Search
Search results
Kevin Phillipson (10017 KP) rated Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness in TV
Oct 17, 2021
The Vibrating Pond
10.0
Rate It
Book
The Vibrating Pond, second edition, is a collection of fiction short stories written over several...
Contemporary Fiction
Merissa (11950 KP) created a post
Feb 3, 2023
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Chesapeake Crimes: Fur, Feathers, and Felonies in Books
Apr 25, 2018
Criminally Fun Animal Inspired Short Stories
This latest collection of short stories from the members of Sisters in Crime Chesapeake Chapter features 13 tales, or is it tails, involving animals. Yes, there are lots of dogs and cats featured, including a murdered crazy cat lady, a story about a dog getting into trouble with his human, and a movie stars famous dog. But we get some unusual animals, too, including an octopus and exploding cows.
As with any collection, there were a couple of stories that weren’t to my taste. But I would then find I loved the next one. And when each story takes less than 30 minutes to read, you aren’t committed to something you don’t like for very long. For short stories, the characters were well drawn, and each story featured at least one twist with longer ones features a few more surprises. While a couple stories trend a little darker, there are some light, very fun stories in the collection as well. Truly, there is something here everyone will enjoy.
As with any collection, there were a couple of stories that weren’t to my taste. But I would then find I loved the next one. And when each story takes less than 30 minutes to read, you aren’t committed to something you don’t like for very long. For short stories, the characters were well drawn, and each story featured at least one twist with longer ones features a few more surprises. While a couple stories trend a little darker, there are some light, very fun stories in the collection as well. Truly, there is something here everyone will enjoy.
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated High Heat (Jack Reacher, #17.5) in Books
Jun 12, 2019
Short story that's short on believably
Ok when I go into a Jack Reacher book, or in this case short story (about 2hrs in audiobook form,) I know I’m going to have to suspend some belief but this one went just a bit too far for me.
Somehow in the course of one day 16 year old Reacher manages to tick off a big player mob boss type, decide to take him on, cross paths with the Son of Sam, and hitch up with a girl. Oh and all this just happens to be the day when the huge 1977 New York blackout occurred (at a very convenient time for Reacher.)
He’s 16 but seems to have the exact same street / military smarts the adult Reacher has, it just doesn't work for me. Some far fetched deductions, the type that are a stretch to believe in the adult Reacher, here just come across as almost comical.
As something to listen to while doing housework it was OK but really wouldn’t of wanted to dedicate more attention to it.
Somehow in the course of one day 16 year old Reacher manages to tick off a big player mob boss type, decide to take him on, cross paths with the Son of Sam, and hitch up with a girl. Oh and all this just happens to be the day when the huge 1977 New York blackout occurred (at a very convenient time for Reacher.)
He’s 16 but seems to have the exact same street / military smarts the adult Reacher has, it just doesn't work for me. Some far fetched deductions, the type that are a stretch to believe in the adult Reacher, here just come across as almost comical.
As something to listen to while doing housework it was OK but really wouldn’t of wanted to dedicate more attention to it.
Very enjoyable short stories!
This collection of short stories really surprised me. I'm not usually a fan of this type of story (short!), but I seem to be reading more and more of them lately, and I'm beginning to change my mind. Some of these stories are set in Florida, where the natural world seems to be a central theme: uncontrollable, untameable. Two stories are set in France, and another in Brazil. Again, the central characters appear to be in situations where they have no control.
I really enjoyed the stories 'Dogs Go Wolf' where two young girls are abandoned on an island and left to fend for themselves; 'Eyewall', where a woman decides to stay in her home during a hurricane (which I hope never to experience!); 'Above and Below' which tells the story of a young woman who fails her course at university, leaves and becomes homeless. This last story was frankly frightening, as it portrayed how easy it is to become homeless, how little support there is, and how people can become estranged from their families.
A really good collection.
I really enjoyed the stories 'Dogs Go Wolf' where two young girls are abandoned on an island and left to fend for themselves; 'Eyewall', where a woman decides to stay in her home during a hurricane (which I hope never to experience!); 'Above and Below' which tells the story of a young woman who fails her course at university, leaves and becomes homeless. This last story was frankly frightening, as it portrayed how easy it is to become homeless, how little support there is, and how people can become estranged from their families.
A really good collection.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated Sick Summer Camp (Something Horrific) in Books
Nov 14, 2018
<b>3 Star Rating</b>
This was a gore-fest! 100% gore-fest! And for that...it was fab!
People bleeding here, people bleeding there, blood for fun, blood for no reason...here have some blood! (And maybe an eyeball...I'm feeling generous).
<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/julius1213/blood.gif"; width="300" height="300"/>
I mean seriously, how great was that gore? (Gore-whore right here *waves*)
Then why the 3 stars you ask? Why not 5?
It was too short...waaaaaay too short for any kind of story or character development, too short for any real explanations and it just left me with lots of unanswered questions. Personally, I would love to see this as a full length novel as I want to know what happens next.
That twist was kick-ass by the way!
More character development was definitely needed as there were too many people being introduced and I lost track...sooo who is that person? Oh...but I thought that was her...wait that was him? *confused*
But that gore though...<b>WIN!</b>
This was a gore-fest! 100% gore-fest! And for that...it was fab!
People bleeding here, people bleeding there, blood for fun, blood for no reason...here have some blood! (And maybe an eyeball...I'm feeling generous).
<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/julius1213/blood.gif"; width="300" height="300"/>
I mean seriously, how great was that gore? (Gore-whore right here *waves*)
Then why the 3 stars you ask? Why not 5?
It was too short...waaaaaay too short for any kind of story or character development, too short for any real explanations and it just left me with lots of unanswered questions. Personally, I would love to see this as a full length novel as I want to know what happens next.
That twist was kick-ass by the way!
More character development was definitely needed as there were too many people being introduced and I lost track...sooo who is that person? Oh...but I thought that was her...wait that was him? *confused*
But that gore though...<b>WIN!</b>
Madame Zero
Book
From one of the most accomplished British writers working today, the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted...
Fiction
The Pocket Pema Chodron
Book
A collection of short inspirational readings by "one of the world's wisest women" and author of When...
Merissa (11950 KP) rated Forever Mine in Books
May 30, 2023
This is a free short story that I received after signing up for the author's newsletter. As far as I know, it isn't available anywhere else.
It is fast-paced and full of action, and yet you are also able to receive hundreds of years of history and tradition without an info dump. There is a more recent history between Asher and Roya. They were together but Roya wanted her career to take off more before she settled down with Asher. However, when circumstances change, it is Asher that she turns to.
With fantastic characters that leave you wanting more, this is a short story that could quite easily be the forerunner to a series. Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this was a short but hot coffee break book. Definitely recommended.
* 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!
Mar 20, 2016
It is fast-paced and full of action, and yet you are also able to receive hundreds of years of history and tradition without an info dump. There is a more recent history between Asher and Roya. They were together but Roya wanted her career to take off more before she settled down with Asher. However, when circumstances change, it is Asher that she turns to.
With fantastic characters that leave you wanting more, this is a short story that could quite easily be the forerunner to a series. Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this was a short but hot coffee break book. Definitely recommended.
* 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!
Mar 20, 2016