale and the known facts of these notorious crimes in a way that reveals the cultural and political attitudes that have allowed these murders to continue with the indifference--if not the outright complicity--of Mexican authorities.
Gaspar de Alba not only crafts a suspenseful plot but tackles prejudice in many of its ugly forms: against gays, against Hispanics, against the poor. It's an in-your-face, no-holds-barred story full of brutality, graphic violence, and ultimately, redemption. Offering a powerful depiction of social injustice and serial murder on the U.S.-Mexican border, this is an essential purchase for both mystery and Hispanic fiction collections.
Desert Blood is a mystery unlike any other. Gripping, heart-wrenching, set against the tough, lacerating reality of border-town engaging mystery, but it is more than well-written entertainment. It is an important book that sheds light on the Juárez murders--the ongoing slaughter of young Mexican women in the border city of Juárez by persons unknown. Desert Blood weaves together its fictional tale and the known facts of these notorious crimes in a way that reveals the cultural and political attitudes that have allowed these murders to continue with the indifference--if not the outright complicity--of Mexican authorities.
Gaspar de Alba not only crafts a suspenseful plot but tackles prejudice in many of its ugly forms: against gays, against Hispanics, against the poor. It's an in-your-face, no-holds-barred story full of brutality, graphic violence, and ultimately, redemption. Offering a powerful depiction of social injustice and serial murder on the U.S.-Mexican border, this is an essential purchase for both mystery and Hispanic fiction collections.
Ross (3284 KP) rated King of Thorns in Books
Sep 5, 2017
The second in the broken empire trilogy continues from where the "prince..." left off. Jorg is now King of Renar having successfully taken over rule from his naughty uncle.
In this book we see Jorg seemingy become more regal, less of a renegade loose canon, though this turns out not to be through his choice.
Similar to the first book, the story line is split between the "present", 4 years after the events of the Prince of Thorns and a separate timeline following immediately from the first book. The way these are woven together allows a good rate of reveals of key events and information along the way, while also leaving enough mystery behind for later.
The plot follows Jorg on his wedding day trying to defend his land from the would-be emperor, the prince of Arrow, and also in the past on a tour of the outlying countries trying to solve various problems.
The post-apocalyptic element hinted at in the first book is further explored here, but not in a way to detract from the important points of the story.
Overall this is an excellent follow-up with top-notch storytelling and engaging action, with the prince/king we love to hate and hate to hate.
In this book we see Jorg seemingy become more regal, less of a renegade loose canon, though this turns out not to be through his choice.
Similar to the first book, the story line is split between the "present", 4 years after the events of the Prince of Thorns and a separate timeline following immediately from the first book. The way these are woven together allows a good rate of reveals of key events and information along the way, while also leaving enough mystery behind for later.
The plot follows Jorg on his wedding day trying to defend his land from the would-be emperor, the prince of Arrow, and also in the past on a tour of the outlying countries trying to solve various problems.
The post-apocalyptic element hinted at in the first book is further explored here, but not in a way to detract from the important points of the story.
Overall this is an excellent follow-up with top-notch storytelling and engaging action, with the prince/king we love to hate and hate to hate.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Lucifer Rising in Books
Apr 27, 2018
When I accepted this book for review, the summary provided sounded very exciting and engaging… but this book was strange. That’s really the only word I have for it. Weird and strange. Here’s why:
One—I felt out of place while I read this. I felt like I had been dumped into the middle of a book on the first page. There was no introduction to the characters, there were no descriptions, there was no explanation. And it didn’t work. Sometimes in a book, that’s ok, because it works with the mysterious quality of it, but in this situation it was just unreadable.
Two—The writing wasn’t good. It felt choppy and vague and un-detailed and empty, as if the words on the page didn’t mean anything. It was very hard to read. The dialogue felt forced and most of the narrative was unclear.
Three—I have a high tolerance for strange and supernatural, but the stuff in this book was just really odd. I didn’t get past Chapter 3.
I’m really sad that I didn’t like this title because I was so excited to read it, and it sounded great… but it was just a really lame book.
One—I felt out of place while I read this. I felt like I had been dumped into the middle of a book on the first page. There was no introduction to the characters, there were no descriptions, there was no explanation. And it didn’t work. Sometimes in a book, that’s ok, because it works with the mysterious quality of it, but in this situation it was just unreadable.
Two—The writing wasn’t good. It felt choppy and vague and un-detailed and empty, as if the words on the page didn’t mean anything. It was very hard to read. The dialogue felt forced and most of the narrative was unclear.
Three—I have a high tolerance for strange and supernatural, but the stuff in this book was just really odd. I didn’t get past Chapter 3.
