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Making Every English Lesson Count: Six Principles for Supporting Reading and Writing
Book
Gives English lessons the award-winning Making Every Lesson Count treatment. Written in the...
Advances in Discrete Differential Geometry: 2016
Book
This is one of the first books on a newly emerging field of discrete differential geometry and an...
Digital Giza: Visualizing the Pyramids
Book
The Pyramids on the Giza Plateau represent perhaps the most famous archaeological site in the world,...
iOS Wow Factor: UX Design Techniques for iPhone and iPad
Book
With the millions of apps in the crowded Apple iTunes App Store, it can be difficult to get your...
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Good Neighbors in Books
May 13, 2021
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan is a difficult book to review in 200 words. There is so much I want to mention but need to limit myself. My review can be summed up in three words "read this book."
Maple Street is a perfect place to raise a family. The neighbors interact with each other as an extended family. They gather for barbeques, help each other, and look out for each other's children.
The new family is different. Arlo, a has-been rock star. Gertie, a beautiful ex-pageant queen. Julie, an intelligent preteen who curses like a sailor. Larry, an autistic boy who, along with his family, does not fit with the Maple Street image. The queen bee, Rhea, takes the family under her wing, and everyone welcomes them into the fold.
After a booze-fueled night, Rhea overshares to Gertie, which starts the Maple Street implosion.
Good Neighbors is a twisted story that takes its time to grow like the heat in summer. I recently read an ok writer cannot mess up a great plot while a great author will take a great plot and make it even better. Langan's writing and the great plot make for an excellent, well-written book.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com.
Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan is a difficult book to review in 200 words. There is so much I want to mention but need to limit myself. My review can be summed up in three words "read this book."
Maple Street is a perfect place to raise a family. The neighbors interact with each other as an extended family. They gather for barbeques, help each other, and look out for each other's children.
The new family is different. Arlo, a has-been rock star. Gertie, a beautiful ex-pageant queen. Julie, an intelligent preteen who curses like a sailor. Larry, an autistic boy who, along with his family, does not fit with the Maple Street image. The queen bee, Rhea, takes the family under her wing, and everyone welcomes them into the fold.
After a booze-fueled night, Rhea overshares to Gertie, which starts the Maple Street implosion.
Good Neighbors is a twisted story that takes its time to grow like the heat in summer. I recently read an ok writer cannot mess up a great plot while a great author will take a great plot and make it even better. Langan's writing and the great plot make for an excellent, well-written book.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com.
Chloe (778 KP) rated Enola Holmes (2020) in Movies
Nov 7, 2020 (Updated Nov 7, 2020)
Millie Bobby Brown (1 more)
Henry Cavill
Lacking mystery (5 more)
Lacking plot
Too much done badly
Disappointing
Boring
4th Wall
Disappointing
Contains spoilers, click to show
This is the first time that I have felt disappointed about a Holmes universe remake. Usually they are done well out of respect for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The plot could have been so much better, it seemed to get lost within itself.
There were some good ideas and potentials for much better plot e.g. the suffragettes rising and the bombing plot but this was only touched on. The only reason we kept watching was to see if the mother was going to be involved with a bombing plot. The feminist aspect was then reversed when she went chasing after a boy, although with a political meaning this was still heavily focused on their relationship.
All the clues were spoon fed to you and had no real significance. There was no audience immersion like other Holmes movies. I don't know if that was what the 4th wall stuff was supposed to do, this did not work for me and soon became boring as it added very little.
This could have been half an hour shorter and achieved the same story.
Considering this seemed to be aimed at teens, some of the fight scenes were brutal especially where Enola is nearly drowned!
The only redeeming features are the cast list. Bobby Brown was endearing and is an excellent young actress. With more Henry Cavill in it this may have improved the whole story.
There were some good ideas and potentials for much better plot e.g. the suffragettes rising and the bombing plot but this was only touched on. The only reason we kept watching was to see if the mother was going to be involved with a bombing plot. The feminist aspect was then reversed when she went chasing after a boy, although with a political meaning this was still heavily focused on their relationship.
All the clues were spoon fed to you and had no real significance. There was no audience immersion like other Holmes movies. I don't know if that was what the 4th wall stuff was supposed to do, this did not work for me and soon became boring as it added very little.
This could have been half an hour shorter and achieved the same story.
