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Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated The Orchard of Hope (The Orphanage of Miracles, #2) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
The quest to save the world from the confusion of lies created by the sorcerer continues in [The Orchard of Hope] by [Amy Neftzger]. The tale of Kelsey, Nicholas and Maggie continues as they work together using their unique talents to save hope from being devoured. They learn of new strengths and the power of friendship as they learn how to use their unique skills throughout the quest. With the help of Roland, Megan, Newton and Moss they make another journey through the kingdom finding challenges and surprises along the way.
[Amy Neftzger] has created a world of exploration in which the characters experience the same pitfalls that all young people experience, just with a magical twist. The idea that hope belongs to everyone is an excellent follow up to nurturing miracles in the first book of the series, [The Orphanage of Miracles]. To really get a sense of the journey and characters the books should be read in order. [The Orchard of Hope] comes out in June 2014 so what are you waiting for? These books should be on everyones reading list.
[Amy Neftzger] has created a world of exploration in which the characters experience the same pitfalls that all young people experience, just with a magical twist. The idea that hope belongs to everyone is an excellent follow up to nurturing miracles in the first book of the series, [The Orphanage of Miracles]. To really get a sense of the journey and characters the books should be read in order. [The Orchard of Hope] comes out in June 2014 so what are you waiting for? These books should be on everyones reading list.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Hidden in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This book was a giveaway win with an interesting story... Amazon shipped the wrong book initially so I ended up with 2 books with the same title. Lola Fortunately the real book was worth the wait (even though the correction to the shipping issue didn't take too long.)
This book follows 2 separate families in 2 different towns both named Springfield. Tish & Jeff work for the same company but live in different Springfields. They have a chance encounter at a company retreat where their spouses are also with them. This leads to a blossoming friendship & eventually deeper feelings. They both have difficult marriages. Then 1 day tragedy strikes as Jeff is walking home. This tragedy leads to all kinds of soul searching & secrets coming to light.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of 1 of the characters involved in the real life drama. This puts a nice spin on the narrative as holes are gradually filled in through each characters stories. The end was not entirely unexpected, but it was fitting. It leaves the reading questioning whether or not you really know what's going on in your life.
This book follows 2 separate families in 2 different towns both named Springfield. Tish & Jeff work for the same company but live in different Springfields. They have a chance encounter at a company retreat where their spouses are also with them. This leads to a blossoming friendship & eventually deeper feelings. They both have difficult marriages. Then 1 day tragedy strikes as Jeff is walking home. This tragedy leads to all kinds of soul searching & secrets coming to light.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of 1 of the characters involved in the real life drama. This puts a nice spin on the narrative as holes are gradually filled in through each characters stories. The end was not entirely unexpected, but it was fitting. It leaves the reading questioning whether or not you really know what's going on in your life.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Vices in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I won an ARC of this book from Goodreads First Reads giveaways.
The Vices is a story of the Vice family. A clinically depressed clan who also happen to be pathological liars, art forgers, smugglers, & extortionists. The main character in the book, Oliver Vice, is actually dead when the story is written. It's told from the point of view of his "best friend" a fellow college professor. The friend recounts the mysterious story of Oliver's death & then flashes back to occurances throughout their friendship.
In the end, all is not as it is originally presented. The family is a sham. At first the why of this story seems obvious...in the end there were parts I was right about & portions where I was completly off base. Those portions are what were able to let me rate this a 3. Nothing really happens in this book yet at the same time a family is torn to shreds without there really being a result...unless of course you view Oliver's death as suicide, then you could conceviably argue that the death stems from the lies his family maintained.
The Vices is a story of the Vice family. A clinically depressed clan who also happen to be pathological liars, art forgers, smugglers, & extortionists. The main character in the book, Oliver Vice, is actually dead when the story is written. It's told from the point of view of his "best friend" a fellow college professor. The friend recounts the mysterious story of Oliver's death & then flashes back to occurances throughout their friendship.
In the end, all is not as it is originally presented. The family is a sham. At first the why of this story seems obvious...in the end there were parts I was right about & portions where I was completly off base. Those portions are what were able to let me rate this a 3. Nothing really happens in this book yet at the same time a family is torn to shreds without there really being a result...unless of course you view Oliver's death as suicide, then you could conceviably argue that the death stems from the lies his family maintained.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Interestings in Books
May 10, 2018
I received this book as a giveaway on Goodreads.
First, I must say, this was the first book I read by Meg Wolitzer. And while it was long, she is a great writer. The story flowed in a way that didn't make it seem as long as it really was.
