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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated The Plot and the Pendulum in Books
Oct 12, 2022
A Cold Case Become Very Hot Again
It’s October in Briar Creek, and local gossip is stirring thanks to the return to town of William Dorchester whose ex-girlfriend vanished a few weeks after marrying someone else. But Lindsey Norris, director of the local library, is more interested in the books that he is donating to the library. The catch is, she needs to pack them up from the Dorchester mansion on the edge of town, a mansion that seems to be trying to creep Lindsey and her friends out even before they make a shocking discovery. Can Lindsey figure out what is going on?
This book is perfect for its October release day. It’s got a spooky edge to it, but fans of the series don’t need to worry, we still have plenty of laughs and fun with the characters we know. I appreciate how the large cast is balanced with some of them given more page time, but everyone making an appearance. The pacing of the plot was a bit uneven, with a bit too much set up leading to an abrupt climax. Still, along the way, we get some fun surprises and suspects. As always, we get some good extras for a book club meeting like Lindsey hosts at the library. If you are looking for a slightly spooky book filled with fun, be sure to pick this one up.
This book is perfect for its October release day. It’s got a spooky edge to it, but fans of the series don’t need to worry, we still have plenty of laughs and fun with the characters we know. I appreciate how the large cast is balanced with some of them given more page time, but everyone making an appearance. The pacing of the plot was a bit uneven, with a bit too much set up leading to an abrupt climax. Still, along the way, we get some fun surprises and suspects. As always, we get some good extras for a book club meeting like Lindsey hosts at the library. If you are looking for a slightly spooky book filled with fun, be sure to pick this one up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated The Plot Thickets in Books
Oct 27, 2022 (Updated Oct 27, 2022)
Fresh Body in the Cemetery
Lilly Jayne has received a suggestion that the Garden Squad look at the historic cemetery because some of the areas have been neglected. When Lilly and Delia head out there one afternoon, they find more problems than they were expecting. Yes, some areas desperately need to be weeded and tended to in other ways. But Lilly also finds more graves than she is expecting to see in the middle of historic family plots. While she isn’t completely sure if she can trust her memory or not, she begins to investigate. When a fresh body turns up above ground near the Jayne family’s crypt, Lilly starts digging deeper. Can she find what happened?
I always love getting to spend time with the Garden Squad. Their friendships are fantastic, and I love the town of Goosebush. The rest of the characters are strong as well. Unfortunately, I felt the pacing was off in this book, especially in the first half. This isn’t anything new for this series, but it felt worse than usual here. There is a good mystery, it just needed a little pruning, and once the action picked up, I was kept guessing until the end. As always, there are some garden tips at the end of the novel. I enjoyed visiting my friends again, and fans will as well, even if the plot could have been stronger.
I always love getting to spend time with the Garden Squad. Their friendships are fantastic, and I love the town of Goosebush. The rest of the characters are strong as well. Unfortunately, I felt the pacing was off in this book, especially in the first half. This isn’t anything new for this series, but it felt worse than usual here. There is a good mystery, it just needed a little pruning, and once the action picked up, I was kept guessing until the end. As always, there are some garden tips at the end of the novel. I enjoyed visiting my friends again, and fans will as well, even if the plot could have been stronger.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Army of Darkness (1992) in Movies
May 29, 2022
I love The Evil Dead. It's gritty, low budget, scary as fuck. I love Evil Dead 2 for its perfect marriage of horror and slapstick comedy. I love Army of Darkness for just how fucking silly it is. The original three films of this franchise all have their own identity, and stand out as very different chapters of the same story. AoD is arguably the weirdest of the bunch, dropping all of the gore in favour of a medieval gateway-horror comedy, and it works a treat, thanks in no small part to some fantastic practical effects, and of course, Bruce Campbell. Campbells physical comedy chops are one of the highlights of Evil Dead 2, and those skills are put front and centre here. There are multiple sequences that are just brazenly ridiculous, and simply wouldn't work anywhere near as well if it was any other actor in the drivers seat. His commitment to the bit is wholly admirable. The practical work looks great for the most part, especially the army of skeletons that are introduced in the final third. Some signature style from Sam Raimi occasionally butts in to remind us that this is still an Evil Dead film, and there are some memorable monster and deadite designs to keep its foot firmly in the horror genre. Above all, AoD is just a whole load of fun that knows exactly what it is. Hail to the King baby.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated The Right Sort of Man in Books
Sep 29, 2023 (Updated Sep 29, 2023)
Match Made for Murder
Its 1946 London, and people are looking to get back to normal after the end of World War II. Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge and formed an unlikely partnership in a marriage bureau, both of them looking for something new in their lives. They’ve been opened a few months and are beginning to see some successes, but all that is threatened when one of their clients is murdered and the man they’d matched her with is arrested for the crime. With their personal and professional reputations on the line, they set about trying to prove he is innocent. Can they do it?
