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Social Guide - Social Networks Analytics
Social Networking and Utilities
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Approachable analytics and insight tools for growing brands Grow Your Audience Track your growth...
Biodiversity of Tropical Wetlands and Forests
Book
Biodiversity-the variety of genes, species, and ecosystems-is the basis for long-term ecosystem...
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The ‘86 Fix in Books
Aug 22, 2020
Couldn’t put it down
Don’t you love it when you pick up a book that sounds good but you have little expectations of, and get completely blown away. This is what The ‘86 Fix did for me.
To start, this is not a massively sci-fi centric novel despite featuring time travel. The time travel element is almost secondary to the drama and humour that form the main plot of Craig Pelling’s life. In a book where the main plot device (the time travel) doesn’t feature until half way through, you’d be forgiven for expecting to be bored senseless by then but this really isn’t the case. This is mainly because Craig and his life is fascinating. Craig isn’t your usual protagonist - he’s flawed, living a dead end existence and feels just like your average Joe and you can’t help but root for him. It’s intriguing to read about him, his life and his relationships and by the time the time travel element happens, you’re very much invested in Craig and are cheering for him to make amends to his life via his past experiences. It’s all rather heartwarming and quite funny at times too, and it’s so well written.
And then the ending happens. I can’t lie, I was torn between crying and screaming in frustration by the time I reached the end of the book. Not because it was bad, but because I just didn’t see the ending coming and without spoilers, it’s not quite the ending you’d expect or want for a character you’ve been rooting for over the entire book. Despite my frustrations though, it was a surprising ending and enjoyable - I’m so glad the sequel is readily available as I can’t not jump right into it now as I really need to find out what happens to Craig.
This book reminds me a lot of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August as that’s another of my favourites too and has a similar drama/sci-if vibe, and I’d definitely recommend The ‘86 Fix if you’ve ever read Harry August (or even if you haven’t).
To start, this is not a massively sci-fi centric novel despite featuring time travel. The time travel element is almost secondary to the drama and humour that form the main plot of Craig Pelling’s life. In a book where the main plot device (the time travel) doesn’t feature until half way through, you’d be forgiven for expecting to be bored senseless by then but this really isn’t the case. This is mainly because Craig and his life is fascinating. Craig isn’t your usual protagonist - he’s flawed, living a dead end existence and feels just like your average Joe and you can’t help but root for him. It’s intriguing to read about him, his life and his relationships and by the time the time travel element happens, you’re very much invested in Craig and are cheering for him to make amends to his life via his past experiences. It’s all rather heartwarming and quite funny at times too, and it’s so well written.
And then the ending happens. I can’t lie, I was torn between crying and screaming in frustration by the time I reached the end of the book. Not because it was bad, but because I just didn’t see the ending coming and without spoilers, it’s not quite the ending you’d expect or want for a character you’ve been rooting for over the entire book. Despite my frustrations though, it was a surprising ending and enjoyable - I’m so glad the sequel is readily available as I can’t not jump right into it now as I really need to find out what happens to Craig.
This book reminds me a lot of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August as that’s another of my favourites too and has a similar drama/sci-if vibe, and I’d definitely recommend The ‘86 Fix if you’ve ever read Harry August (or even if you haven’t).
The Story of Us by Quinn XCII
Album
The Story Of Us is the debut album from Detroit-bred vocalist/songwriter Quinn XCII. The album if...
Offline Lao to English Language Dictionary
Education and Book
App
This innovative English to Lao Translate Dictionary provides you with the splendid opportunity to...
How to Hold a Grudge: From Resentment to Contentment—The Power of Grudges to Transform Your Life
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The first and only comprehensive examination of the universal but widely misunderstood practice of...
Feel (Breaking Free #6)
5.5
Rate It
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An Omegaverse Story. Single omegin Brogan Dale is jealous of the loving, stable relationships his...
M_M Omegaverse
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Night She Disappeared in Books
Sep 23, 2021
An intricate, twisty, page-turner of a thriller
Tallulah and her boyfriend, Zach, go out on a date, leaving their young son Noah behind with her mom, Kim. Kim waits up for Tallulah, but she never comes back. As Kim tries to find out what happened to her daughter, whom she knows would never leave Noah behind, she learns she was last seen at a party at house in the woods, called the Dark Place.
