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Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Edgar Allan Poe Complete Tales and Poems in Books
May 15, 2017
A genius of the horror and macabre genre (2 more)
A true inspiration (personal opinion)
Tense and horrifying writing
Quoth the Raven, Nevermore
If you have read my reviews on the film 'The Raven' and the TV series 'The Following' the you have already read about how I adore Edgar Allan Poe and how he is my biggest inspiration in writing, especially of my Gothic Horror poems.
The poems he has written are chilling, enjoyable and indeed are works of a genius, that some at the time, maybe even still to this day, would call the writings of a mad man. The life of Poe is one filled with tragedy and bewilderment, and he has inspired so many writers across all mediums over the years, and is one of the most famous writers known to man. Almost everyone I have ever met knows, at the very least, the line of 'Quote the Raven, Nevermore' and this is just one of the staples that this man has left throughout history.
His short stories aren't all horror, same as his poems, but it has to be said that his Horror fiction is certainly his best. Though I have not yet read all of his short stories, or even half, the one's that I have read have given me a clear idea that whilst his work remains interesting to read, his horror is by far the most entertaining and thrilling.
Edgar Allan Poe will always remain my biggest inspiration for my writing, and I hope to one day have a collection of writings, that are just as loved as his.
The poems he has written are chilling, enjoyable and indeed are works of a genius, that some at the time, maybe even still to this day, would call the writings of a mad man. The life of Poe is one filled with tragedy and bewilderment, and he has inspired so many writers across all mediums over the years, and is one of the most famous writers known to man. Almost everyone I have ever met knows, at the very least, the line of 'Quote the Raven, Nevermore' and this is just one of the staples that this man has left throughout history.
His short stories aren't all horror, same as his poems, but it has to be said that his Horror fiction is certainly his best. Though I have not yet read all of his short stories, or even half, the one's that I have read have given me a clear idea that whilst his work remains interesting to read, his horror is by far the most entertaining and thrilling.
Edgar Allan Poe will always remain my biggest inspiration for my writing, and I hope to one day have a collection of writings, that are just as loved as his.
Ronyell (38 KP) rated Hen, His Wife (1990) in Movies
Aug 4, 2020
My Wife Is a Hen!
Wow! I have to say that even though I have watched lots of surreal shorts over the years, none of them quite compared to how weird this short was! It was interesting to see an animated short that is about domestic problems and one that has so much symbolism to it. There are so many different interpretations about what is really going on in this short and what kind of message it's trying to send to the viewers. So it would be almost impossible for me to describe to you about what I think the ulterior meaning behind this short really is. But, I'm going to give it my best shot and tell you guys what I think that this short is trying to say.
My Interpretation:
So apparently, the couple has been happy together until the husband's friend comes in and tells him that his wife is a hen. Now, it's quite obvious to the audience that the wife is a hen, so how come the husband didn't notice this until his friend told him? Did the wife looked way different when she and her husband first met or did the husband just ignore the obvious signs over the years? So, when the husband finally notices that his wife is a hen, he turns her out of the house. Maybe the husband was more upset about his wife deceiving him for all of these years and that's why he turned her out because she had betrayed his trust in her. So, the husband tried to live life the way it was before, but he missed his wife and he starts hallucinating his situation. It was then that he called her over the phone and begged her to come back to him. But then the ending comes up and... well, you have to see the ending of this short for yourself!
I just loved the way that Igor Kovaliov weaved this bizarre world as all the characters look so strange, what with the blue colored husband and the humanoid hen wife. And let's not forget the half human, half worm pet that the couple has! I also loved the fact that there is so much symbolism and random moments going on in this short as it made the narrative so disoriented yet creative at the same time!
I was a bit thrown off by the mysterious plot of this short. I wasn't sure what to make of the situation that happened between the couple or the various symbolism that jumped out at you with no warning. So, there were times where I was a bit confused about what was really going on and I even had to read several different interpretations from other people who have seen this short in order to understand what was really going on in this short.
Overall, "Hen, His Wife" is a great surreal animated short that gives us a more literal description of marriage problems and anyone who loves watching Russian cartoons or just really weird shorts will definitely enjoy this short!
