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Five Seasons Of Jam
Five Seasons Of Jam
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
In Five Seasons of Jam by Lillie O’Brien shares a variety of different jam recipes of which she has discovered over the years during her travels. Many have unusual and quirky ingredients, although that may not be the case depending where abouts in the world you live.
Lillie offers lots of tips and ideas about not just the cooking of the jams, but how to access them if you don’t grown your own, or cannot find them in local shops. Some ingredients the author admits are hard to find, for example, the mulberries. If you can find a farm that sells them, great! If you happen to have a mulberry tree in your garden, or know someone who has, even better!
Why include hard to find ingredients? Well, for some they may not actually be that hard to find. Plus, much of what makes this book a little different from just a normal recipe book, is hearing Lillie’s story’s about her travels and how through families and friends she has discovered these fruits. And now, because she is more famous, she also get’s invites from helpful people who offer the chance to come and pick the harder-to-find fruits.
The hardback book is rather a good looking one, and inside there are many full page, colourful pictures. Each section is separated into seasons:
ALIVE- mid to late spring.
HOT – summer
BLUSH – early autumn
BARB – late autumn
FROST – winter to early spring
Overall this is a well thought out book, which is ideal for jam makers who want to go one step further and try the more different recipes. I particularly liked the ideas O’Brien shared for the Christmas recipes. I don’t know why it is, but I do tend to get more adventurous with my cooking around this seasonal period. I’m sure I’m not the only one! Would make a great gift for any jam making fiends.
  
Picture Perfect
Picture Perfect
Jodi Picoult | 1995 | Fiction & Poetry
9
7.0 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beautiful. That's it.

A sad story so beautifully told is the key to break my heart. It did exactly that. I say it's sad because it really is but it does have some incredibly romantic scenes too which not only melt your heart but make you fall in love with the book its characters.

The tender theme of abuse was used with the utmost sensitivity, the only way I can describe it, is that it's told in such a sickly sweet way that it just hits you. Hard. I struggled to read the novel just because it genuinely broke my heart to see this perfectly capable beautiful and smart lady, Cassie, just break in half.

I love Cassie's character! So bright, sweet, smart and elegant. She is so very lovable which makes her story so utterly moving. I liked that she was quite quirky and wouldn't usually fall for the Alex Rivers type which made her falling in love wonderfully romantic and charming. I feel bad for saying it but I even liked Alex Rivers, underneath he is just a damaged man with a shattered heart. I liked that he was charming and obviously attractive even if he knew it. While he wasn't necessarily a nice man he was more than appealing and incredibly romantic. He just got it wrong, very wrong and on this occasion it wasn't okay and couldn't be fixed.

I loved the kind of twist to the story and how you remember along with Cassie, it's like a journey. I also really like the unusual nature of the how the story is told, the fact that she can't remember is definitely the hook to find out more. I loved all of the characters as each seemed to have direct impact on Cassie herself, making it just that little bit more compelling.

I know this review kind of skips around the point but I don't want to spoil anything.

Like I said... Beautiful.
  
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Dana (24 KP) rated Nimona in Books

Mar 23, 2018  
Nimona
Nimona
Noelle Stevenson | 2015 | Children, Comics & Graphic Novels
10
10.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a fun, quirky, and cute graphic novel that I absolutely adored.

The charm of it was split fifty-fifty between the writing and the drawings. I don't know why, but I am obsessed with the character drawings from this novel! They are so cute and amazing and I love them.

I love how it was so successful as a web comic that Harper decided to turn it into print. Things like that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

This comic had me straight out laughing out loud (to the point where my roommates thought something had gone wrong with me). I loved how Nimona had so much spunk and actually *minor spoiler* was more villainous than the actual villain of the story.

Speaking of, the relationship between Nimona and Blackhart was awesome! It was cool to see the father-daughter relationship as well as the villain-sidekick and overall besties vibe from the pair.

