Search
Search results
Melanie Caldicott (6 KP) rated 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World in Books
Apr 29, 2021
You can also read my review at my blog - https://roamingthroughbooks.wordpress.com
I saw this book reviewed on The Sky Arts Book Club and Shafak was interviewed and I think I fell a little in love. Shafak is a beautiful human being who is currently self-exiled from Turkey to the content of her novels being subject to investigation as part of a legal movement in which writers are frequently prosecuted. A passionate storyteller, who writes openly about human rights, her protagonists are often the fallen, forgotten and marginalised. Needless to say I have been looking forward to reading this ever since.
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World is a novel about a murdered street walker, Tequila Leila and the last moments of brain activity that is said to occur after the heart has stopped beating. The memories of her life flood back, often related to taste and smell and we start to learn about the story of her life.
Central to her memories and providing a backbone to her life were The Five, – five people with which she formed close, integral friendships and in the absence of her blood relatives, are Leila’s “family”.
The book is structured around three parts – the first, The Mind telling the stories of her post-mortem memories, the second, The Body about how she was murdered and the impact it has on The Five, and finally, The Soul which is a touching finale in which The Five determine to give Leila the send-off she deserves.
Shafak is such a clever storyteller and is able to illuminate aspects of humanity which is often avoided or ignored, which make us feel uncomfortable, and yet her tenderness and compassion shine through the portrayal of all her characters enabling the reader to walk a mile in the shoes of those who are often forgotten.
For a book centred around death, an issue that rarely sits comfortably with human beings, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World confronts it without fear. She skilfully takes a sex worker’s body which is disregarded in its anonymity by those that are responsible for sweeping up the detritus of the Istanbul streets, and reveals a story of a life, full of tragedy, joy and love.
I love how Elif Shafak takes the stories of all of The Five and transforms the insignificant to the significant through the love they have for Leila and each other. In a society which elevates the rich and famous and makes their voices the loudest and most significant in the world, I loved the truth which was affirmed in this book about what a life of substance really means.
I saw this book reviewed on The Sky Arts Book Club and Shafak was interviewed and I think I fell a little in love. Shafak is a beautiful human being who is currently self-exiled from Turkey to the content of her novels being subject to investigation as part of a legal movement in which writers are frequently prosecuted. A passionate storyteller, who writes openly about human rights, her protagonists are often the fallen, forgotten and marginalised. Needless to say I have been looking forward to reading this ever since.
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World is a novel about a murdered street walker, Tequila Leila and the last moments of brain activity that is said to occur after the heart has stopped beating. The memories of her life flood back, often related to taste and smell and we start to learn about the story of her life.
Central to her memories and providing a backbone to her life were The Five, – five people with which she formed close, integral friendships and in the absence of her blood relatives, are Leila’s “family”.
The book is structured around three parts – the first, The Mind telling the stories of her post-mortem memories, the second, The Body about how she was murdered and the impact it has on The Five, and finally, The Soul which is a touching finale in which The Five determine to give Leila the send-off she deserves.
Shafak is such a clever storyteller and is able to illuminate aspects of humanity which is often avoided or ignored, which make us feel uncomfortable, and yet her tenderness and compassion shine through the portrayal of all her characters enabling the reader to walk a mile in the shoes of those who are often forgotten.
For a book centred around death, an issue that rarely sits comfortably with human beings, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World confronts it without fear. She skilfully takes a sex worker’s body which is disregarded in its anonymity by those that are responsible for sweeping up the detritus of the Istanbul streets, and reveals a story of a life, full of tragedy, joy and love.
I love how Elif Shafak takes the stories of all of The Five and transforms the insignificant to the significant through the love they have for Leila and each other. In a society which elevates the rich and famous and makes their voices the loudest and most significant in the world, I loved the truth which was affirmed in this book about what a life of substance really means.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Stop the World in Books
Nov 26, 2019
17 year old Jody appears to have everything. She is popular in school, a beauty queen, engaged to the most eligable boy in town and living in a close family unit with her parents. But after she is paralysed in a car crash, and the finger of blame is pointed at her, she loses everything.
