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Kristin (149 KP) rated Terminal Value in Books
Dec 7, 2018
I thought this was an excellent read. It definitely captured my interest, as I had to fight to put it down to get some sleep last night, and managed to finish it in its entirety within the 36-hour mark. The story wasn't too technical to where I couldn't follow along, but still had enough jargon throughout to where I felt the characters were actually a part of the world the author was trying to portray. I felt the use of the date/time/location stamps was very helpful in keeping everything straight, especially when the characters and/or storyline was bouncing back and forth.
Honestly, this was probably not a book I would have bought for myself upon first glance, as I would have probably thought it too technical for my liking. However, I'm definitely glad I won the giveaway and was given the opportunity to read it, as it was fascinating and educational, as well, for someone who admits to having no knowledge of the stock market (or much of the cutthroat corporate business world) whatsoever. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense thriller and mystery, or those involved in the types of business described throughout. They might find it a little enlightening. =)
Honestly, this was probably not a book I would have bought for myself upon first glance, as I would have probably thought it too technical for my liking. However, I'm definitely glad I won the giveaway and was given the opportunity to read it, as it was fascinating and educational, as well, for someone who admits to having no knowledge of the stock market (or much of the cutthroat corporate business world) whatsoever. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense thriller and mystery, or those involved in the types of business described throughout. They might find it a little enlightening. =)
Sharpie0499 (114 KP) rated Speak Your Mind by Anne-Marie in Music
Jul 13, 2018 (Updated Jul 13, 2018)
Catchy songs (3 more)
Excellent songwriting
Songs are relatable
Remarkable vocals
Impossible To Not Listen To
Since I heard 'Ciao Adios', Anne-Marie had me hooked. I was so excited when I heard about her debut album 'Speak Your Mind'. Since it was released in April, I have not stopped listening to it. The songs are catchy, relatable and I can't help but sing and dance along to them whenever I hear them. Her song-writing skills and vocal abilities are amazing and I think she is one of the best female pop artists at the moment. I would say that she is up there with Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato, whose songs are amazing and vocals are incredible also. The only downside to this album, is that there are a couple of songs I am not such a fan of: 'Can I Get Your Number' and 'Some People'. If I heard them, I would listen to them and maybe even sing along, but I do prefer her other songs and feel that these two are the weakest on the album. Overall, this album is amazing and I don't think I'm going to stop listening to it anytime soon.
Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated Cheap Thrills (2014) in Movies
Jul 29, 2018
Great cast (2 more)
Some extreme moments
Unpredictable
How far would you go when your desperate?
This was a fun movie, it reminded me a lot of that movie called Nerve. You do more and more dangerous dates for more money. It does beg the question "How far would you go when your desperate for money?"
This resulted in some extreme moments which I never saw coming. It was written well with an excellent cast. I can never take David Koechner seriously in anyovie he does but he does have a certain creep factor about him.
I like how contained it was. It was mainly set inside 1 house. It didn't go too crazy or extreme with too much money on the line. It went far enough with a believable amount of $250,000 overall. I feel the less money being offered, the more it felt desperate and extreme. It does make me think there may be some rich people out there who get off on this kind of thing.
There are definitely some "look away" moments which is good for this kind of movie and there was a decent amount of gore.
Definitely worth a watch and this was 1 of those movies that I only paid £1 for the blu ray. Can't argue with that.
This resulted in some extreme moments which I never saw coming. It was written well with an excellent cast. I can never take David Koechner seriously in anyovie he does but he does have a certain creep factor about him.
I like how contained it was. It was mainly set inside 1 house. It didn't go too crazy or extreme with too much money on the line. It went far enough with a believable amount of $250,000 overall. I feel the less money being offered, the more it felt desperate and extreme. It does make me think there may be some rich people out there who get off on this kind of thing.
There are definitely some "look away" moments which is good for this kind of movie and there was a decent amount of gore.
Definitely worth a watch and this was 1 of those movies that I only paid £1 for the blu ray. Can't argue with that.
ClareR (5879 KP) rated The Illumination Of Ursula Flight in Books
Jul 30, 2018
A bit of feminism in post Puritan England!
Ursula Flight's story takes us from her birth during the time of Charles II, all through her early years and her life as a married woman. She comes from an affluent family, is taught to read, write, speak classic and modern languages, and she loves the idea of writing plays and the theatre (although she has never been). She marries at a very young age, just after her beloved father dies, and her husband couldn't be more different to her own father and family. He is dull, Puritanical (in the true sense of the word), ugly and controlling. Ursula wants more from her life than sewing and bible study (which she shouldn't be reading either - it's not the done thing for a woman to be able to read). And she sets about getting it after she arrives in London.
