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Need for Speed™ No Limits
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Race for dominance in the first white-knuckle edition of Need for Speed made just for mobile –...
Pandemic (The Extinction Files #1)
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Around the world, a deadly outbreak spreads. The CDC and WHO race to stop it, but they soon learn...
Mad Skills BMX
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CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE: MAD SKILLS BMX IS OUT! Updated to make full use of the iPhone 5 screen. The...
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race in Books
Oct 27, 2017 (Updated Oct 27, 2017)
So much more than the film
I'm so glad that I watched the film first, otherwise it would have been a total disappointment. The book is extensive, and the story of the film seems quite different to the truth. The bare bones are the same: a trio of remarkable women broke boundaries in both gender and race to be part of one of the most historic events in US and even world history - the space race.
Before John Glenn made it to space, a group of professionals worked as ‘Human Computers’, calculating the flight paths by hand that would enable these historic achievements. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American women. Forget Silicon Valley's misogynistic climate - women were the original engineers and mathematicians.
The book is awash with interesting stories of extraordinary people working in a time of segregation and all pervasive racism. It has multiple layers that delve into each character, and gives a comprehensive context into these women's lives. It basically fills in the gaps of the film, but also changes the timeline considerably as Katherine Johnson was much younger than her colleague Dorothy Vaughan. Nevertheless, an extraordinary read and a great tribute to these invisible women.
Before John Glenn made it to space, a group of professionals worked as ‘Human Computers’, calculating the flight paths by hand that would enable these historic achievements. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American women. Forget Silicon Valley's misogynistic climate - women were the original engineers and mathematicians.
The book is awash with interesting stories of extraordinary people working in a time of segregation and all pervasive racism. It has multiple layers that delve into each character, and gives a comprehensive context into these women's lives. It basically fills in the gaps of the film, but also changes the timeline considerably as Katherine Johnson was much younger than her colleague Dorothy Vaughan. Nevertheless, an extraordinary read and a great tribute to these invisible women.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Scorpio Races in Books
Jan 15, 2018
The Scorpio Races tells the story of Kate "Puck" Connelly and her brothers Finn and Gabe. They live on an island and were orphaned suddenly when their parents were killed by the water horses when out on their fishing boat. The story is told by both Puck and the other main character Sean Kendrick. Sean happens to be the multiple time winner of the Scorpio Race which is held the 1st of November every year.
Of course, as you can probably guess Sean & Puck fall for each other & develop a strange kind of bond while preparing for the race. The predictability on that part of the story caused me to bring this rating down to stars.
The rest of the the story is 5 star all the way however. I was particularly facinated by the many layers of the story & the sub-plots mixed in throughout. There are many intriguing characters sprinkled in...my favorite being Mr. Holly, the American come to the island to but a horse. The plot is slow at first, but in the last 1/2 of the book the pace picks up. I found myself unable to put it down for about the last 100 pages.
Of course, as you can probably guess Sean & Puck fall for each other & develop a strange kind of bond while preparing for the race. The predictability on that part of the story caused me to bring this rating down to stars.
The rest of the the story is 5 star all the way however. I was particularly facinated by the many layers of the story & the sub-plots mixed in throughout. There are many intriguing characters sprinkled in...my favorite being Mr. Holly, the American come to the island to but a horse. The plot is slow at first, but in the last 1/2 of the book the pace picks up. I found myself unable to put it down for about the last 100 pages.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Empire in Black & Gold in Books
Sep 13, 2017
This 10 book series deals with a future state of the human race where humans have evolved into different types of insect, each race taking on the traits of those insects (eg Beetles are hard-working but slow, Spiders are cunning and conniving, Moths are dark and mysterious, Wasps are evil and annoying etc).
This, the first in the series sees Stenwold Maker start to rediscover old fears of the Wasp Empire attempting to invade the peaceful, lowland city states. With nobody in his home city believing him he gathers together a crew of his students and old friend to find out what is happening on the borders of the empire.
This is one of the best books of the series, and a lot of action to come is set up here. I don't know if Tchaikovsky has intended to make this a whopping 10 books at this stage but it certainly felt like the start of something.
The action and fight scenes are well described but not laboured, and enough background to the world is given to understand it, though not in detail (just accept it and move on).
A large number of characters are introduced throughout the series, so it is worth getting to know them from the off.
This, the first in the series sees Stenwold Maker start to rediscover old fears of the Wasp Empire attempting to invade the peaceful, lowland city states. With nobody in his home city believing him he gathers together a crew of his students and old friend to find out what is happening on the borders of the empire.
This is one of the best books of the series, and a lot of action to come is set up here. I don't know if Tchaikovsky has intended to make this a whopping 10 books at this stage but it certainly felt like the start of something.
The action and fight scenes are well described but not laboured, and enough background to the world is given to understand it, though not in detail (just accept it and move on).