This book then is her story from that fateful moment and how she rebuilds her life, not as it was before but into something new and better. On the way she must fight through every emotional and physical low and push herself further than she thought possible in both mind and body. A modern allegory, this shows that no matter what set backs life throws at you, there is always a light if you know where to look.
Jody as the narrator of her own tale is a great character, her thoughts even at the bleakest moments are always worth attention and Sherry Mayes does an excellent job of portraying her struggle. Jody comes to recognise her own flaws as well as those of the people around her and learns to cope with them. The result is an extremely positive and uplifting novel.
The other characters are also terrific - her parents are well drawn, with their own demons that she has been blind to for 17 years. Particularly strong and amusing is her physiotherapist who is extremely blunt and no-nonsense and never fails to provoke a smile in both Jody and the reader.
The story ticks along at a great pace but always taking the time to focus on how Jody's actions affect those around her (and vice versa) and her thoughts as she struggles with events.
This book is for anyone who wants to read something that is in turns inspiring, emotional, gritty, heartwarming and funny. This is quite simply one of the best books I have ever read
This book then is her story from that fateful moment and how she rebuilds her life, not as it was before but into something new and better. On the way she must fight through every emotional and physical low and push herself further than she thought possible in both mind and body. A modern allegory, this shows that no matter what set backs life throws at you, there is always a light if you know where to look.
Jody as the narrator of her own tale is a great character, her thoughts even at the bleakest moments are always worth attention and Sherry Mayes does an excellent job of portraying her struggle. Jody comes to recognise her own flaws as well as those of the people around her and learns to cope with them. The result is an extremely positive and uplifting novel.
The other characters are also terrific - her parents are well drawn, with their own demons that she has been blind to for 17 years. Particularly strong and amusing is her physiotherapist who is extremely blunt and no-nonsense and never fails to provoke a smile in both Jody and the reader.
The story ticks along at a great pace but always taking the time to focus on how Jody's actions affect those around her (and vice versa) and her thoughts as she struggles with events.
This book is for anyone who wants to read something that is in turns inspiring, emotional, gritty, heartwarming and funny. This is quite simply one of the best books I have ever read
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated The Tell Tail Heart in Books
Jul 21, 2019
Off Season Murder and an Approaching Storm
Things on Daybreak Island have gotten quieter now that it has entered November and the season is officially over. Maddie James is delighted to find that she still has a few locals who drop into her cat cafe. But she’s really surprised about the man who came in, paid for a week in advance, and spends most of his time working on his laptop surrounded by the cats. However, things get interesting when a woman shows up and announces that she believes JJ, Maddie’s cat, is really her cat. Naturally, the encounter upsets Maddie, but it is soon pushed to the back of her mind when a body is found floating in the water next to the yacht club. With a Nor’easter approaching the island, will that interfere with the investigation into the death?
I found it fun to visit this island during the off season, not that it keeps the book from being any less exciting. In fact, there is quite a bit happening here, and it takes some time for Maddie to unravel what relates to the murder and what is just red herring. By the time she does that and we reach the exciting climax, everything makes perfect sense. One of the minor characters in the series really steps into the spotlight with this book, and I enjoyed getting to learn more about him. The suspects are strong, and I loved spending time with the series regulars again. I’m already anxious for the next book to see how the ending of this one is resolved. This is another fun, charming entry in the series.