Two years later, Sophie moves to a boarding school where her boyfriend, Shaun, has just started to work as head teacher. As she explores the woods, she sees a note reading "Dig Here." A writer, Sophie starts investigating. Her sleuthing will take her into the world of the Dark Place and Tallulah's disappearance.
"With a racing heart and a sickening swirl in the pit of her stomach, she calls the police and she files a missing persons case."
This is an excellent thriller, hands-down. I read the second half in one sitting, because I was completely and totally sucked in. This is a mystery, but it has a ton of character to it--because the characters, ha, are real and vibrant people, with their own quirks, issues, and struggles that add an an extra element to the story. Tallulah, especially, is a nuanced character, a young mother struggling to find her place in the world, with her boyfriend, her friendships, and as a parent and student.
NIGHT is quite twisty--this read will keep you guessing. It's well-written, extremely dark (be prepared), and just well-done overall. It balances thrilling and characterization perfectly. I often hate when a "regular" character decides to be a sleuth, but Sophie, as a crime writer, was fine in the role. I loved Tallulah (extremely great, because she's missing, so Jewell gets us attached to a character who is gone and whose POV is told through the past). The book is complex, giving us insight into motherhood, relationships, friendship and more.
Overall, this was a winner for me. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Atria Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Two years later, Sophie moves to a boarding school where her boyfriend, Shaun, has just started to work as head teacher. As she explores the woods, she sees a note reading "Dig Here." A writer, Sophie starts investigating. Her sleuthing will take her into the world of the Dark Place and Tallulah's disappearance.
"With a racing heart and a sickening swirl in the pit of her stomach, she calls the police and she files a missing persons case."
This is an excellent thriller, hands-down. I read the second half in one sitting, because I was completely and totally sucked in. This is a mystery, but it has a ton of character to it--because the characters, ha, are real and vibrant people, with their own quirks, issues, and struggles that add an an extra element to the story. Tallulah, especially, is a nuanced character, a young mother struggling to find her place in the world, with her boyfriend, her friendships, and as a parent and student.
NIGHT is quite twisty--this read will keep you guessing. It's well-written, extremely dark (be prepared), and just well-done overall. It balances thrilling and characterization perfectly. I often hate when a "regular" character decides to be a sleuth, but Sophie, as a crime writer, was fine in the role. I loved Tallulah (extremely great, because she's missing, so Jewell gets us attached to a character who is gone and whose POV is told through the past). The book is complex, giving us insight into motherhood, relationships, friendship and more.
Overall, this was a winner for me. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Atria Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Merissa (13373 KP) rated Emerge (Immortals of Indriell #1) in Books
Apr 19, 2023
This is the first book in a fantastic new series that I have loved every word of. This is a world of Immortals and mortals, where you can't die but you can be murdered, where the amount of power you have corresponds to how people react to you.
Allie has lived an unconventional life so far, globetrotting with her parents but always alone. She has made few friends as most people seem to be uncomfortable around her. She no longer questions this, but instead accepts it as inevitable. Just as she thinks she is making headway with a friend/boyfriend, her parents tell her they are moving again. This time she ends up in America. Whilst psyching herself up for starting a new school, she meets a boy called Aidan and a whole new world opens up for her.
This is incredibly well-written and I was completely drawn into the story. I LOVED Allie and her sarcasm. She seriously made me snort out loud on more than one occasion, much to the amusement of my family. The interaction and banter between her and Aidan is fantastic. I will say this, I usually hate love triangles, and I mean loathe them! This somehow didn't seem like that though, and although I like Vince, I really REALLY don't want Allie to be with him. Trust me when I say I have fingers, toes and other body parts crossed for Aidan.
If I had to say anything against this book, I would say that with the number of characters involved, and their convoluted relationships/bonds, it sometimes made it a bit confusing to figure out just who was what in relation to whom. However, this is something very minor and quickly becomes irrelevant as you become more immersed in the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and found it to be over far too quickly, even though it is a good-sized book. Not only can I highly recommend this book, but I will also be on the lookout for the next in the series and waiting with bated breath!
* I received this book in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 10, 2015
Allie has lived an unconventional life so far, globetrotting with her parents but always alone. She has made few friends as most people seem to be uncomfortable around her. She no longer questions this, but instead accepts it as inevitable. Just as she thinks she is making headway with a friend/boyfriend, her parents tell her they are moving again. This time she ends up in America. Whilst psyching herself up for starting a new school, she meets a boy called Aidan and a whole new world opens up for her.
