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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Martyr in Books
Feb 27, 2022
37 of 230
Book
Martyr ( John Shakespeare book 1)
By Rory Clements
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This ingenious debut introduces John Shakespeare, Elizabethan England's most remarkable investigator, in a tale of conspiracy and murder that succeeds brilliantly as both historical fiction and crime thriller.
This is one of my favourite eras to read! I really enjoyed this book it was full of murder and intrigue in a very dark time especially if you were religious and on the wrong side. It’s definitely a book I recommend if you like historical fiction. It has some very interesting characters along the way.
Book
Martyr ( John Shakespeare book 1)
By Rory Clements
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This ingenious debut introduces John Shakespeare, Elizabethan England's most remarkable investigator, in a tale of conspiracy and murder that succeeds brilliantly as both historical fiction and crime thriller.
This is one of my favourite eras to read! I really enjoyed this book it was full of murder and intrigue in a very dark time especially if you were religious and on the wrong side. It’s definitely a book I recommend if you like historical fiction. It has some very interesting characters along the way.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Coming of Age at the End of Days in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Anna is a depressed teenager living with her parents in a conventional California suburb. One day, she finds herself pulled out of her "melancholia" by meeting Lars, another teen who moves into her neighborhood, and his parents. Lars and his family introduce Anna to the world of his "church," which is more of religious cult that has a forceful prophecy about the upcoming end of days.
As Anna becomes more and more drawn into this religious world, she finds herself beset by visions and otherwise withdrawing from life around her, including her parents, who are confused and upset by her religious fervor. Anna's only other real contacts are her neighbor, Jim, a mid-20-something who has returned home to live with his parents after a string of disgraces, and Jim's crush/sweetheart, Clara, who also teaches chemistry at Anna's high school.
I'll be honest - I just didn't like this book. It wasn't what I was expecting from this author, or even the description of the novel. I loved LaPlante's "Turn of Mind," but this was nothing like that novel. The plot was odd, disjointed, and really seemed to make no sense. Anna is not a sympathetic character to me -- I completely empathized with her bewildered parents. There really seems to be no reason why Anna would become so drawn into this religion (which perhaps may be the point, but if so, it's not really made well). There are odd plot twists and turns that seem just to pop up out of nowhere, for no reason, including the oddly inserted ending and epilogue. Even's Anna's visions aren't really explained well.
I don't know; I was disappointed by this read. Perhaps I just missed a greater point this book was trying to make, but it didn't do it for me.
(Note I received an ARC of this book from Negalley in return for an unbiased review.)
As Anna becomes more and more drawn into this religious world, she finds herself beset by visions and otherwise withdrawing from life around her, including her parents, who are confused and upset by her religious fervor. Anna's only other real contacts are her neighbor, Jim, a mid-20-something who has returned home to live with his parents after a string of disgraces, and Jim's crush/sweetheart, Clara, who also teaches chemistry at Anna's high school.
I'll be honest - I just didn't like this book. It wasn't what I was expecting from this author, or even the description of the novel. I loved LaPlante's "Turn of Mind," but this was nothing like that novel. The plot was odd, disjointed, and really seemed to make no sense. Anna is not a sympathetic character to me -- I completely empathized with her bewildered parents. There really seems to be no reason why Anna would become so drawn into this religion (which perhaps may be the point, but if so, it's not really made well). There are odd plot twists and turns that seem just to pop up out of nowhere, for no reason, including the oddly inserted ending and epilogue. Even's Anna's visions aren't really explained well.
I don't know; I was disappointed by this read. Perhaps I just missed a greater point this book was trying to make, but it didn't do it for me.
(Note I received an ARC of this book from Negalley in return for an unbiased review.)
Amanda (30 KP) rated Hidden Under Her Heart (Chance for Love, #2) in Books
Jun 21, 2018
As someone who is prochoice and not religious, I could have lived without the "God doesn't want you to kill your baby bits". Other than that, the story was pretty riveting. I do wish that Maryanne would have gotten a rape kit done at the hospital. Like many women, she was too afraid and was afraid of having to give her history out to her coworkers (she was a nurse). I was also a little sad that we didn't find out who Emma's father was in the end. I have a sneaking suspicion that it was Barry's child, since he worked so hard to "get rid of the evidence".
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Reaping (2007) in Movies
Jul 30, 2019
Spooky Scary Reaps
The Reaping- is a underrated horror jem, that not alot of people talk about.
The plot: Katherine Morrissey (Hilary Swank), a former Christian missionary, lost her faith after the tragic deaths of her family. Now she applies her expertise to debunking religious phenomena. When a series of biblical plagues overrun a small town, Katherine arrives to prove that a supernatural force is not behind the occurrences, but soon finds that science cannot explain what is happening. Instead, she must regain her faith to combat the evil that waits in a Louisiana swamp.
It might be bad movie from other critics, but to me its a underrated horror jem.
The plot: Katherine Morrissey (Hilary Swank), a former Christian missionary, lost her faith after the tragic deaths of her family. Now she applies her expertise to debunking religious phenomena. When a series of biblical plagues overrun a small town, Katherine arrives to prove that a supernatural force is not behind the occurrences, but soon finds that science cannot explain what is happening. Instead, she must regain her faith to combat the evil that waits in a Louisiana swamp.
It might be bad movie from other critics, but to me its a underrated horror jem.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers recommended The Great Beauty (2013) in Movies (curated)
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Others (2001) in Movies
Sep 29, 2020
I Am Your Daughter
The Others- is a great haunted house film that has a great twist at the end. Its scary, haunted, horrorfying, thrilling and terrorfying.
