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Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated The Unhoneymooners in Books
Jan 6, 2021
I picked this up a few months ago, not really knowing what it was about, but it was a steal at 99p and I've read books by this author before.
In this, Olive is chief bridesmaid at her sisters wedding. Ami has been a bit of a bridezilla but because of her love of competitions, everything has been free - more or less - at the wedding. Olive has been given a list of 50 things she has to check on the day of the wedding and one of them includes ordering a separate meal for herself (allergic to seafood) and the best man and her sworn enemy, Ethan, who has an aversion to buffet food. Turns out it's a good job she did as everyone falls ill after eating the seafood and she and Ethan end up going on the free honeymoon together. Once there, as they spend more time together, they realise that the other isn't as bad as they seem and they actually grow to like each other.
Hmm... I did like this but I wasn't fully into this. I didn't get butterflies reading of them falling in love. I wasn't sucked in to their love/hate relationship - it was a bit too tame for me in that regard. I think I snorted a handful of times at the things they said to each other or the situations they found themselves in while on the island of Maui but there's something I can't put my finger on. I was a little underwhelmed by the story.
One thing I was very gung ho about once the first little fibres started unravelling: Dane. There was just something about him. I'll let you figure out what when you read this.
In this, Olive is chief bridesmaid at her sisters wedding. Ami has been a bit of a bridezilla but because of her love of competitions, everything has been free - more or less - at the wedding. Olive has been given a list of 50 things she has to check on the day of the wedding and one of them includes ordering a separate meal for herself (allergic to seafood) and the best man and her sworn enemy, Ethan, who has an aversion to buffet food. Turns out it's a good job she did as everyone falls ill after eating the seafood and she and Ethan end up going on the free honeymoon together. Once there, as they spend more time together, they realise that the other isn't as bad as they seem and they actually grow to like each other.
Hmm... I did like this but I wasn't fully into this. I didn't get butterflies reading of them falling in love. I wasn't sucked in to their love/hate relationship - it was a bit too tame for me in that regard. I think I snorted a handful of times at the things they said to each other or the situations they found themselves in while on the island of Maui but there's something I can't put my finger on. I was a little underwhelmed by the story.
One thing I was very gung ho about once the first little fibres started unravelling: Dane. There was just something about him. I'll let you figure out what when you read this.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Insurgent (2015) in Movies
Apr 23, 2021
Not as decent as 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳, not as horrendous as 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴, on nearly exactly the same level as the first 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵. I'm still shocked these still manage to be kind of entertaining even in spite of telling one of the dumbest stories to ever be translated to screen. At least half the cast just seems bored, but Jai Courtney and Daniel Dae Kim shine in supporting roles - which isn't all too hard to do here actually considering these two lead characters are inexplicably even *more* lifeless than they were in the first one. Great, we get to see more of this mid-2010s "trauma romance" crap - but at least they have the common decency to make the action sorta fun (the shameful choice to exchange Burger's visual panache [and... actual color] for this ugly ash-gray palette notwithstanding). And I'll always give credit to this one for being a lot ballsier than most of these YA copies-of-each-other - it's pretty violent and a fair amount of people get shot in the head, we even see more blood than just a nosebleed for once! Makes no human sense but that's also what makes it kind of enjoyable tbh. The Woodley character is the weakest link: emulating every overdramatic shithead teenager who thinks they're a revolutionary for making a Tweet about how much they hate 5th period geometry doesn't really help the cringe factor any (the 'dramatic haircut' smash cut into the flock of crows flying through the forest to triumphant music is one of the worst things ever). If this were made today Tris would be trying to cancel Kate Winslet's character for using the term "spirit animal" 11 years ago.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Feb 12, 2021
Rat Scabies recommended Dummy by Portishead in Music (curated)
Mekhi Phifer recommended The Godfather: Part II (1974) in Movies (curated)
A classic
Dune has been on my reading list for quite some time, and it's only after seeing the trailer for the new film that I finally caved and decided to buy this. I didn't even read the synopsis until the book arrived and when I did I was sceptical to say the least, especially as this had comparisons to the likes of Tolkien and Lord of the Rings.
However despite my reservations I was hooked from a few pages in. This is definitely a marmite, love it or hate it kind of book, and the comparisons to Tolkien are very much justified as there are similarities in their writing styles. Whilst there is action in this book, there's also a lot of world building, descriptions and dialogue. This might seem boring to some, but for me i loved every minute of it. Barely any of it was superfluous or unnecessary, and the characters and world that Herbert has built are hugely detailed and well developed. If possible I actually wanted to read more about certain characters than had already been written.
It's taken me longer than normal to read this book. Not because it's bad but because it was that good that I wanted to take my time and relish every chapter. My biggest disappointment about this book was that it ended. There are sequels to this that I've heard don't match up to the this and get progressively worse, so I'm in two minds about whether to read further. But I honestly loved this book and I'm a little ashamed that it's taken me so long to read it, and now I can't wait for the new film..
