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BookInspector (124 KP) rated After She's Gone in Books

Sep 24, 2020

The protagonists in this book would be Malin and Jake, and the book is told mainly from their perspectives. Malin is a police officer, who grew up in an isolated town called Ormberg, and is back with her colleagues, to investigate a murder, that happened years ago. Jake is a teenage schoolboy, who loves dressing up in woman’s clothes, and by accident, gets hold of Hanne’s diary. I really liked most of the characters in this book, and I loved to read their personal and intriguing stories. I really liked the way Camilla Grebe shared the story of not only the main but supporting characters as well.

The narrative of this book was interesting, but it lacked suspense and excitement. Especially, the investigation part. Sometimes the chapters really dragged, particularly Malin’s parts. Her parts lacked intrigue, and her thoughts became quite repetitive after a while. I really enjoyed Jake’s parts, his secret life, his thoughts and snippets from Hanne’s diary, held this book together. The topics discussed were dementia and how the person feels while having it, bullying, sexual confusion, refugee situation from native’s perspectives, and many more.

The setting of this book is cold, gloomy, quite claustrophobic and depressing. The plot is set in the middle of forests full of snow, so it is perfect for winter lovers.

Kudos

LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Saw II (2005) in Movies

Oct 3, 2020

Saw II (2005)

2005 | Horror, Mystery

6.7

(23 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Out of the slew of sequels that followed in the wake of the success of the first film, Saw II is easily the most watchable.

Everything is upped - more blood, more victims, more absurd traps for them to escape from - but it succeeds where the other sequels miserably failed, keeping it all fairly reigned in for the most part, assuring that the plot carries a substantial amount of intrigue, instead of getting buried under gratuitous torture.

We get to see more Tobin Bell this time around, which is certainly a good thing. His increased presence as antagonist Jigsaw is a high point of the movie. Donnie Wahlberg and Shawnee Smith have a little more to do in the franchise going forward, but the rest of the cast are hugely dull and forgettable, obvious cannon fodder for Jigsaws' games.

The various traps are imaginative without going overboard as well, and are effective - the pit of syringes, the pig carcasses, and especially the lockbox with wrist slicing blades, are all pretty memorable without throwing heaps of gore at the viewer.

Saw II is a half decent follow up to the great original. You could happily watch the first two and not bother with any of the others, and still be suitably satisfied, unless, like me, you're a glutton for punishment.

Kudos

Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated The Princess in Books

Jan 11, 2021

The author got in contact with me last year and asked me if I'd like to read and review one of her books. I agreed, wanting to help her get the word out and picked The Princess and she gifted me the book.

I started reading it almost straight away and at the start I got caught up in it. But after a while I lost interest in the storyline because of how slowly it was all playing out. A quarter of the way in (out of 306 pages) and she was just marrying him.

I have this thing where, unless I'm really into the story that I don't like long books. I'm almost not a fan of a lot of description (I know most readers ask for it, but not me. I tend to skip over whole paragraphs if it doesn't interest me).

That's not to say it was bad, the book has four 5 star reviews on Goodreads. It just isn't really my sort of book. If I'm going to read something intrigue-y, I want something to be happening all the time. If I'm reading a romance, I want to fall in love along with them and I didn't.

After giving it another try about ten minutes ago, and still not getting into the story I'm finally giving in at 27% and DNF'ing.

Kudos

LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated American Horror Story - Season 2 in TV

Oct 5, 2019

Horror TV doesn't get much better

The second season on AHS, also known as 'Asylum' is fantastic, and in my opinion, still the best season to date.

The anthology template applied to AHS is given it first workout here - it's great to see familiar faces from the first season, albeit playing completely different characters. And the characters here are really something.
Sarah Paulson, Zachary Quinto, Joseph Fiennes, Evan Peters, Lizzie Brocheré, James Cromwell, Lily Rabe - they're all amazing in their own ways. Each character has several layers to them,lacing mystery and intrigue throughout Asylum to keep you guessing.

The unmistakable star of Asylum though is of course Jessica Lange.
Here character Sister Jude is an incredible villain for the most part, and equally sympathetic in other parts. Jessica Lange plays the part with aplomb, obviously enjoying every second of it, and is the main reason why this season is such a stand out.

The tone of Asylum is a lot more full on than Murder House - it's nastier, gorier, funnier, darker.
The cinematography is pretty bang on throughout, spoiling us with creepy shot after creepy shot.

It's honestly great, hard to find much to dislike. The hammier elements in AHS are often overdone and what ultimately stop this show from reaching perfection, but Asylum is as close as it has come for now.