Considering this seemed to be aimed at teens, some of the fight scenes were brutal especially where Enola is nearly drowned!
The only redeeming features are the cast list. Bobby Brown was endearing and is an excellent young actress. With more Henry Cavill in it this may have improved the whole story.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Twisted Metal in Video Games
Mar 19, 2021
Let The Cars Hit The Floor Reboot
Twisted Metal- not to be confused with "Twisted Metal" is a ps3 vehicle combat. This game serves as a reboot to the franchise.
Gameplay: The game focuses heavily on multiplayer combat, including various online game modes with up to 4 player split-screen and 16-players online (the online gameplay was discontinued in early 2019). For example, the Nuke Mode is a new online game mode where the players choose a faction to play against an opposing faction. In this mode, each faction has a giant metal statue that is being held in the air by a helicopter, which the opposing team must try to destroy. In order to destroy these statues, the player must abduct the enemy team's leader, then sacrifice the leader to a missile launcher that will, in turn, launch a nuclear missile.
The person who sacrifices the leader and launches the missile has to control it to hit the opposing teams statue in the air. In order to win the opposing team has to repeat the process 3 times before the statue is destroyed for a team to win. There are four factions: the Clowns, the Dolls, the Skulls, and the Holy Men. The former having been announced as being inspired by Sweet Tooth and Dollface. The latter are led by Mr. Grimm and the Preacher respectively.
unfortunately this was the last game released in the main series. No new game has been released since 2012. I need my "Twisted Metal".
A great game and a excellent franchise.
Gameplay: The game focuses heavily on multiplayer combat, including various online game modes with up to 4 player split-screen and 16-players online (the online gameplay was discontinued in early 2019). For example, the Nuke Mode is a new online game mode where the players choose a faction to play against an opposing faction. In this mode, each faction has a giant metal statue that is being held in the air by a helicopter, which the opposing team must try to destroy. In order to destroy these statues, the player must abduct the enemy team's leader, then sacrifice the leader to a missile launcher that will, in turn, launch a nuclear missile.
The person who sacrifices the leader and launches the missile has to control it to hit the opposing teams statue in the air. In order to win the opposing team has to repeat the process 3 times before the statue is destroyed for a team to win. There are four factions: the Clowns, the Dolls, the Skulls, and the Holy Men. The former having been announced as being inspired by Sweet Tooth and Dollface. The latter are led by Mr. Grimm and the Preacher respectively.
unfortunately this was the last game released in the main series. No new game has been released since 2012. I need my "Twisted Metal".
A great game and a excellent franchise.
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Onitama: Sensei's Path in Tabletop Games
Feb 10, 2021
In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to one’s collection.
This breakdown is for the excellent two-player game Onitama, and the expansion is named Sensei’s Path, from Arcane Wonders.
This expansion includes 16 Move cards to be added to the base Onitama game box. That’s really all it is.
I do not have much to say on this expansion as it merely adds more of the same to a game that may or may not feel stagnant and samey after a bunch of plays. I personally have not played Onitama near enough to be tired of the base game Move cards, but having more options is always a good thing. Especially when you only have five Move cards each game and base Onitama ships with 16 Move cards as well. Sensei’s Path doubles your Move card arsenal and adds slightly new strategy options to the game.
Is it necessary to own? No. If you like base Onitama the way it is, then there is no need to expand it at all. If the base game Move cards are getting predictable and you play Onitama a whole lot, then pick this up and explore your new options.
Official recommendation: If you suffer from completionist syndrome, as I used to, then get this. If you are looking for more out of Onitama, then get this. If you are looking to add something a little different to the game, check out the Way of the Wind expansion instead.
This breakdown is for the excellent two-player game Onitama, and the expansion is named Sensei’s Path, from Arcane Wonders.
This expansion includes 16 Move cards to be added to the base Onitama game box. That’s really all it is.
I do not have much to say on this expansion as it merely adds more of the same to a game that may or may not feel stagnant and samey after a bunch of plays. I personally have not played Onitama near enough to be tired of the base game Move cards, but having more options is always a good thing. Especially when you only have five Move cards each game and base Onitama ships with 16 Move cards as well. Sensei’s Path doubles your Move card arsenal and adds slightly new strategy options to the game.
