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David McK (3857 KP) rated Catching Fire in Books
Jan 28, 2019
The second book in Suzanne Collins' <i>The Hunger Games</i> trilogy, this is a true sequel to the first in the sense that it shares the same characters and refers to the same events as the original (as opposed to 'only' being set in the same universe).
At the start of the novel, and having survived <i>The Hunger Games</i>, Katniss is back in District 12 in the company of her mother, sister, and Peeta. Things aren't entirely all rosy, however, as her stunt with the berries has enraged President Snow (and the Capitol), who is now looking for ways to further punish her, leading to her heading back into the arena ...
I have to say, the parallels between the Capitol and ancient Rome are even more pronounced this time round than previously, especially in an early(ish) scene where Katniss and Peeta attend a banquet in the Capitol: a banquet that provides it's guests with the means to be sick so they can eat more more, while those in the districts starve (the myth of the Roman Vomitorium, anyone?). Once again, this is told in the immediate first-person sense, with the novel also ending in a definite cliff-hanger for the final part of the trilogy.
At the start of the novel, and having survived <i>The Hunger Games</i>, Katniss is back in District 12 in the company of her mother, sister, and Peeta. Things aren't entirely all rosy, however, as her stunt with the berries has enraged President Snow (and the Capitol), who is now looking for ways to further punish her, leading to her heading back into the arena ...
I have to say, the parallels between the Capitol and ancient Rome are even more pronounced this time round than previously, especially in an early(ish) scene where Katniss and Peeta attend a banquet in the Capitol: a banquet that provides it's guests with the means to be sick so they can eat more more, while those in the districts starve (the myth of the Roman Vomitorium, anyone?). Once again, this is told in the immediate first-person sense, with the novel also ending in a definite cliff-hanger for the final part of the trilogy.
Deborah (162 KP) rated Highland Surrender in Books
Dec 21, 2018
In the reign on James V (son of Margaret Tudor, the sister of Henry VIII, and father of Mary Queen of Scots) Fiona and Myles, representatives of two feuding clans, are told by the King that they must marry and form an alliance.....
Sadly, Fiona, the heroine, appears as a right Little Madam for most of the first part of the book. Even after feeling betrayed by her brothers, she is unable to reasonably question anything beyond the clan indoctrination and acts simply like a spoilt child. It's quite hard to see why Myles falls for her at all.
That said, overall this isn't a bad book. I think a bit more on the history side would have made this a more solid and exciting novel, as the ending was really rather good, but it seemed that it couldn't decide if it wanted to be an historical novel, with a romance element (think Elizabeth Chadwick) or something more akin to a bodice ripper (and nothing wrong with that!). You started off feeling there was a bigger plot at play, but this seemed to get a bit lost in the middle, before a quite exciting ending after all.
Not sure it's worth a second read, but I'd consider this author again in the future.
Sadly, Fiona, the heroine, appears as a right Little Madam for most of the first part of the book. Even after feeling betrayed by her brothers, she is unable to reasonably question anything beyond the clan indoctrination and acts simply like a spoilt child. It's quite hard to see why Myles falls for her at all.
That said, overall this isn't a bad book. I think a bit more on the history side would have made this a more solid and exciting novel, as the ending was really rather good, but it seemed that it couldn't decide if it wanted to be an historical novel, with a romance element (think Elizabeth Chadwick) or something more akin to a bodice ripper (and nothing wrong with that!). You started off feeling there was a bigger plot at play, but this seemed to get a bit lost in the middle, before a quite exciting ending after all.
Not sure it's worth a second read, but I'd consider this author again in the future.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Stripped Bare in Books
Jun 21, 2019
Eli loves his little sister and he would do just about anything for her. So when she asks him to help her friend, Karis, fix up her bakery he is obliged to do the job. When Eli walks into the bakery, he sees the job is a lot more than he signed up for. But when he lays eyes on Karis, all thoughts about the work go out the window. He would do anything to help this pretty girl.
Thank you to Frankie Love and C.M. Seabrook for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I picked this book up at night before I went to bed. I thought I would read just a couple of chapters since I was exhausted and had a big day the next day. When I saw that it would only take me 45 minutes to read, I decided to just go for it. I think even if the book was 2 hours to read, I may have stayed up to read it.
This is a fast paced novel that goes from strangers to naked very quickly. If you're looking for a quick romance that will leave you hot and bothered, pick up this book right away.
Thank you to Frankie Love and C.M. Seabrook for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I picked this book up at night before I went to bed. I thought I would read just a couple of chapters since I was exhausted and had a big day the next day. When I saw that it would only take me 45 minutes to read, I decided to just go for it. I think even if the book was 2 hours to read, I may have stayed up to read it.
This is a fast paced novel that goes from strangers to naked very quickly. If you're looking for a quick romance that will leave you hot and bothered, pick up this book right away.
Andrew Kennedy (199 KP) rated Halloween (1978) in Movies
Jul 8, 2019
The night HE came home
John Carpenter and Debra Hill created in just 30 days what some horror directors couldn't achieve in 30 months, a perfectly paced, well acted and truly tense slasher movie.
From the opening tracking shot to the final montage everything about this film is on point.
Donald Pleasance as Dr Sam Loomis delivers each of his warnings about Michael Myers with such gusto that you truly believe that Myers is the embodiment of evil.
Jamie Lee Curtis is brilliantly believable as the girl next door Laurie Strode, who Myers hunts down this Halloween night.
Nick Castle as Myers has such suttle movements and the now much copied head tilt.
The story of the young Michael Myers who viciously murders his sister Judith at age 6. Now 21 Myers escapes from Smith's Grove sanitarium and heads for his home town of Haddenfield.