However despite my reservations I was hooked from a few pages in. This is definitely a marmite, love it or hate it kind of book, and the comparisons to Tolkien are very much justified as there are similarities in their writing styles. Whilst there is action in this book, there's also a lot of world building, descriptions and dialogue. This might seem boring to some, but for me i loved every minute of it. Barely any of it was superfluous or unnecessary, and the characters and world that Herbert has built are hugely detailed and well developed. If possible I actually wanted to read more about certain characters than had already been written.
It's taken me longer than normal to read this book. Not because it's bad but because it was that good that I wanted to take my time and relish every chapter. My biggest disappointment about this book was that it ended. There are sequels to this that I've heard don't match up to the this and get progressively worse, so I'm in two minds about whether to read further. But I honestly loved this book and I'm a little ashamed that it's taken me so long to read it, and now I can't wait for the new film..
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated The Mist (2007) in Movies
Nov 30, 2020
"It appears we may have a problem of some magnitude."
The Mist is flat out fantastic for a handful of reasons.
Firstly, it has a ridiculously good cast - Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Tony Jones, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, William Sadler, Alexa Davalos, Sam Witwer...there isn't a weak link at all, and it's a damn good job - The Mist isn't a straight forward creature feature. Although it's does have it's fair share of monster moments, it's main focus is on the dangers of fanatacism, and the delusions of human beings, as a lot of regular Joes who are just scared of the events unfolding, start to blindly follow the words of Mrs. Carmody, someone who is truly unhinged, and truly believes what she preaches - it's a concept all too familiar in today's real world, and Marcia Gay Harden puts in a show stopping performance, and is one the easiest-to-hate horror antagonists ever put to screen.
The titular Mist is realised superbly, and also does a good job at hiding the CGI monsters effectively. What we do get shown is just enough for a decent payoff, and there are some breathtaking shots during the films climax. For the most part though, it's a masterclass in stimulating the audiences imagination, and is scary in what you don't actually see.
And the of course there is THAT ending. If you somehow haven't seen The Mist yet, then go in with as little knowledge as possible, and let that ending just destroy your very soul. Its propels what is a good horror, into an all timer, even if it is a straight up depression simulator.
Really worth a look for any fans of horror, sci-fi, monsters, or Stephen King, and seek out the black and white version for extra satisfaction!
The Mist is flat out fantastic for a handful of reasons.
Firstly, it has a ridiculously good cast - Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Tony Jones, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, William Sadler, Alexa Davalos, Sam Witwer...there isn't a weak link at all, and it's a damn good job - The Mist isn't a straight forward creature feature. Although it's does have it's fair share of monster moments, it's main focus is on the dangers of fanatacism, and the delusions of human beings, as a lot of regular Joes who are just scared of the events unfolding, start to blindly follow the words of Mrs. Carmody, someone who is truly unhinged, and truly believes what she preaches - it's a concept all too familiar in today's real world, and Marcia Gay Harden puts in a show stopping performance, and is one the easiest-to-hate horror antagonists ever put to screen.
The titular Mist is realised superbly, and also does a good job at hiding the CGI monsters effectively. What we do get shown is just enough for a decent payoff, and there are some breathtaking shots during the films climax. For the most part though, it's a masterclass in stimulating the audiences imagination, and is scary in what you don't actually see.
And the of course there is THAT ending. If you somehow haven't seen The Mist yet, then go in with as little knowledge as possible, and let that ending just destroy your very soul. Its propels what is a good horror, into an all timer, even if it is a straight up depression simulator.
Really worth a look for any fans of horror, sci-fi, monsters, or Stephen King, and seek out the black and white version for extra satisfaction!
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel in Books
Oct 5, 2020
Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel is a book that not all kinds of readers will relate to. You either love it or hate it. And me, well, I really wish I loved it.
The book flows in two parallel timelines: Tilda in the present and little Tilly in her childhood. Tilda has a broken relationship with her mother, who killed her dad. After her mum dies, Tilda goes to a place called Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel, to find the truth of what happened in the past.
The writing style of when Tilda is little was hard for me to connect to. If felt as if the grown up version was talking in both timelines. The book is very slow, with no major plot twist, which made it boring. We had the whole ending dumped in the last chapters, with no anticipation. She is a girl that clearly has a troubled past, and she has with her a sense of mystery, as she is able to see what other people can’t. She is very attached to her father, even though he was absent most of her life, and she spent her childhood and teenage years holding a grudge against her mother.
And yet, I didn’t care about her.
In fact, I didn’t care about anyone in this book, and by the end, I just wished for the story to finish. I am sad that I couldn’t relate to this book, and I wish I liked it. But I didn’t. Moving on. A shame though, it has such a beautiful cover.If the synopsis seems interesting to you,
I would still encourage you to give it a go and let me know what you thought. You opinion is also valid.
The book flows in two parallel timelines: Tilda in the present and little Tilly in her childhood. Tilda has a broken relationship with her mother, who killed her dad. After her mum dies, Tilda goes to a place called Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel, to find the truth of what happened in the past.
