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ClareR (5743 KP) rated The Prophets in Books
Jan 5, 2021
I’ve agonised over writing something about this. How can whatever I write possibly do this book any justice? It’s beautiful, it’s haunting and it’s terrible. I don’t mean that it’s bad-terrible. I mean that it’s a book that I wish never had to be written. What is terrible, is mans inhumanity to man.
The story centres around the slaves on the Elizabeth Plantation (also known as ‘Empty’ to the slaves), and in particular, Samuel and Isaiah. They are betrayed by the other slaves, as if by revealing their love, it will make their lives safer. Of course this is not the case, as we see when we read the chapters centred around some of the other slaves. We learn about the inhumane treatment of the slaves by their immoral white owners (or toubabs, as they are called by their black slaves). I felt that the white people in this book had a mad, mentally unhinged quality about them: after all, how else could you reconcile treating human beings worse than animals?
I found the chapters written from the African people’s perspective, as they were free then captured and imprisoned, so interesting. It made them even more real to me. These were real people (as opposed to the animals that they were seen as by the slavers) with families, traditions, lives, loves and beliefs. The scenes on board the slave ships were harrowing.
It has taken me over a week to tackle this review. This book really affected me deeply, and there were many times that I had to put the book down and walk away. Then, I would feel guilty that I had the luxury of doing just that, unlike the slaves who lived every moment of their lives as some white mans possession to do with as he saw fit.
I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. The writing is beautiful, even in the most horrific moments. The magical elements add a suggestion of hope and the indomitable spirit of these people. And the ending is just perfection. I’m sure that this book will win awards - it SHOULD win - and I’m glad that I’ve had the opportunity to read it.
Many thanks to the publisher for granting me access to this book via NetGalley. It has been a privilege to read it.
The story centres around the slaves on the Elizabeth Plantation (also known as ‘Empty’ to the slaves), and in particular, Samuel and Isaiah. They are betrayed by the other slaves, as if by revealing their love, it will make their lives safer. Of course this is not the case, as we see when we read the chapters centred around some of the other slaves. We learn about the inhumane treatment of the slaves by their immoral white owners (or toubabs, as they are called by their black slaves). I felt that the white people in this book had a mad, mentally unhinged quality about them: after all, how else could you reconcile treating human beings worse than animals?
I found the chapters written from the African people’s perspective, as they were free then captured and imprisoned, so interesting. It made them even more real to me. These were real people (as opposed to the animals that they were seen as by the slavers) with families, traditions, lives, loves and beliefs. The scenes on board the slave ships were harrowing.
It has taken me over a week to tackle this review. This book really affected me deeply, and there were many times that I had to put the book down and walk away. Then, I would feel guilty that I had the luxury of doing just that, unlike the slaves who lived every moment of their lives as some white mans possession to do with as he saw fit.
I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. The writing is beautiful, even in the most horrific moments. The magical elements add a suggestion of hope and the indomitable spirit of these people. And the ending is just perfection. I’m sure that this book will win awards - it SHOULD win - and I’m glad that I’ve had the opportunity to read it.
Many thanks to the publisher for granting me access to this book via NetGalley. It has been a privilege to read it.
noel (2 KP) rated King Kong Lives (1986) in Movies
Sep 22, 2017
If Only King Kong Had Died
Contains spoilers, click to show
Just when you thought King Kong died when he was shot off the Empire State Building he is resurrected courtesy of open heart surgery conducted by Linda Hamilton. However, he is still going to die unless he receives a blood transfusion. Fortunately, Lady Kong is discovered in Borneo. Job done? Of course not. These films are terrible adverts for the human race as the sole reaction to discovering such beautiful beasts such as Mr and Mrs Kong is to try and kill them with a barrage of absolutely terrible special effects.
Only someone with a heart of ice would fail to be moved when Kong picks up the missus and carries her out of the holding facility a la An Officer and a Gentleman. I don't know why the producers didn't go for an outsize Marine Airman's formal attire and throw in the strains of Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes - only they will be able to tell you why they didn't.
This will be quite possibly the most enjoyable bad movie you will ever see. Ultimately, like with all the Kong movies it is tinged with sadness as we all know what happens to the big fella in the end - open heart surgery and blood transfusions not withstanding of course. Don't be surprised if you hear the patter of really massive feet at the end in what is an unintentionally hilarious yet genuinely uplifting finale.
