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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The War Pianist in Books
Feb 19, 2023
Who knew radio operators during WWII were known as pianists? I certainly didn't.
The story is told from the perspectives of the two pianists ... Marnie in London and Connie in Amsterdam. Marnie and Connie are exceptionally strong characters and the author transported me into their worlds amongst the bombs of the blitz and the invasion of the Nazi's where trust can be a dangerous thing.
With oodles of tension, the fear palpable and the bravery and courage of those working against the Nazi war machine excellently portrayed, the War Pianist is a gripping story and whilst this is a work of fiction, it felt authentic and was totally riveting.
Many thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The War Pianist.
The story is told from the perspectives of the two pianists ... Marnie in London and Connie in Amsterdam. Marnie and Connie are exceptionally strong characters and the author transported me into their worlds amongst the bombs of the blitz and the invasion of the Nazi's where trust can be a dangerous thing.
With oodles of tension, the fear palpable and the bravery and courage of those working against the Nazi war machine excellently portrayed, the War Pianist is a gripping story and whilst this is a work of fiction, it felt authentic and was totally riveting.
Many thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The War Pianist.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated No Quarter Given in Books
May 8, 2022
"This is not murder. This is justice."
This is the latest in this series starring Connor Fraser and what a series it is!
No Quarter Given is a dark and gritty read that is not for the feint-hearted. It has some scenes that some may find distressing as they relate to child abuse so be warned, if this is a trigger for you, I would think before picking this up.
Having given that warning, this is intense, well written and fast paced with excellent characters but amongst the violence and tension, there is dark humour and moments of vulnerability for the main character.
This is an excellent addition to the series and thank you to Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading and sharing my thoughts.
This is the latest in this series starring Connor Fraser and what a series it is!
No Quarter Given is a dark and gritty read that is not for the feint-hearted. It has some scenes that some may find distressing as they relate to child abuse so be warned, if this is a trigger for you, I would think before picking this up.
Having given that warning, this is intense, well written and fast paced with excellent characters but amongst the violence and tension, there is dark humour and moments of vulnerability for the main character.
This is an excellent addition to the series and thank you to Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading and sharing my thoughts.
Protecting What's Mine (Men Of Maddox Security #1)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Bound by duty. Driven by passion. Unstoppable in love. Ranger Cole is used to high-stakes...
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Peaky Blinders - Season 1 in TV
May 20, 2017
Cillian Murphy (2 more)
Humour in places
Great Tension and drama
Bleeding Brilliant
A great drama series about a famous gang of youths from Birmingham known as the Peaky Blinders. If you are not aware of the history, they were known as Peaky Blinders for the razors they had sewn into the peaks of their caps, which they used to slice the faces of rivals who dared to cross them.
This series a brilliantly written, with some great humour in places but more importantly, it has great Tension and drama between it's characters.
The Shelby family has a great on screen presence with a great cast to portray it. Alongside the other groups of criminals, policemen, businessmen and of course the strong female characters that put some of the men in line and create drama within the families.
There are so many characters within this show. Some you love, others you just want to punch in the face, but all are brilliantly portrayed. My problem however, is that the show seems to ignore some of the characters and simply focuses nearly all of our attention to only Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and Chester Campbell (Sam Neill). Now, don't get me wrong, I still love the show and love both of these characters, but there are other characters I would love to see more of, and know more about.
At the time of writing this I have just started season 2 so my season two review may change this opinion, but for season 1 that is what I have to say.
Overall though, great cast, brilliantly written and directed with beautiful cinematography and without a doubt the highlight will always be the incredible performance, as always, by Cillian Murphy.
This series a brilliantly written, with some great humour in places but more importantly, it has great Tension and drama between it's characters.
The Shelby family has a great on screen presence with a great cast to portray it. Alongside the other groups of criminals, policemen, businessmen and of course the strong female characters that put some of the men in line and create drama within the families.
There are so many characters within this show. Some you love, others you just want to punch in the face, but all are brilliantly portrayed. My problem however, is that the show seems to ignore some of the characters and simply focuses nearly all of our attention to only Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and Chester Campbell (Sam Neill). Now, don't get me wrong, I still love the show and love both of these characters, but there are other characters I would love to see more of, and know more about.
At the time of writing this I have just started season 2 so my season two review may change this opinion, but for season 1 that is what I have to say.