My Interpretation:
So apparently, the couple has been happy together until the husband's friend comes in and tells him that his wife is a hen. Now, it's quite obvious to the audience that the wife is a hen, so how come the husband didn't notice this until his friend told him? Did the wife looked way different when she and her husband first met or did the husband just ignore the obvious signs over the years? So, when the husband finally notices that his wife is a hen, he turns her out of the house. Maybe the husband was more upset about his wife deceiving him for all of these years and that's why he turned her out because she had betrayed his trust in her. So, the husband tried to live life the way it was before, but he missed his wife and he starts hallucinating his situation. It was then that he called her over the phone and begged her to come back to him. But then the ending comes up and... well, you have to see the ending of this short for yourself!
I just loved the way that Igor Kovaliov weaved this bizarre world as all the characters look so strange, what with the blue colored husband and the humanoid hen wife. And let's not forget the half human, half worm pet that the couple has! I also loved the fact that there is so much symbolism and random moments going on in this short as it made the narrative so disoriented yet creative at the same time!
I was a bit thrown off by the mysterious plot of this short. I wasn't sure what to make of the situation that happened between the couple or the various symbolism that jumped out at you with no warning. So, there were times where I was a bit confused about what was really going on and I even had to read several different interpretations from other people who have seen this short in order to understand what was really going on in this short.
Overall, "Hen, His Wife" is a great surreal animated short that gives us a more literal description of marriage problems and anyone who loves watching Russian cartoons or just really weird shorts will definitely enjoy this short!
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Rags & Bones: New Twists on Timeless Tales in Books
Apr 27, 2018
Rags and bones stripped down stories that were important to the author and allowed for a new telling, a blank canvas, a skeleton for new musculature. it was one of the most interesting collections I've ever read and every story had something interesting about it. The writers selected to participate in the project were all excellent. Some of the stories I was able to figure out which story they came from, but others I didn’t know, and some I intend to read. I really liked that each story had an author’s note explaining their reason for picking the story they did.
I don’t typically like short stories because I feel like I can’t get into the story until I’m being pulled out again because it’s over. And I did definitely stop between stories and think about each one for a while. But I was impressed and enraptured with Rags and Bones. It is one of my new favorites. I recommend it to anyone who likes short stories, or who needs something to think through.
I don’t typically like short stories because I feel like I can’t get into the story until I’m being pulled out again because it’s over. And I did definitely stop between stories and think about each one for a while. But I was impressed and enraptured with Rags and Bones. It is one of my new favorites. I recommend it to anyone who likes short stories, or who needs something to think through.
Merissa (12069 KP) rated Flirting with Death (The Hunted #1.5) in Books
May 20, 2023
Flirting With Death is a short standalone story, set in the same world as The Reapers. It can be read before or after as there are no spoilers in here.
I actually enjoyed this one slightly more than The Reapers, I think because there is no triangle. What you get is someone whose time is about up, who acts like a complete jerk, so you actually have no sympathy for him anyway. Then there is Evander, who I loved, and Piper, who was brilliant.
For a short story, this had everything that you need, complete with a HEA (sort of) if you're a sap like me. I would absolutely love this story to be developed into a longer book as I need to know more about Piper and Evander. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 15, 2016
I actually enjoyed this one slightly more than The Reapers, I think because there is no triangle. What you get is someone whose time is about up, who acts like a complete jerk, so you actually have no sympathy for him anyway. Then there is Evander, who I loved, and Piper, who was brilliant.
For a short story, this had everything that you need, complete with a HEA (sort of) if you're a sap like me. I would absolutely love this story to be developed into a longer book as I need to know more about Piper and Evander. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 15, 2016
Julie (77 KP) rated A Court of Thorns and Roses in Books
Sep 9, 2017
"Warning: This book has some mature content.
Honestly, though I liked the summary, I didn't really know what I was getting into. By the end, I came to the conclusion that in short, this was about Katniss Everdeen thrown into Beauty and the Beast with fairies. (If any of you have already read the book... am I wrong?)
That comparison may not sound very appealing, but it worked. Maas created intriguing characters and put them in a mysteriously wonderful fantasy world. The characters were complex and I liked seeing their different personalities. My personal favorites were Lucien and Rhys." Read my entire review here: https://thenerdybookwormsite.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-by-sarah-j-maas/
Honestly, though I liked the summary, I didn't really know what I was getting into. By the end, I came to the conclusion that in short, this was about Katniss Everdeen thrown into Beauty and the Beast with fairies. (If any of you have already read the book... am I wrong?)