The Interestings, is the story of 6 friends who meet at an art summer camp. Ash, Ethan, Jonah, Goodman, and Cathy had all been to camp before, but this was the first year for Julie, who later became Jules. The friendship that they formed during this summer was one not to be broken, even over time. Spirit-In-The-Woods was a 'magical' place for Jules. Having just lost her father, she needed someplace to go that she could be free. The story is told through her eyes.
You see the friends go through several "Interesting" things together, marriage, jobs, kids, death, and something no one thought would/could happen.
All in all, this book was interesting, but not for any specific reason. This could have been any group of friends, that attended any summer camp, anywhere. I was always wanting to know what was going to happen next.
First, I must say, this was the first book I read by Meg Wolitzer. And while it was long, she is a great writer. The story flowed in a way that didn't make it seem as long as it really was.
The Interestings, is the story of 6 friends who meet at an art summer camp. Ash, Ethan, Jonah, Goodman, and Cathy had all been to camp before, but this was the first year for Julie, who later became Jules. The friendship that they formed during this summer was one not to be broken, even over time. Spirit-In-The-Woods was a 'magical' place for Jules. Having just lost her father, she needed someplace to go that she could be free. The story is told through her eyes.
You see the friends go through several "Interesting" things together, marriage, jobs, kids, death, and something no one thought would/could happen.
All in all, this book was interesting, but not for any specific reason. This could have been any group of friends, that attended any summer camp, anywhere. I was always wanting to know what was going to happen next.
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: a Novel in Books
May 25, 2018
Read this book, and have also watched the movie - the movie has NOTHING on this book, so, please do yourself a favor and read the book even if you've seen it on the big screen. Don't get me wrong, the movie is great - if you've already read the book, it's amazing to see it come to life. And, yes, I know Jack Nicholson is pretty, but STILL! Read the book, too!
The book crafts these incredibly vivid images of despair, torture, and sadness that you FEEL as if you are watching a film. It's an incredible story of mental illness, friendship and the camaraderie between these patients and the strength of the human spirit. I laughed out loud several times, and I cried even more.
Set in a mental asylum in the ’60s, McMurphy, our "anti-hero" is sent to stay, because he wants to avoid prison. He is not "crazy" - and it becomes a power struggle between him and "the system" (and in particular, an extremely power hungry nurse). There are so many layers to this story, and I hungrily peeled through them all and am sure if I read this again, I'd find many more layers.
The book crafts these incredibly vivid images of despair, torture, and sadness that you FEEL as if you are watching a film. It's an incredible story of mental illness, friendship and the camaraderie between these patients and the strength of the human spirit. I laughed out loud several times, and I cried even more.
Set in a mental asylum in the ’60s, McMurphy, our "anti-hero" is sent to stay, because he wants to avoid prison. He is not "crazy" - and it becomes a power struggle between him and "the system" (and in particular, an extremely power hungry nurse). There are so many layers to this story, and I hungrily peeled through them all and am sure if I read this again, I'd find many more layers.
JSG87 (8 KP) rated Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (2018) in Movies
Feb 22, 2019
Great animation. (1 more)
Great acting.
Long runtime. (1 more)
Not as funny as the first movie.
Ralph doesn't quite strike gold for the second time.
Thinking of Wreck it Ralph you'll usually think of the first movie and unfortunately for the sequel you'll probably still think of the first one. That's not to say that the second one is bad, it just can't quite leave the shadow of greatness that was the first movie.
The jokes fall a little flatter, and the friendship between the main duo is kinda creepy in a sense, at least when it comes to how much Ralph can't let Vanellope go. It also feels exceptionally long for an animated movie.
Moving to the good... It is at least still funny albeit not as funny as the first. Vanellope is still the main draw even though the film has the name Ralph in it. He just can't compare to Vanellope who steals all the scenes she's in.
If you like Kids movies I'd recommend this anyway and if you like Animated movies it's as good as the majority of them. Just don't go into it thinking it's gonna be as amazing as the first movie.
The jokes fall a little flatter, and the friendship between the main duo is kinda creepy in a sense, at least when it comes to how much Ralph can't let Vanellope go. It also feels exceptionally long for an animated movie.
Moving to the good... It is at least still funny albeit not as funny as the first. Vanellope is still the main draw even though the film has the name Ralph in it. He just can't compare to Vanellope who steals all the scenes she's in.
If you like Kids movies I'd recommend this anyway and if you like Animated movies it's as good as the majority of them. Just don't go into it thinking it's gonna be as amazing as the first movie.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated The Perfection (2019) in Movies
May 27, 2019
Chello there!