I’m really sad that I didn’t like this title because I was so excited to read it, and it sounded great… but it was just a really lame book.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Couples Who Pray: The Most Intimate Act Between a Man and a Woman in Books
Apr 27, 2018
This book was very engaging. Most of it I'd already been told by my parents (I've explained before how they have a great marriage) but Couples Who Pray had the data and research to back it up. I was surprised to learn that many Christian couples don't pray together. I was also surprised at the changes in their relationships when couples started praying.
It was really neat to read all the stories and see how God works in His people's lives. There are lots of great tips for married couples, couples who are dating or engaged, and there is even a short section on praying with the opposite sex who you are not married to. Couples Who Pray was encouraging and educational, and every couple needs to know the information in here.
I felt like the majority of the book was trying to convince couples that it was a good idea to pray with each other. There were a lot of stories and basic instruction, but it felt almost as if they drew it out a little too long and kept going over the same thing in every chapter. Basically it could have been more concise.
Recommendation: Couples in need of a spiritual revival, or singles thinking about marriage in their future.
It was really neat to read all the stories and see how God works in His people's lives. There are lots of great tips for married couples, couples who are dating or engaged, and there is even a short section on praying with the opposite sex who you are not married to. Couples Who Pray was encouraging and educational, and every couple needs to know the information in here.
I felt like the majority of the book was trying to convince couples that it was a good idea to pray with each other. There were a lot of stories and basic instruction, but it felt almost as if they drew it out a little too long and kept going over the same thing in every chapter. Basically it could have been more concise.
Recommendation: Couples in need of a spiritual revival, or singles thinking about marriage in their future.
ALilLacey (2 KP) rated Mike and the Dog-Gone Labradoodle in Books
Mar 4, 2019
When Mike discovers that his secret crush, Nic's (Nicole,) dog has gone missing he is on the case. After failing to find her dog, Baxter, on his first outing, Mike's twin sister along with some of their friends put on their thinking caps and head out to look for clues as to where the dog could have gone. The relationship between Mike and his twin sister, Maddie is totally believable for a 12 year old boy. They're total opposites and he just doesn't get her smart 'weirdness.' How Mike describes his feelings for Nic and his interactions with his friends also really puts you in his shoes. All of the characters have fun and humorous personalities and the descriptions of them really give you an image of this newly found group of friends. It was a great lead into how The Pet Shop Society was formed and, I feel, would really engage readers 7-11 to read more of the series. This was a simple chapter book that was engaging as well as thought provoking and would take the child on a fun adventure.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, which this is.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, which this is.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Deluge (1933) in Movies
Apr 23, 2019 (Updated Apr 23, 2019)
Pre-Code apocalyptic disaster movie boldly goes where Roland Emmerich would follow several times; also manages to be almost definitively non-compliant with the Bechdel test. A series of unexplained disasters including floods and earthquakes destroy civilisation; in the aftermath resourceful lawyer Martin hooks up with plucky society girl Claire, little realising his wife and children survived the catastrophe. Then fate brings them all back together...
The destruction of New York is the most celebrated sequence in the movie, and it stands up relatively well as an example of practical effects in action, but it happens in the first quarter of the movie. Most of the rest of it is concerned with surprisingly familiar post-apocalyptic themes - people come together and struggle to rebuild, raiders prey on settlements, people question familiar moral standards, and so on. The film's gender politics are startling, to say the least: women appear to have no rights and are basically property (and then civilisation crumbles, ha ha). It is interesting and indicative that the film ends with the affirmation of the traditional moral order. Not exactly subtle or nuanced, and the acting is fairly robotic, but it's pacy and the story is an engaging one. An interesting movie that suggests things haven't changed as much as we sometimes think.
The destruction of New York is the most celebrated sequence in the movie, and it stands up relatively well as an example of practical effects in action, but it happens in the first quarter of the movie. Most of the rest of it is concerned with surprisingly familiar post-apocalyptic themes - people come together and struggle to rebuild, raiders prey on settlements, people question familiar moral standards, and so on. The film's gender politics are startling, to say the least: women appear to have no rights and are basically property (and then civilisation crumbles, ha ha). It is interesting and indicative that the film ends with the affirmation of the traditional moral order. Not exactly subtle or nuanced, and the acting is fairly robotic, but it's pacy and the story is an engaging one. An interesting movie that suggests things haven't changed as much as we sometimes think.
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Fourth Monkey (4MK Thriller, #1) in Books
May 23, 2019
Police with personalities (2 more)
Smart serial killer
Well plotted out story
Crazy smart serial killing awesomeness
My word what a book; this just hit all the right spots for me. Twisted smart killer with a good backstory and cops with a personality after him - all the good stuff.
