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ClareR (5879 KP) rated The Moor in Books

Apr 25, 2018  
The Moor
The Moor
Sam Haysom | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Horror
9
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I might not go on that hiking trip.....
You're in at the deep end straight away with this story, and it doesn't come up for air for the next 200 pages (or so!). It starts as a ghost story told by their teacher to five 13 year old boys on a training weekend on Rutmoor National Park, and ends - well, that would be giving the game away! We get glimpses into the past with the use of newspaper articles written about missing children and mutilated animals, and we look at the present and one of the survivors from the ill-fated walk. We're also told the story of what really happened on that ill-fated weekend.
The suspense was portrayed really well, and the boys were written with an understanding of how teenaged boys talk and act (much like Stephen King, in fact). I actually dreamt about this story whilst I was reading it, and let me tell you, it wasn't pleasant! And yes, I loved it!
This is great for horror-suspense lovers, and isn't really gory, in my opinion. It just messes with your mind ?
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for choosing this book to serialise. It was fun (in a keep-you-thinking-about-it-late-into-the-night kind of way)!!!
  
The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection
The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection
Irene B. Brand | Religion, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection Review

                                                             


The Immigrant Brides Romance Collection
9 Stories Celebrate Settling in America
By: Irene B. Brand; Kristy Dykes; Nancy J. Farrier; Pamela Griffin; Joann A Grote; Sally Laity; Judith McCoy Miller; and Janet Spaeth
Barbour Publishing, Inc
Barbour Books
Christian, Romance
Publish Dater 1 March 2019
444 Pages
#TheImmigrantBridesRomanceCollection #NetGalley












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I read this book a little while ago so my review will be very short. It is also hard for me to review a short story collection. I did enjoy this book because it is historical fiction. The stories draw you in and you can feel what each character is going through. There are two stories that deals with Chinese immigrants and what they go through and how they are treated.
My favorite story is about an Irish immigrant who becomes a teacher. I love that her family was very supportive and how the young man who is interested in her helps her out also even though she doesn't give him the light of day.
I would recommend this book for you read.
  
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ClareR (5879 KP) rated Bottled Goods in Books

Aug 18, 2018 (Updated Aug 18, 2018)  
Bottled Goods
Bottled Goods
Sophie van Llewyn | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Life in Ceausescu’s Romania.
Set in Romania in the 1970’s, this portrays life for Alina and her husband, Liviu, under the Communist Ceausescu regime. Life for them becomes even harder when Alina’s brother in law defects to Germany. Her husband is a head teacher and is transferred to a difficult, failing school and seems to rely heavily on the alcohol that he drinks on the long train journey home. Meanwhile, Alina is harassed by a Secret Service agent, and this becomes very sinister.
The bottled goods of the title could be used as a metaphor for different aspects of this story: the perfumes Alina covets from the West; Liviu’s reliance on alcohol; how the couple (and probably their countrymen) bottle up their emotions and desire to defect; and a final, more fairytale bottling up - which I won’t give away.
This was all presented in the form of flash fiction that joined together to make a whole story. I liked this approach. It made the whole book feel uncomfortable (you never quite get in to the swing or the rhythm of the story), probably how Alina and Liviu felt, constantly under threat of arrest.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Fairlight Books for my copy of this book.
  
Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong
Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong
Angela Saini | 2017 | Gender Studies, Science & Mathematics
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
As a scientist myself, I see all the time the imbalance of sexes within the industry. As a teacher, I see girls outperform boys in exams all the way through the school, the gender gap in attainment is one national trend many school are trying to combat. So when this book was made available to me through the school (each school got sent one free copy) I nabbed it up before any of my peers could.
This book covered how males and females have been viewed differently throughout history and how scientific developments have changed the views of both sexes. Even Darwin thought that women were lesser than men cognitively, which shocked me considering his research on evolution. There is evidence from neurological research and anthropological observation debunking views so engrained in our societal views that they as seen as common knowledge.
This book is definitely for the feminist. Both the brains of men and women have been studied and observed in tribes and show that we have so few differences. Myths of "women are better at multitasking" and "men are hunters" are challenged and proven otherwise.
I have nothing but praise for this book and cannot wait to read the next: Superior
  
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Bubba Gee (147 KP) rated Breaking Bad in TV

