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Erika (17789 KP) rated The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle in Books
Feb 9, 2019
In the USA, this book had to be published as 'The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle', due to it being too close to a book released a few months previously. I actually think the US title is more accurate than the original title.
I found it hard to get my bearing when I began reading this, trying to figure out exactly what was happening. I found the fixation on Anna was very strange, and slightly unnecessary in my mind. I just got tired of her. It is slightly convoluted, and it probably could have been cut down by at least 100 pages.
While I figured out the answer around 1/4th into the book, I did end up liking it for the most part. This would make a really good 10 episode series, and I hope a company has bought the rights so an adaptation can occur.
I found it hard to get my bearing when I began reading this, trying to figure out exactly what was happening. I found the fixation on Anna was very strange, and slightly unnecessary in my mind. I just got tired of her. It is slightly convoluted, and it probably could have been cut down by at least 100 pages.
While I figured out the answer around 1/4th into the book, I did end up liking it for the most part. This would make a really good 10 episode series, and I hope a company has bought the rights so an adaptation can occur.
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) in Movies
May 13, 2019
Amor et Psyche
Number 6 of my #top10 #favourite #films is 'Perfume The Story Of A Murderer'.
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#Perfume is such a #strange film, it extreamly long and almost feels like 3 separate films about the same character sewn together. Every time i watch it i feel absorbed by in this amazing #fairytale, maybe its the #magic, the #wonder and the sheer #beauty of it thats so intoxicating. Then theres the #violence, the #filth and the straight up #creepy but no matter how odd the film seems to get you cant help but be #mesmerized by it constantly. With such memorable characters, smashing dialog, huge well designed sets/costumes, great acting and an absolutely griping/highly satisfying story Perfume for me is an incredible hidden gem. If you like #fantasy, #gothic #horror, #serialkillers and #beautiful #perioddramas its a must see. ------------------------------------------------
#sundayfunday #weeked #scary #killer #alanrickman #dustinhofman #purfumethestoryofamurderer #runlolarun
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#Perfume is such a #strange film, it extreamly long and almost feels like 3 separate films about the same character sewn together. Every time i watch it i feel absorbed by in this amazing #fairytale, maybe its the #magic, the #wonder and the sheer #beauty of it thats so intoxicating. Then theres the #violence, the #filth and the straight up #creepy but no matter how odd the film seems to get you cant help but be #mesmerized by it constantly. With such memorable characters, smashing dialog, huge well designed sets/costumes, great acting and an absolutely griping/highly satisfying story Perfume for me is an incredible hidden gem. If you like #fantasy, #gothic #horror, #serialkillers and #beautiful #perioddramas its a must see. ------------------------------------------------
#sundayfunday #weeked #scary #killer #alanrickman #dustinhofman #purfumethestoryofamurderer #runlolarun
Fruit Bat (42 KP) rated The Strange Case of Caroline Maxwell in Books
Mar 1, 2018
Recommended reading "The Strange Case of Caroline Maxwell "Paperback – 12 Sep 2014 by Amanda Harvey Purse.
This book has all the ingredients that makes a great mystery novel. The question is what is there not to love history mixed with fiction, Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper with a great references to Agatha Christie and a famous little Belgian detective.
Amanda's book deserves so much more then the twos reviews it has on Amazon .
The book is truly well researched and comes across as a great labour of love , I loved spotting the historical cases that where mixed among the fiction. If you have the opportunity to read this book I recommend you do it's not to be missed.
Amanda I loved this book from start to finish thank you for the opportunity to read it I hope to see more of this wonderful character
This book has all the ingredients that makes a great mystery novel. The question is what is there not to love history mixed with fiction, Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper with a great references to Agatha Christie and a famous little Belgian detective.
Amanda's book deserves so much more then the twos reviews it has on Amazon .
The book is truly well researched and comes across as a great labour of love , I loved spotting the historical cases that where mixed among the fiction. If you have the opportunity to read this book I recommend you do it's not to be missed.
Amanda I loved this book from start to finish thank you for the opportunity to read it I hope to see more of this wonderful character
Erika (17789 KP) rated A Spy Among Friends: Philby and the Great Betrayal in Books
Feb 18, 2018
If you're looking for a non-fiction book that reads like fiction, this is definitely a must-read.
Kim Philby is infamous, he was responsible for compromising countless agents/missions from the 1930s to the 1960s. He's the inspiration behind a lot of spy fiction, one of the biggest ones being Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The book has a few main sources, Philby himself in his strange memoir written after he fled to Moscow, Nicholas Elliot, a friend and co-worker from MI-6, and James Angleton, also a friend from the CIA. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but there were so many signs of treachery, it's hard to believe that it took 30 years to finally get a confession from him.
And, I mean, come on, the dude decided on giving himself the nickname of Kim, like the character in Rudyard Kipling's novel.
Kim Philby is infamous, he was responsible for compromising countless agents/missions from the 1930s to the 1960s. He's the inspiration behind a lot of spy fiction, one of the biggest ones being Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The book has a few main sources, Philby himself in his strange memoir written after he fled to Moscow, Nicholas Elliot, a friend and co-worker from MI-6, and James Angleton, also a friend from the CIA. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but there were so many signs of treachery, it's hard to believe that it took 30 years to finally get a confession from him.