I found it fun to visit this island during the off season, not that it keeps the book from being any less exciting. In fact, there is quite a bit happening here, and it takes some time for Maddie to unravel what relates to the murder and what is just red herring. By the time she does that and we reach the exciting climax, everything makes perfect sense. One of the minor characters in the series really steps into the spotlight with this book, and I enjoyed getting to learn more about him. The suspects are strong, and I loved spending time with the series regulars again. I’m already anxious for the next book to see how the ending of this one is resolved. This is another fun, charming entry in the series.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated Salt Water Wounds in Books
Aug 19, 2022 (Updated Aug 19, 2022)
Facing Wounds from the Past and Danger in the Present
It’s been two months since Hurricane Irma devastated the island of St. John, and in that time, Sabrina Salter and her friends have been trying to figure out how they are going to rebuild. Sabrina’s grandmother has some contacts back in the Boston area that will be able to help them get supplies, and she has asked Sabrina to join her so they can begin to search for Sabrina’s mother, who abandoned her as a toddler. Meanwhile, two explosions on St. John leave behind a dead body and danger for the friends Sabrina is leaving behind. Will they figure out what happened in the past and what is happening in the present?
If you are new to the series, know that this book will mean much more if you read it in order. We are seeing developments in several storylines we’ve followed since the beginning. While the two stories do start and end together, in many ways, we are seeing two parallel plots in this book. Both were compelling for different reasons, and I had a hard time putting the book down, reading the last third when I really intended to be doing something else. Elements of the climax are rushed, although that is a minor thing. Sabrina gets some wonderful character development here, and it’s great to see the rest of the cast again. This is a step away from the cozies I typically read, so keep that in mind before you pick up the book. If you are a fan, you’ll be happy with Sabrina’s latest adventure.
If you are new to the series, know that this book will mean much more if you read it in order. We are seeing developments in several storylines we’ve followed since the beginning. While the two stories do start and end together, in many ways, we are seeing two parallel plots in this book. Both were compelling for different reasons, and I had a hard time putting the book down, reading the last third when I really intended to be doing something else. Elements of the climax are rushed, although that is a minor thing. Sabrina gets some wonderful character development here, and it’s great to see the rest of the cast again. This is a step away from the cozies I typically read, so keep that in mind before you pick up the book. If you are a fan, you’ll be happy with Sabrina’s latest adventure.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Astonishing Color of After in Books
Apr 27, 2018
*some minor spoilers
I was compelled to finish this book, despite not loving it... and There were some things about this book that really irritated me.
First, I really didn't like the characters. Kinda hard to love the book when you don't like the characters.
The mom, Dory, I could relate to. Depression is a dangerous disease that steals your body and your life.
The dad was a horrible person... rude, disrespectful, unthoughtful, and uncaring about his daughter and her passions. Maybe I'm biased because I love art, but who in their right mind tells their kid to stop doing art.
And then, at the end, when suddenly he is encouraging her that she has a gift and that her mom would be proud? Like, okay, mom dies and suddenly you're not an asshole anymore? What?
There were a lot of flashbacks, and memories, and not a whole lot of plot. I think it could have been spread better. There were whole sections where she was just having flashbacks and it was annoying.
The romance aspect was somewhat uncomfortable... like it was too much of a struggle for Pan to write it. It didn't flow well. Maybe that was the point. To be awkward.
It got a little better near the end and I was like : (insert "now kiss" meme here)
I kind of expected Phon (spelling? I listened to the audiobook) to be her aunt, so that wasn't much of a surprise. But the reveal was fun and clever.
The writing was beautiful, and the color aspect was interesting. Like I said, I felt compelled to finish it, but I found myself irritated while I was listening.
I did relate to the author's note about re-writing her novel multiple times though...
And the end of the book felt good... I had a feeling all Lee's visions would become her final series of art, and I'm happy with it.
Recommend to ages 13+. Very little language.
I was compelled to finish this book, despite not loving it... and There were some things about this book that really irritated me.
First, I really didn't like the characters. Kinda hard to love the book when you don't like the characters.
The mom, Dory, I could relate to. Depression is a dangerous disease that steals your body and your life.
The dad was a horrible person... rude, disrespectful, unthoughtful, and uncaring about his daughter and her passions. Maybe I'm biased because I love art, but who in their right mind tells their kid to stop doing art.
And then, at the end, when suddenly he is encouraging her that she has a gift and that her mom would be proud? Like, okay, mom dies and suddenly you're not an asshole anymore? What?
There were a lot of flashbacks, and memories, and not a whole lot of plot. I think it could have been spread better. There were whole sections where she was just having flashbacks and it was annoying.
