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Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
2017 | Action, Adventure
Michael Keaton's portrayal of his character: The Vulture. (1 more)
The idea that his Peter Parker, tried to prove himself worthy for the Avengers, and that he wouldn't let someone die just because their bad.
More detail, within the post-credit scene to foreshadow Avengers: Infinity War or Thor: Ragnarok. And maybe hint some other villians, for example Doc Ock or even Hammerhead. (0 more)
Spiderman swings into a 9/10 place, giving a comical take on the teenage superhero
Contains spoilers, click to show
Spiderman Homecoming swung into theatres last week, and provided a comical take on the young superhero. It gives us an opening on Peter, enjoying his time and experience through the events of Civil War. But this comes to an end, when it shows him as a normal teen. Michael Keaton, gives a hatred to play-boy millionaire Tony Stark. So he retrieves pieces of weaponry and tech, from previous Marvel films. And he sells them to make money, and give his family a good life. Through this Peter learns of the idea of trust, bravery, and of course doing the right thing no matter what. All in all, Spiderman Homecoming makes a great film for the new generation and for some in the old generation.
  
A Thousand Perfect Notes
A Thousand Perfect Notes
C.G. Drews | 2019
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was so excited to start this. To begin with, I liked Beck and I loved August and I really felt for both of the characters.

But overall, the book just didn’t feel right. The language used was very poetic, almost as if C.G. Drews was just trying to make Instagram-worthy quotes. The language seemed really forced and really out of context. I can’t understand how a story about an abused teen would use very romanticised and literary language.

In any other context, I think I would quite like her writing style, but I feel that it really didn’t fit in at all here.

And then there’s the way that every few pages the lines

are

like

this

For absolutely no reason at all, and then for about fifty pages you see no use of this writing style almost as if the author has forgotten that she was trying to use this as a feature.

I get that this is a debut, but it just seemed really amateurish and didn’t flow at all. I started off liking the characters, and I finished hating them.

The only reason that this is two stars instead of one is that I did actually manage to finish it.
  
13 Reasons Why - Season 2
13 Reasons Why - Season 2
2018 | Drama
More compelling, deep teen drama
The second series follows a similar format to the first - where the first series focused on a different character's tape, and therefore that person's role in Hannah's suicide; this series uses each character's testimony in a trial against the school. Some of the story of the first series is shown to have been one person's side of the story, others are expanded on and shown to be very different.
Each episode is enjoyable and gripping. You start to hate some characters less; others even more, and some you really want something terrible to happen to.
The final episode gives an insight into the upcoming third series, with one character returning to school after some behavioural issues and trying to settle back in.
The series really shows the impact that decisions made by those in charge of a school, and how they react to issues, can have much wider impacts. No longer are we just thinking about how these things affected Hannah and made her decide to kill herself, but how they impact the mental health of those around her, how the authorities' inability to deal with those issues can snowball and how futile their attempts to react to crises are.
  
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
2019 | Biography, Crime, Thriller
All of it! (0 more)
A Little Slow In Parts (0 more)
Zac Efron CAN Really Act
Contains spoilers, click to show
I’d been looking forward to this ever since hearing about it and I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed!

I suppose after watching Zac Efron grow up in High School Musical films and then more grown up (but still musical) in The Greatest Show, I was wondering if he was going to pull it off but he’s certainly shed his teen idol status in this film.

Took me half the film to realise the fat, bearded one was Haley Joel Osment and to think of Jim Parsons as anything other than Sheldon. However he was great and not a bit camp. I really loved Lily Collins performance but I wanted to slap the CarolAnn character cos she was such a drip.

I was amazed that they could make a film of Ted Bundy without violence and gore. Apart from one very tame instance they managed it without it detracting from the film.

It’s a film that I would want to watch again and again, if not for Zac Efrons amazing performance, then to enjoy him getting naked!! As Bridget Jones would say he has a genuinely gorgeous bottom (and all his other parts!!)
  
Remember Me
Remember Me
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fifteen years ago Ellen Smith vanished from the woods near her small Welsh village. Never to be seen again.
Eight people were in the woods that night: eight splintered lives, eight people hiding a terrible secret. But who can remember the truth?
Now, Ellen’s best friend, Detective Ava Cole is all grown up back in the village where it all began, and everyone is asking the same question.
What really happened to Ellen?

