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graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Improper English in Books
Feb 15, 2019
What a book! This was hilarious at first, and I do mean hilarious, and then it began to get serious while still maintaining its humor. This book really wrung me out with Alix's emotions. I know that Alix would probably annoy others and they'd hate her insecurities and reasons she did some things, but I understood her. Although Alix is more outgoing, in some ways she reminds me of myself, and I think that has made this book more meaningful (perhaps we all have a little bit of Alix inside?). She was truly a realistic character and I loved her, flaws and all, and really felt for her at times. Alex, while I think he could have been developed more, was still a very good hero for Alix. He was just what she needed so she could start recognizing what she needed to do to change her patterns. I liked all the side characters; they added a nice touch to the story. I really don't know what else to say about this heartwarming tale, I just loved it! Even if it did leave me emotionally drained. :)
Long winded and dull
Dan Brown is a very divisive author. Most people either love him or hate him, and if I'm being honest, I'm verging more on the latter after reading this.
The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons were fantastic books, but I discovered after reading most of Dan Brown's other books that his writing and plots follow virtually the same paths. And that gets a little boring after a while when it feels like you're reading the same story with slightly different details. And this is the problem with Origin. It's the same old plot structure, but this time with a very dull storyline. It promises us this amazing discovery and builds it up for far too long over the initial 100 pages or so, but then reveals nothing until after 450 pages by which point I was very close to giving up. There wasn't even any tension or thrills during Brown's predictable chase scenes, and the whole story was just beyond dull and predictable. And even the final reveal right at the end, I'd predicted it right from the start. Think I may have to give up reading Dan Brown's books now.
The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons were fantastic books, but I discovered after reading most of Dan Brown's other books that his writing and plots follow virtually the same paths. And that gets a little boring after a while when it feels like you're reading the same story with slightly different details. And this is the problem with Origin. It's the same old plot structure, but this time with a very dull storyline. It promises us this amazing discovery and builds it up for far too long over the initial 100 pages or so, but then reveals nothing until after 450 pages by which point I was very close to giving up. There wasn't even any tension or thrills during Brown's predictable chase scenes, and the whole story was just beyond dull and predictable. And even the final reveal right at the end, I'd predicted it right from the start. Think I may have to give up reading Dan Brown's books now.
Recommended gritty read
What a roller-coaster of a ride that was! I'm sure I experienced all the emotions known to man whilst reading this book - joy, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, anticipation and fear to name but a few.
The characters are believable and brilliant although not all of them are particularly likeable. The story is gripping and had me hooked from start to finish and although I anticipated the end, it didn't disappoint or spoil it for me. The only complaint I have is the epilogue ... what the heck?!?! I found it cheesy and, in my humble opinion, totally unnecessary apart from tying up a couple of loose ends which could have been put elsewhere in the book however, this didn't ruin it for me it just made me "tut" and roll my eyes.
Kimberley Chambers isn't known as the "Queen of Gangland Crime Fiction" for nothing and I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy a gritty story that's not all about violence and hate.
Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
The characters are believable and brilliant although not all of them are particularly likeable. The story is gripping and had me hooked from start to finish and although I anticipated the end, it didn't disappoint or spoil it for me. The only complaint I have is the epilogue ... what the heck?!?! I found it cheesy and, in my humble opinion, totally unnecessary apart from tying up a couple of loose ends which could have been put elsewhere in the book however, this didn't ruin it for me it just made me "tut" and roll my eyes.
Kimberley Chambers isn't known as the "Queen of Gangland Crime Fiction" for nothing and I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy a gritty story that's not all about violence and hate.
Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Lily (2 KP) rated The Sun Eaters in Books
Jan 30, 2018
Two orphan boys try to survive post WWII
This book will definitely grab your life-sac into a boxing ring, land a few right hooks, an upper cut, and drop kick you on the floor. But maybe, like the boys say in the book, you're one of the ones that can see the beauty in the strange, the love-hate of all good stories. So you'll put it down, make someone something to eat, feed yourself, fortify your bones to get at it again - finish it, tear a piece of one of the pages and chew it into a stew-like paste and swallow it. Forever making a little home for these boys inside your body. Maybe you'll eat a little bit more of it each day as you pray and work to keep the world one in which we don't have to eat the sun, dig our own graves. But be warned, once read their hunger might become your own. And hunger never dies.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Baywatch (2017) in Movies
Feb 9, 2018
Funnier than expected
I'd expected to hate this film and although it a little bit ridiculous, I found a lot funnier than I ever thought it'd be.