Goldenlion was fun, too. Even though he was the :hero" of the story, he was still able to see the good in Blackhart and question the Institution and their motives and actions.

I liked how this isn't really just one genre. It has elements of fantasy, science/tech, and medieval genres but also had a very modern take on certain parts. I have always wanted to read something set in a distant time period that also has a lot of modern aspects.

The story line was cute, but it also got really deep at times. It allows readers to start questioning their own country's "heroes" and Institutions. It also calls into question how far testing and militarization should be allowed to go.

Overall, I really enjoyed this fun and very quick read.

If anyone is in a reading slump or just need to get into a better mood, I definitely recommend this to you.
  
Cold Pursuit (2019)
Cold Pursuit (2019)
2019 | Action, Drama, Thriller
Nels Coxman (Liam Neeson) is a simple man who spends his days clearing the roads in a remote Colorado Ski Town and spends his days with his wife and his son. Nels is so unassuming that when he is awarded Citizen of the Year he states that there are others far more worthy and fusses over getting dressed up to accept the award and make a speech.

When his son is found dead of a Heroin overdose; Nels is not willing to accept that his son was a user even though this puts tremendous strain on his marriage and has taken Nels to consider suicide. At his worst moment he learns that his son’ co-worker was involved with some shady dealing and that his son was likely collateral damage from the criminal elements involved.

With a new found sense of purpose: Nels embarks on a quest to find the truth and avenge his son’s death no matter the consequences.

One would think that “Cold Pursuit” is a standard revenge film but it unexpectedly changes direction shortly after Nels starts exacting his revenge. The film transforms into a Dark Comedy of sorts as characters get a Title Screen when they are killed many of which have a morbid humor to them. The film even takes the bold step of moving away from Neeson for a good third of the film and putting the emphasis on other characters from rival crime organizations to the Sherriff and his eager Detective (Emmy Rossum).

As such the film is not what you expect as although there is plenty of action at times; it is a Dark Comedy with dramatic elements. It is more in line of what you might expect at a Film Festival from an Indie studio versus a major studio release.

As such fans of Neeson may be disappointed in seeing a departure from the type of films they have come to expect from him in recent years while others may embrace the quirky nature of the film.

http://sknr.net/2019/01/30/cold-pursuit/
  
When We Were Vikings
When We Were Vikings
Andrew David MacDonald | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
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When We Were Vikings is about Zelda, a high functioning 21 year old diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome, who is a Viking enthusiast trying to figure out her life quest. Zelda lives with her brother Gert after both of their parents died when they were young. Gert and his on again/off again girlfriend Annie, whom Zelda calls AK47, make up Zelda's main tribe. Together, they try to figure out their legacies.

Andrew David MacDonald delivered an amazing story. I absolutely adored the character of Zelda. The way she loved Vikings and applied the Viking culture to make it through life's difficulties was endearing. I loved Zelda and I just wanted her to succeed. Her blunt, unembellished language was easy to read and refreshing. Whether it's telling off thugs or talking about sex and periods, Zelda says what she thinks.

Her brother Gert also tried to figure out how to not only live his life and figure the world out, but also tried to help Zelda figure hers out. He attempted to work with the cards he'd been dealt, but in all honesty, he seemed to constantly grab from the pile ones that just made life harder - he was always making messes that others were cleaning up after, even Zelda herself. I just wanted to sit him down and tell him to get it together and keep it together.

This book had a lot of concepts in it that worked for me. The characters are both quirky and realistic. It's endearing and heartwarming; it's full of love and hate. Some portions of the book made me laugh out loud while others made me want to slam the book shut out of frustration. It had some light themes but also some pretty dark themes. When We Were Vikings earned a spot on my Recommended Fiction List.

"...The point is you're willing to give it a try. That's what makes someone a legend."
  
    Escape With Words

    Escape With Words

    Games and Stickers

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    Word game lovers, have we got something exciting for you! Imagine waking up in a strange and...