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Saffy Alexandra (89 KP) rated The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) in Books
May 31, 2019
The Characters (1 more)
The Plot
Ssssomething Ssspecial
Now, this is probably my favourite book out of all the series, one because of my love of reptiles and two it just has that sort of charm that steals you in and doesn’t let you leave!
Usually reptiles (snakes, etc) are the bad guys and are always portrayed in not the best light. Snicket has a fantastic way of turning this on its head (no spoilers, get reading the books). His wit, charm and eclectic use of the English language is fantastical, managing to just keep you turning those pages over and over again until you realise you’ve finished the book … then you just want to carry on reading the next book in the series.
The poor Orphans do suffer a lot at Snickets hand, and we are so intrigued as to how these three will cope and handle that rogue Count Olaf that you can’t help but follow their misadventures and misfortunes.
If you are a fan of misery, mystery and a lot of humour and wit these books are for you!
Usually reptiles (snakes, etc) are the bad guys and are always portrayed in not the best light. Snicket has a fantastic way of turning this on its head (no spoilers, get reading the books). His wit, charm and eclectic use of the English language is fantastical, managing to just keep you turning those pages over and over again until you realise you’ve finished the book … then you just want to carry on reading the next book in the series.
The poor Orphans do suffer a lot at Snickets hand, and we are so intrigued as to how these three will cope and handle that rogue Count Olaf that you can’t help but follow their misadventures and misfortunes.
If you are a fan of misery, mystery and a lot of humour and wit these books are for you!
Ande Thomas (69 KP) rated Ma (2019) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
There are a lot of instances where someone will complain about the whole movie being shown in the trailer and I just roll my eyes and move on. In general, I feel like it's more about how we get to the end of a story than it is about specific plot points or any twists there may be. In the case of Ma, however, I totally agree. It's not that there were any twists ruined or secrets revealed in the trailers, it's that the parts that weren't revealed were just filler. Literally nothing happened to expand on the presumptions we made about Ma. Every shocking part that would make us cringe as viewers was revealed before we even set foot in the theater. There's a good idea in here somewhere, it was just never allowed to bloom. Octavia Spencer is excellent, and I genuinely hope she takes more sinister roles from here on out. Truthfully, I can't fault any of the actors for their part. There just didn't turn out to be a whole lot to work with.
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Woman in the Window in Books
Jun 13, 2019 (Updated Jun 13, 2019)
Gripping unreliable narrator thriller
Housebound Anna Fox loves watching old movies and drinking a lot of wine, that is when she isn’t spying on her neighbours from out of the window. Not long after a new family move in Anna sees someone murdered but no one is willing to believe the drunk and that includes even Anna doubting what she saw.
There are a lot of unreliable narrator books around at the moment in the thriller genre and I think this is a solid addition, it’s a well written fast paced read. The plot doesn't seem to be anything groundbreaking and lacks in any real surprises in the plot but it’s very engagingly narrated. Maybe my love for staying in at home and drinking wine made this book speak to me but I found it engrossing and enjoyable. If your into old films you'll probably get a kick out of all the references to those as well.
Oh and net curtains when you are in a home that is overlooked why isn't that a thing....
There are a lot of unreliable narrator books around at the moment in the thriller genre and I think this is a solid addition, it’s a well written fast paced read. The plot doesn't seem to be anything groundbreaking and lacks in any real surprises in the plot but it’s very engagingly narrated. Maybe my love for staying in at home and drinking wine made this book speak to me but I found it engrossing and enjoyable. If your into old films you'll probably get a kick out of all the references to those as well.
Oh and net curtains when you are in a home that is overlooked why isn't that a thing....
Darkwriter1408 (8 KP) rated Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow (2014) in Movies
Jun 13, 2019
The actors (1 more)
The backing story
Had to be reinvented with a new name for the publicity
So with a story of an alien invasion in which a low tanker soldier finds himself dying but waking up the day previous every time he dies. Hence the name of the film. The film should have been really good, given that you have Hollywood superstar Tom cruise and is supported by Oscar nominee emiky blunt. But instead, the film falls short.
