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Without a Word
Without a Word
Kate McQuaile | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Without A Word by Kate McQuaile is an exciting thriller which starts with two girls talking to each other over the Internet, Skyping. Imagine the scene, you’re chatting away, the doorbell rings and your friend says she’ll just answer it quickly and then come straight back. Only she never comes back and that’s the last you hear of her… and then the house goes up in flames and you don’t know if she’s in it or not.

To me that’s a great basis for a murder, mystery, psychological thriller and I read it fast and furiously – enjoying every minute of this mystery. I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it – all 368 pages of it!

It is indeed a fast-paced, twisty tale, and it totally absorbed a few hours of my time as I joined Orla and her hunt for clues to Lillian’s whereabouts. Did she survive the fire, or was she taken? Surely, she wouldn’t have any reason to go into hiding, and not tell her best friend Orla. Would she?
  
A List of Cages
A List of Cages
Robin Roe | 2017 | Contemporary
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I read this while at work, and I still finished this book in under 4 hours. It is seriously that good that you just can't put it down. For Robin Roe's first novel, he hit it out of the park. The book is about two teenagers, Adam and Julien, and the viewpoint switches seamlessly between the two throughout the book. There is never any confusion on who is talking or what is going on. Now, the book does revolve around child abuse, so for those sensitive to this type of plot, this story may not be the best for you. While the story of child abuse is devastating (I definitely caught myself trying to hold back tears a few times), the way the story is told will make you feel like you're in the situation that the characters are in. You can feel elation, fear, love, and everything in between with this novel. Everything about this book was great and I would definitely recommend it to others who aren't sensitive to child abuse.
  
This story keep my interest but it did not take my heart to want to a point where I was wanting to know to What going to happen next. I will say this it is good read and a Christmas story to itself. I hope it was meant to stand alone. Just my thought because I liked does not meant it will be for you it up to you to decide.

In the beginning of the story, Caleb and his daughter Susie (Susan) are coming to visit Caleb family. Susie want to stop at the market to get a pie or something to take to her Aunt Sadie's place. They stop in the farmer market. Susie run to a quilt stand and starts talking to Naomi King.

The Kauffmans are some what talked about though out the book. Though most of the story is around Caleb, Susie and Naomi along with a snip of Kaffuman family. It centered around the Christmas season. You see Caleb's sister side of the story as well and try to match her brother up with Irene Wranger.
  
AA
Abigail And The North Pole Adventure
Tali Carmi | 2015 | Children
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Abigail and the North Pole Adventure by Tali Carmi This is another quick read. It good for children. Children learn to use their imagination. It teaches your kids or children values and about giving a helping hand. It also teaches your children about making friendships. Each book tell you about a different place and culture. You learn about the animals and the habit of the folk that live in that area.The images are down really well. You can see what the description is talking about. This is good for children ages for young children. Parent can read this to their children. Kids can learn to read with these beginner books. Pictures are quite nice and understandable. This is also a good book for children that enjoy adventure books.I would recommend this book and this series to young readers and children learn to read. If you would like to check out my other review on a book in this series. Here the review to Abigail & Tropical Island adventure.
  
Raspberry Danish Murder
Raspberry Danish Murder
Joanne Fluke | 2018 | Mystery
5
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Baking Overwhelms Murder - Again
Hannah is trying to deal with her new husband, Ross, having vanished while still getting her cookie shop ready for Thanksgiving. Then P.K., Ross’s assistant at the station, dies in a car accident. The police quickly determine that P.K. crashed because of poisoned candies he ate that were sent to the station. Was he the intended target? Or was Ross? Who sent the poisoned candies? Is this why Ross disappeared?

As you can see, there is plenty here for a good mystery. Instead, we get an average mystery. Much of the book is taken up with talking about food and baking, used to introduce the almost 30 recipes spread out over the story. There are some good twists in the mystery and the story of Hannah’s life, but the mystery especially is short changed and the ending feels rushed. The characters are fun as always. Longtime fans will still want to visit Hannah, but this is not going to draw new readers to the series.
  
The Trees
The Trees
Ali Shaw | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
5.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i><b>There is no warning. No chance to prepare. The trees arrive in the night: thundering up through the ground, transforming streets and towns into shadowy forest.</b></i>

When Adrien wakes to the thundering of trees coming up from the earth and destroying his home, he has no idea what happening, but neither does anybody else. Confused, scared and afraid, Adrien sets out to find some answers, primarily <i>is his wife, in Ireland, still alive?</i> On his journey he comes across nature lover Hannah and her teenage son Seb who group together to tackle what the forest holds.

