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Batman: Year One
Batman: Year One
8
8.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not all that long ago, I watched the cartoon movie version of this graphic novel, and did quite enjoy it. I'd also heard, but couldn't verify, that it was actually pretty close to its source material: well, now I can co firm that that is indeed the case!

Written shortly after The Dark Knight Returns (which concerns an ageing Batman, and is set towards the end of his career), this takes the opposite approach and is instead set during his first year back in Gotham (after travelling abroad for 12(?) years in the wake of his parents murder), which is also coincidentally Jim Gordon's first year working for the corrupt Gotham P.D.

If anybody has also seen the recent(ish) live action movie Batman Begins, it's also pretty obvious where a large chunk of that movie gets it's influence from, with one sequence in particular almost a straight riff from the pages of this graphic novel.

All in all, and while it is true that I've only read a few of the Batman graphic novels so far, this is a strong contender for the best of those I've read.
  
The Dark Tower (2017)
The Dark Tower (2017)
2017 | Horror, Sci-Fi, Western
Well, that was nothing at all like I expected.

I've read the first book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, and (honestly) hadn't really thought it was all that great or understood what all the fuss was about - for my money, David Gemmell did a far better job in his Jon Shannow trilogy of novels.

Having said that, I recognise that Gemmell's name may not have quite the same resonance, the same 'pull' as Stephen King.

I wanted to see this when it came in the cinema, and now haven't watched it on Netflix, honestly? I'm glad I didn't waste my money.

Having only read the first book in Stephen King's series, I can't say how true (or otherwese) this is to the novel(s), but I've always thought the best book and movie adaptations compliment each other: watching (or reading) one, say, would make you want to hunt out the other. This was far from the ideal: only an hour and a half long, but felling MUCH longer, I found this to be slow, plodding, and lacking any real originality or flair or excitement.

One to avoid!
  
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Emma (519 KP) Jul 7, 2019

I just watched this the other day and quite enjoyed it. I thought the three leads gave quite good performances.

Angel's Flight (Legion of Angels, #8)
Angel's Flight (Legion of Angels, #8)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This has been borrowed from the Kindle Unlimited library.

This starts from where the last one left off. Leda is now an angel. Pandora, The Angel of Chaos. She is given her own territory but things never run smooth for Leda. There's a plague of issues attacking the New York City office of the Legion, making its members turn on each other and causing mayhem that eventually starts to travel further afield to the Chicago office and beyond. Initially suspecting demons, Leda and the team try to find the cause but there's nothing that stands out. Then Nerissa, the Legion doctor figures it out, taking everyone by surprise.

I don't want to spoil it by going into too much detail, you'll have to read it to see what else happens in this one.

I do enjoy reading this cast of characters. I love Leda and Nero. I've been cheering them on from their first meeting in book 1, so to see them so happy makes me want to squeal in excitement. They are the perfect bad-arse angel couple.

I cannot wait to read more of this series and this couple.
  
Legend
Legend
Marie Lu | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
8
7.8 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
I tend not to read books with characters under the age of 17 because they can come across as being immature and annoying.

However that is not the case in this, both Day and June are really mature for 15, maybe it's their upbringing; life on the streets and growing up in a posher area and being a member of the Republic.

I'll admit it took me a while to get into the story--about the 20-25% mark--what with the dual POV and one hunting the other down but once they finally met and got to now each other I became quickly engrossed in their story.

I wasn't sure how to feel about June's brother, Metias, but the more I read and grew to know him through June's memories and his journal, the more I liked him and was sorry that he'd died. He seemed like a really great big brother.