When I first heard about this series, I was drawn to the time in history and the premise. I truly appreciated how that time in history is brought to life. I did find the book hard to get into, but once I did, I was hooked. The mystery is good, with some surprises along the way to the suspenseful climax. The characters grow on you, and the sub-plots both of the leads get make them into fully developed characters. What I wasn’t expecting was the humor, which had me laughing as I read. This is more a traditional mystery due to some of the content, but it is still mild. I will definitely be back to see what happens to these characters next.
When I first heard about this series, I was drawn to the time in history and the premise. I truly appreciated how that time in history is brought to life. I did find the book hard to get into, but once I did, I was hooked. The mystery is good, with some surprises along the way to the suspenseful climax. The characters grow on you, and the sub-plots both of the leads get make them into fully developed characters. What I wasn’t expecting was the humor, which had me laughing as I read. This is more a traditional mystery due to some of the content, but it is still mild. I will definitely be back to see what happens to these characters next.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Calico in Books
Nov 9, 2023
A Shock and Some Flaws
After a scandal forces her from the LAPD, Beth McDade lands a job as a detective in Barstow, California. Nothing much happens in this middle of nowhere location until one night when a motorhome hits a vagrant. It appears to be a tragic accident, only no one knows who the vagrant is. And the autopsy turns up some surprising things. Can Beth figure out what is going on?
Since I normally enjoy Lee Goldberg’s books, I picked this one up without paying much attention to anything about it. As a result, I wasn’t aware it was a blend of Police Procedural, Science Fiction, and Western. It was initially shocking when I realized where the book was going, but then I got caught up in the story, which unfolds in the present and the past. It helped that I grew to enjoy the characters, although the raw nature of the first chapter made it a little hard for me. This book definitely has more content than the cozies I typically read. However, the book tried to do too much. There’s a subplot that really doesn’t go anywhere, and some of the story set in the past gets summarized for us. Meanwhile, the last couple of chapters have a bit too much exposition for me. I appreciate the attempt to do something different, but the execution could have been better.
Since I normally enjoy Lee Goldberg’s books, I picked this one up without paying much attention to anything about it. As a result, I wasn’t aware it was a blend of Police Procedural, Science Fiction, and Western. It was initially shocking when I realized where the book was going, but then I got caught up in the story, which unfolds in the present and the past. It helped that I grew to enjoy the characters, although the raw nature of the first chapter made it a little hard for me. This book definitely has more content than the cozies I typically read. However, the book tried to do too much. There’s a subplot that really doesn’t go anywhere, and some of the story set in the past gets summarized for us. Meanwhile, the last couple of chapters have a bit too much exposition for me. I appreciate the attempt to do something different, but the execution could have been better.
Julie (77 KP) rated Honestly Ben in Books
Oct 21, 2017
My review: "This book is full of ups and downs; basically I felt like I was on a roller coaster. This was a good thing, and kinda a bad thing. I felt like Ben didn’t really know what he wanted, which he admits, but because of that he makes some unwise choices. I was actually disappointed how things turned out with Hannah. That mess could have been avoided.
A lot of other reviewers/readers have expressed some negative feelings with how Ben deals with his sexuality. For me, it wasn’t that big of an issue because there is no guide book to sexuality or discovering your sexuality. There’s no one way. Everyone has their own story. Yes, Ben was super confused, and even at the end he has a lot to figure out. But that’s okay. He needs time to figure it out." You can find the entire review here: https://thenerdybookwormsite.wordpress.com/2017/10/21/honestly-ben-by-bill-konigsberg/
A lot of other reviewers/readers have expressed some negative feelings with how Ben deals with his sexuality. For me, it wasn’t that big of an issue because there is no guide book to sexuality or discovering your sexuality. There’s no one way. Everyone has their own story. Yes, Ben was super confused, and even at the end he has a lot to figure out. But that’s okay. He needs time to figure it out." You can find the entire review here: https://thenerdybookwormsite.wordpress.com/2017/10/21/honestly-ben-by-bill-konigsberg/
Lindsay (1706 KP) rated The Christmas Blessing in Books
Dec 8, 2017
The Christmas Blessing is a really good book. It had me emotional throughout the book. This shows the sad and the happy. It deals with a young woman with her son. The young woman thinks here soon to be husband has died and so do his parents.
