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With the Old Breed
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The inspiration behind the HBO series THE PACIFIC This was a brutish, primitive hatred, as...
The Knowledge by Squeeze
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Welcome back to the world of Squeeze, a world where previous visitors will find much that is both...
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A Double Life
9.0
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“A thrilling page-turner.” —Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train “Breathtaking...
The Broken Window (Lincoln Rhyme #8)
8.5
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Quadriplegic detective Lincoln Rhyme is back in a chilling new thriller from the master of suspense,...
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Captive in Books
Oct 17, 2021
With its unique and interesting plot, this is a book that I really enjoyed.
I haven't read anything by this author before but the blurb reeled me in. I can't even imagine the horror of having to look after a person who has been convicted of a crime against you. You have to look after that person in your own home - would I be able to do that? This book certainly makes you think about it but this is the reality for the main character in this book, Hannah.
Her husband was murdered and Jem has been found guilty; he is now housed in a cell in her kitchen and Hannah is having to face this man every day whilst trying to come to terms with her loss and grief. Hannah is desperate to keep the memories of her husband alive but as she discovers more, he doesn't appear to be the man she knew and loved and when Jem professes his innocence - well he would wouldn't he - more doubts creep in and Hannah finds herself in a very difficult position.
Written from the perspectives of Hannah and Jem, this is a story that just keeps giving. There are some great twists and you never really know what's going to happen until the end.
This is an author I will definitely look out for in the future and my thanks go to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
I haven't read anything by this author before but the blurb reeled me in. I can't even imagine the horror of having to look after a person who has been convicted of a crime against you. You have to look after that person in your own home - would I be able to do that? This book certainly makes you think about it but this is the reality for the main character in this book, Hannah.
Her husband was murdered and Jem has been found guilty; he is now housed in a cell in her kitchen and Hannah is having to face this man every day whilst trying to come to terms with her loss and grief. Hannah is desperate to keep the memories of her husband alive but as she discovers more, he doesn't appear to be the man she knew and loved and when Jem professes his innocence - well he would wouldn't he - more doubts creep in and Hannah finds herself in a very difficult position.
Written from the perspectives of Hannah and Jem, this is a story that just keeps giving. There are some great twists and you never really know what's going to happen until the end.
This is an author I will definitely look out for in the future and my thanks go to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated The Drinking Gourd in Books
Jul 13, 2022 (Updated Jul 13, 2022)
Casey’s Past Comes Back to Haunt Her
After spending ten years in jail for drug dealing, Casey Cavendish is back in her home town, the small college town of Oberlin, Ohio, trying to finally get her college degree. She also still maintains her innocence to the charges against her. However, drug dealing seems to have picked up in town recently, so the rumors aren’t leaving her alone. When her former best friend is found dead, Casey finds herself caught up in a murder investigation. Can she figure out what is happening so she doesn’t go back to jail?
The premise of this book sounded intriguing, so I jumped in eagerly. However, the end result doesn’t quite work the way it should. The story is as much about Casey dealing with what happened to her and it is the current crime. While interesting, it meant some of the other characters were really driving the investigation. In fact, there are several storylines that felt more important than the sub-plots than they should have been. The story does have some good twists, but they feel a little abrupt when they happen. A few things felt forced into the story, and I didn’t get a good feel for the 1970’s setting. This isn’t one of my cozies, but I was mostly okay with the content, except for one chapter that definitely crossed some lines. When I was reading the book, I got caught up in the story, but there were too many issues to keep me from completely enjoying it.
The premise of this book sounded intriguing, so I jumped in eagerly. However, the end result doesn’t quite work the way it should. The story is as much about Casey dealing with what happened to her and it is the current crime. While interesting, it meant some of the other characters were really driving the investigation. In fact, there are several storylines that felt more important than the sub-plots than they should have been. The story does have some good twists, but they feel a little abrupt when they happen. A few things felt forced into the story, and I didn’t get a good feel for the 1970’s setting. This isn’t one of my cozies, but I was mostly okay with the content, except for one chapter that definitely crossed some lines. When I was reading the book, I got caught up in the story, but there were too many issues to keep me from completely enjoying it.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated Fair Rosaline in Books
Aug 26, 2023
Fair Rosaline is a sublime retelling of Romeo and Juliet - or, I should say, Romeo and Rosaline.