Once there in one night Micheal will raise unholy hell and with Dr Loomis in pursuit trying to stop his escaped patient.
The music is iconic not just Carpenter's memorable theme but the music throughout helps to raise the tension. The camera work is amazing, one very famous scene in particular always delivers a chill.
This is truly a horror masterpiece.
From the opening tracking shot to the final montage everything about this film is on point.
Donald Pleasance as Dr Sam Loomis delivers each of his warnings about Michael Myers with such gusto that you truly believe that Myers is the embodiment of evil.
Jamie Lee Curtis is brilliantly believable as the girl next door Laurie Strode, who Myers hunts down this Halloween night.
Nick Castle as Myers has such suttle movements and the now much copied head tilt.
The story of the young Michael Myers who viciously murders his sister Judith at age 6. Now 21 Myers escapes from Smith's Grove sanitarium and heads for his home town of Haddenfield.
Once there in one night Micheal will raise unholy hell and with Dr Loomis in pursuit trying to stop his escaped patient.
The music is iconic not just Carpenter's memorable theme but the music throughout helps to raise the tension. The camera work is amazing, one very famous scene in particular always delivers a chill.
This is truly a horror masterpiece.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) in Movies
Jan 17, 2020 (Updated Jan 17, 2020)
Kinect Activity
Paranormal Activity 1- hated it
Paranormal Activity 2- Better Than One.
Paranormal Activity 3- Its getting good.
This one- Paranormal Activity with Kinect.
One of the strangest product placment of all time, im not sure if Blumhouse or Parmount contacted Mircosoft or if Microsoft contacted Blumhouse or Paramount, either or it was strange to see the Kinect in this movie.
Anyways what did i think of the movie, i thought it was good, thisond and the 3rd one are really intresting and actually horrorfying/terrorfying/creepy unlike the first and some of the second one , which were so boring i could sleep though both of them until the last 5-10 minutes of both movies.
The Plot: It has been five years since Katie (Katie Featherston) murdered her sister and disappeared with her infant nephew, Hunter, in tow. Now, a new family is about to fall prey to nighttime terrors. A mysterious accident next door leads to teenage Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her family becoming the temporary guardians of Robbie (Brady Allen), a very creepy neighbor boy. Cameras installed throughout Alex's home capture the sinister events that unfold after Robbie's arrival.
I can say you can watch this one and the 3rd one.
Paranormal Activity 2- Better Than One.
Paranormal Activity 3- Its getting good.
This one- Paranormal Activity with Kinect.
One of the strangest product placment of all time, im not sure if Blumhouse or Parmount contacted Mircosoft or if Microsoft contacted Blumhouse or Paramount, either or it was strange to see the Kinect in this movie.
Anyways what did i think of the movie, i thought it was good, thisond and the 3rd one are really intresting and actually horrorfying/terrorfying/creepy unlike the first and some of the second one , which were so boring i could sleep though both of them until the last 5-10 minutes of both movies.
The Plot: It has been five years since Katie (Katie Featherston) murdered her sister and disappeared with her infant nephew, Hunter, in tow. Now, a new family is about to fall prey to nighttime terrors. A mysterious accident next door leads to teenage Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her family becoming the temporary guardians of Robbie (Brady Allen), a very creepy neighbor boy. Cameras installed throughout Alex's home capture the sinister events that unfold after Robbie's arrival.
I can say you can watch this one and the 3rd one.
Drew Horner (8 KP) rated Locke and Key in TV
Mar 1, 2020
Intriguing concept that kept me curious about what the next key would do. (2 more)
Really liked Kinsey, the middle sister who seems to tie the show together.
The fun is in the discovery of the keys - not the story behind them.
A couple stiff characters - especially Tyler (the older brother) - who sometimes made confoundingly dumb decisions. (1 more)
Some of the more emotional moments failed to stick the landing.
Better than Expected
The marketing for the show gave me a Narnia vibe and I thought it would be a very childish affair. While the majority of the show, with some exceptions, was family-friendly, it wasn't as childish as I thought. We binged it in a weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The show revolves around the Locke family who moved to their ancestral home - Key House - after suffering the tragic loss of their father/husband. Shortly after arriving at Key House, the Locke children begin finding magical keys throughout the house that each have special properties. But, of course these keys attract a sinister force that hungers to possess the power of the keys.
The show was enjoyable, but left a lot of threads dangling for what will likely be a second season.
The show revolves around the Locke family who moved to their ancestral home - Key House - after suffering the tragic loss of their father/husband. Shortly after arriving at Key House, the Locke children begin finding magical keys throughout the house that each have special properties. But, of course these keys attract a sinister force that hungers to possess the power of the keys.
The show was enjoyable, but left a lot of threads dangling for what will likely be a second season.
Sara Cox (1845 KP) rated Sea Witch Rising in Books
Aug 6, 2019
I was excited when this book came up. I like retellings of older stories and couldn't wait to get my claws into this. Evie, a sea witch, who has been villinaised by the sea king after a past that seems to be very similar to the tale of the little mermaid. Alia, a mermaid, in love with a human prince and has a deal to be human in exchange for true love's kiss. Runa, Alia's twin, goes topside to save her sister from her fate. I found it very difficult to get into, but I think this was maybe my fault as I had kept in mind that it was a The Little Mermaid twisted tale and found myself trying to link the two. As soon as I managed to get this out of my head and see it more as a related story in a different time and place, I found it far more enjoyable and I absolutely loved it. At times I was a bit confused as I was missing I formation which is no doubt available in Sea Witch (Book 1) which I have stupidly not read. If you like magical tales (or should I say tails) you will love this.
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