I loved this book: a bit of feminism set in the latter half of the 1600s. Ursula grabs hold of life and makes it what she wants (partly it's thrust upon her, but she makes the best of it). It's very funny in places and also incredibly moving. A really well-rounded, excellent book, frankly!
I loved this book: a bit of feminism set in the latter half of the 1600s. Ursula grabs hold of life and makes it what she wants (partly it's thrust upon her, but she makes the best of it). It's very funny in places and also incredibly moving. A really well-rounded, excellent book, frankly!
The Marinated Meeple (1853 KP) rated BlacKkKlansman (2018) in Movies
Aug 29, 2018
The Acting (2 more)
The Dialog
Cinematic Craftsmanship
The wrong people will see this.... but it's still very good.
First let me say that racism hurts my very soul, it depresses me, and affects me deeply. I know it is alive and well in this country. I really wish it wasn't. I say the wrong people will see this because the people that should see this, don't watch movies like this. Racist people don't watch spike lee joints. Every scene in this movie is beautifully shot, and each ethnic slur packs a punch. I felt slapped around at the end of the film. I felt sick to my stomach and the very tail end was a roundhouse. Normally I don't talk politics, but in this case it's bigger than "politics" and falls under human decency, and we currently are lacking in that. I hope that we can get back on track soon and movies like this will be more comedy than reality.
The acting was superb, and really engaging. there are some big names in this cast. The dialog was so well written despite the horrific things said. The cinematography was excellent, and beautiful. Spike Lee was at the top of his game with this one.
The acting was superb, and really engaging. there are some big names in this cast. The dialog was so well written despite the horrific things said. The cinematography was excellent, and beautiful. Spike Lee was at the top of his game with this one.
Full of the usual de Bernieres charm.
A really charming, quirky story. A young boy goes to live on a farming station in the Outback (Australia) after his mother has a nervous breakdown in response to the death of his father. It's clear he misses both of his parents, but he loves his grandpa (who, incidentally does an excellent job of caring for him) and loves the Outback. After a cyclone hits, he finds a little red puppy in the destruction and names him Blue.
I loved the descriptions of the Outback, particularly the cyclone and it's aftermath. Hopefully this is the closest I'll ever get to such a phenomenon! I'm very much a dog person, so anything involving a dog is on to a winner for me (but I've never been a fan of the anthropomorphised type of story since reaching adulthood - although Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Watership Down etc were firm favourites as a child).
I've read Red Dog, which is the follow up to this novel, so there was a bittersweet element to this book, as I know how the next one ends.
Top marks for the story and just to de Bernieres' style. I'm a fan.
I loved the descriptions of the Outback, particularly the cyclone and it's aftermath. Hopefully this is the closest I'll ever get to such a phenomenon! I'm very much a dog person, so anything involving a dog is on to a winner for me (but I've never been a fan of the anthropomorphised type of story since reaching adulthood - although Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Watership Down etc were firm favourites as a child).
I've read Red Dog, which is the follow up to this novel, so there was a bittersweet element to this book, as I know how the next one ends.
Top marks for the story and just to de Bernieres' style. I'm a fan.
Awix (3310 KP) rated King of Thieves (2018) in Movies
Oct 10, 2018
Michael Caine leads a crack team of crock crooks in robbing a safe deposit vault in London in this loosely-based-on-reality black comedy thriller. Quite apart from Caine, the film has an excellent cast (Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtenay, Ray Winstone, Paul Whitehouse, and Michael Gambon, plus Charlie Cox for the streaming generation), which will probably be what draws most people to it.
Initially this looks like it's going to be a slightly cosy comedy thriller about blokes who are too old be robbers any more, but - very pleasantly - it quite soon acquires some real heft and gravity to it, with the various members of the gang falling out and attempting to double-cross each other - most of these actors are well-known as comedians, but there is some proper meaty drama here and scenes with a definite tension to them.
Not quite as much Caine as you might hope for, but he is still the guv'nor as far as British film acting is concerned, and this is his best role for a while. Everyone else is good too. The film never quite gets the shifts between comedy and gangster thriller right, and the low budget keeps it from being very cinematic, but it's an engaging movie driven by great performances.
Initially this looks like it's going to be a slightly cosy comedy thriller about blokes who are too old be robbers any more, but - very pleasantly - it quite soon acquires some real heft and gravity to it, with the various members of the gang falling out and attempting to double-cross each other - most of these actors are well-known as comedians, but there is some proper meaty drama here and scenes with a definite tension to them.
