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Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Siphon in Books
Jan 31, 2019
A. A. Medina’s Siphon is not for the feint of heart. With gruesome and stomach curdling descriptions, Medina’s prose gives a new spin on an ancient creature–at least, that’s how I interpret it. In this short novella, prepare to be disgusted.
Siphon is fairly short, coming in at only 112 pages. Often, a novella can be hit or miss and that’s because for some writers, pacing can be an issue. We see this in books where the first eighty percent drags on, only for the last twenty to fly by at breakneck speed. Medina doesn’t have this problem. Each scene takes just enough time to get the necessary point across–whether it be as simple as advancing Dr. Phillips’s affliction or as complex as establishing the depths of his madness.
Normally I want to connect with the characters in a story in some form or fashion. This allows me to become more emotionally involved than I might otherwise. However, in Siphon the perspective is third-person limited and Medina remains extremely faithful to this. We never know what other characters are thinking, nor do we get a taste for what they feel besides the physical descriptions of fear, as Dr. Phillips sees it.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I received an arc of Siphon courtesy Hindered Souls Press, but in the move to a new Kindle, I lost it. That said, I obtained the copy I am reviewing through Kindle Unlimited. Because of this, I ended up with a final edit. In it, I noticed several errors which prevent me from giving this novella a perfect score. Nonetheless, if you enjoy grisly reads, I highly recommend it.
Siphon is fairly short, coming in at only 112 pages. Often, a novella can be hit or miss and that’s because for some writers, pacing can be an issue. We see this in books where the first eighty percent drags on, only for the last twenty to fly by at breakneck speed. Medina doesn’t have this problem. Each scene takes just enough time to get the necessary point across–whether it be as simple as advancing Dr. Phillips’s affliction or as complex as establishing the depths of his madness.
Normally I want to connect with the characters in a story in some form or fashion. This allows me to become more emotionally involved than I might otherwise. However, in Siphon the perspective is third-person limited and Medina remains extremely faithful to this. We never know what other characters are thinking, nor do we get a taste for what they feel besides the physical descriptions of fear, as Dr. Phillips sees it.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I received an arc of Siphon courtesy Hindered Souls Press, but in the move to a new Kindle, I lost it. That said, I obtained the copy I am reviewing through Kindle Unlimited. Because of this, I ended up with a final edit. In it, I noticed several errors which prevent me from giving this novella a perfect score. Nonetheless, if you enjoy grisly reads, I highly recommend it.
Deborah (162 KP) rated The Yard: Book 1 in Books
Dec 21, 2018
The Yard is a detective novel set in Victorian London in the early days of the Metropolitan Police force. It is a bit gruesome to be honest; the first victim is discovered packed in a steamer trunk with eyes and lips sewn shut and there are a number of murders of bearded men, which may or may not be connected.
Our main protagonist is Inspector Day, who is new to London, previously having been a constable in Devon, but now living in the Big Smoke with his wife, Claire. He is ably assisted by other members of the force, including constable Hammersmith. There is a also Kingsley, who has made himself unofficial police surgeon. The forensic bits with Kingsley are a bit macabre in some ways, but I also found them very interesting. I did wonder if some of the detail in the book was based on fact. Obviously it wasn't a real case and I'm not sure the characters are based on actual people (I daresay there could be some borrowing of characteristics, but nothing is mentioned).
It's over 500 pages long, but I seemed to get through it in no time at all! Many of the chapters are actually quite short. There are three interludes along the way, so we get a bit of back story on the three main characters (as mentioned above). There's also a fair bit seen from the point of view of the murderer, so we actually know 'whodunit' from quite early on. Somehow, this doesn't stop this from being a ripping read though!
The book reads as if it's due to be the first in a series and I think I'd be interested in reading Grecian's next offering.
Our main protagonist is Inspector Day, who is new to London, previously having been a constable in Devon, but now living in the Big Smoke with his wife, Claire. He is ably assisted by other members of the force, including constable Hammersmith. There is a also Kingsley, who has made himself unofficial police surgeon. The forensic bits with Kingsley are a bit macabre in some ways, but I also found them very interesting. I did wonder if some of the detail in the book was based on fact. Obviously it wasn't a real case and I'm not sure the characters are based on actual people (I daresay there could be some borrowing of characteristics, but nothing is mentioned).
