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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August in Books
Jul 1, 2019
It’s a Claire North book, isn’t it?!
I love Claire North books, and this is no exception. It really is a case of buying the book based purely on her name being on the cover, and I haven’t been disappointed yet (thankfully!). This is the book that started it all for me.
Harry has lived his life many times. He’s an Ourabouros, and one of a few. On his deathbed, a young girl comes to see him and asks him to help find someone who is doing something that they shouldn’t be doing with their ability to live their lives repeatedly, and they’re changing the potential future of the world for the worst.
Her writing really is sublime. It’s a ‘don’t skip a word’ type of writing. I’m terrible for skim-reading, but I don’t do that with Claire North books: it’s all about the journey of the story, and the way in which it’s told.
So yes, I do recommend this book! I loved it.
Harry has lived his life many times. He’s an Ourabouros, and one of a few. On his deathbed, a young girl comes to see him and asks him to help find someone who is doing something that they shouldn’t be doing with their ability to live their lives repeatedly, and they’re changing the potential future of the world for the worst.
Her writing really is sublime. It’s a ‘don’t skip a word’ type of writing. I’m terrible for skim-reading, but I don’t do that with Claire North books: it’s all about the journey of the story, and the way in which it’s told.
So yes, I do recommend this book! I loved it.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Fandom of the Operator in Books
Nov 13, 2019
I like Rankin's work a lot. Some of his works are just amazingly inventive, incredibly humorous and reliably off-the-wall.
Unfortunately this really isn't quite up to his normal standards, although the plot has all his usual hallmarks - essentially someone discovers it is possible to phone the dead, which ends up with potentially terrible consequences for the living.
This sounds like quite a slight premise to hang a whole book of of, and I think that is the heart of the problem here. Some of the writing and twists are amongst the very best. We follow the main character through his life and although we know he's pretty unpleasant, the shock when he is asked how many people he has murdered, and is response, is pure Rankin cleverness.
Unfortunately such moments are too few and the plot too slow moving for this to be counted as a good Rankin novel. One for the completists but certainly not one that demonstrates his true ability.
Unfortunately this really isn't quite up to his normal standards, although the plot has all his usual hallmarks - essentially someone discovers it is possible to phone the dead, which ends up with potentially terrible consequences for the living.
This sounds like quite a slight premise to hang a whole book of of, and I think that is the heart of the problem here. Some of the writing and twists are amongst the very best. We follow the main character through his life and although we know he's pretty unpleasant, the shock when he is asked how many people he has murdered, and is response, is pure Rankin cleverness.
Unfortunately such moments are too few and the plot too slow moving for this to be counted as a good Rankin novel. One for the completists but certainly not one that demonstrates his true ability.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Little Monsters (2019) in Movies
Nov 16, 2019
Hilarious
I didn’t really know what to expect with this film, I always watch a direct to Sky film with reservations but for a change this one was pleasantly enjoyable.
The majority of the entertainment in this film comes from the highly inappropriate actions, language and conversation of the adult characters around the young children. Alexander England is a riot as the terrible uncle Dave, and Josh Gad’s Teddy McGiggle was delightfully funny as the crude children’s tv personality, although I think his character could’ve been used a lot better in parts. The physical effects in this are good and nice to see, especially in what is most likely a very low budget film. The ending (apart from a few choice zombie moments) is maybe a little bit OTT and cheesy, but overall this is just a fun, entertaining and different take on the zombie film. Maybe we haven’t seen everything zombie films have to offer just yet!
The majority of the entertainment in this film comes from the highly inappropriate actions, language and conversation of the adult characters around the young children. Alexander England is a riot as the terrible uncle Dave, and Josh Gad’s Teddy McGiggle was delightfully funny as the crude children’s tv personality, although I think his character could’ve been used a lot better in parts. The physical effects in this are good and nice to see, especially in what is most likely a very low budget film. The ending (apart from a few choice zombie moments) is maybe a little bit OTT and cheesy, but overall this is just a fun, entertaining and different take on the zombie film. Maybe we haven’t seen everything zombie films have to offer just yet!
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Batwoman in TV
Dec 3, 2019 (Updated Dec 3, 2019)
This is ok, and fingers crossed 🤞 it'll get better the longer it's part of the Arrowverse. It's definitely entertaining....but some of the acting is downright terrible. I suppose it's the writing as well. Ruby Rose - I adore her face, but she has literally one facial expression and that's it. In the most recent episode, she learns something that's supposed to make her cry, and it's honestly painful watching her try to show the emotion. The best acting so far has come from Rachel Skarsten as I-know-I-should-hate-her-but-I-can't villain Alice.
Also: why does everyone know who Batwoman is? I swear every time I turn around someone else is having an "ah ha!" moment.