This is incredibly well-written and I was completely drawn into the story. I LOVED Allie and her sarcasm. She seriously made me snort out loud on more than one occasion, much to the amusement of my family. The interaction and banter between her and Aidan is fantastic. I will say this, I usually hate love triangles, and I mean loathe them! This somehow didn't seem like that though, and although I like Vince, I really REALLY don't want Allie to be with him. Trust me when I say I have fingers, toes and other body parts crossed for Aidan.
If I had to say anything against this book, I would say that with the number of characters involved, and their convoluted relationships/bonds, it sometimes made it a bit confusing to figure out just who was what in relation to whom. However, this is something very minor and quickly becomes irrelevant as you become more immersed in the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and found it to be over far too quickly, even though it is a good-sized book. Not only can I highly recommend this book, but I will also be on the lookout for the next in the series and waiting with bated breath!
* I received this book in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 10, 2015
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Call of the Jersey Devil in Books
May 25, 2017
Brilliant humour (2 more)
Horror
Written by one of my favourite Gothic musicians, Aurelio Voltaire
Hilarious, Gruesome and a brilliantly written
Aurelio Voltaire has always been brilliantly funny and witty in his work. His music is something I'd recommend listening to if you haven't already, don't let the Goth genre allow your mine to judge before you listen to it, because I promise you, it's not what you expect.
This book of his, is as brilliantly written as his lyrics, and Voltaire knows how to write a gruesome, horrifying adventure that includes friendship, family curses, Himself (as the washed up Goth singer), the undead, and of course legendary beast known as The Jersey Devil. Voltaire was born and raised in New Jersey and he did not enjoy his years as a young Goth (though he didn't know he fit into a stereotype back then) as people ridiculed him, and the other kids bullied him. He has a son called 'Bomb New Jersey' and I believe he references these thoughts in other areas of his work as well.
Back to the book however, the tale begins by telling us how the Jersey Devil was banished from this realm on earth and then it jumps to present day. The first chapter is exciting and gripping, the next chapter is brilliant and hilarious, and includes a dildo lightsaber fight....yes you read that right. The mall rats are best friends, but they argue with one another a lot, and this is how the book gets your attention. You keep reading to see how their relationships evolve, and how they band together to help one another survive the hellish nightmare that unfolds in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.
The detail in this book is written to give you gruesome images, of the grotesque undead, the large stature of the Jersey Devil, and the unearthly noise it makes.
I have met Aurelio Voltaire twice at Whitby Goth Weekend, and on the second time, I had the honour of being on stage with him, and a handful of other audience members, in order to be his Hellish choir that night, and it was incredible. I have my copy of the book signed and that makes it even more valuable to me. It's a great read, and I highly recommend to any fan of horror, and macabre.
This book of his, is as brilliantly written as his lyrics, and Voltaire knows how to write a gruesome, horrifying adventure that includes friendship, family curses, Himself (as the washed up Goth singer), the undead, and of course legendary beast known as The Jersey Devil. Voltaire was born and raised in New Jersey and he did not enjoy his years as a young Goth (though he didn't know he fit into a stereotype back then) as people ridiculed him, and the other kids bullied him. He has a son called 'Bomb New Jersey' and I believe he references these thoughts in other areas of his work as well.
Back to the book however, the tale begins by telling us how the Jersey Devil was banished from this realm on earth and then it jumps to present day. The first chapter is exciting and gripping, the next chapter is brilliant and hilarious, and includes a dildo lightsaber fight....yes you read that right. The mall rats are best friends, but they argue with one another a lot, and this is how the book gets your attention. You keep reading to see how their relationships evolve, and how they band together to help one another survive the hellish nightmare that unfolds in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.
The detail in this book is written to give you gruesome images, of the grotesque undead, the large stature of the Jersey Devil, and the unearthly noise it makes.
I have met Aurelio Voltaire twice at Whitby Goth Weekend, and on the second time, I had the honour of being on stage with him, and a handful of other audience members, in order to be his Hellish choir that night, and it was incredible. I have my copy of the book signed and that makes it even more valuable to me. It's a great read, and I highly recommend to any fan of horror, and macabre.
Lee (2222 KP) Sep 19, 2020