They spend a lot of time off of the battle field and in training and you see a lot of talking and very minimal action. The backing story for me is really good, or has the potential for it being really good. Spending most of there time running or talking in the film, cruise and blunt deliver there lines with perfect execution and I really feel that the film is let down by the writers imagination and the direction given in this film. I'd of given a higher rating if it was just that little bit more on the edge of your seat action.
They spend a lot of time off of the battle field and in training and you see a lot of talking and very minimal action. The backing story for me is really good, or has the potential for it being really good. Spending most of there time running or talking in the film, cruise and blunt deliver there lines with perfect execution and I really feel that the film is let down by the writers imagination and the direction given in this film. I'd of given a higher rating if it was just that little bit more on the edge of your seat action.
Dana (24 KP) rated The Gunslinger in Books
Mar 23, 2018
I feel like this book is gearing up for the others in the series. It is a lot of setting up the world and the characters' motivations and desires. Roland doesn't feel overly "there" in the world. It is kind of like he is in an in between place waiting for the other shoe to drop. Perhaps that is what is meant to be happening, if so, excellent writing.
I am excited to pick up the other books, I think there are seven? I think there is going to be a lot of epicness to come, but I am not quite sure where it is going to be. I am, however, excited to take that journey with Roland, the Man in Black, and everyone else.
I think the characters are well done, but I think I need to read more to really get to know them. but I can say I am excited to do so.
So, yeah. Overall, it was an okay book, but I am planning on reading more of them.
I am excited to pick up the other books, I think there are seven? I think there is going to be a lot of epicness to come, but I am not quite sure where it is going to be. I am, however, excited to take that journey with Roland, the Man in Black, and everyone else.
I think the characters are well done, but I think I need to read more to really get to know them. but I can say I am excited to do so.
So, yeah. Overall, it was an okay book, but I am planning on reading more of them.
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Two Steps Forward in Books
Mar 30, 2018
I feel like a walk....
Zoe's husband has died suddenly in LA, Martin has recently gone through an acrimonious divorce in England. They both find themselves on the Camino de Santiago, a 2,000km pilgrimage, in order to find themselves (or in Martins case, to see a walking cart!). They meet a lot of new friends and, of course, each other. I rally didn't think I'd like this, but I was hooked after the first couple of chapters. I think the details about the walking and accommodation at the start rally helped to set the scene. The scenery was beautifully described, and I really liked all of the characters (even the seemingly unlikeable ones).
There's loads of humour, I laughed a lot, and near the end I found myself becoming quite emotional.
The start may have been slow, but it gathered momentum, and I really felt as though the pace drew me in to the story.
A thoroughly enjoyable book!
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this!
There's loads of humour, I laughed a lot, and near the end I found myself becoming quite emotional.
The start may have been slow, but it gathered momentum, and I really felt as though the pace drew me in to the story.
A thoroughly enjoyable book!
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Lost Beneath Manhattan in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Ricky Kidd’s class trip to New York City turns into a disaster when he has to take his six-year-old brother with him. Joel is always disappearing, even at home, so Ricky is worried that Joel will do that on the trip. When an encounter with a security guard at a museum frightens him, Joel takes off, and Ricky begins to search for him. Where will the search lead him?
Author Sigmund Brower does a good job of making the premise believable. Of course, it doesn’t take much in a middle grade series for readers to root for the main characters to solve the crime. The book takes a little while to take off, but once it does, it never lets go until we reach the climax. The characters are a lot of fun; they get a lot of personality for a short book. Ricky wondering how God can allow suffering adds some depth to an already solid story.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-lost-beneath-manhattan-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Author Sigmund Brower does a good job of making the premise believable. Of course, it doesn’t take much in a middle grade series for readers to root for the main characters to solve the crime. The book takes a little while to take off, but once it does, it never lets go until we reach the climax. The characters are a lot of fun; they get a lot of personality for a short book. Ricky wondering how God can allow suffering adds some depth to an already solid story.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/09/book-review-lost-beneath-manhattan-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of LEGO Jurassic World in Video Games
Jun 11, 2018
Loads of fun
Having played Lego HP and been slightly frustrated about it, I hadn’t been expecting much from this. Especially as I didn’t realise that it contained all 4 films - I just thought it was the one for Jurassic World.
