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This one is definitely gonna stick in my head for some time. Now I've decided on a rating I'm gonna have to think hard about an upcoming review...as I have no idea where to start.
Update: 17/05/15
_____ 5 Star Rating
The sign of a truly excellent book IMO is that it will stay with you for a long time after you have read it and this is certainly one of those books. It was, in many ways, a perfect read for me. My reasons are that it is dark, disturbing, vile, twisted, extreme, evil and just plain disgusting...I loved it. This is a very well written, original story about good vs evil and about the deepest, darkest secrets hidden in the minds of those around us. I'm so glad I picked this up from the library, it sounded like my sort of thing and it certainly was.
Update: 17/05/15
_____ 5 Star Rating
The sign of a truly excellent book IMO is that it will stay with you for a long time after you have read it and this is certainly one of those books. It was, in many ways, a perfect read for me. My reasons are that it is dark, disturbing, vile, twisted, extreme, evil and just plain disgusting...I loved it. This is a very well written, original story about good vs evil and about the deepest, darkest secrets hidden in the minds of those around us. I'm so glad I picked this up from the library, it sounded like my sort of thing and it certainly was.
Amy Curtis (49 KP) rated The Hobbit in Books
Jan 11, 2019 (Updated Jan 12, 2019)
Plot (1 more)
Description
Regret not reading earlier
Now I love a fantasy novel as much as the next person and I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy this novel. I just wish I had read it when I was younger. Tolkien's description is elegant and beautiful. However, the only thing I found was that sometimes a bit of information is just thrown in there at a convenient time. Such as when Bilbo needs to do something, he suddenly has the necessary skill for the task. I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but some of the language was also a bit childish for me. Of course, it is aimed at a younger audience which is why I wish I had read this earlier. I loved the story-line and found that it flowed well. I'm now going to try Lord of the Rings.
Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated Faction Paradox: Newtons Sleep (Faction Paradox, #6) in Books
Nov 30, 2020
You know, prior to reading 'Newtons Sleep', I had come to regard Lawrence Miles' 'FP: This Town Will Never Let Us Go' as the one of the best of the FP series overall, with Kelly Hales' 'FP: Erasing Sherlock' as one of the worst. Having finish it last night, I think I would have to rate 'Newtons Sleep' even higher than 'This Town..'.
To describe it.. FWOAR! There's a heckuva lot going on, some of it will make your brain long after you're done! Set in England during the later half of the 17th Century, it deals with the effects of the "War in Heaven" (see also Lawrence Miles' 'FP: The Book of the War'), a War between Gallifrey (referred to as "the Homeworld") and the unnamed Enemy, with Faction Paradox caught in the midst of it. The story has political intrigue, metaphysics, sex, science fiction, and much that will make you scratch your head at times as well as prompting a trip to Wiki (while I have a general knowledge of that period of history, it is not something I am well-versed) now and again.
There are notable real history characters (the poetess, and spy, Aphra Behn) as well as fictional characters such as Nicholas Silver (who has SUCH a role to play!) and..well. SPOILERS! Seriously well-written characters all around, fleshed out enough to get a feel for each and every one. All had a unique voice when I read their dialogue.
The story is twisty-turny, but at the end it all comes together. I will caution you to read it carefully: this is NOT a book to run through quickly! I've been told it will altogether better the second time round, so I expect I will re-read it again sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Read it now: you won't be disappointed!
To describe it.. FWOAR! There's a heckuva lot going on, some of it will make your brain long after you're done! Set in England during the later half of the 17th Century, it deals with the effects of the "War in Heaven" (see also Lawrence Miles' 'FP: The Book of the War'), a War between Gallifrey (referred to as "the Homeworld") and the unnamed Enemy, with Faction Paradox caught in the midst of it. The story has political intrigue, metaphysics, sex, science fiction, and much that will make you scratch your head at times as well as prompting a trip to Wiki (while I have a general knowledge of that period of history, it is not something I am well-versed) now and again.
There are notable real history characters (the poetess, and spy, Aphra Behn) as well as fictional characters such as Nicholas Silver (who has SUCH a role to play!) and..well. SPOILERS! Seriously well-written characters all around, fleshed out enough to get a feel for each and every one. All had a unique voice when I read their dialogue.
The story is twisty-turny, but at the end it all comes together. I will caution you to read it carefully: this is NOT a book to run through quickly! I've been told it will altogether better the second time round, so I expect I will re-read it again sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Read it now: you won't be disappointed!
David McK (3425 KP) rated Rampage (2018) in Movies
Jun 28, 2020
The tagline, I believe, for this read something like "Big meets Bigger"
It could just as easily have read "Dumb meets Dumber"
Actually, now that I think about it: that's probably unfair: there's nothing dumb about knowing your audience!
