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SummerLGrant (185 KP) rated The Hate u Give in Books
Aug 20, 2017
The writing (3 more)
The sincerity
The understanding
Everything
Powerful, truthful, emotional
I've just finished it and mulling it around my head. The fact that the reactions and the outcome of the story wasn't surprising and is a reflection of what goes on today is awful and heart-rending but Angie Thomas is using her weapon, her voice, to make sure it gets heard.
Starr is an absolutely beautiful character with a beautiful family and is put in an ugly situation when she witnesses her best friend shot and murdered by a police officer. He was unarmed, unaggressive and terrified of what the officer eventually does do.
An astoundingly well written debut novel that explores a lot of important topics offset by the support and love of family. It's relevant today and will be for a very long time.
Starr is an absolutely beautiful character with a beautiful family and is put in an ugly situation when she witnesses her best friend shot and murdered by a police officer. He was unarmed, unaggressive and terrified of what the officer eventually does do.
An astoundingly well written debut novel that explores a lot of important topics offset by the support and love of family. It's relevant today and will be for a very long time.
Deano Arnott (28 KP) rated Peaky Blinders in TV
Jan 29, 2018
Fantastic cast (1 more)
Great story
Netflix continues to rule...
Your television set has been taken over by order of the Peeky F****** Blinders. Birmingham 1919 and this family want to rule the world. When ambitious head of the family, Thomas Shelby, returns home from the war, he wants the world to know that he intends to take charge. Wanting to get the family business into a legitimate bookmaking empire, Thomas finds himself locking horns with gangs up and down the country, all the time being pursued by a straighter than thou police officer who enforces the law with an iron fist. Clashing gang wars, street fights and some very colourful characters, this show is set for superstardom as it continues to keep audiences captivated with brute force and a strong political presence. Great show and keeps getting better.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir in Books
Feb 5, 2018
A human experience in the BLM movement
There has recently been an upswing of works relating to racism in the US, so it was only a matter of time that one of the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement spoke about this issue.
Patrisse Khan-Cullors is eloquent, and her experiences are truly harrowing. From watching her 12 year old brother being assaulted and harrassed by police officers, growing up in poverty, to being an adult and watching another brother being locked up for being mentally disabled. It is really quite horrifying to see the spectrum of violence that black bodies still endure even post-Jim Crow laws. Cullors will argue that this is but an extension of those days.
It is a timely piece, and one of the better writings on the topic, mixing activism and academia with her own memoir.
Patrisse Khan-Cullors is eloquent, and her experiences are truly harrowing. From watching her 12 year old brother being assaulted and harrassed by police officers, growing up in poverty, to being an adult and watching another brother being locked up for being mentally disabled. It is really quite horrifying to see the spectrum of violence that black bodies still endure even post-Jim Crow laws. Cullors will argue that this is but an extension of those days.
It is a timely piece, and one of the better writings on the topic, mixing activism and academia with her own memoir.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Musseled Out (A Maine Clambake Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
With fall in the air, Julia must make decisions about her future with the family clambake. Will she stay or return to her job in New York City? That gets put on the back burner when the body of a potential competitor is found on an abandoned boat and the police begin to question her brother-in-law, who is clearly hiding something.
The book started off strong and never slowed down. There are plenty of secrets, clues, and twists along the way to a fantastic ending. The characters were strong and that made me care about the solution to the mystery that much more.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-musseled-out-by-barbara.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book started off strong and never slowed down. There are plenty of secrets, clues, and twists along the way to a fantastic ending. The characters were strong and that made me care about the solution to the mystery that much more.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-musseled-out-by-barbara.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated No Virgin Island: A Sabrina Salter Mystery in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Sabrina Salter has escaped a past in Boston, hoping to enjoy her new life in St. John. However, trouble finds her in the US Virgin Islands when she arrives to clean one of the villas she maintains only to find the tenant dead in the outside hammock. Will the police see her as the prime suspect? Can she live through something like this again?