Overall though, great cast, brilliantly written and directed with beautiful cinematography and without a doubt the highlight will always be the incredible performance, as always, by Cillian Murphy.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Prophet in Books
Apr 27, 2018
It's been a long time since I've been so excited about a book. The Prophet was thrilling in every sense of the word, and combined everything good about a novel: excitement, tension, good writing, complex plot, and twists. I'm not going to tell you a lot about the plot, because I don't want to give anything away: I didn't know a lot going in, and I'm glad, because I may not have picked it up. In fact I almost stopped listening after the first chapter because it felt a little distant… but I'm so glad now that I stuck with it. By the third track I was hooked, and it was all I could think about for days! This is an audiobook I will definitely recommend to people, and absolutely re-listen to.
I loved the ending. I loved the tension. I loved how it all transpired. Even though the ending wasn't perfect, it was right, and it made me do a little happy dance at the end. On top of that, the reader was great. Listening to The Prophet was an all around excellent experience.
Here's the one thing I think might deter people from really getting into The Prophet: There's a lot of football talk. I am not a football fan. Not at all. I don't care for it, I don't understand it, it doesn't matter to me. Suffice to say by the end of the book, not only did I understand a little more (though not all) of what was being said about the games, but I was excited by it. It wasn't written so you had NO clue what was going on, just not a HUGE clue what was going on.
Rating: 5
Content/Recommendation: Some language, violence, graphic imagery. Sexual reference but no erotic scenes. Ages 18+
I loved the ending. I loved the tension. I loved how it all transpired. Even though the ending wasn't perfect, it was right, and it made me do a little happy dance at the end. On top of that, the reader was great. Listening to The Prophet was an all around excellent experience.
Here's the one thing I think might deter people from really getting into The Prophet: There's a lot of football talk. I am not a football fan. Not at all. I don't care for it, I don't understand it, it doesn't matter to me. Suffice to say by the end of the book, not only did I understand a little more (though not all) of what was being said about the games, but I was excited by it. It wasn't written so you had NO clue what was going on, just not a HUGE clue what was going on.
Rating: 5
Content/Recommendation: Some language, violence, graphic imagery. Sexual reference but no erotic scenes. Ages 18+
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Cargo (2017) in Movies
May 14, 2019
Dead good
#netflix #cargo is in my opinion is the first great #netflixfilm ive seen yet. Cargo is an #Australian film about a family struggling to survive in a #zombie infected world & has been adapted from a short film of the same name. From the get go a #creepy unnerving yet strangely calm & peaceful atmosphere is established (this is done brilliantly with gorgeous establishing shots & slow camera movements accompanied by a beautifully depressing score). It looks fantastic too & its set locations not only add to the tension but are a treat to explore visually. Slow paced but never boring the #film never treats the viewer like an idiot with subtle information about whats happened & how people #survive in this world littered everywhere. Theres an overall theme about #family & protection ie planning for their future safety & how people in this horrific situation cope/stay strong & if what we do to survive sometimes borderlines on being inhumane. Tension is very well done throughout & keeping things mostly off camera was a smart move as it gives the film an more #anxious sense of dread. Acting is top notch & watching as characters constantly think about the #future, worry for each others safety & try to stay strong is genuinely heartbreaking at times. Effects are great especially the practical ones making the film far more believable. All in all cargo is well worth your time, its a great interesting character study & a refreshing/intelligent change of pace in a genre thats become so over done & cliche. Thought provoking, powerful & #bleak this film left me wondering how i would react & what i would do if someone i loved or if myself even were about to fall victim to the #virus. #martinfreeman #horror #scary #postapocalyptic #apocalypse #walkingdead #sunday #cinifile #moviecritic #netflixoriginal #SimoneLanders #love #dead
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Into The Storm (2014) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
It has been 20 years since “Twister” thrilled audiences by using state of
the art effects to simulate one of the most destructive forces on earth.
In the new film “Into the Storm:, Warner Bros has once again dipped into
the formula that made “Twister” so successful, combing the best FX on the
planet with high-end sound and human drama.
The film follows a documentary film crew low on cash and in desperate need
to find a storm so that funding can continue. At the same time, a student
is recording a video diary for his high school and dealing with his
estranged father who happens to be the assistant principal.
The family has severe tension over the death of their mother and see the
father as caring more about his working and position than the needs of his
kids.
The characters are not broadly written or well developed as essentially
they exist to serve as props for the very impressive scenes of destruction
when the massive tornadoes strike.
