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RavenclawPrincess913 (253 KP) rated Coven in Books
Aug 18, 2022
Title: Coven
Author: Jennifer Dugan, Kit Seaton
Read Dates: August 17th
Rating: 4/5
I chose to read Coven by Jennifer Dugan and Kit Seaton because it seemed interesting and was sent to me by Bookishfirst. I love the cover it's very pretty. The title and rest of the cover is what caught my attention. This Graphic Novel takes place in Upstate New York. One thing I loved was the illustrations in this Novel. Graphic Novels are something out of my comfort zone to their a little harder to get into because I prefer to leave it up to the imagination. But I really liked the story. It's sad what happened to Ben's parents and I understand Emsy's frustration with moving and being the new girl as that was me a lot. I loved the ending it was very unexpected.
Author: Jennifer Dugan, Kit Seaton
Read Dates: August 17th
Rating: 4/5
I chose to read Coven by Jennifer Dugan and Kit Seaton because it seemed interesting and was sent to me by Bookishfirst. I love the cover it's very pretty. The title and rest of the cover is what caught my attention. This Graphic Novel takes place in Upstate New York. One thing I loved was the illustrations in this Novel. Graphic Novels are something out of my comfort zone to their a little harder to get into because I prefer to leave it up to the imagination. But I really liked the story. It's sad what happened to Ben's parents and I understand Emsy's frustration with moving and being the new girl as that was me a lot. I loved the ending it was very unexpected.
Sam (74 KP) rated Remember This When You're Sad in Books
Mar 27, 2019
The publisher kindly sent me a copy of Remember This When You’re Sad to review, and I’m so glad they did. This book is hilarious, helpful, and like a nice hug all in one.
Remember This When You’re Sad is part memoir, part self-help, based on the experiences of former Buzzfeed Social Media Editor and current BBC Social Media Manager Maggy Van Eijk. It focuses on her anxiety, depression, panic attacks and disassociation and how she gets through each day with them.
I really loved reading this. I never really read many self-help books before Matt Haig’s Reasons To Stay Alive, but now I really love them and enjoy that they make you feel like you’re being cuddled while reading them.
This book managed to be absolutely hilarious in places while somehow also remaining serious and to the point. It spoke about anxiety in the same way that I address mine. I wouldn’t have gotten through so much if it hadn’t have been for being able to laugh at it sometimes.
It doesn’t preach a miracle cure to mental illnesses. Instead, Maggy Van Eijk talks through different ways of getting through your worst points, from telling you the best places to have a good cry to explaining how to ‘Club Penguin’ your problems. It’s the perfect mental health book for my generation.
I loved how the book is split into lots of lists, and the chapters are split so you can easily flick to the one you need the most at the time you need it.
Maggy Van Eijk even went into the detail of discussing people’s reactions when you talk about your mental health and it made me think about something that happened when I was at college that I had forgotten about until now. I’ve always been open about my mental health, especially when it was much worse when I was in college. I spoke to a girl I knew about it and she said ‘But why are you so open about it? You don’t talk about things like that.’ People’s reactions in the book were quite similar to that.
It’s sad to see that this is a normal thing that people think, but at the same time, it’s not shocking. There is still a massive stigma around mental health conditions, which is why I love books like this that talk openly about it.
This is definitely one of my favourite mental health books. I’ve already had to buy it for a friend and I’ve got two friends waiting to borrow my copy. I’ve never read a book that has been so much like talking to a friend.
Remember This When You’re Sad is part memoir, part self-help, based on the experiences of former Buzzfeed Social Media Editor and current BBC Social Media Manager Maggy Van Eijk. It focuses on her anxiety, depression, panic attacks and disassociation and how she gets through each day with them.
I really loved reading this. I never really read many self-help books before Matt Haig’s Reasons To Stay Alive, but now I really love them and enjoy that they make you feel like you’re being cuddled while reading them.
This book managed to be absolutely hilarious in places while somehow also remaining serious and to the point. It spoke about anxiety in the same way that I address mine. I wouldn’t have gotten through so much if it hadn’t have been for being able to laugh at it sometimes.
It doesn’t preach a miracle cure to mental illnesses. Instead, Maggy Van Eijk talks through different ways of getting through your worst points, from telling you the best places to have a good cry to explaining how to ‘Club Penguin’ your problems. It’s the perfect mental health book for my generation.