At the start of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and his friends are seen laughing and joking about Rosaline who has been sent to a nunnery. Here, Rosaline gets a chance to tell her side of the story, and she isn’t the silly girl that the Montagues would have us believe. She’s passionate, intelligent, musical, literate, and she absolutely doesn’t want to spend her life in a convent. So she manages to extract 10 days of freedom from her grieving father (her mother has died in the recent plague) and she intends to live them to the max.
Her first, and probably most life-changing act, is to go to a big masked ball held at the Montagues home. There she meets a very charming Romeo. But he’s not like the young boy we meet in Shakespeare’s play. This Romeo is much older and knows exactly what he’s doing. This Romeo is a serial womaniser who likes his women to be girls.
I hated him quite early on, he’s so well written. Romeo is manipulative, charming and a thief of both material goods and young girls’ innocence.
The way this is all written is frankly gorgeous. The language is reminiscent of Shakespeare (except more accessible!) with a fair few phrases borrowed from his original prose.
I could’ve read this all day. Absolutely beautiful. And yes, highly recommended, even if you just want to see Romeo get his comeuppance.
At the start of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and his friends are seen laughing and joking about Rosaline who has been sent to a nunnery. Here, Rosaline gets a chance to tell her side of the story, and she isn’t the silly girl that the Montagues would have us believe. She’s passionate, intelligent, musical, literate, and she absolutely doesn’t want to spend her life in a convent. So she manages to extract 10 days of freedom from her grieving father (her mother has died in the recent plague) and she intends to live them to the max.
Her first, and probably most life-changing act, is to go to a big masked ball held at the Montagues home. There she meets a very charming Romeo. But he’s not like the young boy we meet in Shakespeare’s play. This Romeo is much older and knows exactly what he’s doing. This Romeo is a serial womaniser who likes his women to be girls.
I hated him quite early on, he’s so well written. Romeo is manipulative, charming and a thief of both material goods and young girls’ innocence.
The way this is all written is frankly gorgeous. The language is reminiscent of Shakespeare (except more accessible!) with a fair few phrases borrowed from his original prose.
I could’ve read this all day. Absolutely beautiful. And yes, highly recommended, even if you just want to see Romeo get his comeuppance.
His Precious Omega (Sweet Alps Mates #3)
7.0
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Brendan Sinclair Being a Daddy was who I was, but I’d never found a boy that I’d wanted to...
Covered in Flour: 1968: A Young Boy's Perspective on School, Family, and Changing Times
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It's 1968 in Whisper Haven, and 8-year-old Carl Pozzi's world is about to change. For...
Biographical Historical Fiction
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Minority Report (2002) in Movies
Jul 19, 2020
I Knew I Would Love it Before I Watched it...See What I Did There?
In the future, “precogs” help predict a murder before it happens. When they predict that John Anderton, head of the precrime divison, will be the next killer, Anderton has to go on the run to prove his innocence.
Acting: 10
We give Tom Cruise shit for being crazy in real life. Say what you want about him on a personal level, the energy that he brings to the big screen is excellent. The way he taps into the emotions of a father that just lost his son hits you with a strong emotional tie to the movie.
Outside of a strong performance from Cruise as John Anderton, it’s also the lesser roles that drive this movie into classic status. Actors/actresses like Lois Smith as the matter-of-fact Dr. Hinneman and Colin Farrell sticking his nose into every single scene as Detective Danny Witwer bring fresh life to this movie throughout its duration. The female performances were particularly strong. This movie just doesn’t function the same without wonderful actresses Samantha Morton and Kathryn Morris helping to drive the story.