There are some very effective moments of tension when people and vehicles
are thrown around and as buildings are destroyed by the full force of
nature’s fury.
While many aspects of the film fail to stand out, the visual power of the
film is attention grabbing and does allow you to overlook the thin plot
and characters.
We were fortunate to screen the film with the latest Atmos Dolby sound
systems, which really enhanced the experience of what it is like to be the
a storm without risk to life and property.
For the visuals alone, I would say the film is worth seeing as long as you
temper your expectations accordingly.
http://sknr.net/2014/08/08/into-the-storm/
the art effects to simulate one of the most destructive forces on earth.
In the new film “Into the Storm:, Warner Bros has once again dipped into
the formula that made “Twister” so successful, combing the best FX on the
planet with high-end sound and human drama.
The film follows a documentary film crew low on cash and in desperate need
to find a storm so that funding can continue. At the same time, a student
is recording a video diary for his high school and dealing with his
estranged father who happens to be the assistant principal.
The family has severe tension over the death of their mother and see the
father as caring more about his working and position than the needs of his
kids.
The characters are not broadly written or well developed as essentially
they exist to serve as props for the very impressive scenes of destruction
when the massive tornadoes strike.
There are some very effective moments of tension when people and vehicles
are thrown around and as buildings are destroyed by the full force of
nature’s fury.
While many aspects of the film fail to stand out, the visual power of the
film is attention grabbing and does allow you to overlook the thin plot
and characters.
We were fortunate to screen the film with the latest Atmos Dolby sound
systems, which really enhanced the experience of what it is like to be the
a storm without risk to life and property.
For the visuals alone, I would say the film is worth seeing as long as you
temper your expectations accordingly.
http://sknr.net/2014/08/08/into-the-storm/
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated The Double-A Western Detective Agency in Books
Jan 9, 2019
Detectifying in the Old West Once Again
Cowboy brothers turned detectives Big Red and Old Red have started a new detective agency with Diana and her father, Colonel Crowe. There's just one problem, the lack of paying customers. So when they are hired to travel to DeBatge, New Mexico, and catch some cattle rustlers, Old Red reluctantly agrees to go even though it's not the kind of case he wants to take. With Diana tagging along, the brothers set out. However, when they arrive, they discover a town divided with tensions running high. The source of this powder keg? Their client. Then a dead body turns up, igniting the fuse. Can Old Red figure things out before the town explodes? Will the trio get caught in the crossfire no matter what happens?
I was so glad when I learned author Steve Hockensmith was writing a new adventure for these two cowboys. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of traveling back to the 1890's with them, you are in for a treat. The characters are wonderful. Since we don't have too many recurring characters, that leaves plenty of room for new characters, and figuring out if they are friend or foe drives so much of the plot. Yes, there is a mystery, and Old Red does a great job of figuring out what is going on. He was certainly several steps ahead of me. However, the added stress of the conflicts in town adds to the tension and puts Big Red and Old Red's lives in danger on a regular basis. The humor from the earlier books is still here as well and helps defuse the tension a little.
I was so glad when I learned author Steve Hockensmith was writing a new adventure for these two cowboys. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of traveling back to the 1890's with them, you are in for a treat. The characters are wonderful. Since we don't have too many recurring characters, that leaves plenty of room for new characters, and figuring out if they are friend or foe drives so much of the plot. Yes, there is a mystery, and Old Red does a great job of figuring out what is going on. He was certainly several steps ahead of me. However, the added stress of the conflicts in town adds to the tension and puts Big Red and Old Red's lives in danger on a regular basis. The humor from the earlier books is still here as well and helps defuse the tension a little.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated A Window Breaks in Books
Mar 1, 2020
Dripping with tension and atmosphere
Well, that certainly was a page-turner with non-stop action from the sound of breaking glass to the sickening crack of metal against bone.
Tom, his wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Holly, have been through it. First their teenage son, Michael, and his girlfriend, Fiona, die in a road traffic collision when Michael was driving and if that wasn't bad enough, Holly is viciously attacked by a mugger. What's needed is for them to getaway and take Tom's boss up on his offer of time away at his secluded and secure lodge in Scotland ... what could possibly go wrong?