I loved how the book is split into lots of lists, and the chapters are split so you can easily flick to the one you need the most at the time you need it.
Maggy Van Eijk even went into the detail of discussing people’s reactions when you talk about your mental health and it made me think about something that happened when I was at college that I had forgotten about until now. I’ve always been open about my mental health, especially when it was much worse when I was in college. I spoke to a girl I knew about it and she said ‘But why are you so open about it? You don’t talk about things like that.’ People’s reactions in the book were quite similar to that.
It’s sad to see that this is a normal thing that people think, but at the same time, it’s not shocking. There is still a massive stigma around mental health conditions, which is why I love books like this that talk openly about it.
This is definitely one of my favourite mental health books. I’ve already had to buy it for a friend and I’ve got two friends waiting to borrow my copy. I’ve never read a book that has been so much like talking to a friend.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Amazing Spider-Man in Apps
Sep 25, 2019
The Amazing Spider-man, starring Andrew Garfield, came out 10 years after Maguire's ill-fated first attempt, on 3rd July 2012. Co-starring some greats, including Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen and Sally Fields. You might as well read the last summary for this one too, but add in the fact that he's out to solve his parents' mysterious death.
Peter is less nerd, more loser this time around. And generally he comes across as a bit more sad than before. But you'd expect that as we started the movie with a sad farewell. He has a bit of a "moment" with his dad's old briefcase to push that fact home a bit more.
No field trip for this Peter, instead he gatecrashes an intern enrolment to get a nosy at what might have to do with his parent's past. We learn lessons from this film too... in this one it is super easy to break into what must be highly classified labs.
Peter's transformation happens a lot quicker in this one, much to the trauma of everyone in the subway carriage with him. His little morning rampage gives me visions of Wolverine destroying the sink in X-men Origins: Wolverine... and now I come to think of it, doesn't Cyclops have a meltdown with his powers in a bathroom? What can we learn about this? Superpowers make you hate bathroom fixtures.
Did anyone else notice the guy who runs Jurassic World? Is he trying to pick up tips on how to super charge those dinosaurs? And while we're talking about mystery appearances, I'm torn about Spidey helping The Reaper rescue his son.
Honestly, my favourite line has to be... "Yeah, nobody likes your meatloaf." Sheen and Fields reacting to each other is just priceless.
Uncle Ben dying in this one is a lot more dramatic and sets Peter off on a bit of a crusade that leads to some better green screened wall walking. And some handy falling through a roof into a wrestling arena, gives him an idea for his costume, and we see a montage of him honing his skills and tech... we're a little bit past shooting some white gunk out of our wrists at this point. I like that he points out everything is spandex, yes Parker, there should be other options.
After the big costume reveal I feel like the film drags a bit. It's good, and I enjoy it, but I feel like there's a lot of film for not a lot of plot... does that make sense? Possibly not, but I know what I mean, so it's all good.
Just goes to show you how much I was paying attention in the last one. I missed Stan Lee's cameo. This one was much better, listening to music in his library while it gets destroyed in a fight behind him. Stan Lee, I love you. Genuine hearts all around.
The crane moving scene is, well, a little bit moving. One good deed deserves another, and let's fly a flag in the background for added effect.
We started sad, we end sad. I definitely prefer this film to Spider-man. It isn't without its own flaws though. While Spider-man was just over two hours, it didn't feel like that's how long you were watching for. The Amazing Spider-man felt like 2 hours 16 minutes of screen time. But the ending... she's angry at him, and then he whispers to her, and she gives that little smile, and as she dips her head he knows she's going to forgive him. And we're left with a spark of joy.
Peter is less nerd, more loser this time around. And generally he comes across as a bit more sad than before. But you'd expect that as we started the movie with a sad farewell. He has a bit of a "moment" with his dad's old briefcase to push that fact home a bit more.
No field trip for this Peter, instead he gatecrashes an intern enrolment to get a nosy at what might have to do with his parent's past. We learn lessons from this film too... in this one it is super easy to break into what must be highly classified labs.
Peter's transformation happens a lot quicker in this one, much to the trauma of everyone in the subway carriage with him. His little morning rampage gives me visions of Wolverine destroying the sink in X-men Origins: Wolverine... and now I come to think of it, doesn't Cyclops have a meltdown with his powers in a bathroom? What can we learn about this? Superpowers make you hate bathroom fixtures.