Beginning: 10
The first ten minutes really set the stage for the insanity to come. We see the precrime unit led by Anderton moving on their next target: A man who catches his wife in bed cheating, or at least he will. The act has yet to happen, but the unit is there to stop it before it does.
Characters: 10
Anderton is a troubled cop stuck between a terrible past and a troubling future. You can relate to his pain and why he has ended up the way he has. Like Anderton, each character has enough depth and backstory to make you care about them one way or the other. I was particularly drawn to Agatha, head of the precogs, and her story.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 10
Memorability: 10
There is a scene in this movie I consider one of the greatest in any film ever done. Anderton has captured the precog Agatha to try and get into her brain to unearth his innocence. With the police in hot pursuit, he has to escape through a mall using Agatha as a cognitive guide to help him escape danger. It is truly a brilliant layout of a scene and it really enhances this movie. This is a movie packed with a number of those same type of scenes that leave an impact in your brain.
Pace: 10
Plot: 10
A brilliant story from cover to cover. Steven Spielberg pulls out the heart and glitz of this movie with true wonder that only he can achieve. There is a reason I consider him the GOAT, because his stories wow you while making you think and feel at the same time. This story couldn’t have been put together more perfectly.
Resolution: 10
The ending couldn’t have been more perfect. It’s all about redemption and starting over. I won’t spoil it by going into further detail.
Overall: 100
Every now and then a movie comes along that manages to sit with me for a long time. It’s the primary reason I consider Minority Report to be the greatest sci-fi movie ever made and #3 on my all-time list. Quite frankly, it’s just plain dope.
Acting: 10
We give Tom Cruise shit for being crazy in real life. Say what you want about him on a personal level, the energy that he brings to the big screen is excellent. The way he taps into the emotions of a father that just lost his son hits you with a strong emotional tie to the movie.
Outside of a strong performance from Cruise as John Anderton, it’s also the lesser roles that drive this movie into classic status. Actors/actresses like Lois Smith as the matter-of-fact Dr. Hinneman and Colin Farrell sticking his nose into every single scene as Detective Danny Witwer bring fresh life to this movie throughout its duration. The female performances were particularly strong. This movie just doesn’t function the same without wonderful actresses Samantha Morton and Kathryn Morris helping to drive the story.
Beginning: 10
The first ten minutes really set the stage for the insanity to come. We see the precrime unit led by Anderton moving on their next target: A man who catches his wife in bed cheating, or at least he will. The act has yet to happen, but the unit is there to stop it before it does.
Characters: 10
Anderton is a troubled cop stuck between a terrible past and a troubling future. You can relate to his pain and why he has ended up the way he has. Like Anderton, each character has enough depth and backstory to make you care about them one way or the other. I was particularly drawn to Agatha, head of the precogs, and her story.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 10
Memorability: 10
There is a scene in this movie I consider one of the greatest in any film ever done. Anderton has captured the precog Agatha to try and get into her brain to unearth his innocence. With the police in hot pursuit, he has to escape through a mall using Agatha as a cognitive guide to help him escape danger. It is truly a brilliant layout of a scene and it really enhances this movie. This is a movie packed with a number of those same type of scenes that leave an impact in your brain.
Pace: 10
Plot: 10
A brilliant story from cover to cover. Steven Spielberg pulls out the heart and glitz of this movie with true wonder that only he can achieve. There is a reason I consider him the GOAT, because his stories wow you while making you think and feel at the same time. This story couldn’t have been put together more perfectly.
Resolution: 10
The ending couldn’t have been more perfect. It’s all about redemption and starting over. I won’t spoil it by going into further detail.
Overall: 100
Every now and then a movie comes along that manages to sit with me for a long time. It’s the primary reason I consider Minority Report to be the greatest sci-fi movie ever made and #3 on my all-time list. Quite frankly, it’s just plain dope.