When a serial killer gets stopped abruptly in a 5 year spree - by a city bus, Sam the detective who has been tracking him down has to find the latest victim before it’s too late. The diary on the body may provide insights.
I’m not sure what I enjoyed most about this book the main story itself with the cops racing against time or the backstory of the killer provided by his diary. Both parts were engaging and I couldn't put it down for wanting to get to the next part. There’s even gruesome discoveries in a box (hello happy Seven memories).
The cops were great characters, really enjoyed the well placed bits of banter. A lot of crime books I've read recently seem to lack real personalities for the investigators but not here.
Story was well worked out, well written and just a pleasure to read.
Can't wait to get my hands of the next 4MK thriller
When a serial killer gets stopped abruptly in a 5 year spree - by a city bus, Sam the detective who has been tracking him down has to find the latest victim before it’s too late. The diary on the body may provide insights.
I’m not sure what I enjoyed most about this book the main story itself with the cops racing against time or the backstory of the killer provided by his diary. Both parts were engaging and I couldn't put it down for wanting to get to the next part. There’s even gruesome discoveries in a box (hello happy Seven memories).
The cops were great characters, really enjoyed the well placed bits of banter. A lot of crime books I've read recently seem to lack real personalities for the investigators but not here.
Story was well worked out, well written and just a pleasure to read.
Can't wait to get my hands of the next 4MK thriller
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Searching (2018) in Movies
Jun 2, 2019
Unexpectedly good
I've read a lot of very good reviews about this film, and I was glad that it has finally been released on Sky, especially as it turned out to be really rather good!
What I loved most about this film was the way in which it tells it's story. This isnt the first time a film has been told entirely through what you see on a computer screen, however this is definitely the first time it has ever been done to such a high standard. It's a brilliant way to tell a story and was a very good and subtle mechanism to get across certain plot points. It makes for such an engaging and intriguing film and really makes you wonder about social media and technology in general. John Cho has to hold this film virtually on his own for the most part, and he does a marvellous job. My only criticism is the ending as it was a bit predictable and felt a little disappointing after such a tense and exciting build up during the rest of the film. Such a shame too that this film has mostly gone under the radar when released originally, as it deserves a lot more attention!
What I loved most about this film was the way in which it tells it's story. This isnt the first time a film has been told entirely through what you see on a computer screen, however this is definitely the first time it has ever been done to such a high standard. It's a brilliant way to tell a story and was a very good and subtle mechanism to get across certain plot points. It makes for such an engaging and intriguing film and really makes you wonder about social media and technology in general. John Cho has to hold this film virtually on his own for the most part, and he does a marvellous job. My only criticism is the ending as it was a bit predictable and felt a little disappointing after such a tense and exciting build up during the rest of the film. Such a shame too that this film has mostly gone under the radar when released originally, as it deserves a lot more attention!
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Asena Blessed (The Chronicles of Altaica, #2) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
Its taken me longer than I would like to admit to write this review, but that is only because I feel that I cannot properly express what I truly want to say.
In reality, I feel there is little I can say that I didnt say about Altaica. The characters are well written, the world interesting, reminiscent of Tolkien and the like, and the storyline engaging. However, while I loved Altaica , Asena Blessed completely blew it out of the water. After reading Asena Blessed, I realize that Altaica is just a tease, the tip of the iceberg. Its like comparing a shake to a sundae. Both are delicious, but there are more ingredients to enjoy in the sundae. The characters, geography, and plot introduced in the first novel are more developed and fleshed out. We learn more about the mythology and event going on in the world the story is set in.
Normally, I dont like cliffhangers, but with Joyces Altaicas it just makes me hunger for more. I read it in one sitting and I felt like I lost a friend once I finished Asena. I cannot wait for the next installment. If you are a fan of Tamora Pierce, you will love this series.
In reality, I feel there is little I can say that I didnt say about Altaica. The characters are well written, the world interesting, reminiscent of Tolkien and the like, and the storyline engaging. However, while I loved Altaica , Asena Blessed completely blew it out of the water. After reading Asena Blessed, I realize that Altaica is just a tease, the tip of the iceberg. Its like comparing a shake to a sundae. Both are delicious, but there are more ingredients to enjoy in the sundae. The characters, geography, and plot introduced in the first novel are more developed and fleshed out. We learn more about the mythology and event going on in the world the story is set in.
Normally, I dont like cliffhangers, but with Joyces Altaicas it just makes me hunger for more. I read it in one sitting and I felt like I lost a friend once I finished Asena. I cannot wait for the next installment. If you are a fan of Tamora Pierce, you will love this series.