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David McK (3557 KP) rated Star Wars, Vol. 3: Rebel Jail in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Vol 3 in Marvel's new 'main' Star Wars stories (as opposed to those headlined by a single character), which starts with an James Bond style story set on Coruscant before heading back to the main characters of Han, Luke and Leia, who are off on separate missions - Han and Luke to get supplies for the Rebellion (capital 'R'), while Leia (and Sana) transport a high-value prisoner to the maximum security Rebel Jail of the title.
As this is set between Ep IV and V, we know that nothing major is going to happen to any of the main characters (Luke, Leia, Han), although this does - fianlly - provide a reason why Leia calls Hans a 'Scruffy Nerf-herder' in The Empire Strikes Back
In short: not bad, but not brilliant either.
As this is set between Ep IV and V, we know that nothing major is going to happen to any of the main characters (Luke, Leia, Han), although this does - fianlly - provide a reason why Leia calls Hans a 'Scruffy Nerf-herder' in The Empire Strikes Back
In short: not bad, but not brilliant either.
David McK (3557 KP) rated Hal Spacejock 2: Second Course in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Earlier this year, I picked up a novel (re)named '[b:Hal Spacejock 1: A robot named Clunk|12381591|Hal Spacejock 1 A robot named Clunk|Simon Haynes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1524681176s/12381591.jpg|1083521].
I enjoyed it, but thought it was nothing special.
Recently, I saw an advert on Facebook (I think), for the first three of the Hal Spacejock (yes, that's the real name of one of the characters!) novels and a bonus short story for 99pence. As I'd been reading a lot of heavier fare recently, and as it was only 99p, I thought I would pick it up.
And, I have to say, I enjoyed this one (the second in that collection) more than I remember enjoying the first, complete with a few actually laughed-out-loud moments!
I enjoyed it, but thought it was nothing special.
Recently, I saw an advert on Facebook (I think), for the first three of the Hal Spacejock (yes, that's the real name of one of the characters!) novels and a bonus short story for 99pence. As I'd been reading a lot of heavier fare recently, and as it was only 99p, I thought I would pick it up.
And, I have to say, I enjoyed this one (the second in that collection) more than I remember enjoying the first, complete with a few actually laughed-out-loud moments!
AJaneClark (3975 KP) rated Dead Lake in Books
Dec 29, 2019
Suspenseful
Sam is suffering from a creative block, after the death of her mother. Her uncle offers her a week in his cabin so she can get back to painting and prepare for her upcoming gallery display. Little did Sam know she was not alone...
Coates builds suspense beautifully and it certainly begins to get the pulse racing at some point. The book is descriptive and detailed, and pulls you in making you feel as though you are there.
The different characters that make an appearance help to weave the tale together, adding further details and helping to add towards the final scenes.
As with most short stories the ending is slightly rushed to tie up all the loose ends, but it doesn’t have a massive impact on the overall story line.
Coates builds suspense beautifully and it certainly begins to get the pulse racing at some point. The book is descriptive and detailed, and pulls you in making you feel as though you are there.
The different characters that make an appearance help to weave the tale together, adding further details and helping to add towards the final scenes.
As with most short stories the ending is slightly rushed to tie up all the loose ends, but it doesn’t have a massive impact on the overall story line.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Jim Fosse's Expense Claim in Books
Nov 15, 2019
I had no concept of what to expect from this (very) short story but that made it all the more fun. Told in a series of email exchanges, a letter and a newspaper report, things start innocuously enough with new employee Jim Fosse requesting money to cover his expenses for his recent business trips.
Ramon Ortiz, the hapless HR employee who responds tries to get Fosse to fill in the correct form, provide receipts and follow procedures. Fosse is reluctant to do this and as the emails from Fosse become more and more aggressive and personal it becomes very clear just what he is trying to claim for.
Eventually the situation resolves in a shocking manner which is still very funny.
Rated: Strong and insulting language and sexual references
Ramon Ortiz, the hapless HR employee who responds tries to get Fosse to fill in the correct form, provide receipts and follow procedures. Fosse is reluctant to do this and as the emails from Fosse become more and more aggressive and personal it becomes very clear just what he is trying to claim for.
Eventually the situation resolves in a shocking manner which is still very funny.
Rated: Strong and insulting language and sexual references
AJaneClark (3975 KP) rated Medusa’s Master (Medusa Project #3) in Books
Nov 25, 2019
Mills & Boon Ninja??
Captain “Kat” Kim, leader of the all female Medusa Squad, lives by a warrior code. When she pairs with Special Forces Captain Jeff Steiger, she faces new danger. Steiger is all-American, from his blue eyes to his sun-streaked hair, his laid back manner goes against Kat’s control freak ways. When the two hunt for a high end art thief, their opposite styles combust!
A quick easy read... Dees has a well thought out storyline, but limited to the standard short form of a mills and boon. Characters were slightly underdeveloped and there was a few gaps that could have done with some further follow up as the story and Kat and Jeff’s relationship progressed. Some funny moments, the odd heated moment. But overall fairly average
A quick easy read... Dees has a well thought out storyline, but limited to the standard short form of a mills and boon. Characters were slightly underdeveloped and there was a few gaps that could have done with some further follow up as the story and Kat and Jeff’s relationship progressed. Some funny moments, the odd heated moment. But overall fairly average
Erika (17789 KP) rated Dream/Killer (2015) in Movies
Feb 1, 2020
This true crime documentary left me feeling very sad. It's the story of a father's quest to get his wrong convicted son out of prison. The case was crazy, and the prosecutor(s) were so corrupt (surprise, surprise). Obviously, this quest leads to said release from prison.
The most heartbreaking thing was that after the son went through all this, he had no idea as to how to function in the outside world, since he was just 20 when convicted. I ended up just feeling completely awful for him, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the dude ends up offing himself, or purposely gets in trouble to go back to the structured environment in prison.
It's a pretty short, interesting watch, if you're a true crime buff.
The most heartbreaking thing was that after the son went through all this, he had no idea as to how to function in the outside world, since he was just 20 when convicted. I ended up just feeling completely awful for him, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the dude ends up offing himself, or purposely gets in trouble to go back to the structured environment in prison.
It's a pretty short, interesting watch, if you're a true crime buff.
ClareR (5874 KP) rated The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel in Books
Aug 6, 2019
A worthy addition to the original story.
This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel which remains true to the original novel by Margaret Atwood. It seems even more disturbing with the pictures: the starkness of the almost black and white background against the red of the Handmaids clothes, not only makes the Handmaids stand out, it also, for me, highlights their separateness or ‘otherness’.
It’s a while since I read the original book, but the prose in it felt right. It’s not all prose in speech bubbles, there are more in-depth, explanatory short paragraphs - and I think they really worked well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I can see myself reading this again and again - and I might just have to re-read the original too, especially in the lead up to The Testaments.
It’s a while since I read the original book, but the prose in it felt right. It’s not all prose in speech bubbles, there are more in-depth, explanatory short paragraphs - and I think they really worked well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I can see myself reading this again and again - and I might just have to re-read the original too, especially in the lead up to The Testaments.
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