Search
Search results
David McK (3562 KP) rated Around the world in 80 days in TV
Jan 30, 2022
Around the world in 80 days.
One of Jules Vernes most famous novels, and the inspiration for many a movie (and even a 80s cartoon).
I've never seen or heard of a TV series until this one, which - in retrospect - actually surprised me quite a bit, as you think the story would (and does) lend itself perfectly to the episodic nature of the journey.
This adaptation stars David Tennant in the lead role, alongside strong support from Ibrahim Koma as the French valet Passepartout and Leonie Benesch as the gender flipped/reimagined journalist Abigail Fix (instead of Inspector Fix), while still keeping its late Victorian setting.
Yes, you know how it is going to end.
Still very enjoyable!
One of Jules Vernes most famous novels, and the inspiration for many a movie (and even a 80s cartoon).
I've never seen or heard of a TV series until this one, which - in retrospect - actually surprised me quite a bit, as you think the story would (and does) lend itself perfectly to the episodic nature of the journey.
This adaptation stars David Tennant in the lead role, alongside strong support from Ibrahim Koma as the French valet Passepartout and Leonie Benesch as the gender flipped/reimagined journalist Abigail Fix (instead of Inspector Fix), while still keeping its late Victorian setting.
Yes, you know how it is going to end.
Still very enjoyable!
College Days (Reagalos #0.5)
Book
Lornyc is good at keeping secrets, because secrets can get you kicked out of College. Lornyc...
MM Fantasy Romance
David McK (3562 KP) rated Aliens: Earth Hive in Books
Jan 30, 2019 (Updated Jun 25, 2023)
"In space, no-one can hear you scream ..."
Spin-off from Aliens in which I kinda get the impression they were released before Ali3n - definitely before Resurrection - as they're very much modeled on Aliens (that's the second one: the one with the 'S'). While, for spin-off novels, they're actually not that bad, they're also not going to win any awards for literature, or set the world on fire!
(edit: a little bit of background research shows exactly that: that the story was written after Aliens, but before Alien3: indeed, the release of that later movie necessitated some changes being made in how this was planned, replacing Newt with Billie andHicks with Wilks)
Spin-off from Aliens in which I kinda get the impression they were released before Ali3n - definitely before Resurrection - as they're very much modeled on Aliens (that's the second one: the one with the 'S'). While, for spin-off novels, they're actually not that bad, they're also not going to win any awards for literature, or set the world on fire!
(edit: a little bit of background research shows exactly that: that the story was written after Aliens, but before Alien3: indeed, the release of that later movie necessitated some changes being made in how this was planned, replacing Newt with Billie andHicks with Wilks)
David McK (3562 KP) rated Ravenheart (Rigante #3) in Books
May 5, 2024
Book 3 (of 4) in the Rigante series, moving the events on some centuries after those of "Sword in the Storm" and "Midnight Falcon".
I think it's generally accepted that the Rigante are Gemmell's equivalent of the Scots, and that this book and its subsequent sequel are his interpretation of the wars fought by the Scottish Highlanders against the invading English (whereas the earlier two books were more like their wars against Rome).
As in most of his works, the novel deals with the notions of redemption and the nature of both good and evil, and has a strong central protagonist plagued by doubt. Worth reading? Assuredly yes (though I'd say that about nearly all his novels)
I think it's generally accepted that the Rigante are Gemmell's equivalent of the Scots, and that this book and its subsequent sequel are his interpretation of the wars fought by the Scottish Highlanders against the invading English (whereas the earlier two books were more like their wars against Rome).
As in most of his works, the novel deals with the notions of redemption and the nature of both good and evil, and has a strong central protagonist plagued by doubt. Worth reading? Assuredly yes (though I'd say that about nearly all his novels)
ClareR (5906 KP) rated Absolution in Books
May 30, 2025
After reading Annihilation, I jumped straight to Absolution - I haven’t read the second and third books, but they’re sat on my kindle!
Annihilation is in three parts: Dead Town (20 years before Area X); The False Daughter (18 months before Area X), which deals with the aftermath of what happened in Dead Town; and The First and Last, the first formal expedition into Area X, 18 months before its creation.
This is a weird and wonderful book: experimental, jam packed with horror and it left me constantly on edge. How on Earth someone can come up with these ideas, I have no idea. I’m certainly glad that Jeff VanderMeer is around and writing novels like this, though!
Annihilation is in three parts: Dead Town (20 years before Area X); The False Daughter (18 months before Area X), which deals with the aftermath of what happened in Dead Town; and The First and Last, the first formal expedition into Area X, 18 months before its creation.
This is a weird and wonderful book: experimental, jam packed with horror and it left me constantly on edge. How on Earth someone can come up with these ideas, I have no idea. I’m certainly glad that Jeff VanderMeer is around and writing novels like this, though!
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Dear Mr. M in Books
Feb 13, 2018
"M" is a famous writer whose best days are probably, if truth be told, behind him. He's best known for his novel, Payback, which tells the story of a high school history teacher, Mr. Landzaat, who went missing one winter after having an affair with one of his female students. That student, Laura, had moved on to a relationship with a boy her own age, Herman. The two were staying at a vacation cottage and were the last ones to see their teacher. Did they have something to do with his disappearance? Now, M lives with his beautiful (much younger) wife and little daughter in an apartment. They have a neighbor who seems to have a odd fascination with the couple, but why? The novel weaves together the tales of these disparate characters.
I had heard a lot about Koch's novels and was excited to win this one via a Goodreads Giveaway. It was certainly interesting and definitely different than many novels I read. I have to admit that it was a rather slow read, especially the first three quarters or so. There was actually a point where I was considering giving up for a bit, but I soldiered on. Some characters in the novels never have names (just initials), and we don't really get insight into who our varying narrators are. While I understand why (and it adds to the drama of the novel), I'll confess that it gets a little confusing at times. You really have to stay on your toes as you read.