All I can say is I’m glad it has all 4 films. Although each film/level set is fairly short and doesn’t quite feature everything from the films, they’re still an awful lot of fun. I love the fact that it uses real dialogue from the films (sometimes randomly during a level which makes it even funnier) and the Lego versions of well known scenes are hilarious. The gameplay is a lot more action based and more interesting than the HP games, which makes it even more entertaining. My only criticism and this is being picky, is that the film plays down some of the darker elements especially of the first film. Whilst the lighter Lego alternative is pretty funny, part of me would have loved to see severed arms etc instead.
All I can say is I’m glad it has all 4 films. Although each film/level set is fairly short and doesn’t quite feature everything from the films, they’re still an awful lot of fun. I love the fact that it uses real dialogue from the films (sometimes randomly during a level which makes it even funnier) and the Lego versions of well known scenes are hilarious. The gameplay is a lot more action based and more interesting than the HP games, which makes it even more entertaining. My only criticism and this is being picky, is that the film plays down some of the darker elements especially of the first film. Whilst the lighter Lego alternative is pretty funny, part of me would have loved to see severed arms etc instead.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Star Trek Generations (1994) in Movies
Jun 6, 2018
Seventh big-screen Trek has a kind of contractually-obligatory, cobbled-together feel to it: everyone was expecting them to do something where the old lot met the new lot, so they did, even if it seems like they couldn't come up with much of an actual story to go with it. Various attempts are made to give this story added significance - Data gets his emotion chip, the ship blows up, Worf gets a promotion, recurring characters are killed off - but it all boils down to putting Picard and Kirk together, which happens late on and only quite briefly (that said, the two of them don't exactly have chemistry, so maybe this is for the best). William Shatner is oddly subdued as James T and the writers don't have the best handle on the character, either.
Still, looks nice and Malcolm McDowell is always good fun as a scenery-gobbling bad guy. But it adds to the impression that, as far as Paramount are concerned, the Trek movies in particular are more about maintaining a profitable franchise than actually doing something creatively interesting.
Still, looks nice and Malcolm McDowell is always good fun as a scenery-gobbling bad guy. But it adds to the impression that, as far as Paramount are concerned, the Trek movies in particular are more about maintaining a profitable franchise than actually doing something creatively interesting.
ClareR (5674 KP) rated The Ministry of Utmost Happiness in Books
Jul 11, 2018
This is a novel to take your time over. It wasn't written in a rush, and it really feels like it when you're reading it. I might even have to read it again. There are three or four separate stories which end up weaving their way together by the end of the novel.
We look at how Indians treat Anjum and her fellow Hijra, the political unrest in Kashmir and the atrocities that are committed by those who should know better. The latter is seen through the eyes of Tilo and the men who love her: Musa, Biplab and Naga.
A lot of this isn't comfortable reading at all. It is beautifully told, it's frustrating and it is teaching us a lot about what it is to be Indian, Kashmiri, Hijra, female and of a low caste. Some of it is unimaginably sad and seems hopeless; but we are left with a sliver of hope. And we have Anjum to thank for that, I think.
Many thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this beautiful book.
We look at how Indians treat Anjum and her fellow Hijra, the political unrest in Kashmir and the atrocities that are committed by those who should know better. The latter is seen through the eyes of Tilo and the men who love her: Musa, Biplab and Naga.
A lot of this isn't comfortable reading at all. It is beautifully told, it's frustrating and it is teaching us a lot about what it is to be Indian, Kashmiri, Hijra, female and of a low caste. Some of it is unimaginably sad and seems hopeless; but we are left with a sliver of hope. And we have Anjum to thank for that, I think.
Many thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this beautiful book.