The writing style of when Tilda is little was hard for me to connect to. If felt as if the grown up version was talking in both timelines. The book is very slow, with no major plot twist, which made it boring. We had the whole ending dumped in the last chapters, with no anticipation. She is a girl that clearly has a troubled past, and she has with her a sense of mystery, as she is able to see what other people can’t. She is very attached to her father, even though he was absent most of her life, and she spent her childhood and teenage years holding a grudge against her mother.
And yet, I didn’t care about her.
In fact, I didn’t care about anyone in this book, and by the end, I just wished for the story to finish. I am sad that I couldn’t relate to this book, and I wish I liked it. But I didn’t. Moving on. A shame though, it has such a beautiful cover.If the synopsis seems interesting to you,
I would still encourage you to give it a go and let me know what you thought. You opinion is also valid.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
Two years after the success of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens is suffering financial hardship from the failure of his last three books. Rejected by his publishers, he sets out to write a new book to restore his finances. Seeing inspiration around London, most notably a rich man's funeral that is largely unattended, he begins writing A Christmas Carol, due in six weeks in order to be published by Christmas. As Charles begins to develop his story, he interacts with the characters he is writing about, most notably Ebenezer Scrooge.
Christmas spirit abounds this month, and I was so happy to see it start with this film. I'm fed up of saying "I hadn't heard anything about this film until it was on"... seriously, what are these people doing with their advertising budgets??!
Dickens' struggle with his writer's block is incredible to watch. When the idea snaps into his head and the characters appear it really does put a smile on your face. It feels like you can really see the joy in his eyes as an idea materialises in front of him. Seeing them all interact together as the tale progresses is so much fun too.
This film made me genuinely feel happy. Just like a Christmas film should. I laughed out loud and I cried, but I still left with a smile, and an abundance of Christmas spirit in me to help me muster the enthusiasm for another three Christmas films and tree decorating. I hate to dethrone any of my favourites from their positions... but this might have entered straight into the top three... it's honestly got me stumped. I'll have to watch more seasonal films until I can work it out.
Christmas spirit abounds this month, and I was so happy to see it start with this film. I'm fed up of saying "I hadn't heard anything about this film until it was on"... seriously, what are these people doing with their advertising budgets??!
Dickens' struggle with his writer's block is incredible to watch. When the idea snaps into his head and the characters appear it really does put a smile on your face. It feels like you can really see the joy in his eyes as an idea materialises in front of him. Seeing them all interact together as the tale progresses is so much fun too.
This film made me genuinely feel happy. Just like a Christmas film should. I laughed out loud and I cried, but I still left with a smile, and an abundance of Christmas spirit in me to help me muster the enthusiasm for another three Christmas films and tree decorating. I hate to dethrone any of my favourites from their positions... but this might have entered straight into the top three... it's honestly got me stumped. I'll have to watch more seasonal films until I can work it out.
Ducklady (1174 KP) rated The Painted Man (the Demon Cycle, Book 1) in Books
Aug 25, 2019
Beginning of a fantastic series
Contains spoilers, click to show
The painted man is about the world coming to its knees after demons have risen from the core and decimated the land and its people. The key part of this book seems to be how people deal with fear. Most people hide behind their wards of protection, a series of symbols designed to repel the demons that stalk the lands. Arlen is one of the main protagonists that watches his mother ripped to shreds by a demon while his father stands frozen in the spot in fear. The image of is father’s cowardice haunts Arlen until he makes the decision to flee into the naked night. I love Arlen as a character but find his constant hate of demons can make him a little one dimensional at times.
Leesha Paper is another protagonist that lives with her family in a small hamlet, the kind where everyone knows everyone. Leesha is smarter than most and consistently protracted as attractive. She becomes the hollow’s herb gatherer’s apprentice and excels at this. She holds onto her purity preciously and Bretts absolute destruction of this later on in the book is a powerfully tragic scene. I do feel like her absolute refusal to hurt her attackers is a little bit much.
The last protagonist is Rojer Half-Grip. He is a street performer that was orphaned young and is looked after by a drunken man whose cowardice caused his parents death. Rojer is a great character with a special power over the demons and the way he handles his master’s drunkenness and abrasiveness is admirable. He is a very well-written character that I felt, at this point in the series, had the most about him.
Overall, this book is a great start to a fantastic series that deserves more than one re-read.
Leesha Paper is another protagonist that lives with her family in a small hamlet, the kind where everyone knows everyone. Leesha is smarter than most and consistently protracted as attractive. She becomes the hollow’s herb gatherer’s apprentice and excels at this. She holds onto her purity preciously and Bretts absolute destruction of this later on in the book is a powerfully tragic scene. I do feel like her absolute refusal to hurt her attackers is a little bit much.
The last protagonist is Rojer Half-Grip. He is a street performer that was orphaned young and is looked after by a drunken man whose cowardice caused his parents death. Rojer is a great character with a special power over the demons and the way he handles his master’s drunkenness and abrasiveness is admirable. He is a very well-written character that I felt, at this point in the series, had the most about him.
Overall, this book is a great start to a fantastic series that deserves more than one re-read.