The Plot: Grace (Nicole Kidman), the devoutly religious mother of Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley), moves her family to the English coast during World War II. She awaits word on her missing husband while protecting her children from a rare photosensitivity disease that causes the sun to harm them. Anne claims she sees ghosts, Grace initially thinks the new servants are playing tricks but chilling events and visions make her believe something supernatural has occurred.
Its a excellent haunted house film.
The Plot: Grace (Nicole Kidman), the devoutly religious mother of Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley), moves her family to the English coast during World War II. She awaits word on her missing husband while protecting her children from a rare photosensitivity disease that causes the sun to harm them. Anne claims she sees ghosts, Grace initially thinks the new servants are playing tricks but chilling events and visions make her believe something supernatural has occurred.
Its a excellent haunted house film.
LilyLovesIndie (123 KP) rated By the Rivers of Water: A Nineteenth-Century Atlantic Odyssey in Books
Nov 5, 2018
I was highly intrigued by this book when I first read about it as I have a minor obsession with everything and anything to do with the American Civil War. Admittedly, this is pre-war and gives an insight into the efforts of missionary do-gooders in trying to relocate the African American population back to their 'native' home.
I was expecting a more fictional style of writing, and was pleasantly surprised to see that it is written in more of a recount style of the lives of the main family, namely Leighton Wilson. The detail and attention paid to the research shone through in every page and was highly informative to read. However, at times this book did have a tendency to drag, and I suspect it is due to the overwhelming attention to small detail. Fabulous if you're using the book as a research project, not so if you're reading out of curiosity into this era of history. In addition, it also occasionally lacked the fine balance between informative on the religious aspect of the missions and preaching through the pages. As a not so religious person, this did become annoying at times, but I could understand why Clarke had this tone in the book.
Overall, an enjoyable, if not very long, book that was incredibly informative and rather enjoyable. The addition of the photographs and personal snippets from letters added a very personal and enjoyable aspect to the tale of the Wilson's.
I was expecting a more fictional style of writing, and was pleasantly surprised to see that it is written in more of a recount style of the lives of the main family, namely Leighton Wilson. The detail and attention paid to the research shone through in every page and was highly informative to read. However, at times this book did have a tendency to drag, and I suspect it is due to the overwhelming attention to small detail. Fabulous if you're using the book as a research project, not so if you're reading out of curiosity into this era of history. In addition, it also occasionally lacked the fine balance between informative on the religious aspect of the missions and preaching through the pages. As a not so religious person, this did become annoying at times, but I could understand why Clarke had this tone in the book.
Overall, an enjoyable, if not very long, book that was incredibly informative and rather enjoyable. The addition of the photographs and personal snippets from letters added a very personal and enjoyable aspect to the tale of the Wilson's.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Outcasts of Time in Books
Feb 9, 2019
Yet another book I waited so long for that ended up not being all that great. Ian Mortimer is a historian, so when I saw he was writing a novel, I was intrigued.
Well, the result was just ok. Two brothers end up catching the plague and get to live their last 6 days, 99 years in the future each day. The novel normally focuses on the changing customs, clothing, and it's deeply focused on religion. It was alright with me, but it's probably not what people thought they'd be getting into while reading this. I would deem this whole book as a sort of religious mediation. Overall, just kind of meh and a let down for me.
Well, the result was just ok. Two brothers end up catching the plague and get to live their last 6 days, 99 years in the future each day. The novel normally focuses on the changing customs, clothing, and it's deeply focused on religion. It was alright with me, but it's probably not what people thought they'd be getting into while reading this. I would deem this whole book as a sort of religious mediation. Overall, just kind of meh and a let down for me.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated A Very Blessed Christmas Coloring Book in Books
Jun 14, 2018
A Very Blessed Christmas Coloring Book by Robin Mead brings scripture into coloring, while allowing me to color in a relaxed quite moment.
The images are a mix of secular and religious, all related to the Christmas season. There are some beautiful Biblical quotes related to the season too, surrounded by artwork to color.
This book has a section for Christmas crafts such as cutouts to make ornaments, bookmarks or even gift tags. I love that this coloring book is unique and is perfect for everyone. It is inspirational, filled with beautiful pictures of angels, snowflakes, trees, stocking, nativity and so much more.
I received this book from FaithWords via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The images are a mix of secular and religious, all related to the Christmas season. There are some beautiful Biblical quotes related to the season too, surrounded by artwork to color.
This book has a section for Christmas crafts such as cutouts to make ornaments, bookmarks or even gift tags. I love that this coloring book is unique and is perfect for everyone. It is inspirational, filled with beautiful pictures of angels, snowflakes, trees, stocking, nativity and so much more.
I received this book from FaithWords via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Erika (17788 KP) rated A Hidden Life (2019) in Movies
Dec 21, 2019
Seeing this film is something you have to prepare for, it clocks in at just under 3 hours. You also have to be aware that it's a Malick film, and the dude does whatever he wants.
First, Austria is beautiful, the cinematography, scenery, everything, was gorgeous. I think that there were more scenes of nature, than the actors themselves. It's a long, rollicking journey through the simple story of a man who refused to swear an oath to Hitler in 1943.
Franz's journey was deeply religious and philosophical.
I really enjoyed the entire film, and it was worth almost 3 hours of my life, simply because of the beauty of it. It won't be everyone's thing.
First, Austria is beautiful, the cinematography, scenery, everything, was gorgeous. I think that there were more scenes of nature, than the actors themselves. It's a long, rollicking journey through the simple story of a man who refused to swear an oath to Hitler in 1943.
Franz's journey was deeply religious and philosophical.
I really enjoyed the entire film, and it was worth almost 3 hours of my life, simply because of the beauty of it. It won't be everyone's thing.