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This Brutal House
This Brutal House
Niven Govinden | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I had high hopes for this book, but I really don’t think that I “got” it. As it was all written in the third person, I struggled to work out who some chapters were about until I was a good way into them. And considering the subject matter, the ballroom culture, the missing children, it was just quite uninspiring. Perhaps I’m just not the target audience for this book. Actually, I DON’T agree with this. I was really keen to read a book about Drag culture and to learn something from it, and to some degree, I did. I just wish there had been a bit more “oomph”. Even the scene with the gun barely raised a gasp from me - it was more of a “but why?” Maybe I missed the motivation. I don’t know. This book has a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews on Goodreads, which just goes to show that what doesn’t work for one person works really well for another. I’m glad I tried it though.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Patient in Books

Apr 28, 2022  
The Patient
The Patient
Jane Shemilt | 2022 | Mystery, Romance
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
From the description, I was expecting an exciting and fast-paced thriller but this is not what I experienced; it was more a slow-burn domestic suspense/mystery/love affair that although wasn't what I anticipated, it kept me engaged most of the time.

I found the characters weren't particularly likeable and whilst this doesn't usually bother me that much, they did start to grate on my nerves which affected how I felt about them and the story as it developed.

The story itself was an interesting mystery but nothing overly exciting or different. The writing was a little over descriptive at times but it plodded on ok.

Overall, not the most exciting book I have ever read but not the worst either but, once again, there are many more positive reviews out there so give it a go if you enjoy romance books with a bit of mystery thrown in.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
  
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
2021 | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
Well.

That was ... different.

I'd read a few reviews of the first Venom movie that basically described it as a rom-com between Eddie Brock and the symbiote Venom.

Watching this, so must have the producers of this film as they have seemingly 'doubled down' on that aspect, with Tom Hardy again portraying by Eddie Brock and voicing Venom, with lots of internal conversations going on between the two (that sound vaguely like something out of Deadpool), and with the two of them arguing and bickering the part out with each other, leading to a (temporary) breakup of sorts.

As for Woody Harrelson? He portrays the serial killer whom the symbiote Carnage latches onto (although it's never fully explained how Carnage came to be from a sliver of Venom), alongside Naoime Harris's Shriek, who surprised me right at the start of the film in that she is a mutant. In the Spiderman Shared Universe

All in all, I have to say, I *think* this is an improvement on the first, but it is a close call.
  
The Blue Lagoon (1980)
The Blue Lagoon (1980)
1980 | Action, Drama
Charming (1 more)
Enjoyable
Acting (3 more)
Aged Badly
Story
Clichés
Absolutely terrible, but somehow good!
This is probably one of the most difficult reviews I've written. I mainly bought this film because I wanted to watch the sequel, Return to the Blue Lagoon (I'm a big fan of Milla Jovovich).

I'm going to start with the negatives, as somehow this film has very few redeeming features.

Brook Shields (to be fair, only 14 at the time), and Christopher Atkins are absolutely awful actors at this early stage in their careers.

The story is highly predictable for the most part, it's very much the typical "stranded on a desert island" film, with somehow every single cliché included, apart from the ending (which remains somewhat ambiguous), and the scenes featuring the two learning about their bodies as they hit puberty.

Despite all this, the film is really enjoyable! It's not a good film by any stretch of the imagination, but somehow it has a certain charm and innocence that will keep you watching, and want to watch it again.

Overall, definitely worth a watch :)

Enjoy everyone!
  
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ClareR (5681 KP) rated Best of Friends in Books

Jan 12, 2023  
Best of Friends
Best of Friends
Kamila Shamsie | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, LGBTQ+
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I enjoyed this novel about two friends from Karachi, both from wealthy families. It’s 1988, and a time of great change in Pakistan. The dictatorship is over, and Benazir Bhutto is set to become Prime Minister.

Maryam and Zahra make a poor decision after a party that has consequences for many years.

Thirty years later both women live in London. They both have the best educations that money can buy, and a Oxbridge degree each. They’re both hugely successful in their chosen professions, and regularly see the seedier side of their professions (mainly corrupt politicians).

But when someone from their past reappears, questionable decisions are made once again. I was mentally shouting at the character involved for her utter stupidity, and I was really surprised that Maryam and Zehra’s friendship survived this at all - I don’t know as I would be as forgiving. There was a point where I wasn’t so sure that the friendship would survive though.

I liked this, and I’m aware from reading other reviews that it’s very much a marmite book. Love it or hate it: I loved it.
  
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