The reviews plastered all over this book are what got me really excited about picking this up, talking about Hitchcock, Tarantino and McCarthy’s book <i>The Road</i> (which I haven’t read yet but am really looking forward to picking up), all appealed to me so much that I put Room down and bought this one instead (or, rather, my boyfriend bought it)...

Read my full review here: https://bookbumzuky.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/the-trees-by-ali-shaw/
  
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Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated City Fun in Books

Jun 16, 2018  
City Fun
City Fun
Margaret Hillert | 2016 | Children
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
City Fun by Margaret Hillert is a book with bright illustrations that are colorful, and show diversity. In this book, two friends have a day in the city. Some of the activities are they go to the park, the library, ride a bus, and watch some construction. The illustrations are bright and colorful. The story has limited words, the illustrations in itself tell a story. I believe that children will enjoy pointing to objects in the picture, and talking about the story beyond the word as they learn to read. These books would be a great addition to a home and class library for young children who are learning to read.

The Learning to Read series is easy to read. The series uses site vocabulary that is printed in the back of the book. The book captures the imaginations of beginning readers and help them on their way to independent reading. The books can be read aloud to young children or the children can read the books themselves.
  
The Favorite Sister
The Favorite Sister
Jessica Knoll | 2018 | Mystery, Thriller
6
5.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I thought the story in general of The Favorite Sister had lots of promise! But it was just too much all over the place. Telling us Brett was dead in the beginning did nothing for me. It would have been a better shocker at the end to know that Stephanie had died, and Brett a surprise death. It just wasn't necessary to do all the back and for now and then. It made the book confusing, it was hard to keep track of where we were in the story and also who's story we were following. I didn't know who was talking, since they were all just really vain horrible people, their voices all seemed similar. This made it difficult to relate or identify with any character, let alone like them or keep track of them! I found that even in Luckiest Girl Alive, I had trouble even liking ONE character. I liked Brett at first, but then slowly hated her towards the end. Maybe just throw in ONE likeable character in your books! Just throw us a bone!
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) Mar 10, 2019

Totally agree! These characters were the worst!

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Bookapotamus (289 KP) Mar 10, 2019

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thought so!

The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror
6
7.5 (29 Ratings)
Book Rating
I must say this book was fairly predictable. From the minute the focus was put on Elanor above all else I was like, something is fishy with this one here. She seemed like an overgrown child the whole of the book.

Now, I did listen to the audio book version of this, so perhaps that swayed the way that I had interpreted this book, but I did not enjoy her at all. Theodora was my favourite character - I wonder why, again, perhaps the way she was read to me.

The house concept was cool, the way the whole theme and story was lay out was pretty awesome as well - the progression of the story was quick and deliberate. There was some laugh out loud funny moments - I'm pretty sure the house was turning people quite mad.

Overall it was an alright book - 3.5 stars (again, goodreads, let us have .5 stars alright) - not at all scary though (perhaps again that was the audio book talking), but good for a read nontheless - especially in October :)
  
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Erika (17788 KP) rated The Shining (1980) in Movies

Nov 25, 2018 (Updated Nov 25, 2018)  
The Shining (1980)
The Shining (1980)
1980 | Horror
I just watched this film for the first time yesterday. I don't typically watch horror films/scary movies because I have an overactive imagination and don't need any other nightmare fuel.
I was finally convinced after a conversation with a co-worker when we were talking about how sometimes people just snap, and he emphasized how Jack Torrance's actions were completely fitting with a psychological break. I had also seen various references to the film, such as the extended scene in Ready Player One, and a South Park Halloween episode when Randy Marsh buys a Blockbuster and the same situation happens.
I wouldn't actually deem this as a straight-up horror film, it was definitely more of a psychological thriller. It was so well done (haven't read the book, nor will I ever, not a fan of Stephen King). The music fitting with the cinematography and creating the mood and overall tension in the film. It's definitely one of the best films I've watched as of late, and I'm glad I finally got around to it.
  
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Andy K (10821 KP) Nov 25, 2018

It is a masterpiece for sure. You should try and find documentary Room 237 which talks a lot about The Shining and how Kubrick filmed the fake moon landing.