The romance aspect was somewhat uncomfortable... like it was too much of a struggle for Pan to write it. It didn't flow well. Maybe that was the point. To be awkward.
It got a little better near the end and I was like : (insert "now kiss" meme here)
I kind of expected Phon (spelling? I listened to the audiobook) to be her aunt, so that wasn't much of a surprise. But the reveal was fun and clever.
The writing was beautiful, and the color aspect was interesting. Like I said, I felt compelled to finish it, but I found myself irritated while I was listening.
I did relate to the author's note about re-writing her novel multiple times though...
And the end of the book felt good... I had a feeling all Lee's visions would become her final series of art, and I'm happy with it.
Recommend to ages 13+. Very little language.
Little Ray Of Sunshine (41 KP) rated The Protector in Books
Jan 11, 2019 (Updated Feb 10, 2019)
Book Review | The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas
I love Jodi Ellen Malpas books I've read This man trilogy 3 months ago here is the book review for this here http://bit.ly/2fv5RN0.
Wow, what can I say this book is worth the purchase ;)
The story is about a beautiful spoiled daddy's girl Camille Logan but there is more to meet the eye she wants her life free from her dad's money and she wants to be more independent and earn her own money. Her father is a businessman but he gets himself into some dodgy dealing and starts having enemies around him. Her father Trevor Logan receives a blackmailing letter if he doesn't do what they say they would kidnap his daughter. So Logan hires a bodyguard for Camille and his an ex-SAS sniper Jake Sharp. Wow, his everything women wish for tall dark haired and built like a god ;). Camille doesn't like that she as to have him around everywhere she goes but she can deny the attraction she gets from him.
But Jake Sharp as his own personal problems from his past what are still running through his mind and he can jeopardise his job by letting his guard down and let Camille in body and soul ;) but Jake didn't really expect her to be warm and independent as he feels she will be a spoiled daddy's girl but soon he realise what she really likes and he can stop his feelings for her but women and Jake don't mix well but he soon realise that she not like other women he's slept with.
I really love this book it really gripped with the chemistry between Camille and Jake but I love how Jodi Ellen Malpas brings in the thrilling story and you questioning through the book who wants to harm Trevor and his daughter Camille.
Its worth every penny I hope there is a second book because their stories as grabbed me and I want more :)
Thank you for writing this book Jodi x
Wow, what can I say this book is worth the purchase ;)
The story is about a beautiful spoiled daddy's girl Camille Logan but there is more to meet the eye she wants her life free from her dad's money and she wants to be more independent and earn her own money. Her father is a businessman but he gets himself into some dodgy dealing and starts having enemies around him. Her father Trevor Logan receives a blackmailing letter if he doesn't do what they say they would kidnap his daughter. So Logan hires a bodyguard for Camille and his an ex-SAS sniper Jake Sharp. Wow, his everything women wish for tall dark haired and built like a god ;). Camille doesn't like that she as to have him around everywhere she goes but she can deny the attraction she gets from him.
But Jake Sharp as his own personal problems from his past what are still running through his mind and he can jeopardise his job by letting his guard down and let Camille in body and soul ;) but Jake didn't really expect her to be warm and independent as he feels she will be a spoiled daddy's girl but soon he realise what she really likes and he can stop his feelings for her but women and Jake don't mix well but he soon realise that she not like other women he's slept with.
I really love this book it really gripped with the chemistry between Camille and Jake but I love how Jodi Ellen Malpas brings in the thrilling story and you questioning through the book who wants to harm Trevor and his daughter Camille.
Its worth every penny I hope there is a second book because their stories as grabbed me and I want more :)
Thank you for writing this book Jodi x
Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated Shadow Souls (The Vampire Diaries: The Return, #2) in Books
Dec 30, 2019
This is my review on Amazon.com:
I have to be honest. This book was actually better than The Return: Nightfall (Vampire Diaries). Sadly, this does not prevent it from being a horrible book.