That comparison may not sound very appealing, but it worked. Maas created intriguing characters and put them in a mysteriously wonderful fantasy world. The characters were complex and I liked seeing their different personalities. My personal favorites were Lucien and Rhys." Read my entire review here: https://thenerdybookwormsite.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-by-sarah-j-maas/
Samantha (67 KP) rated The Tales of Beedle the Bard in Books
Jul 10, 2017
Dumbledore's commentaries (1 more)
Simplistic and engaging illustrations
Re-igniting my love for Dumbledore
This is a quick read that not only provides wizarding 'fairy tales' but also provides insight into these works through the addition of commentary by Dumbledore. Through this commentary it appears as if Dumbledore is writing specifically to the reader, which develops a strong personal connection with the short novel. Rowling's decision to include commentary via a well known wizard in this universe creates an engaging read where deeper understanding of the tales can occur. As well as this, the illustrations used throughout are an engaging addition to the text, influencing its overall appeal and consolidating that this is a book of 'fairy tales'.
Beckie Shelton (40 KP) rated Silver Bells Collection in Books
Feb 8, 2018
I received an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a romance anthology consisting of six novellas by various authors with a christmas theme.
I don't normally read short stories but was tempted by the festive setting which i do love.All of the stories were well written and engaged me keeping my interest throughout.They showed a snapshot of a time gone by and i found them very endearing.
If your looking for a light, clean, nostalgic read this anthology is for you. The six stories are all very different so there should be a tale to suit everyone, give it a try you wont be dissapointed.
I don't normally read short stories but was tempted by the festive setting which i do love.All of the stories were well written and engaged me keeping my interest throughout.They showed a snapshot of a time gone by and i found them very endearing.
If your looking for a light, clean, nostalgic read this anthology is for you. The six stories are all very different so there should be a tale to suit everyone, give it a try you wont be dissapointed.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Gerard's Beauty (Kingdom, #2) in Books
Dec 11, 2019
Beauty and the beast with a twist
A not so classic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, as seen through the eyes of the villain...
Betty Hart has had it with men. Jilted in love, her life now consists of shelving books by day, watching too much Anime by night, and occasionally dressing up like a superhero on ...
The second book in the Kingdom series and for a short read it was pretty good. I enjoy Marie Halls take on the beloved fairy tales bringing them up to date with a bit of spice. Gerard's beauty is a spin on beauty and the beast but with a bit of a twist. An easy but fun read!
Betty Hart has had it with men. Jilted in love, her life now consists of shelving books by day, watching too much Anime by night, and occasionally dressing up like a superhero on ...
The second book in the Kingdom series and for a short read it was pretty good. I enjoy Marie Halls take on the beloved fairy tales bringing them up to date with a bit of spice. Gerard's beauty is a spin on beauty and the beast but with a bit of a twist. An easy but fun read!
Ross (3284 KP) rated That's Your Lot in Books
Aug 1, 2019
Not as good as Daft Wee Stories
Some more daft wee stories from Limmy. I picked this up as a holiday read when my current fantasy book became too grim for poolside reading. These short stories are all of a similar feel to the first set but to my mind of lesser quality. The stories are generally all someone getting themselves into a ludicrous situation after a series of seemingly logical decisions. None of these quite match up with those in the first book, and some just end without his trademark twisted punchline. The final story, more of a novella, is more like a rejected Irvine Welsh story than his usual, and is really quite an unpleasant read.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Dark Dates (Cassandra Bick Chronicles #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2021
I struggled with this from the beginning. I'd finish one of the short chapters and put it down for days, not at all interested in picking it back up again. Then do the same again a few days later. Until last night when I just decided to give up. It wasn't working for me. Over two weeks I've been reading this and I wasn't getting anywhere.
It may be that my taste has changed from my recent obsession with Paranormal/Urban Fantasy and back into Contemporary Romances as I've just read entire backlog of books pretty much back to back.
I may attempt to read this again at a later date when my taste changes back to paranormal
It may be that my taste has changed from my recent obsession with Paranormal/Urban Fantasy and back into Contemporary Romances as I've just read entire backlog of books pretty much back to back.
I may attempt to read this again at a later date when my taste changes back to paranormal