Some of the one liners and wisecracks verging on hilarious, although they're not as frequent as id like. It's laughably bad in parts and that almost adds to its charm. It doesn't take itself too seriously. This is part of the problem though too, I struggled to tell if this was a spoof of the original show, if it was making fun or if it was trying to be serious as it flitted about. If they'd have concentrated on making this a loving mick-take of the show, I think it could've ended up being quite good. There's a scene over the end credits with the girls discussing why the swimsuits are as they are, and that's the sort of thing that should have been in the main film.
The only thing I really didn't get was the CGI and sfx. Did they purposely make it look really bad in homage to the show, or did was the budget spent elsewhere? It didn't work, it just looked naff.
Some of the one liners and wisecracks verging on hilarious, although they're not as frequent as id like. It's laughably bad in parts and that almost adds to its charm. It doesn't take itself too seriously. This is part of the problem though too, I struggled to tell if this was a spoof of the original show, if it was making fun or if it was trying to be serious as it flitted about. If they'd have concentrated on making this a loving mick-take of the show, I think it could've ended up being quite good. There's a scene over the end credits with the girls discussing why the swimsuits are as they are, and that's the sort of thing that should have been in the main film.
The only thing I really didn't get was the CGI and sfx. Did they purposely make it look really bad in homage to the show, or did was the budget spent elsewhere? It didn't work, it just looked naff.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Greatest Showman (2017) in Movies
Feb 7, 2018 (Updated Feb 7, 2018)
Cheese with a side order of sugar
I suppose Hugh Jackman has to do something now he's retired from being Wolverine, and as his skill-set basically consists of eviscerating people with his implanted claws and being able to sing and dance a bit, it's not surprising that his first big post-rodent movie is a musical.
Despite being (theoretically) a historical bio-pic, The Greatest Showman is very much of our time in that it has a powerful message about diversity and inclusivity. That there is anything odd about a film about diversity and inclusivity a) being fronted by two straight white dudes and b) concerning a conman who made a huge fortune by running a freak show, does not appear to have occurred to the film-makers.
The plot is ridiculous sugary cheese, but what keep the film (I'm tempted to say annoyingly) watchable are the songs and choreography, which are really, really good and deserve to be in a much better-written movie. Pretty much the definition of an undemanding guilty pleasure, although I have to note that this is one of those movies that everyone seems to hate apart from the mass audience.
Despite being (theoretically) a historical bio-pic, The Greatest Showman is very much of our time in that it has a powerful message about diversity and inclusivity. That there is anything odd about a film about diversity and inclusivity a) being fronted by two straight white dudes and b) concerning a conman who made a huge fortune by running a freak show, does not appear to have occurred to the film-makers.
The plot is ridiculous sugary cheese, but what keep the film (I'm tempted to say annoyingly) watchable are the songs and choreography, which are really, really good and deserve to be in a much better-written movie. Pretty much the definition of an undemanding guilty pleasure, although I have to note that this is one of those movies that everyone seems to hate apart from the mass audience.
Mayhawke (97 KP) rated The Last Templar in Books
Feb 7, 2018
It's an O.K. Read, But...
...but. It's not riveting. I had no problems putting it down and going to do other things. In fact I stopped for a day half-way through and read an entire other book. That said, I had no problems picking it up again.
The writing style is a bit unsophisticated. It seems to swing between slightly out-of-synch passages of 'Historical Travelogue' and 'Something That Was Written With The Movie in Mind' - screaming Hollywood-esq car chases, murderous priests etc.
In it's favour the theory it puts forward is intriguing and over-all the story is well-paced and well presented. Unfortunatly parts of the plot only stand up if you read them with one eye shut, from behind a pillow, and some of the arguments are highly dubious to say the least (e.g: people can only be good, kind and charitable if inspired to be by religion; Christianity was the first religion to preach love not hate)
All in all, it's not a bad read but if you have to budget your 'book allowance' I'd suggest getting it from a library or borrowing it from a friend.
The writing style is a bit unsophisticated. It seems to swing between slightly out-of-synch passages of 'Historical Travelogue' and 'Something That Was Written With The Movie in Mind' - screaming Hollywood-esq car chases, murderous priests etc.
In it's favour the theory it puts forward is intriguing and over-all the story is well-paced and well presented. Unfortunatly parts of the plot only stand up if you read them with one eye shut, from behind a pillow, and some of the arguments are highly dubious to say the least (e.g: people can only be good, kind and charitable if inspired to be by religion; Christianity was the first religion to preach love not hate)
All in all, it's not a bad read but if you have to budget your 'book allowance' I'd suggest getting it from a library or borrowing it from a friend.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Brawl In Cell Block 99 (2017) in Movies
Mar 3, 2018
This ain't no Wedding Crashers
Having just watched Bone Tomahawk (you must watch it) and learning writer/director S. Craig Zahler also helmed this film, I was even more anxious to see.