Kate Kane's very much in the closet former lover Sophie is probably the most annoying character on the show. Loving the next gen characters of Luke Fox and and Julia Pennyworth, and the actual Batwoman costume is pretty badass.
Also: why does everyone know who Batwoman is? I swear every time I turn around someone else is having an "ah ha!" moment.
Kate Kane's very much in the closet former lover Sophie is probably the most annoying character on the show. Loving the next gen characters of Luke Fox and and Julia Pennyworth, and the actual Batwoman costume is pretty badass.
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Cloud Atlas (2012) in Movies
Jan 28, 2020
I made it through 1 hour of this films 3 hour running time before I completely lost the will to live and just had to turn it off and I consider even that an achievement! . The film consists of 6 separate stories set at various different points in time that it jumps between consisting of the same cast in various different dodgy make up and wigs, none of the stories make much sense or hold any interest for the viewer. The basic gist is these are reincarnated souls at different points in time and the influence they have had on each others lives. Yes it sounds like an interesting and ambitious idea but the execution of it was just terrible, the film is pretentious and baffling , there’s a good cast who are wasted (even Tom Hanks was bad!) and the film holds no entertainment value whatsoever. Nearly as bad(at least this looks pretty) as ‘Cosmopolis’ and that is really saying something!.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Lighthouse (2019) in Movies
Jan 31, 2020
Distinctively weird period horror movie. Two men are posted to operate a remote lighthouse off the New England coast. One of them is young and inexperienced; the other is old and annoying. Isolation, terrible weather, and perhaps something else all take their toll; there is madness in the air.
Another one of those really peculiar art-house takes on a genre movie that Robert Pattinson seems to enjoy doing: God knows what his take on Batman is going to end up like. I imagine that not many stranger films than this will get a major release this year, but it is still an impressive piece of film-making: well-played, very atmospheric, with strong performances. In the end it's kind of up to the viewer to work out what's really going on in this movie, but the challenge is worth the effort. In the end this resembles Steptoe and Son as written by H. P. Lovecraft; not quite as awesome as that sounds, but still very watchable.
Another one of those really peculiar art-house takes on a genre movie that Robert Pattinson seems to enjoy doing: God knows what his take on Batman is going to end up like. I imagine that not many stranger films than this will get a major release this year, but it is still an impressive piece of film-making: well-played, very atmospheric, with strong performances. In the end it's kind of up to the viewer to work out what's really going on in this movie, but the challenge is worth the effort. In the end this resembles Steptoe and Son as written by H. P. Lovecraft; not quite as awesome as that sounds, but still very watchable.
saheffernan (157 KP) rated All Your Twisted Secrets in Books
Apr 2, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
TW: Drug use, suicide, bullying, toxic friends: Overall I enjoyed most of this book. There was a few writing issues that took me out of the story like certain descriptions of sounds characters would make would be used multiple times. In the beginning it was also hard to keep track of which character was which. This story took a turn for the bad towards the end. It reminded me heavily of one of us is lying; someone in the room knew what was happening. In Amber's quest to make Sasha see the error of her ways (after Sasha accuses her of being like her) Amber becomes just as terrible if not more so than the toxic Sasha. In the end Amber ends up messing up 6 people's lives trying to prove a point instead of trying to properly get her friend back and get Sasha some much needed help. I really disliked the ending but the book keep me reading so it gets points there.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Curse of La Llorona (2019) in Movies
Feb 22, 2020
As bad as The Nun
After watching this I almost want to copy and paste the majority of my review of The Nun, as I feel the same way about La Llorona as I did about that.
I hate these types of films, especially all of these created within this whole Conjuring universe. They're not scary, rely on pretty poor jump scares and the more of these films they make, the more predictable and dull they are. And I felt that La Llorona is almost on par with The Nun, even the Annabelle films are better than this. La Llorona herself is a terrible spirit, looks ridiculous and the whole plot is just far too similar to many other films that have gone before it. There's an episode of Supernatural similar to this plot that is miles better!
I really need to stop watching these films, as much as they need to stop making them.
I hate these types of films, especially all of these created within this whole Conjuring universe. They're not scary, rely on pretty poor jump scares and the more of these films they make, the more predictable and dull they are. And I felt that La Llorona is almost on par with The Nun, even the Annabelle films are better than this. La Llorona herself is a terrible spirit, looks ridiculous and the whole plot is just far too similar to many other films that have gone before it. There's an episode of Supernatural similar to this plot that is miles better!
I really need to stop watching these films, as much as they need to stop making them.
The Man Who Would be Sherlock: The Real Life Adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle
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When Arthur Conan Doyle was a lonely seven-year-old schoolboy at pre-prep Newington Academy in...
The New Shostakovich
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Who was Dmitri Shostakovich? The USSR's official figurehead composer and son of the revolution that...
BookblogbyCari (345 KP) Jul 6, 2019
ClareR (6256 KP) Jul 6, 2019