While the setting may be a paradise, the tone is more somber given Sabrina’s past. I enjoyed the juxtaposition and getting to know the strong characters. The plot unfolds differently than I am used to in a mystery, but everything we need to solve the crime is there, and we get two very dramatic and satisfying climaxes.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-no-virgin-island-by-c.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While the setting may be a paradise, the tone is more somber given Sabrina’s past. I enjoyed the juxtaposition and getting to know the strong characters. The plot unfolds differently than I am used to in a mystery, but everything we need to solve the crime is there, and we get two very dramatic and satisfying climaxes.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-no-virgin-island-by-c.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated MacDeath (An Ivy Meadows Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Ivy is hoping that landing the part of one of the witches in a local production of Macbeth will kick start her acting career. Instead, it lands her in danger when one of her costars dies on opening night. The police are quick to rule it an accidental case of alcohol poisoning, but Ivy is certain that Simon had stopped drinking. Can she find out what really happened to him?
This is a wonderful start to a series. Ivy is a great character, and there are enough quirks in the rest of the cast is make it fun. The plot is strong with great twists. The humor kept me smiling throughout as well. I can’t wait for more of Ivy’s adventures.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-macdeath-by-cindy-brown-ivy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a wonderful start to a series. Ivy is a great character, and there are enough quirks in the rest of the cast is make it fun. The plot is strong with great twists. The humor kept me smiling throughout as well. I can’t wait for more of Ivy’s adventures.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-macdeath-by-cindy-brown-ivy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Kneading to Die (Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Stan has just moved to a small Connecticut town and is taking her cat to the only bet in town for the first time when she finds Carole's dead body on the floor. The vet wasn't well loved, but with the police and local gossip focusing on her as the killer, she needs to act fast to find out who really killed the vet.
I certainly enjoyed this debut. The pets were absolutely charming if not always well behaved. Stan was a refreshing change of pace for a main character because she reacts more realistically to what is happening to her than many main characters do. The plot could have been stronger, but overall it was still entertaining.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-kneading-to-die-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I certainly enjoyed this debut. The pets were absolutely charming if not always well behaved. Stan was a refreshing change of pace for a main character because she reacts more realistically to what is happening to her than many main characters do. The plot could have been stronger, but overall it was still entertaining.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-kneading-to-die-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Final Tap (Living History Museum, #2) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Well, I've found yet another cozy mystery series to add to my must-buy list! I really enjoyed the setting - a working historical farm - and learned everything I could want to know about maple syrup production. Not in a clinical way, but as interesting bits of information presented during the story.
Our heroine Kelsey has her hands full trying to run the farm, raise her kindergarten-age son, and solve a murder before the police can pin it on one of her young employees. There was an interesting cast of characters, and that homey, small-town feel that I love in a good cozy.
While previous events are mentioned, it's not necessary to have read book 1 to know what's going on.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Our heroine Kelsey has her hands full trying to run the farm, raise her kindergarten-age son, and solve a murder before the police can pin it on one of her young employees. There was an interesting cast of characters, and that homey, small-town feel that I love in a good cozy.
While previous events are mentioned, it's not necessary to have read book 1 to know what's going on.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Reading Up a Storm (Lighthouse Library Mystery #3) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Reading Up a Storm focuses more on characters outside of the library staff than the first two novels in the series, and Lucy has a new friend in this one who is accused of murder. Of course she doesn't trust that the police will see past her friend Stephanie's apparent motive for the crime, and is soon getting herself into trouble asking questions and trying to solve the case by herself. She probably figured it out long before I did, but it was gratifying to find that the killer was the person I suspected, for once.
And for those of you who enjoy a little romance with your cozy mystery - I love where the author has taken the romantic triangle that was developing in the first two books. I can't say anything more without spoilers, but I was very pleased with the outcome.
And for those of you who enjoy a little romance with your cozy mystery - I love where the author has taken the romantic triangle that was developing in the first two books. I can't say anything more without spoilers, but I was very pleased with the outcome.
KarenRC (6 KP) rated Watching You in Books
Jul 23, 2018
This story focuses around this small neighbourhood with lots of strong characters, each with their own storyline to deal with. It feels like a lot, but once I had got my head round them all, this book drew me right in and I was hooked. It starts off with a body in a kitchen, then goes back and does a brilliant job of revealing the story, very slowly, by going back to the beginning of the timeline and working back through. The intermittent police reports from the day after the murder is an excellent addition, as it adds to the slow reveal as you start to realise who the body isn’t! It was a bit of a slow start, but once it got going the suspense, intrigue and twists are coming thick and fast right up until the very last page!