Written mainly from Tom's perspective, we are taken on a thrilling journey of survival; we are lulled into a false sense of security when Tom and his family arrive at the lodge but are quickly plunged into a nightmare when they are awoken by the sound of someone walking on broken glass. When Tom goes to investigate, what he sees makes his heart drop to his toes and so it begins 😰
Tom's voice is a breath of fresh air because he is not your usual macho Bear Grylls hero, he is a "normal" husband and father ... vulnerable, fearful and afraid but determined to protect his family despite not being particularly brave, strong or fit ... this made him more real somehow and because of this, you are never quite sure how this was going to end.
With an easy to read, flowing style, this book is dripping with tension and atmosphere with many hold-your-breath moments that had me gripped and eagerly flipping my Kindle® ... I couldn't read fast enough.
Recommended reading for action/thriller/suspense lovers.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest review.
Tom, his wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Holly, have been through it. First their teenage son, Michael, and his girlfriend, Fiona, die in a road traffic collision when Michael was driving and if that wasn't bad enough, Holly is viciously attacked by a mugger. What's needed is for them to getaway and take Tom's boss up on his offer of time away at his secluded and secure lodge in Scotland ... what could possibly go wrong?
Written mainly from Tom's perspective, we are taken on a thrilling journey of survival; we are lulled into a false sense of security when Tom and his family arrive at the lodge but are quickly plunged into a nightmare when they are awoken by the sound of someone walking on broken glass. When Tom goes to investigate, what he sees makes his heart drop to his toes and so it begins 😰
Tom's voice is a breath of fresh air because he is not your usual macho Bear Grylls hero, he is a "normal" husband and father ... vulnerable, fearful and afraid but determined to protect his family despite not being particularly brave, strong or fit ... this made him more real somehow and because of this, you are never quite sure how this was going to end.
With an easy to read, flowing style, this book is dripping with tension and atmosphere with many hold-your-breath moments that had me gripped and eagerly flipping my Kindle® ... I couldn't read fast enough.
Recommended reading for action/thriller/suspense lovers.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest review.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Queen of Hearts (2019) in Movies
Mar 22, 2020
Very Enjoyable...And Cringy
I have to say, just when I thought I knew where things were going with Queen of Hearts, it totally threw me off the rails. I applaud the change in direction and is one of the numerous reasons I liked it. In this movie, a woman seduces her stepson and is faced with a tough decision as a result.
Acting: 10
Trine Dyrholm shines in a brilliant performance as mom Anne. I related to her conflict and the torment that followed. I was not only impressed with her but the entire cast of actors comprised in this movie.
Beginning: 10
The film doesn’t take a long time for the conflict to build. Even knowing what the movie is about, you’re still a bit at the edge of your seat waiting as the tension builds. After the first ten minutes, I knew what was coming and I was excited for it anyway.
Characters: 10
Conflict: 8
Entertainment Value: 9
Memorability: 7
Pace: 8
Plot: 10
Great story design from start to finish. Tension builds, it mounts, and just when you think things will settle, things get crazy again. I was entranced by this story and its reliance on deep characters to move the plot along.
Resolution: 5
I can’t speak for everyone, but the ending left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I felt it would happen, but it didn’t make it any easier of a pill to swallow when my fears were confirmed. No matter what, you have to understand with a story like this, it can’t end with sunshine and roses. Be prepared.
Overall: 87
Queen of Hearts is a rollercoaster of a story with intense conflict that steadily builds. I definitely didn’t see the twist coming which made me fully appreciate the value of the movie. Worth checking out!
Acting: 10
Trine Dyrholm shines in a brilliant performance as mom Anne. I related to her conflict and the torment that followed. I was not only impressed with her but the entire cast of actors comprised in this movie.
Beginning: 10
The film doesn’t take a long time for the conflict to build. Even knowing what the movie is about, you’re still a bit at the edge of your seat waiting as the tension builds. After the first ten minutes, I knew what was coming and I was excited for it anyway.
Characters: 10
Conflict: 8
Entertainment Value: 9
Memorability: 7
Pace: 8
Plot: 10
Great story design from start to finish. Tension builds, it mounts, and just when you think things will settle, things get crazy again. I was entranced by this story and its reliance on deep characters to move the plot along.
Resolution: 5
I can’t speak for everyone, but the ending left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I felt it would happen, but it didn’t make it any easier of a pill to swallow when my fears were confirmed. No matter what, you have to understand with a story like this, it can’t end with sunshine and roses. Be prepared.
Overall: 87
Queen of Hearts is a rollercoaster of a story with intense conflict that steadily builds. I definitely didn’t see the twist coming which made me fully appreciate the value of the movie. Worth checking out!