This book was all over the place and the plot was barely coherent.
Here's the deal: Damon was possessed at the behest of Hot Topic rejects, Misao and Shinichi. This led him to tricking Stefan into going into a place called the Dark Dimension. Elena gets over floating like a balloon to team up with Damon to get him back.
Caroline is still possessed and trying to have Matt arrested for assaulting her. I have to say that the parts with Caroline were the only things remotely interesting about the book. Unfortunately the Matt/Caroline?Mrs Flowers scenes were shoved aside in favor of feeble attempts at eroticism with Damon and Elena.
Stefan and Elena bored me. Every time Elena had an out-of-body experience, I grit my teeth at the insipid dialogue and promised my brain Milk Duds to soothe the loss of brain cells.
Bonnie and Meredith? Strictly on the sidelines and BORING. Meredith was one of my favorite characters and now she's been reduced to generic friend. Ugh.
Another thing that bothered me was the unhealthy obsession with the ideas of purity and virginity. Elena is a virgin. Uh, okay and this is a secret WHY?
Also, readers do not need it pounded into their heads how hot Elena is. Seriously, it seemed like every five pages I was subjected to how awesomely and mind-blowingly hot she is. COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY!
Oh, and THE END *deep breath*... This could have been a shocking and heart-wrenching development, but for some reason LJS decided to play it for comedy. This left me feeling overtly hostile to the book and not at all looking forward to the next installation.
The thing is, LJS did better. I expect better of her. Come on! This is the woman who wrote Secret Vampire (Night World)!
I have to be honest. This book was actually better than The Return: Nightfall (Vampire Diaries). Sadly, this does not prevent it from being a horrible book.
This book was all over the place and the plot was barely coherent.
Here's the deal: Damon was possessed at the behest of Hot Topic rejects, Misao and Shinichi. This led him to tricking Stefan into going into a place called the Dark Dimension. Elena gets over floating like a balloon to team up with Damon to get him back.
Caroline is still possessed and trying to have Matt arrested for assaulting her. I have to say that the parts with Caroline were the only things remotely interesting about the book. Unfortunately the Matt/Caroline?Mrs Flowers scenes were shoved aside in favor of feeble attempts at eroticism with Damon and Elena.
Stefan and Elena bored me. Every time Elena had an out-of-body experience, I grit my teeth at the insipid dialogue and promised my brain Milk Duds to soothe the loss of brain cells.
Bonnie and Meredith? Strictly on the sidelines and BORING. Meredith was one of my favorite characters and now she's been reduced to generic friend. Ugh.
Another thing that bothered me was the unhealthy obsession with the ideas of purity and virginity. Elena is a virgin. Uh, okay and this is a secret WHY?
Also, readers do not need it pounded into their heads how hot Elena is. Seriously, it seemed like every five pages I was subjected to how awesomely and mind-blowingly hot she is. COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY!
Oh, and THE END *deep breath*... This could have been a shocking and heart-wrenching development, but for some reason LJS decided to play it for comedy. This left me feeling overtly hostile to the book and not at all looking forward to the next installation.
The thing is, LJS did better. I expect better of her. Come on! This is the woman who wrote Secret Vampire (Night World)!
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Murder of Crows (The Others, #2) in Books
Jul 16, 2020
It's been a handful of months since I read the first book in this series and I had to go and read my review of it so I could remember enough to get really into this.
This picks up not long after the first one. Meg is still working in the liaison office, accepting parcels for the Others in the courtyard and getting over the events of her almost dying. As a cassandra sangue - a blood prophet, she still has the urge to cut when pins and needles sensations take over her body and in doing so she sees black feathers in snow - Crow feathers. It foretells a coming war between humans and the Others and by reading some of their history, I am definitely on the Others side in this.
There's also a few scenes involving Meg's old handler. It seems he still wants her back and the Others are determined to track him down as his crimes and those like him escalate to almost unforgivable proportions.
The author doesn't mind writing some gory scenes and towards the end of this book, it was a little graphic in the violence.
