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ClareR (5726 KP) rated My Mother’s Secret in Books

May 13, 2018 (Updated May 13, 2018)

My Mother’s Secret

Sanjida Kay | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller

9.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Lizzie Bradshaw witnessed a terrible crime and had to pay the ultimate price. Emma Taylor has a terrible secret that she seems to have hidden even from herself. Stella Taylor, Emma’s teenaged daughter, knows that something is going on with her mum.
This is such a good story with lots of twists and turns. It’s quite sad, really. Even when you think everything is going to be all right, well, it’s not.
I didn’t see the end coming at all!!
Kay writes teenagers really well: how confused they are, and ultimately, vulnerable. Speaking of vulnerability, Emma is a sad character who clearly has a lot of issues.
A very entertaining story.
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for their serialisations of this book, and the publisher Corvus for making it available!

Kudos

Elski (281 KP) rated Love, Simon (2018) in Movies

Nov 12, 2018

Love, Simon (2018)

2018 | Comedy, Drama, Romance

8.7

(59 Ratings)

Movie Rating

A teen angst rom-com for the modern age. It follows formula plot points well trodden except that Simon (played charmingly by Nick Robinson) is gay. This was a big step forward for a major studio such as 20th Century Fox to give it the mainstream film treatment it deserves.
There's some great music and a likeable cast, and plenty of humour.
On first watch you're kept guessing on who the mystery love interest Blue is and end up just as relieved/pleased as Simon when the truth is revealed.
Jennifer Garner as Simon's Mum gives a perfect speech at one point that makes me well up each time I see it. It stands up well to repeat viewings. A recommendation for anyone to watch, not just for teens.

Thanks to Smashbomb for the dvd!

Kudos

Roxanne (13 KP) rated The Grandparent's Book in Books

Nov 14, 2018

I borrowed this book from the library for my mum and dad to read but i thought I would read it too so we could all talk about it. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, it is packed full of information for not just grandparents but parents as well. It has sections which answer some probing questions you might have (questions that real people in real situations have asked the author)which I found very helpful. The book covers pretty much everything you would need to know about the child-parent-grandparent relationship, I can't actually think of anything that it might have missed...very thorough. It covers everything from emotions, relationships, financial aid, education, health issues and many other useful topics. I highly recommend this book to all grandparents.

Kudos

Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Snapchat in Apps

Nov 14, 2019 (Updated Nov 15, 2019)

Snapchat

Communication, Photo & Video, Social Networking

7.4

(180 Ratings)

App Rating

Downhill

I used to quite like Snapchat, but in all honesty, i was put off by the location feature. This showed where all your Snapchat friends were and was at risk of being hacked, so I instantly deleted the app. My worry was intensified when police came round out local college to warn parent, and tell them how to deactivate it. It does seem like an easy bullying or abuse tool now, if misused, and I did not like how the function is automatically on, and no clear instructions were given as to how to turn it off.
The idea is a nice one, but just not safe or practical. I no longer use the app and have no plans to reinstall unless it is made safer.
Sorry for the mum-rant.

Kudos

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Non-Heir (The Black Mage #0.5) in Books

Feb 7, 2020

Non-Heir (The Black Mage #0.5)

Rachel E Carter | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Prince. Prodigy. Mage. Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Falling Kingdoms, and Tamora Pierce.

This prequel novella is set before the events of The Black Mage series. Novella follows Prince Darren as a child through adolescence and his first run-in with Ryiah at the Academy of Magic. Readers discover the dark backstory between the two princes and their father, as well as the ensuing events that shaped Darren into the Academy’s most illustrious mage.

I found this just in time I was about to start First year. I found the king's treatment of his boys so awful I struggled with the violence of it (think it's the mum in me lol). I'm excited to see where this story goes as a prequel it was pretty good. Think I'm going to like this series.