Jun 23, 2019  
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
2008 | Drama
Characters, Writing, Casting (0 more)
The best ever
Contains spoilers, click to show
This is an epic journey of a nice guy gone bad as he simply has had enough of being shat on.
We start with a nice mild mannered high school chemistry teacher Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston) who pays his taxes has an average life and finds out he has cancer.
Through his brother in law, a DEA agent and all around asshole, Walter White discovers how with his knowledge of chemistry he can make the purest crystal meth on the street.
Enter Jesse Pinkman (played by Aaron Paul)
an ex student of Mr White and low level weed dealer.
Walter uses Jesse to connect himself to the local alberquerque criminal underworld and begins production.
Over the next few series Walter White evolves into his alter ego Heisenberg, a badass, producer, seller, murderer, and generally all around kingpin of New Mexico.
From dealings with other criminals to Mexican drug cartels and beyond,this is an epic tale of a good man gone bad with murder, revenge, international trafficking, twists and turns all along the way.
It really is an absolute credit to the writers and cast.
It also enforces that you shouldn't underestimate anyone no matter how insignificant they may seem.
  
Plastic Sucks! You Can Make a Difference
Plastic Sucks! You Can Make a Difference
Dougie Poynter | 2019 | Children, Education, Science & Mathematics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Just wow! What an inspiring book. This book is aimed at young people and it is written perfectly for them. The language is set at just the right level. It tackles difficult aspects at a level kids will understand. It includes information boxes to explain some science, which are simplified yet accurate (I'm a science teacher and vouch for them 😉). The best part of this book, I think, is the part of ways you can swap plastics out in different rooms of your house. I am definitely inspired. I also liked the section that described the different types of plastics and how easy or difficult they are to recycle. However, I do feel that the cluster of interviews towards the end may seem a little tedious for the target audience. When, nearer the beginning of the book, the interviews were scattered I feel that children will be more likely to read them. I know it must be hard to have so many inspirational people that have so many amazing things to say and include them all, and they really did say some amazing things. I'm hoping I can get a copy of this for the school library as soon as!

What will you swap out?
  
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
1994 | Drama
I have heard so many things about this movie over the years, I was wondering if it would live up to the hype. I was a little worried it wouldn't, so I've been avoiding it for so long. And it hasn't been available to watch anywhere for free until it came out on Netflix.

I am so glad I watched this film. There is nothing about it I didn't like. It felt like every character was important, there was a story to tell. I loved Morgan Freeman's narration and his performance as Red. Andy is brilliant and kind and cunning and a good friend and a great teacher. Norton is everything the criminal justice system is and shouldn't be. I am floored.

There are very few movies that after I see it, I have to own it. It's only happened a few times and the bar is very high. This film is one of those. I can't recommend it enough. It is a great watch with a great plot and a rolling story that never leaves you hanging. This is easily moving to the top 10 movies I adore - it might even hold the number one spot right now. Watch. This. Film.
  
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Barry Newman (204 KP) Mar 2, 2020

One of my favourite movies of all time. Nice to hear about the joy of someone experiencing it for the first time.

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AT (1676 KP) rated My Dark Vanessa in Books

Mar 31, 2020  
My Dark Vanessa
My Dark Vanessa
Kate Elizabeth Russell | 2020 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
9
9.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Obviously, this is a difficult subject to read about. However, it was told in the girl's point of view, and it really brought to light how she comprehended the situation, even when she was being abused. I liked the fact that there were opposing sides in this situation represented in the story, without dragging either side through the mud. I also really appreciated the fact that the author didn't do a sudden turn ending, like saying it was a dream or something. I can't stand that. She held true to the actual story all the way through the novel. It's a story about a young woman that had a sexual affair with her teacher when she was 15, however, the things that happened, emotionally, are relatable to many other types of poisonous relationships. Not just a man with a minor. I appreciated all of that, because it was much easier to be inside the story that way. As difficult as the subject matter was, it is a smooth read, and if you've ever been in any sort of toxic relationship like this, you might be able to relate to a lot of the feelings. Even if you haven't, it's worth reading! It's a well-crafted story about a taboo subject.
  
    Math Ref

    Math Ref

    Education and Reference

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    Math Ref is an award winning education app. Browse over 1,400 formulas, figures, and examples to...