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The Good Earth (House of Earth, #1)
The Good Earth (House of Earth, #1)
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"“For some reason I became enraptured by this book as a teenager. It smelled really amazing and dusty. I think our copy was from the 1940s and the pages would crumble as I turned them. I’ve never been so careful while reading a book, and I think that really endeared it to me. I’m very calmed by methodical descriptions of farming. The images of opium addiction amongst the wealthy Chinese aristocracy, who ‘smoked the flesh off their bones’, always come back to my mind; it’s so decadent and horrifying.”"

Source
  
Mickey on the Move: Farming
Mickey on the Move: Farming
Michelle Wagner | 2022 | Children
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mickey on the Move Farming is about a little boy who is severely deaf in both his ears. This adventure is the second that comes after Mickey on the Move. This book discusses cochlear implants and what might happen if they get wet. If you want to learn about Mickey and his cochlear implants, read Mickey on the Move.

As Mickey on the Move: Farming continues to talk about the cochlear implant and what it is like for Mickey to enjoy the great outdoors. Mickey enjoys raising his chickens, gardening, and helping with his dad's vineyard. However, he enjoys the outdoors and other fun kids' things like swimming. There is one worry while Mickey enjoys the outdoors and some summer fun and stands hampered by weather with his current cochlear implant.

 In this book Mickey on the Move Farming, we are introduced to a new accessory to the aqua cochlear implant (which I believe is an addition or add-on). We see Mickey with these wants he been when he offers this. What summer fun or outdoor fun and nature is he going to enjoy?

What are cochlear implants? - A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that electrically stimulates the cochlear nerve (nerve for hearing). The implant has external and internal parts. The outer part sits behind the ear. It picks up sounds with a microphone. It then processes the sound and transmits it to the internal part of the implant.

What will he do with his newfound freedom with some water-safe cochlear implant? What adventures will he do and go on? This picture book shows Mickey enjoying some of the great outdoors with his new, improved aqua cochlear implant? The picture book is done well. It is an excellent book for children to learn about others that may be different. Also, remember that children that are deaf or have severe hearing loss want to be like any other child or children.
  
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Mothergamer (1511 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Spiritfarer in Video Games

Sep 13, 2020  
Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer
2020 | Role-Playing, Simulation
This is a beautiful and thoughtful game that is described as a cozy time management game about death. You play as Stella the new spiritfarer who is taking over for Charon. Stella has to fulfill the final wishes of the spirits she meets before they make their final journey to the Everdoor, the gateway to the afterlife. There is exploration in the game as well as crafting and farming. The way the game truly shines is how thoughtful and gentle it is talking about death while telling a lovely story with some wonderful characters. The game is available to play on all platforms. You can read the Mothergamer review here: http://lorrie28-mothergamer.blogspot.com/2020/09/spiritfarer-beautiful-journey.html
  
WP
When Patty Went Away
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
(This review can be found on my blog <a href=http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>.


The blurb intrigued me a lot. This was a book I really wanted to read. However, I was a bit disappointed when I finally got a chance to read it.

The title definitely fits the book for at least the second half. (I'll go into more detail about that later). The title reminds me of someone who checks out of reality though.

I like the serene look of the cover. I don't really know how it ties into the book though. The cover made me think more of a holiday romance type.

I can't really fault the world building. I thought it was done rather well and very believable. From a historic viewpoint, the facts and events were all correct. It was interesting that Ms. Burt chose to narrate through the point of view of a man. She did a great job of making it work though. There was one or two times I felt a bit confused, but I put it down to just a personal thing like maybe I wasn't paying as much attention as I should've been. The only thing that bothered me was when the narrator of the book would suddenly start talking about a memory. It was too sudden, and I didn't know if it was happening in present time or if it was indeed a memory. I felt as if a memory could've had a better introduction so the audience was aware that it happened at another time in the book.

I felt that the pacing was too slow for about the first two-thirds of the book. It seemed to drone on and on about a topic I wasn't that interested in (farming). I realize that Ms. Burt was setting up a back story, but there was too much focus on the whole farming aspect of the book and not about Patty disappearing as the title and the blurb would suggest. Once the main character goes to Montreal, the pacing picks up decently, and it becomes a book that I had a hard time putting down.

The whole story line was a bit weak, I felt. First off, it reads like two books. The first two-thirds of the book is about a family who has lost their farm due to a bad storm. The reader then takes a journey into finding out how this family struggles to survive without their means of income. I found it a bit tedious because I don't really care about farming, and this book used a lot of farming terminology. The last third of the book is when Jack goes to Montreal to look for Patty. This explores the seedy side of Montreal (which could be just about anywhere) and prostitution involving runaways. I thought the story line was strong during this bit.