Did anyone else notice the guy who runs Jurassic World? Is he trying to pick up tips on how to super charge those dinosaurs? And while we're talking about mystery appearances, I'm torn about Spidey helping The Reaper rescue his son.
Honestly, my favourite line has to be... "Yeah, nobody likes your meatloaf." Sheen and Fields reacting to each other is just priceless.
Uncle Ben dying in this one is a lot more dramatic and sets Peter off on a bit of a crusade that leads to some better green screened wall walking. And some handy falling through a roof into a wrestling arena, gives him an idea for his costume, and we see a montage of him honing his skills and tech... we're a little bit past shooting some white gunk out of our wrists at this point. I like that he points out everything is spandex, yes Parker, there should be other options.
After the big costume reveal I feel like the film drags a bit. It's good, and I enjoy it, but I feel like there's a lot of film for not a lot of plot... does that make sense? Possibly not, but I know what I mean, so it's all good.
Just goes to show you how much I was paying attention in the last one. I missed Stan Lee's cameo. This one was much better, listening to music in his library while it gets destroyed in a fight behind him. Stan Lee, I love you. Genuine hearts all around.
The crane moving scene is, well, a little bit moving. One good deed deserves another, and let's fly a flag in the background for added effect.
We started sad, we end sad. I definitely prefer this film to Spider-man. It isn't without its own flaws though. While Spider-man was just over two hours, it didn't feel like that's how long you were watching for. The Amazing Spider-man felt like 2 hours 16 minutes of screen time. But the ending... she's angry at him, and then he whispers to her, and she gives that little smile, and as she dips her head he knows she's going to forgive him. And we're left with a spark of joy.
ClareR (5906 KP) rated H is for Hawk in Books
Jan 14, 2018
A surprisingly fabulous memoir!
Helen Macdonald is an Academic and a Falconer. She loses her father and decides to get a Goshawk and train it - they're notoriously difficult to train; but the connection they have is special. T H White features heavily in this, and his memoir of training his Goshawk is recounted alongside Helen's own story. His first attempt with a Goshawk was disastrous (I believe he became more successful after.).
This is a very moving story: we see Helen trying to 'become' more like a Hawk and not need people after her father's death. The descriptions of nature and the hawk are amazing, and i loved the language she used. A brave story in a lot of ways, to admit to mental health issues and her own (perceived) shortcomings. The end is particularly sad - but I'll leave it to you to read it and find out why!
This is a very moving story: we see Helen trying to 'become' more like a Hawk and not need people after her father's death. The descriptions of nature and the hawk are amazing, and i loved the language she used. A brave story in a lot of ways, to admit to mental health issues and her own (perceived) shortcomings. The end is particularly sad - but I'll leave it to you to read it and find out why!
Kym Penny (24 KP) rated The Care and Feeding of Griffins in Books
Jul 28, 2017
Story flows really well (2 more)
Stories within stories within stories
Each character is unique and relatable; each has a distinct voice
Book one is a great start to a wonderful, well orchestrated 4 part series
The book blurb says it all. Great adventure read. This is part of a series and although there are no cliffhangers, it still gives that 'what happens next' feel. Also, as a side note, for those of you that distaste book sets, this series seems more like one big book that has been broken up rather than several shorter novels with lot of filler chapters to extend the length like some 3 or 4 part series seem to do. Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you're me) all 4 books equals approximately 2,530 pages. And still, I was sad when it all ended... so I read the series twice (so far). It's that good.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine in Books
Sep 19, 2017
Completely different to what I expected, witty but rather sad
I've heard that this book is a comedy because of the narrator's frank outlook on life, however this is definitely not the case.
Eleanor Oliphant is socially awkward, very blunt but well spoken and seems to have a few dysfunctional issues. The author then explores why this must be the case, especially her relationship with her past and her controlling mother. The novel is about trauma and mental health, and how depression can cause people to act out in unusual ways. It is funny at times when she has no clue about social conventions and how much emphasis is put on the mundane.
It's important for showing that one isn't 'mad' for being different, merely misguided and that by addressing problems head on and getting the right support Eleanor Oliphant is actually completely fine.
Eleanor Oliphant is socially awkward, very blunt but well spoken and seems to have a few dysfunctional issues. The author then explores why this must be the case, especially her relationship with her past and her controlling mother. The novel is about trauma and mental health, and how depression can cause people to act out in unusual ways. It is funny at times when she has no clue about social conventions and how much emphasis is put on the mundane.