After Vince Vaughn loses his job, he is forced into a life as a drug runner. His big score goes wrong, he makes some tough decisions and ends up in prison. He is then manipulated and has to make even more intense decisions in order to make events happen in his favor.
Vaughn is believable as a tough, abrasive husband trying to save his family. His morality is questionable and you can't decide whether to root for him pr hate him. Don Johnson is also a standout as the warden.
I found it fascinating and exhilarating at the same time. Some of the fight scenes are maybe a little excessively violent, but that is the nature of prison life I imagine.
Zahler is slowly making a name for himself with these two films. He also has Dragged Across Concrete coming out later this year.
He hasn't reached Tarantino status quite yet, but he is off to a good start.
After Vince Vaughn loses his job, he is forced into a life as a drug runner. His big score goes wrong, he makes some tough decisions and ends up in prison. He is then manipulated and has to make even more intense decisions in order to make events happen in his favor.
Vaughn is believable as a tough, abrasive husband trying to save his family. His morality is questionable and you can't decide whether to root for him pr hate him. Don Johnson is also a standout as the warden.
I found it fascinating and exhilarating at the same time. Some of the fight scenes are maybe a little excessively violent, but that is the nature of prison life I imagine.
Zahler is slowly making a name for himself with these two films. He also has Dragged Across Concrete coming out later this year.
He hasn't reached Tarantino status quite yet, but he is off to a good start.
Tami (7 KP) rated Out of the Shadows in Books
Jul 15, 2018
I was very pleased with this book. The characters were likable and brought me great joy when things worked out for them in the end.
The storyline kept me wanting more from page one.
I appreciated that the love scene was further into the book (steamy too) because it gave you something to process their love interets before totally turning it into a sex fest (not that this book is a sex fest, I just hate books that do that.)
I wish the story would have had a little bit more meat on it, it is a short read. I would have liked to have had more backstory on the characters and more of the ex-boyfriend storyline.
I know that the Aztec gods were depicted based on the actual gods, but I, personally, wished that they were a little more pronouceable. I spend a lot of time skimming over the names which left me a little confused as to which god was doing what.
3 1/2 stars leaning toward 4. I plan on reading book 2, so it couldn’t have been that bad.
The storyline kept me wanting more from page one.
I appreciated that the love scene was further into the book (steamy too) because it gave you something to process their love interets before totally turning it into a sex fest (not that this book is a sex fest, I just hate books that do that.)
I wish the story would have had a little bit more meat on it, it is a short read. I would have liked to have had more backstory on the characters and more of the ex-boyfriend storyline.
I know that the Aztec gods were depicted based on the actual gods, but I, personally, wished that they were a little more pronouceable. I spend a lot of time skimming over the names which left me a little confused as to which god was doing what.
3 1/2 stars leaning toward 4. I plan on reading book 2, so it couldn’t have been that bad.
Eve (9 KP) rated One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) in Movies
Aug 26, 2018
Top notch filmery!
Ok, so where do I start? This is my favourite film and i could write about it all day! This film has every single emotion you can think about, i laughed, cried, felt angry, laughed again and cried and pretty much just fell in love with the film.
Mcmurphy is moved from prison to a psychiatric hospital as they think he is showing signs of being mad! When he gets there he starts to reveal that he is quite obviously not mad and is just a rebel!
He starts to bring life into the hospital doing some crazy things and also trying to drive the head nurse Mrs ratched crazy! They seem to have a love hate relationship. The patients who have never had any chaos in the hospital are all taking a real shine to mcmurphy and are becoming more and more chaotic which causes miss ratched to become extremely angry and nervous, she has a tightly run ship!
The actors in this film are top and do an amazing job of acting out the story, especially jack nicholson, he is just amazing and really gets you believing he is mcmurphy.
Mcmurphy is moved from prison to a psychiatric hospital as they think he is showing signs of being mad! When he gets there he starts to reveal that he is quite obviously not mad and is just a rebel!
He starts to bring life into the hospital doing some crazy things and also trying to drive the head nurse Mrs ratched crazy! They seem to have a love hate relationship. The patients who have never had any chaos in the hospital are all taking a real shine to mcmurphy and are becoming more and more chaotic which causes miss ratched to become extremely angry and nervous, she has a tightly run ship!
The actors in this film are top and do an amazing job of acting out the story, especially jack nicholson, he is just amazing and really gets you believing he is mcmurphy.