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Burial Rites
Burial Rites
Hannah Kent | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
9
7.9 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Remarkable re-telling of an Icelandic murder case
Hannah Kent's detailed historical true crime story is fascinating, as she fills in the gaps about Iceland's last known case to end with the death penalty of a woman.

It isn't a murder mystery, more a fictional portrayal of Agnes Magnusdottir, who was condemned to death after the murder of two men, one of whom was her employer. It surrounds her last months kept in the home of a lawman and his family, as they grew closer to her and as she revealed more about the case to them. She confides in a young assistant priest, Toti, appointed as her spiritual guardian.

Here we find a rather ambiguous story about her so-called heroic employer, who seems to be more callous than what most thought about him. It is moving to read about the intense poverty she faced, and the loveless life she led, forcing people to behave in many different ways. There is a recurrent theme of jealousy throughout the book which shows what people are truly capable of. It is a battle for survival in a harsh, wintry landscape.
  
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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Shadow of Truth in TV

Nov 23, 2017 (Updated Nov 23, 2017)  
Shadow of Truth
Shadow of Truth
2016 | Crime, Documentary
Another incredible true crime docu-series
This true crime docu-series has already been well-received in Israel as one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows in the country's history, and it's clear to see why.

Following in the footsteps of other documentaries such as @Making A Murderer - Season 1 and @The Keepers - Season 1, Shadow of Truth focuses on the murder of a teenage girl and the man, a Ukrainian immigrant, who confessed to the murder. Except his confession was questionable as we follow the short series. In this case, it does feel similar to @The Confession Tapes - Season 1 - but there is twist after twist in each episode, all focusing on the case from a different point of view.

What's astonishing is the aftermath of this documentary, in which high-ranking government officials like Israel State Attorney Shai Nitzan even went so far as to call the series "a serious threat to democracy." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the show and thought any attempt to suppress it violated freedom of speech. It's worth a watch if you love true crime, and more so just for the intense reaction.
  
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
2017 | Action, Crime, Thriller
The Boogeyman is back! (3 more)
Beautiful locales
The Continental Hotel
New Dog!
The story is weaker (0 more)
"He Killed Three Men...with a Pencil!"
John Wick: Chapter 2 lets you stop and breathe for only the few moments it gives the main character a reprieve from a relentless onslaught of international assassins. It's intense, and the action is as cleanly shot as ever. The fight choreography and cinematography is just as commendable as the first film, and there's even more action to show this time around. The problem with this installment is simply that it isn't as good as the first. While John Wick's story was never going to win any awards, this second chapter gets a little muddled. There's so much of this fascinating, shadowy universe of assassins that Chad Stahelski and Derek Kolstad want to show, but precious little time to really stop and show it. Perhaps Chapter 3 will tie it all up nicely, but the ending of Chapter 2 seems to suggest that things are only going to get crazier. I'm going to enjoy the wild ride either way, and I'm not-so-secretly hoping they name Chapter 3 "John Wick vs. the World."
  
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NerdGeek (155 KP) Aug 12, 2018

I agree, the continental is pretty awesome. I wouldn't wanna be an assassin, but if a job gave me those kinds of perks, I might be tempted.

The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood | 1998 | Essays
9
8.3 (112 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is intense. (2 more)
Highly recommended
Great world building and characterization.
The ending sets off even more mixed emotions (0 more)
A Must Read
A powerful read that demonstrates all kinds of ideologies. It gets better because it can be analyzed to death. It's an insight into every woman's worst nightmare. What's worse is that it portrays how our own society seems to hold the stepping stones to a dystopian world as depicted in this book. It serves as a cautionary tale of what could happen with its fleshed out dystopic concepts that are mirrored in current society.

The fact that it is told from the perspective of a reproductive servant/slave makes it all the better. More interesting and engaging. It contains just the right amount of backstory sprinkled throughout to help keep you following but still keep you wondering.


As for the controversial ending, it is shocking causing an emotional roller-coaster ride. It is definitely a great contrast as opposed to listening to Offred tell the story. I would have liked a few more questions answered, yet that also is what allows for great discussion and wonderment.
  
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Charley (64 KP) rated The Book Thief in Books

Feb 16, 2019  
The Book Thief
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.8 (129 Ratings)
Book Rating
Shows you an alternative view of the second world war. (0 more)
The writer gives away spoilers throughout the book. You know how it ends before it does. (0 more)
Powerful and moving.
I was unable to put this book down from the start.
The book Thief is set in a WW2 Germany and follows the life of Leisel Merminger and her struggles in a Nazi Germany.
Before I go into more detail of the storyline I want to first mention how moving it is to see the second world war from a different perspective. I knew that the German people didn't have it easy during the war as well as the allies but it isn't often spoken about. The pressure that the German people were under to conform to the Nazi regime was imense and this book shows this perfectly. It outlines the day to day struggles of a regular family.
This book is a brilliant read and I feel the best part about it is that it is narrated by Death. This gives a little bit of humour to an otherwise quite intense and dark read.
I feel everyone should give this brilliant book a go.
  
Another fantastic, captivating, cowboy novella from the talented hands of the wonderful Dana Mentink. She takes suspense and swoon worthy cowboys, a touch of romance and lots of inspiring messages and wraps them up in an unforgettable plot line.

Ms. Mentink’s Ella and Owen are beautifully chiseled into characters that will steal your heart instantly. I loved their story. Watching Owen and Ella come to terms with not only their feelings for each other, but also with who’s behind framing Ella, was an intense ride! I love when a book will do that to you!

This second installment in the Gold Country Cowboys series is definitely one that I recommend with a high flying 4 star praise. This book will keep you up late, turning page after page, biting nail after nail, as you fly through the book to get to the last page and see how the story ends. You’ll be dying for more from this talented author! I can’t wait for the next one. Well done, Ms. Mentink!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
  
A delicious dirty erotic romance about two people discovering themselves again and healing.

I am going to be honest, by the time I made it to this book on my NetGalley list, I was about 1000% done with people who had something happen in their past that broke them and they put themselves back together as best they could. However, I have a thing for MMA fighters (maybe because my fiancé was one?) so I still requested this novel.

I am glad I did because Fighting for Control is a helluva intense novel with a heroine I could definitely get behind. I actually admired her a lot. She was such a strong and passionate woman, it was hard not to like her. And, despite his issues, I genuinely enjoyed Nikko too. I definitely could see why she fell for him.

While the whole “woman trying to heal PTSD Alpha male” is not even close to be a new or fresh trope, Price told it in a way that it was still enjoyable. If this type of story is your thing, then you will love this novel.
  
Brawl In Cell Block 99 (2017)
Brawl In Cell Block 99 (2017)
2017 | Action, Thriller
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.