Action, political corruption, dystopia, a bit of romance; it was everything I like in a book and I liked a lot of things about it. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series
  
Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Movies That Changed History!
Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Movies That Changed History!
Joe Bob Briggs | 2003 | Film & TV, Horror
7
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Profoundly Interesting
Joe Bob Brigg certainly knows his stuff. He delivers an intelligent and fascinating view on the films covered here. Especially interesting was the chapter concerning Kroger Babb, a name I wasn't familiar with until now. Joe covers the films Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1919), Mom And Dad (1947), Creature Front The Black Lagoon (1954), And God Created Woman (1956), Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Blood Feast (1963), The Wild Bunch (1969), Shaft (1971), Deep Throat (1972), The Exorcist (1973), Isla, She-Wolf of the SS (1974), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Drunken Master (1978), Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Crash (1996). Although it is a very good read my only gripes are that the essays on some films are way too short and the summary pages after each chapter "For Further Disturbance" are basically an edited rehash of the previous pages. Also no matter how I try to look at it, Shaft (as good a film as it is) really doesn't fall under the 'profoundly disturbing' category. Nevertheless it's a good read and has some nice double page poster art for each film. A nice book to have but nonetheless not that essential
  
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Merissa (12351 KP) rated Estranged in Books

Jun 8, 2023  
Estranged
Estranged
Alex Fedyr | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Set in dystopian/post-apocalyptic urban surroundings, Kalei is a police officer who keeps trying to gain entrance into SWORDE - a crack team who deals with Estranged. Kalei lost her parents and sister to the Estranged, and so she wants nothing more. This all changes one evening when her home is attacked and she becomes Estranged too. Now she not only has to deal with losing her family but becoming the very person she has sworn to kill.

This is an enjoyable story that is full of action. It became a bit difficult to read halfway through, simply due to the amount of action that was taking place, plus the 'street talk' that was prevalent. It did even itself out though, and once again, became a thrilling read. With plenty of twists and turns, you don't ever see what is coming before the author wants you to.

This story is all wrapped up in this book, but it has been left open for a sequel. I hope that the story does continue as I would love to carry on with Kalei's story. Definitely recommended.

* Verified Purchase on Amazon *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 2, 2016
  
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Smashbomb (4687 KP) created a post

May 13, 2017 (Updated May 13, 2017)  
SMASHBOMB NEWS

Just a little update to all our Smashbombers - the books category is now live!

Thousands of books ready for you to rate online, from baffling mysteries to scandalous romance novels. You’re just one step closer to finding your fellow book soulmate!

Haven’t got any favourites? No need to worry (we’ve got your back!) Simply use the ‘Recommend Me’ feature, type in a key word and the recommendations will start flooding in. If you love the recommendation, be sure to add it to your top 10/20 list.

Unique ways to use Smashbomb:

-Create a custom list for a book club/society
-You're a teacher? Connect with students to recommend must read novels
- Use Smashbomb as a platform to save and rate all the books you have read (imagine the horror of forgetting…)

There’s a feature to suit everyone.
     
This is fourth of the series and I loved it every much. This book deals with Sinclair's sister father and Willow. Mrs. Hattie is also involved as well. The sisters all face different things in the book.
 
You learn about Ida and Tucker Raines a bit about them. You lean about each of the Sinclair sisters or about their family. This book is mostly about Harlan Sinclair and Mrs. Hattie, mostly about Willow Peterson as well. Tucker's sister.
 
The book is about two widows and a second chance at love. There are other surprises though out the book. I really enjoyed this book along the with the series. Now understand that I have yet to read the first two books in this series. I read and own the last two books. Those books are called "The Bride That Wore Blue", "Twice the Bride".
  
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lurkykitty (3 KP) rated The Fowl Twins in Books

Mar 26, 2020  
The Fowl Twins
The Fowl Twins
Eoin Colfer | 2019 | Children, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fun, fast-paced and funny
have never read the original Artemis Fowl books but now I absolutely intend to. The Fowl Twins is highly enjoyable, even if, like me, you have never read the Artemis books. The action is fast-paced and grabs the reader right away. The personalities of the twins are very different and highly engaging. There is a constant funny banter between them. There are a lot of moving parts: a villainous nobleman, a nasty nun, a fairy who is called a pixel (pixie/elf hybrid) and a small but highly destructive troll. Artemis also plays an advisor role from outer space. I really liked Lazuli, the Pixel. The action, pacing and clever gadgets remind me of the James Bond stories, but this book is age appropriate, of course. It seems that Mr. Colfer is a very imaginative fellow.
  
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