I love stumbling on little treats like this. Had heard nothing about, hadn't seen the trailer, read the blurb and thought why not - and I'm glad I did. Story starts with a former chello child prodigy who had given up chances of fame etc to take care of her sick mother. When her mother dies she returns to her old life and meets her schools new prodigy and the quickly form a friendship and decide to go on a trip together. What follows is a cracking story of love, betrayal, abuse, jealousy & revenge done really really well with some good gore and plenty of twists. The only down I had was the very last scene so it left me with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Without giving too much away the scene itself is really good but I thought 'oh my God that's cool, that's even cooler - but wait - why wud they do that?'. But apart from that its amazingly good and totally worth a watch!
When Edwina’s funds get low enough, she starts advertising for a boarder. Fortunately for her, Beryl sees it. The two women, though very different, are boarding school friends, and this new living arrangement suits them both. But Beryl’s presence in Edwina’s small village creates some gossip, which Beryl fuels by hinting that the two women are actually employed by His Majesty. When someone tries to kill Edwina, the two realize there is a secret to uncover. What might it be?
This book perfectly transports us back to 1920 and the English countryside. The repercussions of World War I are still there, and it is a fascinating look at how the war affected the rest of life. The British Edwina and American Beryl are very different, and their differences can be fun, yet they make a good detecting pair, and we feel the depth of their friendship. The plot is strong, keeping us surprised until the end.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-murder-in-english-village.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book perfectly transports us back to 1920 and the English countryside. The repercussions of World War I are still there, and it is a fascinating look at how the war affected the rest of life. The British Edwina and American Beryl are very different, and their differences can be fun, yet they make a good detecting pair, and we feel the depth of their friendship. The plot is strong, keeping us surprised until the end.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-murder-in-english-village.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Quick in Books
Feb 21, 2018
**I received an ARC of this book at no cost, but was not compensated for this review.**
This book has some elements of the trendy epistolary style of story-telling via documents woven into a traditional, Victorian-style novel. James Norbury is an aspiring poet who finds himself living in London with the friend of a friend. A quiet, shy man, James finds friendship, love, and then tragedy as his life is torn apart by events completely outside of his control. The first part of the book tells us James' story, then we move on to journal entries and tales from other points of view, and slowly piece together what is truly happening in London, and what James has unwittingly become involved in.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book but was quickly drawn into James' London. The book is both surprising and at times terrible, but I couldn't put it down. This is definitely not a story for the feint-of-heart, but a very good read set in an entirely believable world filled with characters you won't soon forget.
This book has some elements of the trendy epistolary style of story-telling via documents woven into a traditional, Victorian-style novel. James Norbury is an aspiring poet who finds himself living in London with the friend of a friend. A quiet, shy man, James finds friendship, love, and then tragedy as his life is torn apart by events completely outside of his control. The first part of the book tells us James' story, then we move on to journal entries and tales from other points of view, and slowly piece together what is truly happening in London, and what James has unwittingly become involved in.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book but was quickly drawn into James' London. The book is both surprising and at times terrible, but I couldn't put it down. This is definitely not a story for the feint-of-heart, but a very good read set in an entirely believable world filled with characters you won't soon forget.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Big Hero 6, Vol. 1 in Books
Jun 18, 2018
<a href="https://awindowintobooks.wordpress.com">Full Review</a>
I received Disney's Big Hero 6, vol. 1 from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review of the book. I am a person who loved all things Disney. When I entered to review this book I was not expecting it to be a comic book. Comic books are not something I enjoy typically. This book is about a boy named Hiro who is a genius and dreams of being an inventor like his older brother. The book takes an unexpected turn when Hiro's old brother vanishes while saving his life. Hiro was devastated. Hiro had every right to sulk in his grief and be lonely and blame himself for his brothers disappearance, but instead he develops a friendship with his brother's last invention; a health-care companion robot named Baymax. The robot was exactly what Hiro needed to get back up on his feet. Baymax and Hiro go on many adventures which helps Hiro to not be as lonely. The book follows the plot of the movie closely but the author has his own twist to it.
I received Disney's Big Hero 6, vol. 1 from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review of the book. I am a person who loved all things Disney. When I entered to review this book I was not expecting it to be a comic book. Comic books are not something I enjoy typically. This book is about a boy named Hiro who is a genius and dreams of being an inventor like his older brother. The book takes an unexpected turn when Hiro's old brother vanishes while saving his life. Hiro was devastated. Hiro had every right to sulk in his grief and be lonely and blame himself for his brothers disappearance, but instead he develops a friendship with his brother's last invention; a health-care companion robot named Baymax. The robot was exactly what Hiro needed to get back up on his feet. Baymax and Hiro go on many adventures which helps Hiro to not be as lonely. The book follows the plot of the movie closely but the author has his own twist to it.