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David McK (3666 KP) rated V for Vendetta in Books

Jan 28, 2019

V for Vendetta

David Lloyd, Alan Moore | 2008 | Fiction & Poetry

7.7

(6 Ratings)

Book Rating

This sits alongside "[b:Watchmen|472331|Watchmen|Alan Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442239711s/472331.jpg|4358649]"; as one of [a:Alan Moore|3961|Alan Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1304944713p2/3961.jpg]'s most influential works, with this set in the (then) future of the late 90s: a time when, following a global cataclysm, England has given itself over to fascism.

I'll be honest: I'd seen the Natalie Portman/Hugo Weaving film years ago (mainly out of curiosity to see how the Wachowski's would follow up The Matrix films), but had no idea how closely it stuck to the core material.

Until now.

The answer is actually surprisingly faithful, with most of the core beats of the two versions the same.

While both versions, I feel, do lose their way a bit at just over the half way mark, they both do have some memorable (and thought-worthy) quotes, chief among them these two:

[i]People shouldn't be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people[/i]

[i]Everybody is special. Everybody. Everybody is a hero, a lover, a fool, a villain. Everybody. Everybody has their story to tell[/i]

Kudos

David McK (3666 KP) rated The Flame Bearer (the Last Kingdom Series, Book 10) in Books

Jan 28, 2019

The continuing story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who, since the first story in the series ([b:The Last Kingdom|68527|The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1)|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407107780s/68527.jpg|881821] has been dreaming of recapturing his ancestral home - a home that was originally stolen by his uncle afollowing Uhtred's capture by the Danes in that first novel, and is now owned by his cousin.

The series as a whole has dealt with the forging of what ias now knwon as England, with Alfred (the Great) palying a key role in the earlier novels, and with the later novels dealing with events following his death. Although he is a pagan and Alfred was a Christian, Uhtred has played a key role in many of the events depicted - mostly (as with nearly all of [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1240500522p2/12542.jpg]'s novels) all based on or around real historical events.

I say mostly, as this is one of the few rare exceptions (being nearly all fiction), with the author himself admitting as much in the Afterword to this particular tale.

Kudos

ClareR (6054 KP) rated Killing Beauties in Books

Feb 5, 2020

Killing Beauties

Pete Langman | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Killing Beauties is about the female spies (She-Intelligencers - isn’t it funny how they could make even that sound like an insult 🤔) who worked for the exiled Charles Stuart during Cromwells reign. Charles Stuart himself sends two female spies back to England to turn Cromwell’s Secretary of State, John Thurloe, into their accomplice using their feminine wiles and training. This is actually based on the true story of two female spies - not something that any of us are usually taught in history lessons at school (perhaps due to their methods!). This is a story with heaps of subterfuge and betrayal, and women who are determined to do the best job they can for their King and their secret society. It was quite amusing in places, which was a little light relief in an otherwise tense story. There’s loads of great historical detail too - think sights, smells and sounds.

It’s a really fun book - fast-paced and with a feeling of danger. I loved it!

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising the book, and for Pete Langdon for commenting along with us readers!