It's over 500 pages long, but I seemed to get through it in no time at all! Many of the chapters are actually quite short. There are three interludes along the way, so we get a bit of back story on the three main characters (as mentioned above). There's also a fair bit seen from the point of view of the murderer, so we actually know 'whodunit' from quite early on. Somehow, this doesn't stop this from being a ripping read though!
The book reads as if it's due to be the first in a series and I think I'd be interested in reading Grecian's next offering.
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The Devil's Workshop: Scotland Yard Murder Squad: Book 3
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Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) in Movies
Apr 22, 2021
What the hell was that?
I've never watched a full Tarantino movie. They're long. They drag on. I get bored. I've heard that they're ultraviolent, which usually isn't my thing but since I'm interested in true crime and this movie is based in LA at the time of the Manson murders, when I had nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon and it was on the station the tv was tuned to when I turned it on, I decided to give it a go. I missed most of the Leo parts. I think he was throwing a fit in the trailer when I flipped it on. Either that or Brad Pitt was driving down the strip and picked up a cute girl and drove her to her friend's place (you know where it was.) So, okay. Very long scenes with not much dialogue happening. Lots of establishment of mood and atmosphere. I'm pretty sure I lost three hours while Pitt walked around her friend's place. Eventually, and I dunno when, I got confused, we come to the night of the event, and I was expecting a fact-based, but a gruesome retelling of the Manson murders. Is that what I got? Hell no! What did I get? I don't have any idea. It certainly wasn't that. Seriously, it was so stupid. It was laughable if it wasn't so embarrassingly stupid. Unrealistic and stupid. Obnoxiously stupid. Why did I waste my time watching the part of this movie I watched? Those are hours I will never get back.
This kind of cinema is lost of me, guys. I'm glad you enjoy it. But I'll never watch anything like it again. It's okay, though. I'm sure Tarantino will be just fine without my money. He seems to be doing all right for himself.
This kind of cinema is lost of me, guys. I'm glad you enjoy it. But I'll never watch anything like it again. It's okay, though. I'm sure Tarantino will be just fine without my money. He seems to be doing all right for himself.
Darren Fisher (2465 KP) rated Killer's Moon (1978) in Movies
Dec 11, 2020 (Updated Dec 11, 2020)
Classic low budget British horror
I love my bonkers films and this demented British horror from Alan Birkinshaw certainly is up there. Four lunatics escape from a cottage (yep, not even a mental institution) whilst dosed up on LSD provided by the psychiatrists (it's a experiment in which said nutters think they are only dreaming - so whatever they do whilst tripping holds no consequence). Meanwhile, in the middle of nowhere, a bus full of schoolgirls brakes down. With no other choice the bus driver goes lookin for help whilst the teachers and girls seek refuge in a desolate hotel. As the escaped lunatics make their murderous way across country they come across the hotel. Once inside they begin tormenting, raping and decimating the cast. It's grimy, sleazy and very non-politically correct. I certainly can't imagine it getting made in todays times. The infrequent gore scenes are more 'Carry On...' style than gruesome, the special effects are amateur, accompanied with goofy sound effects. What carries the film along is the dialogue. Co-written with the directors sister Fay Weldon, the script is jaw droppingly unbelievable, unintentionally hilarious and mind-bogglingly bizarre. The most infamous quote comes after one school girl has been raped by one of the lunatics and pretty much sets the tone of what you are watching...
"Look, you were only raped, as long as you don't tell anyone about it you'll be alright. You pretend it never happened, I pretend I never saw it and if we ever get out of this alive, well, maybe we'll both live to be wives and mothers"
Just one of many delicious quotes from the film I hasten to add. Guaranteed trash gold. Highly recommended.
"Look, you were only raped, as long as you don't tell anyone about it you'll be alright. You pretend it never happened, I pretend I never saw it and if we ever get out of this alive, well, maybe we'll both live to be wives and mothers"
Just one of many delicious quotes from the film I hasten to add. Guaranteed trash gold. Highly recommended.
Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-tale Heart - A Hidden Object Mystery (Full)
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Unlock the complete adventure with a single purchase! No in-app purchases! Travel to a little...