Search
Search results
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Tenth of December in Books
Nov 21, 2017
Dark, disturbing and satirical
This collection of short stories cannot be pigeon-holed. In this oddly disjointed, surreal collection, the underlying issues in modern American culture are loudly explored. George Saunders' breathless writing style floods over terrible realities and hard truths, leaving the reader gasping in its wake.
Tenth of December handles its running themes in a poignant, individual and certainly irreverent way. Narcissistic ideas of charity stems from trivial competition, while sheer denial is shown in the face of true poverty. Generations breed generations, passing on corrupted ideals and traumatic examples. Paedophilia, racism, poverty: nothing is safe from these chastising, powerful stories.
Saunders leaves an expunged, brutally telling view of the American dream. In his futuristic imaginings, he exaggerates the failings of Western consumerism, yet ultimately his message is clear: When one tries to have it all, they're left with nothing.
Tenth of December handles its running themes in a poignant, individual and certainly irreverent way. Narcissistic ideas of charity stems from trivial competition, while sheer denial is shown in the face of true poverty. Generations breed generations, passing on corrupted ideals and traumatic examples. Paedophilia, racism, poverty: nothing is safe from these chastising, powerful stories.
Saunders leaves an expunged, brutally telling view of the American dream. In his futuristic imaginings, he exaggerates the failings of Western consumerism, yet ultimately his message is clear: When one tries to have it all, they're left with nothing.
Ameeka (131 KP) rated The Walking Dead: 400 Days in Video Games
Jul 13, 2017
Writing (1 more)
Stories
Nice filler between Seasons 1 and 2
400 Days is a short game that tells us about the Zombie Armageddon from five different viewpoints. I had no idea what was going on when the game started, just that I needed to choose who I was going to be. I didn't realize that I was going to be playing ALL FIVE of the characters, thus I played them out of (chronological) order.
Chronological order:
Vince - Day 2
Wyatt - Day 41
Russell - Day 184
Bonnie - Day 220
Shel - Day 236
Although you can play them in any order you wish, I recommend doing them in time-order since their stories can overlap. I did not feel a deep connection to these five characters, but I am amazed by Telltale's ability to evoke emotion even thought being half the length of an episode.
Chronological order:
Vince - Day 2
Wyatt - Day 41
Russell - Day 184
Bonnie - Day 220
Shel - Day 236
Although you can play them in any order you wish, I recommend doing them in time-order since their stories can overlap. I did not feel a deep connection to these five characters, but I am amazed by Telltale's ability to evoke emotion even thought being half the length of an episode.
Sam (74 KP) rated Let it Snow in Books
Mar 27, 2019
Three stories that slowly merge into one? I need more of this in my life. Why can’t more books be written like this? Because I love that you get three different points of view and you get to see the turn of events that means that all three stories merge in the most unlikely way.
Every character is quirky, and I can’t say I would expect anything less from this group of authors. They are all so individual and really developed. It read like a perfect novel, with no plot holes or nothing left unexplained.
And I loved that it is so unique! There isn’t a Christmas novel out there that is quite like this, and I’m still hoping that one day it will get turned into a movie. It would make the most amazing film to snuggle up with.
Every character is quirky, and I can’t say I would expect anything less from this group of authors. They are all so individual and really developed. It read like a perfect novel, with no plot holes or nothing left unexplained.
And I loved that it is so unique! There isn’t a Christmas novel out there that is quite like this, and I’m still hoping that one day it will get turned into a movie. It would make the most amazing film to snuggle up with.
Dana (24 KP) rated Little Knife (Grisha Verse, #2.6) in Books
Mar 23, 2018
This is one of the companion stories to the Grishaverse novels, and I loved it.
I really respect when authors put together stories that would be in the folklore of the world they built. I can imagine Alina or Nina getting told this story when she was a kid.
I loved how this story was so much about girl power and a woman's rights to her own personhood.
I enjoy any kind of fairy tale, but I especially love one that takes place in a world I adore. The language used was very mysterious and lyrical, much like the Grimm Brothers or Hans Christian Anderson would use in their classic fairy tales.
I loved the twists and spins in the story.
Spoilers ahead. You have been warned.
Don't trust rivers, they may be FREAKING GODS IN DISGUISE!?!?!?!?
I really respect when authors put together stories that would be in the folklore of the world they built. I can imagine Alina or Nina getting told this story when she was a kid.
I loved how this story was so much about girl power and a woman's rights to her own personhood.
I enjoy any kind of fairy tale, but I especially love one that takes place in a world I adore. The language used was very mysterious and lyrical, much like the Grimm Brothers or Hans Christian Anderson would use in their classic fairy tales.
I loved the twists and spins in the story.
Spoilers ahead. You have been warned.
Don't trust rivers, they may be FREAKING GODS IN DISGUISE!?!?!?!?
Louise (64 KP) rated The Lavender Witch in Books
Jul 2, 2018
I was lucky enough to get a free copy of the book from the goodreads giveaway, the description of the book intrigued me as I enjoy books based on true stories. Kitty and Gordon move into their new home in medbury Devon, when after a few days strange things start occurring in the house. Hannah beamish is a legendary witch in Devon and everyone thinks they know what become of her! Or do they?. The story goes back and forth from the 1800's to nowadays. The story written in italics is the story of what happened to Hannah beamish with the 2 stories coming together at the end.
I very much enjoyed this book, it becomes very dark and quite scary at some points, which I am frightened for kitty. I would recommend this book who into ghosts/witchcraft/true events.