Is it necessary to own? No. If you like base Onitama the way it is, then there is no need to expand it at all. If the base game Move cards are getting predictable and you play Onitama a whole lot, then pick this up and explore your new options.
Official recommendation: If you suffer from completionist syndrome, as I used to, then get this. If you are looking for more out of Onitama, then get this. If you are looking to add something a little different to the game, check out the Way of the Wind expansion instead.
Lindsay (1727 KP) rated I Love You Daddy in Books
Jun 13, 2021
I found a book about a father and daughter relationship. It is a good one; It shows how father and daughter relationships change as the daughter grows up. It shows the father being patient and encouraging, and supporting the daughter.
This book hit a tender spot with me. It reminds me of what I missed from my dad growing up. However, I have a better relationship now than I did growing up. I missed that from my dad. This book shows those parenting tips; I do see the personal story behind this book. The dad and the daughter can transpire swapped out for your child or the child's father. There are some excellent tips in the back of the book for the father.
The book does teach children some life lessons and what the relationship is between father and daughter. Remember parents that daughters will look at their dad or father as their first male relationship as they grow up and look for that in a male partner when they grow up.
So dad out there, be careful what you teach your daughter as they grow up. If you are a good model or a wrong model, your daughter will see that and look for those in a partner later on in life. This book focuses on father and daughter and their relationship.
Great for fathers day and gifting it to dad and fathers to be. It is a resource for parents and fathers. It is also suitable for children. It's a book for daughter and father and building a relationship together.
This book hit a tender spot with me. It reminds me of what I missed from my dad growing up. However, I have a better relationship now than I did growing up. I missed that from my dad. This book shows those parenting tips; I do see the personal story behind this book. The dad and the daughter can transpire swapped out for your child or the child's father. There are some excellent tips in the back of the book for the father.
The book does teach children some life lessons and what the relationship is between father and daughter. Remember parents that daughters will look at their dad or father as their first male relationship as they grow up and look for that in a male partner when they grow up.
So dad out there, be careful what you teach your daughter as they grow up. If you are a good model or a wrong model, your daughter will see that and look for those in a partner later on in life. This book focuses on father and daughter and their relationship.
Great for fathers day and gifting it to dad and fathers to be. It is a resource for parents and fathers. It is also suitable for children. It's a book for daughter and father and building a relationship together.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Last Thing He Told Me in Books
Jun 17, 2021
A riveting mystery about a missing man
Hannah and Owen have not been married very long before he disappears without a trace. He leaves behind a brief note stating, "Protect her." Hannah knows the note refers to Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey lost her mother as a child, and Owen is all she has. Meanwhile, the company Owen works for is caught up in a swirl of scandal, while the FBI and U.S. Marshals show up on Hannah's doorstep. The more Hannah investigates, the more she realizes that Owen must have been hiding secrets about his past. And those secrets may be putting her and Bailey in grave danger.
"Owen's note is short. One line, its own puzzle. Protect her."
This was an excellent page-turner: a wonderful character-driven mystery that sucked me in from the very beginning. It keeps you wondering and guessing from the start. Why did Owen disappear? Is he a good guy or a bad one? We discover things as Hannah does, and the book is so engrossing. She and Bailey unravel Owen's past, becoming detectives themselves, and we get snippets from the past they do.
It's fascinating trying to piece everything together. I was frantically flipping the pages, and I read this one in only a couple of settings. The language is flowery but absorbing. In addition to the key disappearance, Dave reflects on Hannah's relationships with both Owen and Bailey. If you want to get lost in a good mystery for a couple of days (or hours), I highly recommend this one.
"Owen's note is short. One line, its own puzzle. Protect her."
This was an excellent page-turner: a wonderful character-driven mystery that sucked me in from the very beginning. It keeps you wondering and guessing from the start. Why did Owen disappear? Is he a good guy or a bad one? We discover things as Hannah does, and the book is so engrossing. She and Bailey unravel Owen's past, becoming detectives themselves, and we get snippets from the past they do.
It's fascinating trying to piece everything together. I was frantically flipping the pages, and I read this one in only a couple of settings. The language is flowery but absorbing. In addition to the key disappearance, Dave reflects on Hannah's relationships with both Owen and Bailey. If you want to get lost in a good mystery for a couple of days (or hours), I highly recommend this one.