Only someone with a heart of ice would fail to be moved when Kong picks up the missus and carries her out of the holding facility a la An Officer and a Gentleman. I don't know why the producers didn't go for an outsize Marine Airman's formal attire and throw in the strains of Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes - only they will be able to tell you why they didn't.
This will be quite possibly the most enjoyable bad movie you will ever see. Ultimately, like with all the Kong movies it is tinged with sadness as we all know what happens to the big fella in the end - open heart surgery and blood transfusions not withstanding of course. Don't be surprised if you hear the patter of really massive feet at the end in what is an unintentionally hilarious yet genuinely uplifting finale.
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Dividing Eden in Books
Apr 15, 2018
Dividing Eden is a little trite - it's the typical teens must compete for the throne kind of fantasy, but this time it's twins who are both guarding each other's terrible secrets. You don't LEARN their terrible secrets until almost 100 pages in, which was frustrating because they were alluded to multiple times before finally revealed to the reader. I almost stopped reading, I was so frustrated at the mention - AGAIN - of Andreus' DARK SECRET THAT NO ONE MUST EVER KNOW. Seriously. Don't do that to your readers.
The fact that they were protecting each other's secret while competing against each other for the throne was rather unique, and while I don't like Andreus much, I did enjoy Carys and her friends enough that I'll probably pick up the sequel when it comes out this June.
Everything happened very quickly, but that tends to be the case in YA. Adult fantasy seems to take its time and develop its characters more fully, which I enjoy.
The windmills and electricity was surprising, and I'd really like to know more about their religion of Virtues, and the Wind and Seeing Magic. I wish she had described her forest monsters a little earlier; they were only referred to by name for most of the book and I was left wondering if they were monsters or human raiders of some sort!
Verdict is - it's typical YA fantasy. If you're looking for a quick read, you might enjoy it.
The fact that they were protecting each other's secret while competing against each other for the throne was rather unique, and while I don't like Andreus much, I did enjoy Carys and her friends enough that I'll probably pick up the sequel when it comes out this June.
Everything happened very quickly, but that tends to be the case in YA. Adult fantasy seems to take its time and develop its characters more fully, which I enjoy.
The windmills and electricity was surprising, and I'd really like to know more about their religion of Virtues, and the Wind and Seeing Magic. I wish she had described her forest monsters a little earlier; they were only referred to by name for most of the book and I was left wondering if they were monsters or human raiders of some sort!
Verdict is - it's typical YA fantasy. If you're looking for a quick read, you might enjoy it.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001) in Movies
Nov 15, 2020
So, Wishmaster started off well enough but Christ, this series really dived head first into car crash mode.
This third entry into the not so beloved franchise isn't good-bad, or fun-bad - it's actually a festering shit pile masquerading as a straight-to-video B-Movie.
The effects are terrible and cheap, the dlailogue is laughable. The main protagonist is the least likable of the series, which is saying something. Every character in this shitty fiasco is poorly written. The music cues are intrusive and out of place, the editing is completely bizarre (surely a lot of the crew had to be drunk just to get through this)...
I'm not sure what I expected to be honest, but my expectations were absolutely exceeded.
It doesn't even have Andrew Divoff in it, the highlight of the first, and the only good thing about the second Wishmaster. He's replaced by John Novak in Djinn mode (who is fine by the way, the three or so minutes of full make up screentime is just about passable) and by Jason Connery (son of Sean) when he's in human mode. I don't recall seeing Jason Connery in anything else, and I'm sure he's a perfectly fine actor, but in this, he is literally David Brent. Once I noticed this, I couldn't get past it, and any evil he may have been trying to convey was lost in his Brent-ness. Unintentionally hilarious, but didn't make the film any less shit.
Wishmaster 3 is terrible. Don't do it to yourself.
This third entry into the not so beloved franchise isn't good-bad, or fun-bad - it's actually a festering shit pile masquerading as a straight-to-video B-Movie.
The effects are terrible and cheap, the dlailogue is laughable. The main protagonist is the least likable of the series, which is saying something. Every character in this shitty fiasco is poorly written. The music cues are intrusive and out of place, the editing is completely bizarre (surely a lot of the crew had to be drunk just to get through this)...