Still, the novel is definitely more compelling toward the end, and I found myself staying up late to finish it. The twist at the end was certainly not what I expected. The varying viewpoints wind up working out well, as you really see the story unfold from everyone's perspective. Still, I found the story a bit diluted by a bit of a "meta" storyline about writers, as well as an odd insertion about M's father and his role in the resistance, as well as M's own views, which never really seemed to have a full role or point in the tale. I enjoyed the novel, but I didn't love it, and it (frankly) exhausted me a bit.
I received a copy of this novel via a Goodreads Giveaway (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review.
I had heard a lot about Koch's novels and was excited to win this one via a Goodreads Giveaway. It was certainly interesting and definitely different than many novels I read. I have to admit that it was a rather slow read, especially the first three quarters or so. There was actually a point where I was considering giving up for a bit, but I soldiered on. Some characters in the novels never have names (just initials), and we don't really get insight into who our varying narrators are. While I understand why (and it adds to the drama of the novel), I'll confess that it gets a little confusing at times. You really have to stay on your toes as you read.
Still, the novel is definitely more compelling toward the end, and I found myself staying up late to finish it. The twist at the end was certainly not what I expected. The varying viewpoints wind up working out well, as you really see the story unfold from everyone's perspective. Still, I found the story a bit diluted by a bit of a "meta" storyline about writers, as well as an odd insertion about M's father and his role in the resistance, as well as M's own views, which never really seemed to have a full role or point in the tale. I enjoyed the novel, but I didn't love it, and it (frankly) exhausted me a bit.
I received a copy of this novel via a Goodreads Giveaway (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Her Vampire Husband (Wicked Games, #3) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I really shouldnt have had such high hopes for this novel. I mean the entire premise of the book is about a werewold princess who marries an elder vampire in hopes that their people would stop killing each other. Really? An entire novel about that? Honey, that is the subplot in half of the other paranormal romance novels I read. What made Hauf think she could she could write an entire novel about a simple idea and expect to impress me?
First off, there is nothing more annoying than a female protagonists who hides her problems behind a mask of fake strength and apathy. Seriously, they are only hurting themselves, making a relationship with anyone impossible. And just ends up annoying the hell out of me. How about they actually go take care of their problem? Nope, thats too simple. Seriously, writers, you need to stop creating these types of characters.
I thought that because of them being enemies and of different races, it would actually make this book interesting. How wrong I was. The main couple lacked chemistry even as they were playfully bantering and ogling each others body. I felt that they were just two sexually frustrated people forced to live with each other instead of two people thrown together who eventually fall in love. In fact, it was one of those novels where one page, they were at odds, and the next they were in love.
Oh disappointment, how you leave a bitter taste in my mouth.
First off, there is nothing more annoying than a female protagonists who hides her problems behind a mask of fake strength and apathy. Seriously, they are only hurting themselves, making a relationship with anyone impossible. And just ends up annoying the hell out of me. How about they actually go take care of their problem? Nope, thats too simple. Seriously, writers, you need to stop creating these types of characters.
I thought that because of them being enemies and of different races, it would actually make this book interesting. How wrong I was. The main couple lacked chemistry even as they were playfully bantering and ogling each others body. I felt that they were just two sexually frustrated people forced to live with each other instead of two people thrown together who eventually fall in love. In fact, it was one of those novels where one page, they were at odds, and the next they were in love.
Oh disappointment, how you leave a bitter taste in my mouth.
I think it's a common understanding that, of all the characters in 2015's 'The Force Awakens', Gwendoline Christie's enigmatic Captain Phasma was the biggest missed opportunity.
Much like Darth Maul before her (who became a cult favourite in the 'old' Extended Universe), this novel seeks to set that right.
How?
By, effectively, having a story-within-a-story: in this case, by having a captured Resistance spy telling her First Order captor what she has discovered about Phasma, with that interrogation carried out in secret as Phasma is still viewed as a hero of the Order (but with deep mistrust by said captor).
This story-within-a-story, then, tells of the mysterious Phasma's originss, of her early life on her abandoned and decaying home planet, of a trip across said planet to the site of a crashed First Order spaceship in the company of a rescued officer and of the many and varied incidents and people/driods met along that journey.
The result is not a bad novel, but not the best of the recent Star Wars novels I've read: it passes a few days easy reading, sure, but (for me, at least) has no real oomph to it; nothing that really makes it stick in my mind or that would cause me to look for other novels by this author. That's not to say I wouldn't read any such if I came across them; just not going out of my way to look for them.
Much like Darth Maul before her (who became a cult favourite in the 'old' Extended Universe), this novel seeks to set that right.
How?
By, effectively, having a story-within-a-story: in this case, by having a captured Resistance spy telling her First Order captor what she has discovered about Phasma, with that interrogation carried out in secret as Phasma is still viewed as a hero of the Order (but with deep mistrust by said captor).
This story-within-a-story, then, tells of the mysterious Phasma's originss, of her early life on her abandoned and decaying home planet, of a trip across said planet to the site of a crashed First Order spaceship in the company of a rescued officer and of the many and varied incidents and people/driods met along that journey.
The result is not a bad novel, but not the best of the recent Star Wars novels I've read: it passes a few days easy reading, sure, but (for me, at least) has no real oomph to it; nothing that really makes it stick in my mind or that would cause me to look for other novels by this author. That's not to say I wouldn't read any such if I came across them; just not going out of my way to look for them.
Myself and the World: A Biography of William Faulkner
Book
William Faulkner (1897-1962) once said of his novels and stories, "I am telling the same story over...