The book is told from the point of view of Ava a New York detective who returns to her childhood welsh village upon learning about the terminal illness of her ex-husband. There is a lot going on in this book. It all centers around a group of friends who have known each other since childhood. They have a dark secret that they have concealed since their teen age years.
Gripping and creepy this is a claustrophobic thriller that never leaves Aberdyth.
The tension built throughout and I couldn't put it down until I finished it!
The plot has many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly providing me the eARC of this book.
  
American Pie (1999)
American Pie (1999)
1999 | Comedy
Comedy is a big hit in this film (0 more)
Acting (1 more)
Nudity
Moderated porn for the teen
American pie is a film based a lot around some high school teenagers who love sex. Sex nudity and more sex. It centres mainly around jim, who is still a virgin and he has a ginormous crush on the foreign beauty Nadia. The film starts off where Nadia waits for Jim in his bedroom already getting naked. This is where the nudity begins, they may as well just slap a porn sticker on the film.

Putting the porn factor aside, the film does bring some pretty hearty laughs courtesy of Eugene levy and seann William Scott. They bring the laughs and giggles to the film and make it watchable.

A good thing I find about the film though is the twist that you start to see coming with Michelle. Now if you haven't seen the film I will not tell you anymore but you must watch it! Yes I have said it's mediocre and should been put as porn but this aside it is a watchable film that delivers on the comedic factor.

It's a good film for when your on your own with nothing to do, and in need of a laugh.. or maybe some alone time...
  
Daughter of the Pirate King
Daughter of the Pirate King
Tricia Levenseller | 2017 | Children
8
7.9 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Daughter of the Pirate King is a swashbuckling adventure for young adult/teen fans of pirate shenanigans. Alosa is a strong, fearless pirate with flaming red hair and a taste for blood. Although her father is the Pirate King, she captains her ship under her own merit and inspires loyalty in her crew.

I went into this story knowing only that it featured a lead character who was essentially a female Jack Sparrow. As a huge fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Jack Sparrow and pirate tales in general – I knew this was a book for me and was glad that I didn’t know more about it than that. There as aspects, allegiances, and secrets about our characters that might be spoiled by reading a synopsis and were better to discover on our own organically while reading the book.

The plot was unexpected and enjoyable from start to finish and left me wanting more. It can easily and satisfyingly be read by itself but also leaves plenty of room to continue to the storyline. (Thankfully there is at least one more book in this series, but unfortunately, it is not out yet.)
Highly recommended read for those who enjoy adventure books with a strong female lead and just a dash of debauchery.
  
Called to Justice (Quaker Midwife Mystery #2)
Called to Justice (Quaker Midwife Mystery #2)
Edith Maxwell | 2017 | Crime, History & Politics, Mystery
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
It’s the fourth of July, and Rose Carroll is taking the day off from her midwife duties to enjoy the holiday when an older teen, Hannah, approaches her and confesses that she is pregnant. Rose doesn’t know what to do to help Hannah, but she promises to try. Unfortunately, while enjoying the fireworks that night, Rose responds to a commotion in the crowd to find that Hannah has been shot. When a fellow Quaker accused of the crime, Rose sets out to figure out what really happened. Can she do it?

I enjoyed the first trip to 1888 with Rose, and this book was a wonderful return visit. The story starts strongly but gets a bit distracted by sub-plots as the book went along. Of course, those sub-plots were also strong, so I wanted to keep reading. The new characters made strong suspects, and it was nice to get to know the returning characters better. The time is really another character, and I felt transported back to the time period.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-called-to-justice-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Awake in Books

Feb 13, 2018  
Awake
Awake
Natasha Preston | 2015 | Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
4
5.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Scarlett doesn't remember anything before the age of four, which she doesn't find too unsettling, until, as a teen, a car accident jars her memory and makes her start wondering what happened to her as a kid. Around the same time as her accident, Scarlett meets Noah, a new kid to town, and falls for him immediately. Noah tries to help Scarlett remember her past, but does he have her best intentions at heart?

Not really sure how to explain this book. The story itself is odd - another quick teenage romance, with a cult thrown in! However, it is oddly compelling in its own strange way - I read the book in about a day or so. The writing is rather silly and disjointed at times and the plot seems unbelievable. It's not even the cult aspect, per se. It seems weird that Scarlett focuses so much on not being able to remember things before the age of four (is that really so strange)? The end of the book ties up awfully easily, without much semblance or adherence to legal niceties. All in all, while the book moves quickly, not sure it's worth that little amount of time.

(Note: I received an copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)