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Meddling Kids: A Novel
Meddling Kids: A Novel
Edgar Cantero | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
8.1 (15 Ratings)
Book Rating
I fell in love with the cover of this book and immediately downloaded it. The amazon page showcases a review from the USA Today that says “…it scratches a nostalgic itch for those who grew up on Saturday morning Scooby-Doo cartoons and sugar-bombed breakfast cereal.” I started reading and then opened good reads and noticed that it suggested a bunch of Steven King books as similar reads.

I panicked. I don’t read horror. I was sure this book was going to leave me terrified. I wouldn’t let my husband leave while I was reading it.

I shouldn’t have worried.

This book was great. It was about as scary as a Scooby-Doo movie (think Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost). It was funny and fun with a great nostalgia factor.

I loved the representation in this book. It was nice to see minorities represented and normalized.

The way the book is written could turn people off. It’s either going to be something you love or something you hate. It’s prose mixed with stage directions and random author(?) interjections which makes it feel a little haphazard and messy.

Over all, I loved it and though it hearkens back to mythical horror themes it’s not too scary just like old time Scooby-Doo.
  
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Dracula in Books

Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)  
Dracula
Dracula
Bram Stoker, Allen Grove | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
7
8.4 (16 Ratings)
Book Rating
A true horror classic
Ever since its publication Bram Stoker's Dracula has always stayed in the public imagination. Dracula caused vampire scares throughout Europe into the early 20th Century. With it being filmed so many times, both for the cinema as well as the TV, and stage adaptations that are still being made this century, as well as a plethora of publishers having it in their catalogues this story is set to remain with us well into the foreseeable future, indeed until the end of time.

The beautiful Mina has been scarred by vampires and is at risk of being sucked into their Undead world. But she is a plucky gal. Although the whole story is very OTT, there are many vivid passages as the little troop pursue Dracula across Europe and finally kill him in the nick of time before sun sets over the Carpathian Mountains. Although mightily baroque, the tale is worth reading for these descriptions...howling wolves and all. Of course it has been deconstructed as an allegory of the Good overcoming the External Threat at a time when Europe was in turmoil. So, all in all, a heavy-duty read, but probably worthwhile if you're a true horror fan.
  
Empire in Black & Gold
Empire in Black & Gold
Adrian Tchaikovsky | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This 10 book series deals with a future state of the human race where humans have evolved into different types of insect, each race taking on the traits of those insects (eg Beetles are hard-working but slow, Spiders are cunning and conniving, Moths are dark and mysterious, Wasps are evil and annoying etc).
This, the first in the series sees Stenwold Maker start to rediscover old fears of the Wasp Empire attempting to invade the peaceful, lowland city states. With nobody in his home city believing him he gathers together a crew of his students and old friend to find out what is happening on the borders of the empire.
This is one of the best books of the series, and a lot of action to come is set up here. I don't know if Tchaikovsky has intended to make this a whopping 10 books at this stage but it certainly felt like the start of something.
The action and fight scenes are well described but not laboured, and enough background to the world is given to understand it, though not in detail (just accept it and move on).
A large number of characters are introduced throughout the series, so it is worth getting to know them from the off.
  
Poster Boy
Poster Boy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Broadcast live, Rosa Lincoln takes to the stage at her brother’s memorial service with a bomb concealed beneath her clothes. Being in Jimmy’s shadow was never easy, even when he was alive, but in death he has become a national hero.
When she crosses paths with the enigmatic Teresa, she discovers that those she has been taught to view as enemies may not be the real villains after all.
The lies need to be stopped, and Rosa intends on doing just that.

Wow! This book started with a bang - well a potential bang - and didn't let up until the very end with all its twists and turns along the way.
Although this is fiction it very much reflects what is going on around the world right now, sadly. It has its basis in fact and recent happenings which makes it hard-hitting, emotive, topical and timely.
The main issues it explores are terrorism, extremism, propaganda, xenophobia, nationalism, racism, good vs evil and the current political climate; it does so with considerable tact while questioning each of them making this a thought-provoking read.
Very good work of dystopian fiction.
Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
  
Split (2016)
Split (2016)
2016 | Horror, Thriller
2/3 of a good movie
Contains spoilers, click to show
Normally I don't do spoilers, but I don't think it avoidable with this film.

The career of M. Night Shyamalan has produced one classic, a few pretty good, a few just all right and a few pieces of garbage. I guess I feel this film is in the pretty good category.


As with a lot of thrillers, the set up and character introduction is the easy part and this film does that well setting the stage of the kidnappings, the unknown, interesting world in which the girls now live and the unusual kidnapper the ladies are presented with. His relationship with them is mostly curiosity as with the psychiatrist.


Where the film kind of loses it for me was in the third act. Two of the women are completely tossed aside with no remorse after you are given to care about them. The "beast" is borderline unbelievable and sticks out as somewhat contrite.


I had read or been told the film had ties to "Unbreakable", but that vision didn't slap you in the face and i liked that. The appearance of Bruce Willis at the end was a bunch of fun.


Still enjoyed the film enough to recommend


.
  
Custom Baked Murder
Custom Baked Murder
Liz Mugavero | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stan’s mother is engaged to Frog Ledge’s new mayor, and the pair are throwing a big engagement party. However, the groom to be isn’t there. Instead, Stan is running into several people she is less than happy to see again from her days in the corporate world, including her ex-boyfriend. The night gets worse when a body is found upstairs. The police quickly make an arrest, but something seems off. Are they trying to cover something up?

Since the last book took place out of town, it was wonderful to be back in Frog Ledge and spending time with our favorite characters. The author has really built a sense of community, and I love how she is growing Stan, the others characters, and their relationships. The downside of that is the murder moves slowly in the beginning as the sub-plots that help with the community building are front and center. But the mystery takes center stage in the second half, offering us several viable suspects and some great twists and surprises.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-custom-baked-murder-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
It's interesting to learn about what is happening in different countries from the perspective of the people who are actually living there. So much of what we see in our media only discusses things from an American perspective, which is obviously biased. That's not to say that one will feel more positively about the Chinese government after reading a book like this, but it does give one a better understanding of how things got the way they are and also why people went along with it, and in some cases continue to do so. In telling the stories of a variety of Chinese citizens, both ordinary and highly influential, the author does a fantastic job of capturing the mood of the people and just what everyday life is like for them. China is a country awash with contradictions, while the ruling party tries to modernize without loosing their grip on power. This is a very well written book, that is often every bit as engaging as any fictional story, that provides a fascinating look at one of the biggest players on the global stage today. Anyone with any interest in current events should read it, and be happy they live in a country where they'll be allowed to.
  
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Vegas (725 KP) rated Hair (1979) in Movies

Nov 10, 2018  
Hair (1979)
Hair (1979)
1979 | Comedy, Drama, Musical
9
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The soundtrack (1 more)
The cast
Classic musical of the era
Claude Bukowski leaves Oklahoma for New York after being drafted to the army for Vietnam... He joins a hippie group of youngsters led by Berger, he
soon falls in love with Sheila before leaving the group for his new life in the army..

A great soundtrack with some memorable songs, backed up with some spectacular dance routines and settings make this a film you can enjoy more than once... It may have dated a bit over the years but the same can be said for some of the classic era musicals...

The initial feeling of annoyance that Berger left me with soon vanished and you do warm to the three main characters and to some extent the lesser members of the group...

It is a film about fun, freedom and most of all friendship and what you would do for your friends... I'm guessing the stage play it was based on was more of an anti war play, but the impression I got, maybe because so long has elapsed since it was written, is one of live for the moment, enjoy yourself while you can because you never know what is around the corner in life...