And, I mean, come on, the dude decided on giving himself the nickname of Kim, like the character in Rudyard Kipling's novel.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2318 KP) rated Time of Fog and Fire (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #16) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Daniel accepts a temporary top secret assignment with the Secret Service. Molly is trying not to worry about her husband until she gets a strange note in the mail. The more she looks at it, the more she thinks he is asking her to come to San Francisco. Why would Daniel ask for Molly’s help? What will she find when she arrives?
This is another wonderful trip back to 1906 with Molly and her family and friends. We get to see them before and after the time in San Francisco, but that never really slows down the plot. The mystery does get a bit sidetracked by the real events unfolding in the city during that time, but it still makes for page turning reading.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-time-of-fire-and-fog-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is another wonderful trip back to 1906 with Molly and her family and friends. We get to see them before and after the time in San Francisco, but that never really slows down the plot. The mystery does get a bit sidetracked by the real events unfolding in the city during that time, but it still makes for page turning reading.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-time-of-fire-and-fog-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Aasiyah Sidat (34 KP) rated Me Before You in Books
Jul 9, 2018
Love Yourself
Love is a fickle thing. To be in love is one of the most beautiful feelings you could experience. On the other hand, losing a love feels like the world is crumbling around you.
Me Before You takes us on a roller coaster through these emotions and more. We follow Louisa 'Lou' Clark, our protagonist as she navigates a new job which can be quite daunting without having to care for a sarcastic quadriplegic who makes jokes at your expense. Will finds Lou strange and exhausting, just someone else to babysit him assist him in the most mundane of tasks. However, Will and Lou form an unlikely bond of friendship which develops into something more. What Lou didn't account for is that she is caring for a man who no longer has the will to live.
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/10/love-yourself.html
Me Before You takes us on a roller coaster through these emotions and more. We follow Louisa 'Lou' Clark, our protagonist as she navigates a new job which can be quite daunting without having to care for a sarcastic quadriplegic who makes jokes at your expense. Will finds Lou strange and exhausting, just someone else to babysit him assist him in the most mundane of tasks. However, Will and Lou form an unlikely bond of friendship which develops into something more. What Lou didn't account for is that she is caring for a man who no longer has the will to live.
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/10/love-yourself.html
Erika (17789 KP) rated The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) in Movies
Sep 27, 2018
I had no expectations going into this film. The only thing I knew about it was that it was based off of a book that was originally illustrated by Edward Gorey.
It's strange that Jack Black has found his niche in making kids movies. I thought he was great as the eccentric uncle, and Cate Blanchett was a good counterbalance. Their banter was enough to keep me entertain most of the film.
Yes, the story line is very predictable, and you would think it's because there have been so many films like it before, but since the book was written in the 1970s, I'm assuming all of the other films were originally riffing off this story.
The costumes and visuals were great, and I liked the creepy vibe. Eli Roth did a pretty good job keeping it PG. It wasn't great, but I didn't hate my life while watching it.
It's strange that Jack Black has found his niche in making kids movies. I thought he was great as the eccentric uncle, and Cate Blanchett was a good counterbalance. Their banter was enough to keep me entertain most of the film.
Yes, the story line is very predictable, and you would think it's because there have been so many films like it before, but since the book was written in the 1970s, I'm assuming all of the other films were originally riffing off this story.
The costumes and visuals were great, and I liked the creepy vibe. Eli Roth did a pretty good job keeping it PG. It wasn't great, but I didn't hate my life while watching it.
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Number One Chinese Restaurant in Books
Jan 28, 2020
Average and lacklustre
This is a rather strange book. Not because of the subject matter, but because it's well written yet with a strangely average and lacklustre plot.
I'm not entirely sure if this book is meant to be a commentary on Chinese culture or immigrants, but for me it didnt come across that way. The majority of the characters aren't particularly likeable in many different ways, and the whole story seemed a little pointless as the characters didn't appear to have developed much after all of the events that had occurred. The plot itself could have been interesting but it was spoilt a lot by the constant bickering and toing and froing between the families.
Overall it's written well enough to keep my attention for the entire book, but sadly this is ultimately forgettable and not one that moved me in any way.
I'm not entirely sure if this book is meant to be a commentary on Chinese culture or immigrants, but for me it didnt come across that way. The majority of the characters aren't particularly likeable in many different ways, and the whole story seemed a little pointless as the characters didn't appear to have developed much after all of the events that had occurred. The plot itself could have been interesting but it was spoilt a lot by the constant bickering and toing and froing between the families.
Overall it's written well enough to keep my attention for the entire book, but sadly this is ultimately forgettable and not one that moved me in any way.
The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum: Political Letters to the Daily Telegraph
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Telegraph letter writers, that most astute body of political commentators, are probably not alone in...
Zoo Tails
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One puff adder, one antelope, one crocodile - This was the list of sick animals presented to Oliver...