It's important for showing that one isn't 'mad' for being different, merely misguided and that by addressing problems head on and getting the right support Eleanor Oliphant is actually completely fine.
Sheridan (209 KP) rated The Fate of the Furious (2017) in Movies
Jul 10, 2017
Cast (1 more)
Stunts
The Franchise has Lost its Direction
My partner adores the Fast and Furioue movies so I've seen them all many times. This one, however, just felt like they ran out of ideas. The cast was ace as always but the plot was lacking it was played off as a mystery 'why did Dom betray his people' etc. But to be honest it was just plain confusing. Everything starts to make sense towards the second half but the storyline certainly wasn't fleshed out well, it felt a bit like they pulled a bunch of pieces from the editing floor and just mashed them together. The fact is the movies aren't really about cars and racing anymore and that's truly sad. I don't have high hopes for the next one that is in the works that's for sure...
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated I Heart You, You Haunt Me in Books
Apr 27, 2018
I Heart You You Haunt Me … is a little odd. It’s hard to describe it, really. Ava is so attached to Jackson, she loves him so much, yet hanging on to him is becoming more trouble than it’s worth. I was torn between wanting her to hang on to him in his ghost form, and wanting her to move on.
However in the whole scheme of things, it seemed just a little redundant, repetitive, and silly. It was painful and sad and sweet at times, but also a little absurd at times. I can’t really say if I liked it.
I did, however, like the end. What needed to happen, did happen. It had a pretty strong conclusion, though I felt almost like the author went one or two pages longer than she needed to (It was written in verse).
Content/Recommendation: clean, some kissing. Ages 12+
However in the whole scheme of things, it seemed just a little redundant, repetitive, and silly. It was painful and sad and sweet at times, but also a little absurd at times. I can’t really say if I liked it.
I did, however, like the end. What needed to happen, did happen. It had a pretty strong conclusion, though I felt almost like the author went one or two pages longer than she needed to (It was written in verse).
Content/Recommendation: clean, some kissing. Ages 12+
Frecklesxoxo (6 KP) rated The Night Child in Books
Feb 27, 2019
I received an arc copy of this book for an open and honest review
I would have loved to give this book a 5 star rating as the whole story was so raw, so heartbreaking, so terribly sad that I truly wanted a happy ending, and I suppose hope and the knowledge that she has started to resolve her issues are a happy ending but I just wanted more from the ending. I couldn't put this book down, it gripped me, it was compelling. The writing was sound and the build up of the characters were great, apart from Paul - I just could not connect with him, but perhaps that was the point? For me the let down was the ending, what happened to Nora? Fiona? between Nora and John? It just seemed to leave a lot of loose ends! Other than that it was great!!!
I would have loved to give this book a 5 star rating as the whole story was so raw, so heartbreaking, so terribly sad that I truly wanted a happy ending, and I suppose hope and the knowledge that she has started to resolve her issues are a happy ending but I just wanted more from the ending. I couldn't put this book down, it gripped me, it was compelling. The writing was sound and the build up of the characters were great, apart from Paul - I just could not connect with him, but perhaps that was the point? For me the let down was the ending, what happened to Nora? Fiona? between Nora and John? It just seemed to leave a lot of loose ends! Other than that it was great!!!
Rosealinea (589 KP) rated A Star Is Born Soundtrack by Lady Gaga in Music
Mar 11, 2019
I won this album from a giveaway here on Smashbomb! I was absolutely delighted to receive it and as I am a Lady gaga fan, I couldn't wait to listen to it.
I popped it in and I'm really sad to say that I was very disappointed with it. There are a lot of talking snippets throughout the album, which didn't really seem to fit or make sense in any way. It left me feeling somewhat confused as it was a soundtrack.
As far as the music goes, I really wanted to like this album so much, but it was all very generic and samey throughout. The tracks seemed to run into one and I got bored listening to it, however, I listened to it in its entirety.
I'm really sorry to say that I would not recommend this album (Sorry guys)
I popped it in and I'm really sad to say that I was very disappointed with it. There are a lot of talking snippets throughout the album, which didn't really seem to fit or make sense in any way. It left me feeling somewhat confused as it was a soundtrack.
As far as the music goes, I really wanted to like this album so much, but it was all very generic and samey throughout. The tracks seemed to run into one and I got bored listening to it, however, I listened to it in its entirety.
I'm really sorry to say that I would not recommend this album (Sorry guys)