I felt that Jack was a well developed character and very likable. It was easy to feel what he was feeling and to feel sorry for him with all that he was going through. Molly is a strict God fearing woman. However, I felt that there was too much focus on her being overweight which was uncalled for. I didn't really like how Christianity was portrayed when it came to Molly. I'm sure there are people in the world like her, but there were times when I just felt a bit offended. I would've loved to know more about Patty and Edie as individuals. I just felt like they didn't get enough time throughout the book, Patty especially. I found it a bit hard to care about Edie and Patty especially as I felt like I didn't have enough information on them to care.

The dialogue fit this book very well. However, I think a lot of people will struggle with the farming terminology and have a hard time relating to the whole farm scenario. As I've said before, this book reads like two books in one. To further prove my point, even the dialogue is different. During the whole family losing their farm scenario, the language isn't vulgar nor is there any swearing (that I could remember). Once Jack gets to Montreal, the language turns a bit vulgar, and there is some swearing.

Overall, When Patty Went Away is just an alright read. The plot could've been better and the merging of ideas could've been smoother. Saying that, the main character is very likable and the world building was good.

I'd recommend this book to those 18+ who know something about farming or those who want a book that will last awhile.

<b>I'd give When Patty Went Away by Jeannie Burt a 2.5 out of 5.</b>


(I received a free paperback of this book from LibraryThing for free in exchange for a fair and honest review).
  
Farming (2018)
Farming (2018)
2018 | Drama
No Thank You
A young black teenager struggling with his identity joins up with a gang of skinheads. Despite what seems like an intriguing premise, Farming has to be one of the all-time worst movies I’ve ever seen. Since I’m on a streak of reviewing bad movies, might as well keep the train rolling.

Acting: 5
I couldn’t tell up from down, good from bad from these characters and, while that is attributed partly to writing, I think it falls on the poor acting performances as well. With the exception of a couple people here and there, almost everyone dropped the ball in this movie. It was almost as if they were making something they wanted no part of and, as a result, never really gave themselves over to it.

Beginning: 6
The beginning was good enough to get my attention. However, definitely didn’t love it. Like the majority of the movie, it was missing something for me. Little did I know, I was in for even more disappointment…

Characters: 1

Cinematography/Visuals: 0

Conflict: 3

Entertainment Value: 4
After twenty-five minutes of watching, I knew the movie was pretty much headed nowhere. It’s hard to enjoy a movie when you spend the majority of it breaking down and destroying the main character until it’s no longer interesting. It was like watching someone pick at a dead ant. The more I watched, the more I lacked interest.

Memorability: 0
Never have a single solitary desire to see this movie again. The message sucks. The movie sucks. “Forgettable” doesn’t begin to describe it.

Pace: 6
The pace is solid in spots but the story is so painful it negates that things are moving quickly. I wanted this to end so many times and it wouldn’t. It frustrated me to no end.

Plot: 1
An interesting premise spoiled by terrible execution. The movie should have centered on empowerment, yet it lingered too long on the tearing down portion. Eventually that becomes a bane to your audience and hard to stomach.

Resolution: 10

Overall: 36
I did sympathize with the main character’s culture shock in Farming having to go from African culture to British culture. I can imagine it would almost be enough to drive someone crazy and it definitely did a number on him. I would have liked to see his story told in a better fashion with a stronger glimmer of hope. That’s what we watch movies for, right? To hope for something better than the same old mundane shit we deal with on a regular. Farming dropped the ball and I’m damn sad about it.
  
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Mothergamer (1511 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin in Video Games

Jan 18, 2021  
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
2019 | Action/Adventure, Simulation
Playing as the harvest goddess Sakuna is interesting because she starts out as a rather spoiled person, but when she makes a terrible mistake and gets banished to the realm of mortals with a group of humans to correct it, you start to see her change into a better person. There are two aspects to the game: 2D side scrolling dungeon levels and then a farming sim where you have to grow and harvest rice. Both are a lot of fun. The story is charming and you get to see how Sakuna starts to change because of her interactions with the mortals and working together with them. The art style is very cute and colorful. It's a fun whimsical game. You can read the full review here: http://mg28-mothergamer.blogspot.com/2021/01/sakuna-of-rice-and-ruin-charming.html
  
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Otakugal (92 KP) rated the PC version of Slime Rancher in Video Games

Mar 1, 2022 (Updated Mar 1, 2022)  
Slime Rancher
Slime Rancher
2017 | Casual, Simulation, Strategy
Relaxing and fun (0 more)
Slime Rancher is a very relaxing game and is quite fun. It’s not hard to play and child friendly. I find it’s fun to play with my four year old. It can be a bit challenging in different puzzle like mechanics and figuring out what slimes you need to get to do different things. However, it is fun just running around collecting slimes building your slime ranch and farming. It can be super relaxing as there aren’t any intense moments where you are engaged in battle and you are able to set it down and walk away for long periods of time and come back and jump right back into it. I will say it does get a little boring after a long period of time but it does offer a nice reprieve when u aren’t sure what to play and just want a fun relaxing game.
  
