Search
Search results
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Language of Secrets in Books
Apr 27, 2018
Justin Fisher was just an ordinary guy—he was a manager of a hotel, married with a son, and a great future ahead of him. But he decides that he must go back to his home, because he hasn’t spoken with his family in years.
When he arrives, his parents are dead—and his gravestone is beside theirs.
Justin embarks on an amazing terrifying journey of mystery, self discovery, and secrets to try to fix his broken past—or at least figure out who he is.
The Language of Secrets was powerful, ironic, and profound. I was instantly swept away by Dixon’s prose and illustrations. My jaw literally dropped as I read the opening paragraphs, the writing was so fluid and descriptive. It was all written in third person, but switched perspectives every few chapters.
Near the middle I felt like I was in the middle of two separate stories, and I wasn’t sure how they connected, but I knew they did because they were about the same characters. Watching the story unfold in almost a mystery-novel way was incredible: it was a complex series of events woven together expertly so that you can’t even find the seams.
I loved the ending. The Language of Secrets finishes up the story, concludes it, leaves you satisfied, and then throws something at you in the very last paragraph of the very last chapter that you didn’t expect. It sent my eyebrows to the ceiling and my jaw to the floor. I think my eyeballs are still rolling around on the ground somewhere.
The Language of Secrets was amazing—it’s staying on my shelf for a definite re-read.
Content: medium language, some violence, mention of sex but no details, mention of rape but no details.
Recommendation: Ages 16+
When he arrives, his parents are dead—and his gravestone is beside theirs.
Justin embarks on an amazing terrifying journey of mystery, self discovery, and secrets to try to fix his broken past—or at least figure out who he is.
The Language of Secrets was powerful, ironic, and profound. I was instantly swept away by Dixon’s prose and illustrations. My jaw literally dropped as I read the opening paragraphs, the writing was so fluid and descriptive. It was all written in third person, but switched perspectives every few chapters.
Near the middle I felt like I was in the middle of two separate stories, and I wasn’t sure how they connected, but I knew they did because they were about the same characters. Watching the story unfold in almost a mystery-novel way was incredible: it was a complex series of events woven together expertly so that you can’t even find the seams.
I loved the ending. The Language of Secrets finishes up the story, concludes it, leaves you satisfied, and then throws something at you in the very last paragraph of the very last chapter that you didn’t expect. It sent my eyebrows to the ceiling and my jaw to the floor. I think my eyeballs are still rolling around on the ground somewhere.
The Language of Secrets was amazing—it’s staying on my shelf for a definite re-read.
Content: medium language, some violence, mention of sex but no details, mention of rape but no details.
Recommendation: Ages 16+
Awix (3310 KP) rated King Kong Lives (1986) in Movies
Jun 15, 2018
Ape Sh*t
Inexplicably boring and frankly quite weird attempt to cash in on the Kong name: having survived being machine gunned off the top of the Twin Towers and falling five hundred metres onto concrete (and thus proving that some gorillas just can't take a hint), Kong is in a coma being looked after by Linda Hamilton, who should have read the script before signing on. A no-mark leading man is able to hunt up a female giant gorilla to help out with a blood transfusion, but when the two apes get it on and escape, there's panic all round.
History has seen many overly optimistic monster movies, but few quite as out-of-touch with reality as King Kong Lives. It's not just that the story is preposterous (it is), or that the special effects are terrible (they are), but that one of main emotional relationships at the heart of the story is realised through the medium of two stuntmen in not-great gorilla suits nuzzling up to each other in simulation of simian romance. Your mind rebels when it is exposed to this stuff. 'No,' comes the interior monologue, 'no. Even the big bird in The Giant Claw was more convincing than this. I object. I am on strike from this point on.' With your suspension of disbelief in full revolt, you are forced to watch the rest of the movie simply in 'how much worse can this possibly get?' mode. And the answer is: considerably. To be honest it's only the sheer badness of the movie that keeps it interesting; anything remotely competent is also rather dull. I don't think the 1976 version of King Kong is nearly as bad as most people say; it certainly looks like a classic compared to this.
History has seen many overly optimistic monster movies, but few quite as out-of-touch with reality as King Kong Lives. It's not just that the story is preposterous (it is), or that the special effects are terrible (they are), but that one of main emotional relationships at the heart of the story is realised through the medium of two stuntmen in not-great gorilla suits nuzzling up to each other in simulation of simian romance. Your mind rebels when it is exposed to this stuff. 'No,' comes the interior monologue, 'no. Even the big bird in The Giant Claw was more convincing than this. I object. I am on strike from this point on.' With your suspension of disbelief in full revolt, you are forced to watch the rest of the movie simply in 'how much worse can this possibly get?' mode. And the answer is: considerably. To be honest it's only the sheer badness of the movie that keeps it interesting; anything remotely competent is also rather dull. I don't think the 1976 version of King Kong is nearly as bad as most people say; it certainly looks like a classic compared to this.
Pumpka (57 KP) rated Wingspan in Tabletop Games
Aug 15, 2019
Replayability (4 more)
Family friendly
Easy to learn
Stunning components
Fun engine building
Wingspan, blown away again!