One thing I was hoping for - a romance between Meg and Simon - seems to be brewing. It's a little awkward because Meg's never had a relationship before and isn't sure how to interact with him and Simon has never really done anything with a human before so they both try and stay as friends, though feelings are clearly starting to emerge.
There's something with this series. It hasn't completely grabbed my attention - I sometimes skip paragraphs! - but I want to read it and when I am reading it, I find it hard to put down. I want these characters to defeat every obstacle, I want them to be on top, to win.
I will be continuing the series at some point.
This picks up not long after the first one. Meg is still working in the liaison office, accepting parcels for the Others in the courtyard and getting over the events of her almost dying. As a cassandra sangue - a blood prophet, she still has the urge to cut when pins and needles sensations take over her body and in doing so she sees black feathers in snow - Crow feathers. It foretells a coming war between humans and the Others and by reading some of their history, I am definitely on the Others side in this.
There's also a few scenes involving Meg's old handler. It seems he still wants her back and the Others are determined to track him down as his crimes and those like him escalate to almost unforgivable proportions.
The author doesn't mind writing some gory scenes and towards the end of this book, it was a little graphic in the violence.
One thing I was hoping for - a romance between Meg and Simon - seems to be brewing. It's a little awkward because Meg's never had a relationship before and isn't sure how to interact with him and Simon has never really done anything with a human before so they both try and stay as friends, though feelings are clearly starting to emerge.
There's something with this series. It hasn't completely grabbed my attention - I sometimes skip paragraphs! - but I want to read it and when I am reading it, I find it hard to put down. I want these characters to defeat every obstacle, I want them to be on top, to win.
I will be continuing the series at some point.
Midge (525 KP) rated SEAL's Homecoming in Books
Jan 31, 2019 (Updated Jan 31, 2019)
Hot romance (2 more)
Great lead characters
Action and suspense
A Delightful, Sexy Must Read!
I absolutely adored this wonderful, hot, little romance from the very beginning.
Chance McCallister is a Navy SEAL with dark brown eyes a perfectly honed body and likes sprucing up classic cars. He and his brothers have returned to their home town of Springwell, Georgia for their father’s funeral. Chance buys the car parts from the garage that his ex-girlfriend owns, who he is trying to avoid and hasn’t seen for twelve years. No problem, unless things start to get complicated....
Enter Mandy Loomis, a stunning, petite, curvy, russet-haired beauty, to whom he lost his virginity and who he thought he’d marry until she ripped out his heart just before he left for the Navy. Mandy’s gambler father died two years ago, leaving her the garage family business and a whole load of related debt, owed to a loan shark.
To Mandy, Chance was her childhood sweetheart who abandoned her 12 years ago. Then he was 18 years old, now she is drowning in lust for him and he is bigger, stronger and even sexier, with an aura of danger and a reputation of fighter and predator. Just as the two are beginning to realize they could have a future together, the loan shark starts to make some serious trouble for them, putting both their love and their lives in danger.
Although Chance has a bad-boy image, I loved the sexy chemistry between him and Mandy whenever they were together and they were both very likeable characters. Mandy is bright, ambitious, fiercely independent and very much knows her own mind. Chance is gorgeous and his actions are always carried out with good intentions.
"SEAL’s Homecoming" is a short fast-paced read with lots of action, some suspense and plenty of lust and love. Leslie North has written another brilliant story that was sweet and captivating to the end and loads of fun to read.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to Hidden Gems and the author, Leslie North, for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
Chance McCallister is a Navy SEAL with dark brown eyes a perfectly honed body and likes sprucing up classic cars. He and his brothers have returned to their home town of Springwell, Georgia for their father’s funeral. Chance buys the car parts from the garage that his ex-girlfriend owns, who he is trying to avoid and hasn’t seen for twelve years. No problem, unless things start to get complicated....
Enter Mandy Loomis, a stunning, petite, curvy, russet-haired beauty, to whom he lost his virginity and who he thought he’d marry until she ripped out his heart just before he left for the Navy. Mandy’s gambler father died two years ago, leaving her the garage family business and a whole load of related debt, owed to a loan shark.