Not quite as much Caine as you might hope for, but he is still the guv'nor as far as British film acting is concerned, and this is his best role for a while. Everyone else is good too. The film never quite gets the shifts between comedy and gangster thriller right, and the low budget keeps it from being very cinematic, but it's an engaging movie driven by great performances.
Merissa (12911 KP) rated Twisted Sisters (The Orion Circle #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
The second book in the Orion Circle series is just as action-packed as the first book. I will admit to the beginning taking me by surprise but I loved how it was written, with the characters of Kacie and Logan being immediately recognisable and flowing to the forefront of my mind, even though it is a while since I have read the first book in this series, Tortured Souls.
This story is layered with intricate twists and turns as Logan and Kacie have to deal with a number of different things, and the opponents they're facing are very good at finding out their secret fears. Although the timing of this book is over a short period, it never seemed rushed or hurried. Each scene was well-written and time given to each action and character, so that you understand just what is going on. With excellent teamwork by the Orion Circle as a whole (although the Pastor did annoy me at the end!), action, adventure and a touch of romance, this is one story that I didn't want to end.
Absolutely recommended and I can't wait for more!
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This story is layered with intricate twists and turns as Logan and Kacie have to deal with a number of different things, and the opponents they're facing are very good at finding out their secret fears. Although the timing of this book is over a short period, it never seemed rushed or hurried. Each scene was well-written and time given to each action and character, so that you understand just what is going on. With excellent teamwork by the Orion Circle as a whole (although the Pastor did annoy me at the end!), action, adventure and a touch of romance, this is one story that I didn't want to end.
Absolutely recommended and I can't wait for more!
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) in Movies
Jul 16, 2019
An absolute joy from start to finish
Into the Spider-Verse is nothing short of excellent.
The animation style is beautiful, quirky, packed with colour, and doesn't let go of your attention until the credits have finished rolling.
The assembled voice cast are all great, and compliment the emotion and humour felt throughout.
The humour in question is flawless...every joke and humourous beat land perfectly. It's a funny movie, as well as carrying along a powerful message about growing up, and realising that you're not alone.
The storyline is pretty crazy, and as it deals with multiple dimensions, there's a chance to pull in some fun characters from the comic world, including Peni Parker, Spider-Ham, Spider Gwen, and Spider-Man Noir (hilarious btw). It's definitely out there, but it works very well.
Miles' universe, where the movie takes place, is a setting that allows the writers to take free reign, tinkering with classic villains we know and love, making this a Spider-Man movie worth seeing for fans old and new.
Possibly the best Spider-Man movie yet (maybe in a par with Far From Home).
End note - the post credit scene is just the best thing ever.
The animation style is beautiful, quirky, packed with colour, and doesn't let go of your attention until the credits have finished rolling.
The assembled voice cast are all great, and compliment the emotion and humour felt throughout.
The humour in question is flawless...every joke and humourous beat land perfectly. It's a funny movie, as well as carrying along a powerful message about growing up, and realising that you're not alone.
The storyline is pretty crazy, and as it deals with multiple dimensions, there's a chance to pull in some fun characters from the comic world, including Peni Parker, Spider-Ham, Spider Gwen, and Spider-Man Noir (hilarious btw). It's definitely out there, but it works very well.
Miles' universe, where the movie takes place, is a setting that allows the writers to take free reign, tinkering with classic villains we know and love, making this a Spider-Man movie worth seeing for fans old and new.
Possibly the best Spider-Man movie yet (maybe in a par with Far From Home).
End note - the post credit scene is just the best thing ever.
Mothergamer (1568 KP) rated NOS4A2 in TV
Jul 22, 2019
I have read the book and the book itself is pretty good and has some great moments in it. I was curious about the TV show so I checked it out. It's not bad, but it's not as strong as it could be. Zachary Quinto does an excellent job as the villain of the story Charlie Manx and Ashleigh Cummings does a great job as Vic Mcqueen. The rest of the cast is good as well. However, the TV show concept is very clunky in places and in some spots is kind of boring. There were opportunities for it to be scary because Charlie is supposed to be scary, but it falls flat and sometimes feels tedious and causes the story to drag out. The age makeup they did for Zachary Quinto is fantastic and the makeup for the children is well done as well. Honestly, the writing for the show is pretty weak which is unfortunate for a story that is about a macabre and surreal story. This is a case where the book is definitely better.