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ClareR (5879 KP) rated Spinning Silver in Books

Aug 13, 2018  
Spinning Silver
Spinning Silver
Naomi Novik | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Take my money now!!!
Advertised as a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, this takes quite some imagination to get the reader to that particular fairy tale. I’m assuming that the Staryk King is along the lines of the Rumpelstiltskin character, except he isn’t some wizened dwarf. In fact, more than one of the characters carries some of Rumpelstiltskin’s traits.
Miryem, the Jewish Moneylenders daughter (who is actually far better at it than her father), has a reputation for turning silver in to gold, and this reaches the ears of the Staryk King, who demands that she change his silver in to gold. Which she does three times; the consequences of which aren’t quite what she expects.
Novik writes good female characters, without any doubt. Miryem, whotakes over her father’s moneylending business and saves her family; Irena, the daughter of a Duke, who marries the demon possessed Tsar; and Wanda, the daughter of a destitute, drunk farmer, who by luck comes to pay off her father’s debts by working for Miryem.
These women’s lives converge to create a bewitching story of real human concerns: poverty, helplessness, strength found when needed, and how important it is to pay your debts!
I do hope Novik writes more books like this. I’ll buy them!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this wonderful book.
  
The Time Machine
The Time Machine
H.G. Wells | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.9 (21 Ratings)
Book Rating
Classic HG Wells science fiction, which (I have read) is often credited with popularizing the phrase of a 'Time Machine'.

Presented in the first person, this is told mainly as that first person retelling the story as it was told to him (and several of his companions) by the (un-named) Time Traveller over dinner, with that Traveller claiming to have traveled several millenia into the future, to the year 802,701 (to be precise).

Once there, he finds that mankind has degenerated into two distinct species: the ephemeral child-like Eloi (who have a complete lack of curiosity) and the underground dwelling malicious Morlocks. Initially finding himself trapped when his mode of transportation disappears/is stolen and locked away by the Morlocks, the bulk of the novel deals with the Time Travellers (in the end successful) attempt to regain said machine in order to travel back to his own time, albeit with a brief excursion into the even-further future.

You know how time travel is often shown of TV/in the movies? With a clock hand whizzing around a face, or with day and night and seasons flickering past? The latter is almost exactly how the process is described in this - I think it may be a fair bet to say that, without this story, we would have movies the likes of (say) Back to the Future!
  
Depraved (2019)
Depraved (2019)
2019 | Horror
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Good but Needed a More Inventive Story
In this intriguing retelling of Frankenstein’s monster, a man finds himself the victim of a kidnapping and gruesome science experiment.

Acting: 10

Beginning: 10

Characters: 10

Cinematography/Visuals: 10

Conflict: 8

Entertainment Value: 4

Memorability: 1

Pace: 10
One of the things Depraved does extremely well is keep you engaged. We move from one scene to the next at a pretty quick clip. Even during scenes with heavier dialogue, there are no lingering moments which I appreciate. Thoroughly enjoyed the speed as the movie didn’t feel like two hours in the slightest.

Plot: 5
The sum of the story’s parts doesn’t really pass the smell test. Fast is good, yes, but there are some speed bumps that are hard to overlook. It felt like it was trying so hard to mirror Frankenstein at times that it never fully tried to do its own thing.

Resolution: 5

Overall: 73
I try to support indie movies as often as I can. And not just Fox Searchlight type of movies but those up and coming from lesser known studios. Films like Depraved can find themselves outgunned and overmatched but I appreciate what directors like Larry Fessenden are able to do with less. I hope to see more of his work in the future.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Quiz in TV

Apr 21, 2020  
Quiz
Quiz
2020 | Drama
Very entertaining
I've grown up watching Who Wants to be a Millionaire although I have to admit the detail behind the Charles Ingram cheating scandal passed me by. I knew of it but that was it, so I found this show to be not only entertaining but informative too.

As far as tv dramas go, this is very entertaining. The 3 episodes are just enough to tell the story without being overly long and the whole scandal itself is an intriguing tale. I never knew the origins of the show or the real detail behind the scandal (like the brother being involved), so I found this to be fascinating and it was very well made. There's a great cast in this too, Matthew Macfayden is wonderful as the almost dim witted Ingram and he's ably supported by the rest of the cast. The star of the show though is definitely Michael Sheen as Chris Tarrant. He's an absolute hoot and looks like he's having so much fun. It's just a shame that he isn't in this more, although understandable considering the story isnt about him.

Overall this is a very entertaining retelling of a true story and whilst the outcome is rather frustrating (as in real life), it's a lot of fun and has a great nostalgic feel.
  
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Merissa (12894 KP) rated Eira in Books

Aug 5, 2021  
Eira
Eira
Adrian J. Smith | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
EIRA is a standalone novella giving The Snow Queen a FF fairytale retelling.

The descriptions of the national park, the weather, the hut, all those sorts of things were absolutely brilliant. I could see them so clearly in my mind as I read, which is always a good thing.

What I didn't like so much were the main characters themselves, which kinda makes it awkward! I didn't really feel any connection between them, not helped by the long periods of time that slipped them both by without them being in contact.

The other thing was when Kay had been told about the curse. She goes to the library and searches out information on Gwyn, finding out she was a historical figure who just disappeared. Then she makes a connection to fairy tales and decides - with no real proof, just a hunch - that Gwyn is The Snow Queen and she knows how to save her. I love fantasy and paranormal but even I found this to be a stretch of the imagination.

Overall, this was a nice coffee break book that I enjoyed but it is a one-and-done for me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!