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Mothergamer (1511 KP) rated the PC version of Stardew Valley in Video Games

Apr 3, 2019  
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley
2016 | Simulation
I know it's odd that I had never played Stardew Valley before, but there are so many games that it takes me time to catch up or choose a game I want to play. A friend suggested I check out Stardew Valley because they knew that I love the Harvest Moon games. I was intrigued so I got Stardew Valley and I started playing. When you start the game you can play as a guy or a girl who has inherited a plot of land with a house from their grandfather in a place called Pelican Town. It looks like a cute 8 bit game and you can pick out the color and style you want your clothes. You then get to choose from five farms the style of farm you want to play the game depending on your style ranging from a beginner farm to a farm with extra foraging. The farm is overrun with boulders, weeds, and tree stumps. You need to clear these out in order to restart the farm and plant crops.



Starting on the beginner farm with a few crops.


When you are working on your farm you have tools that you can use in your inventory. The controls for the farming aspect of the game are fairly easy to navigate. You can also talk to the villagers and there are twelve possible people that your character can date and then marry. You can give a gift that they like or love, but you can only give them one gift a day and two gifts a week. You have to wait until the week resets usually on Sunday in order to give them gifts again. You also can talk to the other NPC villagers and sometimes they will have requests for items such as crops from your farm or items you can find foraging.



All the tools you need for farming in your inventory.

Farming isn't the only thing you can do. It's clear how Harvest Moon inspired Stardew Valley, but Stardew is very much its own game in the best way. You can run around to the forest or to the beach to forage for things such as berries or seashells which you can sell. You can also explore the mines to get stone, ore, and minerals you need for crafting. Be careful though, because there are monsters in the mines and you do have to fight them. This is where the nearby Adventurer's Guild comes in handy because you can buy weapons and accessories to help you battle the monsters. The monsters drop items as well that can be sold and used for various items in your crafting.

You can go fishing too and fishing is a bit of a challenge. There is definitely a learning curve to fishing and it took me a bit figure out the controls. Fishing is not really my favorite thing in the game because of that steep learning curve, but once I got the hang of it it wasn't so bad. That's the beauty of Stardew Valley. There is no pressure and no time limit to do everything all at once. You can take your time with it, relax, and have fun.



Trying out fishing in Stardew Valley.


Once you get the hang of everything, you get a rhythm down for all the things you want to do. You can grow different crops in the seasons and when Winter comes you can forage and explore the mines. The mines save your progress every five floors which is pretty nice. You can also get to know your neighbors and you do get some heart events with your love interest at varying points in the game.



Getting the hang of this farming thing.


You don't have to just plant crops, you can also raise animals such as cows, chickens, goats, and sheep. This gives you more things you can sell like milk, eggs, and wool. There are also festivals you can go to. The calendar for the seasons are twenty eight days with two festival days. The festivals are a lot of fun ranging from a dance festival to a spooky Halloween festival. These are a great way to break up the farming stuff and it gives you a chance to talk to all your neighbors while enjoying yourself. I love Stardew Valley. It is a wonderful game that is fun to play and quite relaxing as well. I can't wait to check out the other farms in other playthroughs. Stardew Valley is a great game that offers a lot of fun, with beautiful music, and a love of gaming. If you love games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing you will enjoy it. Now, I have more exploring in the mines to do. See you at the next adventure!
  
Other Names for Love
Other Names for Love
Taymour Soomro | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This rather enjoyable novel is harder to describe than it is to read, so I’m not going to describe it!
I think at the heart of this is the need of the main character to be accepted for who he is: his personality, his sexuality, his life choices. He doesn’t want to carry on with the family businesses of either farming or politics, and he likes his life in London. This is only reinforced for him when he needs to go back to see his ailing father.

The language is evocative of the places and times, especially when Fahad is living in the countryside. It’s a place that’s barely contained - the jungle wants to reclaim the farmland, much like Fahad wanting to claim his own life.

You can feel how repressed Fahad is by cultural and familial expectations, as much as the oppressive heat seems to smother him as well.

I enjoyed this melancholy read, and look forward to seeing what the author writes next
  
Farm Together
Farm Together
Casual
It's a nice easy, casual game. Good for relaxing. (0 more)
Sometimes the waiting on crops can be annoying. (0 more)
Farm Together is a casual farming game on the PS4 *also available on other platforms*

You can customize your farmer, you unlock different hair styles, outfits etc as you level up. You can even customize your pet which follows you around your farm. You can have a dog, cat or parrot.

You are given quests, for example to plant so many of a certain crop, and for completing the quest you earn ribbons and/or experience.

You can have animals on your farm which, when ready to harvest, give you things like eggs (chickens, ducks, turkeys etc), milk (cows, goats), wool (sheep), or truffles (pigs) and also different types of fish available.


It's a nice relaxing game with cute animals and soothing music. The only slight con would be the wait on some of the crops/animals/trees etc but they do earn you alot of money and it is very easy to gain alot of money and experience in a short amount of game play.