Smashbomb

Sneak a peek at the poetry book THE FORGOTTEN WORLD by Nick Courtright on my blog. This looks like an interesting read for sure!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-blitz-forgotten-world-by-nick.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
In his third collection, poet Nick Courtright explores the world at large in an effort to reconcile selfhood as an American in the international community, while also seeking anchors for remembering a wider world often lost to view in our shared though increasingly isolated experience of reality.

Beginning in Africa with investigations of religion and love, The Forgotten World then moves to Latin America to tackle colonialism and whiteness. From there it travels to Asia to discuss economic stratification and Europe to explore art and mental health, culminating in a stirring homecoming to troubled America, where family, the future, and what matters most rise to the forefront of consideration.

Through all of it, Courtright displays a deft hand, at once pained, at once bright, to discover that although the wider world seems farther away than before, the lessons it offers are more needed than ever.

Kudos Comment

Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Mute (2017) in Movies

Feb 17, 2021 (Updated Feb 25, 2021)

Mute (2017)

2017 | Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

6.4

(18 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Oh no Duncan Jones! How are you managing that occasional trick of each subsequent film you make being inferior to your last? Moon was sublime, Source Code was pretty damn good, Warcraft: The Beginning (and end probably) was just about watchable, and Mute is… fucking dreadful! I don’t buy Alexander Skarsgård as a leading man at the best of times, but given this ridiculous premise, script and downright careless production value, he falls flat to a ridiculous, almost laughable degree. It looks pretty in parts, very shiny and HD, but is never believable as a reality. I mean the main character can’t talk, which could have been used interestingly with good direction, but is frankly annoying here. Paul Rudd has a blast as Cactus Bill, and is mostly forgiven. Look out also for Robert Sheenan (Klaus from the Umbrella Academy) in a blameless and interesting role as Luba. Very very minor cult status is possible for this a few years down the line, but not enough to save it from the gutter.

Kudos

Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Stranger (Jude Lyon) in Books

Sep 19, 2020

The Stranger (Jude Lyon)

Simon Conway | 2020 | Crime, Thriller

8.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Complex, tense and gripping

I was lucky enough to be invited to read "The Stranger" by Hodder & Stoughton after having read and reviewed other books from their catalogue in the past. I haven't read anything by Simon Conway despite this being his fifth book and, if I'm honest, I hadn't heard of him before either but he is definitely on my radar now.

This is a complex tail involving terrorists, spies, lies and subterfuge within the murky world of MI6. I admit that it took me a while to get into it but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The characters are believable and interesting and the plot is complex, tense and gripping and, unfortunately, not beyond the realms of reality.

This is a very well written and researched spy thriller and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to yet another great author.

Kudos

Kristina (502 KP) rated Fractured (Will Trent, #2) in Books

Dec 7, 2020

Fractured (Will Trent, #2)

Karin Slaughter | 2008 | Crime, Law, Mystery, Thriller

8.1

(7 Ratings)

Book Rating

3.5 stars
Karin Slaughter goes straight for the jugular with her books! Nothing is sugar coated or wrapped up a pretty little bow. She comes by her work honestly and the picture she paints is dark, demented, and brutal. But it's so close to reality; much more so than books filled with fluffy unicorns and endless rainbows. As depressing and soul-wrenching as it is, Karin makes it work. She pulls you in and hypnotizes you with a fresh, albeit insidious, point of view. "Fractured" deals with the violent murder of a teenage girl, a seemingly-impossible-to-figure-out kidnapping, and a terrifying story of a serial rapist. Karin doesn't hold anything back and I, for one, don't have any complaints! I also enjoy the little snippets of the relationship between Will and Angie - though I must admit, I don't like Angie very much - because it appeals to my romantic side and proves that Karin can be sweet when she wants to be. Two books down, I believe six more to go!

Kudos

Kristina (502 KP) rated The Wife Between Us in Books

Dec 7, 2020

Let me start by saying this: That was unexpected. I usually write notes when I read, jot down theories and emotions, express suspicions or ask questions. While reading this book, that same sentence, "that was unexpected", was repeated over and over. So many people have raved over The Wife Between Us, I was curious. Not to say I'm highly disappointed, but I suppose I feel as if the book didn't live up to the hype. Granted, there were several twists and turns - some I was able to guess correctly and others I could never have predicted - but, overall, it was pretty good. The most intriguing part, for me, was trying to figure out if Vanessa was actually crazy, like her mother, and if I was falling for her altered reality. I would read and read, painting Richard as the villain, then she would say or think something that would make me pause and wonder just how like her mother she really could be. That ending, though, was a total bombshell!