A large number of characters are introduced throughout the series, so it is worth getting to know them from the off.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Red Red Car in Books
Apr 27, 2018
The red RED car is not just called red because of the color of his paint—he’s red with anger. He never follows the rules and always does what he wants. That gets him into trouble one day when he tries to be in a race. The red RED car gets hurt and goes to the hospital, and decides that he needs to change, and he works hard on controlling his anger. Then once he masters his anger, he wins every race.
The message in The Red RED Car was clear and very important for kids—anger is hurtful to others as well as to you.
I thought The Red RED car was really cute and showed anger for what it was: ugly and scary. The illustrations were very colorful and energetic, perfect for the book.
The only part I didn’t like was the fact that when the car got hurt he “heard voices” (his own voice in his head telling him it was his own fault that he lost) and fell unconscious, and that seems just a little odd for a children’s book.
Recommendation: Ages 4-8
to see this review with images, go here:
http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/2009/12/review-red-red-car.html
The message in The Red RED Car was clear and very important for kids—anger is hurtful to others as well as to you.
I thought The Red RED car was really cute and showed anger for what it was: ugly and scary. The illustrations were very colorful and energetic, perfect for the book.
The only part I didn’t like was the fact that when the car got hurt he “heard voices” (his own voice in his head telling him it was his own fault that he lost) and fell unconscious, and that seems just a little odd for a children’s book.
Recommendation: Ages 4-8
to see this review with images, go here:
http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/2009/12/review-red-red-car.html
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging in Books
Mar 11, 2018
An important and necessary conversation
There is a wealth of insight crammed into this book about race and identity in Britain, describing how important it is to have a cohesive self by accepting that you may have other identities alongside being a UK citizen.
What hinders this process is the apparent racism that plagues British society, from being 'colour-blind' and thus ignoring the issue, to the awkward and troubled relationship with Britain's history and its origins. The author, Afua Hirsch, also discovers her own Ghanaian roots throughout her journey of self-awareness, making this book both a memoir and social commentary. Hirsch checks her privilege immediately, which makes a refreshing change.
While I can completely relate to her opinions on the racist structures in place and the microagressions that have become normalised, the historical and anthropological elements were the most fascinating parts for me. Learning about the racist views upheld by leading western thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and David Huhne, as well as how the 1919 race riots ensued over the perception of 'white cleansing' was deeply concerning.
Hirsch's call for change on Britain's selective amnesia is not new but it has a contemporary angle following the country's move to leave the EU. Incredibly engaging.
What hinders this process is the apparent racism that plagues British society, from being 'colour-blind' and thus ignoring the issue, to the awkward and troubled relationship with Britain's history and its origins. The author, Afua Hirsch, also discovers her own Ghanaian roots throughout her journey of self-awareness, making this book both a memoir and social commentary. Hirsch checks her privilege immediately, which makes a refreshing change.
While I can completely relate to her opinions on the racist structures in place and the microagressions that have become normalised, the historical and anthropological elements were the most fascinating parts for me. Learning about the racist views upheld by leading western thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and David Huhne, as well as how the 1919 race riots ensued over the perception of 'white cleansing' was deeply concerning.
Hirsch's call for change on Britain's selective amnesia is not new but it has a contemporary angle following the country's move to leave the EU. Incredibly engaging.
Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated Americanah in Books
Jun 4, 2018
I think I’ve become too accustomed to reading plots designed for teenagers; I kept expecting this story to follow a traditional plot line, and while the evidence throughout was that Adichie was not following a typical narrative story line, I still found myself surprised at the end. I got to the end, and sort of thought, “Oh. That’s it?” Not in a negative way, like the author left me hanging (as many of these series writing author’s do, teasing me into reading the next book), but just in a sort of unexpected way.
I don’t know that I can even tell you my overall feeling about the book…it’s just too complex for that. I liked that the rhythm and pattern of the storytelling was like nothing I’ve read before. I like that it offered an unfamiliar (to me) perspective of race in America. I like that the book kind of was and was not all about race. (I know that last one is super confusing, but just read the book and then ask me what I mean if it’s still unclear.)
It’s a book that is just going to simmer a bit in my brain, and that is perhaps the very best sort of book.
I don’t know that I can even tell you my overall feeling about the book…it’s just too complex for that. I liked that the rhythm and pattern of the storytelling was like nothing I’ve read before. I like that it offered an unfamiliar (to me) perspective of race in America. I like that the book kind of was and was not all about race. (I know that last one is super confusing, but just read the book and then ask me what I mean if it’s still unclear.)
It’s a book that is just going to simmer a bit in my brain, and that is perhaps the very best sort of book.
Gruffalo: Puzzles
Education and Games
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Play with all the characters from 'The Gruffalo', the UK's favourite bedtime story! Perfect for 3 -...