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Ready Player One
Ready Player One
Ernest Cline | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.9 (161 Ratings)
Book Rating
Nice easy read.
I really liked the idea behind this book... Being a child of the 80s it was a real buzz to think that all the things that made me tick as a child could become stuff of legend. The setting for the story is entirely believable, with climate change, renewable energy and global over population very hot topics right now - it's no real stretch of the imagination to see that this is where we could be in the future. I also really identified with the insecurities of the characters... The anonymity that the internet lends is liberating, but also terribly isolating.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I did find my mind wandering at times, that I was glossing over paragraphs that had got too bogged down in details that weren't entirely pertinent to the story. That being said, I think that this story is going to make for an amazing movie, I'm very much looking forward to it.
  
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game
2012 | Bluff, Collectible Components, Entertainment, Flight / Aviation, Miniatures
Next to the iconic light saber battles, nothing excites a Star Wars fan more than the epic space battles. The original Star Wars trilogy had some of the most unique and beautifully designed space ships in all of science fiction. For its time, the X-Wing was a truly iconic piece of special effects. With the introduction of Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures game from Fantasy Flight Games, players can now have their own space battles with these memorable ships. Does Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures have what it takes to score a victory on you table top or should it be encased in carbonite? Read on to find out!
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures is a miniatures game of space combat for 2 players. The game players in about 30-60 minutes and can be expanded to accommodate more players.




Reviewer: Tony MastrangeliRead the full review here: https://www.boardgamequest.com/x-wing-miniatures-board-game-review/
  
When the Stolrzfus barn catches fire, the Amish community comes together for a barn raising. But in the midst of the building, bones are discovered, and they are quickly identified as those of Sadie Lehman, who disappeared 20 years before. With the mystery of her disappearance now on everyone’s mind, Claire begins to search for answers to help those she has come to love. But what really happened all those years ago?

The mystery was a tad slower than I thought it could be, but the book more than makes up for it with the characters. I’ve come to care for them, and the growth we see here is not only organic, but growth that made me very happy. These characters pulled me into the book once again, and I can hardly wait to visit them when the next in the series comes out.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-suspendered-sentence-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Sisters An’gel and Dickce Ducote are only too happy to help Mary Turner Catlin, the granddaughter of their friend. It seems the family house is haunted, and she wants them to help her figure out what is causing the problem. It isn’t too long after they arrive that they begin to experience some strange things, but it’s the uninvited guests who really up the tension. What are the sisters involved in now?

I love the main characters in this book, both human and four legged, so I was glad to get a chance to visit them again. They delight as always, and the new characters are strong as well. The pacing was a little off over all, but the haunted house aspect is a nice addition to the mystery. Fans of the author will enjoy this latest book.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-fixing-to-die-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
DA
Demolition Angel
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Three years ago, Carol Starkey lost her partner and lover when a bomb exploded. Heck, she almost lost her life herself, and she has lived with the scars, real and emotional, from it ever since. Now she is tasked with solving the murder of another LAPD bomb squad member killed by a bomb. The ATF thinks it was the work of Mr. Red, a serial bomber. Can Carol catch him?

The mystery itself in this book is strong, and I enjoyed the twists and turns as we went along. However, I had a real problem with Carol. She was a walking cliché of the hard-boiled mystery genre right down to her chain smoking, secret drinking, and hard to like personality. Her character arc was a cliché as well, but I finally did find myself caring about her toward the end of the book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-demolition-angel-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
A Season for Fireflies
A Season for Fireflies
Rebecca Maizel | 2016 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Great YA Read
A lot has changed in the past year for Penny. She has quit theater, and made a new set of friends. When she is struck by lightning she loses all memory of the last year, and is confused by the changes in her life. Now she most win back her old friends, and try to piece together the time she lost.
This story was done fantastically. It would have been easy to make either Penny's old or new friends unlikable. Instead all of the characters are complex, and have reasons behind there actions. Penny herself struggles with coming to terms with decisions she doesn't remember making. She has to figure out how to get her old friends back when they no longer speak to her, and she isn't sure why. This book also has some romance, however it is Penny's character development that truly makes the story shine.
  
The Unmumsy Mum Diary
The Unmumsy Mum Diary
Sarah Turner, The Unmumsy Mum | 2017 | Biography
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great follow up to the first book. (0 more)
Only one year long! (0 more)
Thank God I'm not the only one!
Just like with here first book, Sarah has done another great job being refreshingly honest about the realities as life as a mum.
She knows not all mum's experience parenthood like she does, but for those of us who have found it more of a challenge than we anticipated, it is so nice to have others say the same.
This one has the odd sniping from her social media feeds, a bit by the man behind the mum, and even a chapter from one of the boys perspective.
My main issue with is my only reading time is when (if) my baby naps, so I need to sit quietly, and this book has made me laugh out loud and nearly woken him up on several occasions. I mean, it's like she did not take that into consideration 😂.
What the hell do I read now?!?!