Wingspan continues to blow me away with each play. It’s not only very easy to teach but brings an element of engine building in a way I wasn’t expecting. Creating combos of birds that help you to make an efficient board for gaining points and scoring those all important end of round bonuses. Which change from game to game, giving wingspan replayablility in more than one way, each game encouraging you to employ new tactics. This prevents any style of meta gaming where “if you play this certain way, you will always win”!
I had the pleasure of teaching a family of two parents and two children, ages 7 and 10. Who all thoroughly enjoyed playing, the children loved the components as well as figuring out the bird combos for themselves. Having fun feeding the birds to bring them into their tableaux, the theme is well done like this. Everything fits well and hasn’t been “tacked on”. Even if you’re no bird fanatic, this game just feels lovely to play, and is honestly worth a shot if you ever have the chance to play.
The game also plays in a nice timescale, when you first start playing the game seems as if it may take a while. Then before you know it you’ve only got one action left! And it’s all over :) leaving time for another go!
Overall, a magnificent game. Although I must mention it is a light-weight game at that. IF you’re style of game is more meaty than light to medium weight. This one might not be for you entirely, BUT as I mentioned before, for the unique style of engine building, I’d highly encourage you to give it a go anyway! :)
I had the pleasure of teaching a family of two parents and two children, ages 7 and 10. Who all thoroughly enjoyed playing, the children loved the components as well as figuring out the bird combos for themselves. Having fun feeding the birds to bring them into their tableaux, the theme is well done like this. Everything fits well and hasn’t been “tacked on”. Even if you’re no bird fanatic, this game just feels lovely to play, and is honestly worth a shot if you ever have the chance to play.
The game also plays in a nice timescale, when you first start playing the game seems as if it may take a while. Then before you know it you’ve only got one action left! And it’s all over :) leaving time for another go!
Overall, a magnificent game. Although I must mention it is a light-weight game at that. IF you’re style of game is more meaty than light to medium weight. This one might not be for you entirely, BUT as I mentioned before, for the unique style of engine building, I’d highly encourage you to give it a go anyway! :)
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Curse Marked ( The Marked series book 1) in Books
Jan 31, 2020
Highly recommended
Contains spoilers, click to show
She doesn’t know anything about herself before the age of thirteen. Even the name she now answers to is not her own, but that isn’t the strangest thing about her.
Anne Smith was found on the steps of a homeless shelter with no memory of her life before that moment and a small tattoo-like mark in the center of her back that has grown and changed with each new moon. It’s been almost fifteen years, and the now the mark covers almost every inch of skin on her back.
With good reason, it’s impossible for her to let anyone in, to let anyone get close. Who would believe that her mark burns itself into her skin every twenty-eight days, leaving it larger than before? But, what if there was not only someone who believes her but has the answers to the questions that she desperately wants to ask? Would she finally be able to let people in?
The mark is almost complete. What will happen when there’s no more room left to grow?
Curse Marked is the first story in a medium-burn reverse harem series. Due to strong language and sexual situations, it is recommended for 18+.
I loved this book! I love the whole story! It's non stop action and so easy to follow and read in a good way. From Emelia finding her Uncle, his boyfriend to learning who she is and what she can do. Finding out her powers are so strong from the Dragon inside and the caster. I love her two mates although we hardly know Ronan yet I'm looking forward to getting to know him.
Finding her mother and the truth hoping she can form sort of relationship with her in future books.
Recommended
Anne Smith was found on the steps of a homeless shelter with no memory of her life before that moment and a small tattoo-like mark in the center of her back that has grown and changed with each new moon. It’s been almost fifteen years, and the now the mark covers almost every inch of skin on her back.
With good reason, it’s impossible for her to let anyone in, to let anyone get close. Who would believe that her mark burns itself into her skin every twenty-eight days, leaving it larger than before? But, what if there was not only someone who believes her but has the answers to the questions that she desperately wants to ask? Would she finally be able to let people in?
The mark is almost complete. What will happen when there’s no more room left to grow?
Curse Marked is the first story in a medium-burn reverse harem series. Due to strong language and sexual situations, it is recommended for 18+.
I loved this book! I love the whole story! It's non stop action and so easy to follow and read in a good way. From Emelia finding her Uncle, his boyfriend to learning who she is and what she can do. Finding out her powers are so strong from the Dragon inside and the caster. I love her two mates although we hardly know Ronan yet I'm looking forward to getting to know him.
Finding her mother and the truth hoping she can form sort of relationship with her in future books.
Recommended
Sundar Gutka
Book and Lifestyle
App
Khalsa Sundar Gutka contains the daily and extended Sikh Prayers also known as nitnem. The Sikh...
Utusan Malaysia
News and Magazines & Newspapers
App
Distinctive for its blue masthead as its logo and trademark, Utusan Malaysia was first created and...
What Fresh Lunacy is This?: The Authorized Biography of Oliver Reed
Book
Oliver Reed may not have been Britain's biggest film star - for a period in the early 70s he came...
Business Development For Dummies
Book
Growing a small business requires more than just sales Business Development For Dummies helps...
Jewish Drama & Theatre: From Rabbinical Intolerance to Secular Liberalism
Book
Jewish drama and theatre has followed a tortuous path from extreme rabbinical intolerance to...