(Loosely) based on the old 1980s arcade game of the same name, this sees Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson playing primatologist Davis Okoye, who - for plot reasons - gets caught up in what (essentially) amounts to a Monster showdown in downtown Chicago, with the monsters scaling tall building and destroying half the city in the process while the military vainly tries to stop them.
You know, just like the coin-up?
Basically, this a B-movie writ large, and knows it!
It could just as easily have read "Dumb meets Dumber"
Actually, now that I think about it: that's probably unfair: there's nothing dumb about knowing your audience!
(Loosely) based on the old 1980s arcade game of the same name, this sees Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson playing primatologist Davis Okoye, who - for plot reasons - gets caught up in what (essentially) amounts to a Monster showdown in downtown Chicago, with the monsters scaling tall building and destroying half the city in the process while the military vainly tries to stop them.
You know, just like the coin-up?
Basically, this a B-movie writ large, and knows it!
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated With This Ring?: A Novella Collection of Proposals Gone Awry in Books
Jan 2, 2019
This was a very entertaining collection of stories. I was thoroughly entertained with these proposals gone awry. From Texas 1879, to Kansas 1901, there are enough laughs and gasps to go around.
I love reading novella collections because it gives you a taste of the author's style. The love of reading does have a lot to do with finding a book, genre, author "to spark your fancy". I went several years without reading much because I was trying to force myself to read a style that I just wasn't interested in. Now, I have read more in half a year than I typically read in several years put together. I have read several books by Mary Connealy, but this was my first taste of the other authors. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to reading their full length novels now. Very humorous and sprinkled with faith. This novella collection is the perfect combination of stories for any reader who loves a good western romance.
I love reading novella collections because it gives you a taste of the author's style. The love of reading does have a lot to do with finding a book, genre, author "to spark your fancy". I went several years without reading much because I was trying to force myself to read a style that I just wasn't interested in. Now, I have read more in half a year than I typically read in several years put together. I have read several books by Mary Connealy, but this was my first taste of the other authors. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to reading their full length novels now. Very humorous and sprinkled with faith. This novella collection is the perfect combination of stories for any reader who loves a good western romance.
Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated City of Heavenly Fire in Books
Jun 24, 2019
Wow. I cannot believe the series is over.
I started this series thinking it was just another paranormal YA series, which it was in some ways, but I ended up falling in love with it as the series progressed. Now I'm gonna have to go and buy the gorgeous box set and read them a dozen times over.
If you're not familiar with these books, you can check out my reviews of the first five books (starting with number one). I may actually be re-reviewing these in a while though, as I've come to appreciate them a whole lot more now.
So, where to start... The plot? Complicated but great. Action, tons of heartache, and a sprinkle of love. The ending is super sweet, too. Maybe a bit too neat and happy, but I'm a cynic. Honestly, it was nice to see them all find happiness at last.
The characters. Oh, the characters! I love them all. The use of the relationships in the plot is fantastic (and super sad), and the character development is pretty strong, too. The relationship between Clary and Jace becomes more *ahem* intimate, while Magnus and Alec finally get to talk about what happened between them. As for Isabelle and Simon... you'll have to read it yourself to see what happens to them.
I find that Clare's writing in these novels has a really distinct, iconic feel. From the first page, I was immersed in the Shadowhunting world, despite it having been a while since I read the previous novel. And although the book is long - over 600 pages - it didn't feel tedious or boring. It took me a while to read it due to school work, but I did find myself having to force myself to put the book down and go to sleep.
Like I said, I have grown fonder of this series with each passing book. I'm going to start the series over again soon to see if I still feel the same way as before, but for now I'm going to give this finale a 4.5-star rating. Not quite in my favourites, but after a re-read it may be!
I started this series thinking it was just another paranormal YA series, which it was in some ways, but I ended up falling in love with it as the series progressed. Now I'm gonna have to go and buy the gorgeous box set and read them a dozen times over.
If you're not familiar with these books, you can check out my reviews of the first five books (starting with number one). I may actually be re-reviewing these in a while though, as I've come to appreciate them a whole lot more now.
So, where to start... The plot? Complicated but great. Action, tons of heartache, and a sprinkle of love. The ending is super sweet, too. Maybe a bit too neat and happy, but I'm a cynic. Honestly, it was nice to see them all find happiness at last.
The characters. Oh, the characters! I love them all. The use of the relationships in the plot is fantastic (and super sad), and the character development is pretty strong, too. The relationship between Clary and Jace becomes more *ahem* intimate, while Magnus and Alec finally get to talk about what happened between them. As for Isabelle and Simon... you'll have to read it yourself to see what happens to them.