Will the Bentley accept Amelia and her son? Amelia does something to help her son Jimmy? She cares about her son. Amelia sees Jimmy family putting together a Nativity the day after Thanksgiving. She worries about her son and that he is sick. She does something and the family finds him.
We meet James Bentley and what happened to him for sure. There a sweet ending and I do not want to give it away. Carlson does a good job writing the plot and it was done nicely. There some sweet moments and some teary moments.
It a great Christmas story and it is sweet. I loved it.
Will the Bentley accept Amelia and her son? Amelia does something to help her son Jimmy? She cares about her son. Amelia sees Jimmy family putting together a Nativity the day after Thanksgiving. She worries about her son and that he is sick. She does something and the family finds him.
We meet James Bentley and what happened to him for sure. There a sweet ending and I do not want to give it away. Carlson does a good job writing the plot and it was done nicely. There some sweet moments and some teary moments.
It a great Christmas story and it is sweet. I loved it.
Troy Aker (6 KP) rated The Punisher - Season 1 in TV
Dec 14, 2017
Jon Bernthal (1 more)
Tackles some very timely subjects
SO GOOD!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Once you get through the violence, this show hit home for me having so much military in my family and close friends.
It looks at some subjects that are for me very hard to watch. Soldiers come home from war and try to fit back into society. Fighting PTSD and the realization that society might not have a place for him, ex-Army soldier Lewis acts out in a violent and horrific way to get the public's attention in an attempt to get the world to see the way he sees. It was really hard to watch Lewis's transformation from a confused, out-of-place ex-soldier to a violent terrorist in his death.
Add to this the gravitas that Jon Bernthal adds to the role of Frank Castle and you have a very deep and almost sympathetic show. You just need to get past the sheer violence.
It looks at some subjects that are for me very hard to watch. Soldiers come home from war and try to fit back into society. Fighting PTSD and the realization that society might not have a place for him, ex-Army soldier Lewis acts out in a violent and horrific way to get the public's attention in an attempt to get the world to see the way he sees. It was really hard to watch Lewis's transformation from a confused, out-of-place ex-soldier to a violent terrorist in his death.
Add to this the gravitas that Jon Bernthal adds to the role of Frank Castle and you have a very deep and almost sympathetic show. You just need to get past the sheer violence.
Devin (3 KP) rated Moana (2016) in Movies
May 15, 2017
Fun and engaging adventure story (3 more)
Great characters
Memorable music
Loads of humor
A new Disney hit that delivers in all ways
I was smiling from ear to ear throughout the entire journey of Moana. I may have a bit of bias, considering my own Polynesian roots, but this film was full of moments that gave me chills. It was fun, exciting, and humorous, the way Disney knows how to do best. The animation was some of the best I've seen in a while, from the details of the hair, ocean, clothing, etc., to the amazing colorful island scenes. Everything was just wonderful. The music is some of the better music I've heard from Disney, as it was unconventional and fresh from what they tend to churn out. My only complaint - I wish we got to see more of Pua! He was such a cute character, my wife and I loved every scene he was in! Solid film that I will go back to repeatedly.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated The Shallows (2016) in Movies
Aug 2, 2017
Blake Lively carries the whole movie essentially on her own (1 more)
Some cool gory moments
Bullshit backstory (3 more)
Awful Script
Just outright silly in places
Frequent boring lulls
Yawn
My girlfriend is a huge fan of Blake Lively, so she talked me into sitting watching this one. It's not an awful movie, there are small glimmers of a good shark attack movie in here, they are just so few and far between. The back story is a total waste of time and the first 30 minutes of the movie are extremely boring until the shark actually shows up. Then there are some cool shark kills, then the movie slows right down again up until the final showdown between Blake Lively and the shark, the climax of which isn't worth all of the boring exposition and build up.
You could spend and hour and a half of your time on something much better than this, but it's not total trash either, just pretty forgettable overall.
You could spend and hour and a half of your time on something much better than this, but it's not total trash either, just pretty forgettable overall.