I very much enjoyed this book, it becomes very dark and quite scary at some points, which I am frightened for kitty. I would recommend this book who into ghosts/witchcraft/true events.
Alicia S (193 KP) rated Can't Touch This (Can't Touch This, #1) in Books
Sep 28, 2018
Another fabulous book from an incredible author!! I'm in love with every word Pepper (Tess) writes and have been a huge fan of her incredibly dark stories. Taking a chance and letting out some personal emotions she has written and shared with us something totally unlike anything she has ever written and yet its as amazing as her previous works. From dark to rom-com... she does it all flawlessly! <3 This book had me laughing my a$$ off from page one! The hysterical banter, heart-wrenching stories of animal abuse and rescue and the incredibly huge heart both Vesper and Ryder have, make this a book you won't want to put down. I struggled wanting to rush through it to wanting to savor every moment. A beautiful and hysterical love story that should not be missed!! HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended read & author!!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Holmes and Watson (2018) in Movies
Jan 3, 2019 (Updated Jan 3, 2019)
Almost incomprehensibly bad comic spoof of Sherlock Holmes that - despite the presence of many talented and genuinely funny performers - still manages to be totally lacking in laughs, wit, or anything much in the way of entertainment value. Serious adaptations of the original stories - hell, the original stories themselves - all managed to be much funnier than this.
General tone of self-satisfied knowing stupidity; lazy jokes about Donald Trump, selfies, people texting dick pics, etc; much-too-late-to-the-party spoofing of the Guy Ritchie Holmes films from nearly ten years ago. I'll go and see just about anything but it took a sustained effort of will not to walk out of this film. 2018 may have departed but this film lingers on in its wake like the stench from rotting carrion. For pity's sake, avoid.
General tone of self-satisfied knowing stupidity; lazy jokes about Donald Trump, selfies, people texting dick pics, etc; much-too-late-to-the-party spoofing of the Guy Ritchie Holmes films from nearly ten years ago. I'll go and see just about anything but it took a sustained effort of will not to walk out of this film. 2018 may have departed but this film lingers on in its wake like the stench from rotting carrion. For pity's sake, avoid.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Terminator Omnibus Volume 1 in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I was going to start this by typing out the heavy-bass Terminator intro music, then realised I couldn't quite get it to sound right!
This is a collection of stories released early 90's, after Terminator 2 but before any of the newer entries in the franchise (T3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator: Salvation or Terminator: Genisys), so do show their age a bit.
They all also pretty much follow the same template - a group from the future sent back in time, with Terminator's following or already having been sent back, and then a protracted chase followed by a shoot-out - with the artwork varying between the differing authors/artists.
As a compilation, some of the stories are better than others: my pick for the best, probably, would be the story entitled 'One Shot', which seems to mirror the first film.
This is a collection of stories released early 90's, after Terminator 2 but before any of the newer entries in the franchise (T3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator: Salvation or Terminator: Genisys), so do show their age a bit.
They all also pretty much follow the same template - a group from the future sent back in time, with Terminator's following or already having been sent back, and then a protracted chase followed by a shoot-out - with the artwork varying between the differing authors/artists.
As a compilation, some of the stories are better than others: my pick for the best, probably, would be the story entitled 'One Shot', which seems to mirror the first film.
Deborah (162 KP) rated Captain Ingram's Inheritance (Rothschild Trilogy, #3) in Books
Dec 21, 2018
Captain Ingram's Inheritance follows on from the two previous stories in this trilogy, Miss Jacobson's Journey and Lord Roworth's Reward. They are Regency romances in the traditional vein, but a bit more tongue in cheek than someone like Georgette Heyer. The best comparison would probably be with some of the Regency stories written by MC Beaton - if you like them, you'll love these.
English readers may know Carola Dunn from her Daisy Dalrymple books, but she is originally English and has written a fair number of regencies. It looks like most have only been published in the US, although they are available on Amazon as Kindle editions.
The three books are very much related and should be read in order to give you the bigger picture; this book and the previous volume very much cross over, almost like one story.
English readers may know Carola Dunn from her Daisy Dalrymple books, but she is originally English and has written a fair number of regencies. It looks like most have only been published in the US, although they are available on Amazon as Kindle editions.
The three books are very much related and should be read in order to give you the bigger picture; this book and the previous volume very much cross over, almost like one story.
Anne (15117 KP) rated Little Weirds in Books
Nov 4, 2019
This was an interesting read/listen a bit different. It was a quick and short read with some humor, reflection and memoir type stories. It reminded me a bit of a one-woman play of sorts.
The first 1/3-1/2 of the book was sort of random except I connected more to some bits but after the first half, I found more to connect with and then with the last few chapters, I found it enlightening and connected quite a bit to that part.
It's a bit like a collection of mini-memoir essays that talk about being a woman, a child, growing up, figuring things out and having an enlightening moment of rising above hard times, etc.
If you're looking for a short listen with some quirkiness memoir type stories and such then you might enjoy this.
The first 1/3-1/2 of the book was sort of random except I connected more to some bits but after the first half, I found more to connect with and then with the last few chapters, I found it enlightening and connected quite a bit to that part.
It's a bit like a collection of mini-memoir essays that talk about being a woman, a child, growing up, figuring things out and having an enlightening moment of rising above hard times, etc.
If you're looking for a short listen with some quirkiness memoir type stories and such then you might enjoy this.