To Mandy, Chance was her childhood sweetheart who abandoned her 12 years ago. Then he was 18 years old, now she is drowning in lust for him and he is bigger, stronger and even sexier, with an aura of danger and a reputation of fighter and predator. Just as the two are beginning to realize they could have a future together, the loan shark starts to make some serious trouble for them, putting both their love and their lives in danger.
Although Chance has a bad-boy image, I loved the sexy chemistry between him and Mandy whenever they were together and they were both very likeable characters. Mandy is bright, ambitious, fiercely independent and very much knows her own mind. Chance is gorgeous and his actions are always carried out with good intentions.
"SEAL’s Homecoming" is a short fast-paced read with lots of action, some suspense and plenty of lust and love. Leslie North has written another brilliant story that was sweet and captivating to the end and loads of fun to read.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to Hidden Gems and the author, Leslie North, for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Lifeforce (1985) in Movies
Oct 22, 2020
Fun fact - this is the second film I've seen where a female character uses Patrick Stewart's body to communicate with someone. Maybe this is some kind of niche sub-genre I'm just discovering...
Lifeforce is a film of three parts - it's one part sci-fi, one part British thriller, and one part ridiculous end-of-the-world horror, in that precise order.
The sci-fi part is decent enough, where a space crew discovers a strange object near Halley's comet, and further inspection reveals giant bats and sleeping naked humans in crystal coffins that turn out to weird space vampires (so on board with this ridiculous plot). It has a great aesthetic and some good special effects (keeping in mind this movie came out in 1985). The puppetry when some of the space-vampire victims come back to life is awesome.
Then the film shifts to Colonels Caine (Peter Firth) and Carlsen (Steve Railsback) as they track down one of the escaped aliens through London, whilst it kills and shapeshifts to it's hearts content.
This portion is slower, but Lifeforce has an engaging screenplay, and boasts a cast good enough to keep things entertaing. Patrick Stewart, Frank Finlay, Mathilda May, and John Hallam amongst others provide a solid ensemble that ensures the film doesn't fall into silly territory.
Everything leads up to the absurd finale however. London is completely aflame, hordes of vampire zombie things flood the street, there are bodies everywhere, shit is blowing up, vampire aliens are being vanquished with giant swords, people are being thrown out of helicopters - Tobe Hooper doesn't fuck about with this kind of stuff, and Lifeforce has a final sequence that puts a lot of other horror films to shame, and looks fantastic. It's glorious - This sci-fi-horror gem is well worth checking out.
Lifeforce is a film of three parts - it's one part sci-fi, one part British thriller, and one part ridiculous end-of-the-world horror, in that precise order.
The sci-fi part is decent enough, where a space crew discovers a strange object near Halley's comet, and further inspection reveals giant bats and sleeping naked humans in crystal coffins that turn out to weird space vampires (so on board with this ridiculous plot). It has a great aesthetic and some good special effects (keeping in mind this movie came out in 1985). The puppetry when some of the space-vampire victims come back to life is awesome.
Then the film shifts to Colonels Caine (Peter Firth) and Carlsen (Steve Railsback) as they track down one of the escaped aliens through London, whilst it kills and shapeshifts to it's hearts content.
This portion is slower, but Lifeforce has an engaging screenplay, and boasts a cast good enough to keep things entertaing. Patrick Stewart, Frank Finlay, Mathilda May, and John Hallam amongst others provide a solid ensemble that ensures the film doesn't fall into silly territory.
Everything leads up to the absurd finale however. London is completely aflame, hordes of vampire zombie things flood the street, there are bodies everywhere, shit is blowing up, vampire aliens are being vanquished with giant swords, people are being thrown out of helicopters - Tobe Hooper doesn't fuck about with this kind of stuff, and Lifeforce has a final sequence that puts a lot of other horror films to shame, and looks fantastic. It's glorious - This sci-fi-horror gem is well worth checking out.