I find that Clare's writing in these novels has a really distinct, iconic feel. From the first page, I was immersed in the Shadowhunting world, despite it having been a while since I read the previous novel. And although the book is long - over 600 pages - it didn't feel tedious or boring. It took me a while to read it due to school work, but I did find myself having to force myself to put the book down and go to sleep.
Like I said, I have grown fonder of this series with each passing book. I'm going to start the series over again soon to see if I still feel the same way as before, but for now I'm going to give this finale a 4.5-star rating. Not quite in my favourites, but after a re-read it may be!
David Bell recommended A Prayer for the Dying in Books (curated)
AJaneClark (3975 KP) rated The Guilty Dead in Books
May 4, 2020
Not what I expected
I have read a few novels now by P.J. Tracy, and they have always kept me captivated. I really struggled to maintain my interest whilst reading The Guilty Dead. Perhaps because it didn’t feature the Monkeewrench crew as the main focus, and instead focussed on homicide detectives Gino and Magozzi... or maybe it was the spotty storyline. One thing is for sure is that it wasn’t the most enjoyable read for me.
I found that the storyline jumped all over the place, featured chapters of text that weren’t really needed for the main storyline, and disappeared on tangents.
I did however enjoy the further development of the characters featured, how they are entangled with one another, and discovering some depth in them and their relationships.
Overall a disappointing and somewhat predictable read for me.
I found that the storyline jumped all over the place, featured chapters of text that weren’t really needed for the main storyline, and disappeared on tangents.
I did however enjoy the further development of the characters featured, how they are entangled with one another, and discovering some depth in them and their relationships.
Overall a disappointing and somewhat predictable read for me.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Stripped (Travesty, #2) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
4.5 stars.
Well, what can I say other than I really enjoyed this. I was definitely thinking it was going to be a possible five star read. And it might have been…but I didn’t cry. I know, stupid reason. But if I cry over characters it means they’ve dug under my skin and made me care about them. Strangely this didn’t, despite me rooting for them from pretty much the first chapter. Nevertheless I really liked it. If I could have, I would probably have read this in one sitting, I was that into it.
I loved the characters, pretty much all of them, apart from Nate’s dad—and maybe his mum too. Oh and a certain friend that I will not name as it might spoilt the story.
If you like contemporary romances with a girl who doesn’t have a filter and a guy who always wants to win then this will be right up your street.
P.S. I haven’t read the first book in this series but I wouldn’t mind doing now!
Well, what can I say other than I really enjoyed this. I was definitely thinking it was going to be a possible five star read. And it might have been…but I didn’t cry. I know, stupid reason. But if I cry over characters it means they’ve dug under my skin and made me care about them. Strangely this didn’t, despite me rooting for them from pretty much the first chapter. Nevertheless I really liked it. If I could have, I would probably have read this in one sitting, I was that into it.
I loved the characters, pretty much all of them, apart from Nate’s dad—and maybe his mum too. Oh and a certain friend that I will not name as it might spoilt the story.
If you like contemporary romances with a girl who doesn’t have a filter and a guy who always wants to win then this will be right up your street.
P.S. I haven’t read the first book in this series but I wouldn’t mind doing now!
Tom Turner (388 KP) rated Skallagrigg in Books
Jun 15, 2021
I very rarely post about books while I'm still reading them, but for this book I had to, because I felt, and still feel it is criminal that this is book is not that well known. It should be in the pantheon of novels that get read my millions each year. However, I doubt given its obscurity that this is the case.
This story is so much more than its basics of being an exploration of disability. Though as someone with a disability it did bring home to me how much my life could have been different if I had been born in a different era - but also, how far society has yet to travel. It's as much a story about the human spirit and the importance of wholeness. To be honest, there are many levels one could read this book. If one has the tearducts strong enough, I am sure it's the kind of book that a reread would give even greater insight than the first read through. I first picked this up in the early 2000's, and for various reasons never finished a complete read through until now. But it was definitely one of those books that kept calling me back, and I'm so glad it did!
If you can get hold of a copy, it really is a must read!
This story is so much more than its basics of being an exploration of disability. Though as someone with a disability it did bring home to me how much my life could have been different if I had been born in a different era - but also, how far society has yet to travel. It's as much a story about the human spirit and the importance of wholeness. To be honest, there are many levels one could read this book. If one has the tearducts strong enough, I am sure it's the kind of book that a reread would give even greater insight than the first read through. I first picked this up in the early 2000's, and for various reasons never finished a complete read through until now. But it was definitely one of those books that kept calling me back, and I'm so glad it did!
If you can get hold of a copy, it really is a must read!