I'm not sure what I expected to be honest, but my expectations were absolutely exceeded.
It doesn't even have Andrew Divoff in it, the highlight of the first, and the only good thing about the second Wishmaster. He's replaced by John Novak in Djinn mode (who is fine by the way, the three or so minutes of full make up screentime is just about passable) and by Jason Connery (son of Sean) when he's in human mode. I don't recall seeing Jason Connery in anything else, and I'm sure he's a perfectly fine actor, but in this, he is literally David Brent. Once I noticed this, I couldn't get past it, and any evil he may have been trying to convey was lost in his Brent-ness. Unintentionally hilarious, but didn't make the film any less shit.
Wishmaster 3 is terrible. Don't do it to yourself.
City of Secrets
8.0
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Book
Elizabeth Miles knows that honesty is not always the best policy when it comes to finding justice. ...
Praying For Sleep
8.0
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On a savage, storm-lashed night, Michael Hrubek — a dangerously paranoid schizophrenic — escapes...
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Sing (2016) in Movies
Oct 30, 2017
A decent feel good film
Hadn't expected much from this, as the majority of animated films nowadays are terrible, but I was pleasantly surprised. Of course musicals are always going to win me over.
It's a fun, light hearted feel good film that hasn't just been for kids for a change. There's humour, and some for the adults too. The songs are good and I couldn't believe that some of the actors were actually singing (Taron Egerton especially, wow). The animation itself is very good too. The main issue is that it is slightly predictable and could potentially have been released too close to Disney's Zootropolis/Zootopia which are very similar in how the portray animals, even if the plots are miles apart.
It's a fun, light hearted feel good film that hasn't just been for kids for a change. There's humour, and some for the adults too. The songs are good and I couldn't believe that some of the actors were actually singing (Taron Egerton especially, wow). The animation itself is very good too. The main issue is that it is slightly predictable and could potentially have been released too close to Disney's Zootropolis/Zootopia which are very similar in how the portray animals, even if the plots are miles apart.
Suswatibasu (1702 KP) rated Tangerine: A Novel in Books
Apr 1, 2018
Plain cruel
Call me a wimp, but I don't tend to enjoy books where terrible things happen to the protagonist without any proper resolution.
Alice Shipley, a rather meek woman, lives with her cocky husband in Tangiers, when one day a face from the past comes back to haunt her. Lucy Mason, her former roommate turns up at her doorstep with hidden motives.
This book has been described as similar to The Talented Mr Ripley, and in some ways, we can see how they converge. It is a psychological thriller including aspects of whether Alice can trust her mind, and if Lucy is just a bunny boiler - bringing together all the usual plots. I personally didn't relish this, because the conclusion fizzled out.
Alice Shipley, a rather meek woman, lives with her cocky husband in Tangiers, when one day a face from the past comes back to haunt her. Lucy Mason, her former roommate turns up at her doorstep with hidden motives.
This book has been described as similar to The Talented Mr Ripley, and in some ways, we can see how they converge. It is a psychological thriller including aspects of whether Alice can trust her mind, and if Lucy is just a bunny boiler - bringing together all the usual plots. I personally didn't relish this, because the conclusion fizzled out.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Transporter (2002) in Movies
Feb 12, 2018 (Updated Feb 12, 2018)
Uproariously silly action movie which launched Jason Statham's career as a leading man in this sort of thing. Brilliant fights and chase sequences are strung together by some frankly very suspect dialogue scenes, comprising a rather hackneyed plot. No-one involved appears to be acting in their first language, which is a bit bemusing considering Jason Statham is English and Matt Schulze is an American.
This is on one level a terrible pile of nonsense, but also superbly entertaining as an unintentional comedy and a genuinely proficient action film. If you're playing the Transporter drinking game, award yourself an extra swig every time the logo of a well-known beer named after a snake appears, as they appear to have sponsored the production quite extensively.
This is on one level a terrible pile of nonsense, but also superbly entertaining as an unintentional comedy and a genuinely proficient action film. If you're playing the Transporter drinking game, award yourself an extra swig every time the logo of a well-known beer named after a snake appears, as they appear to have sponsored the production quite extensively.
Akward (448 KP) rated Terraforming Mars: Venus Next in Tabletop Games
May 29, 2018 (Updated May 29, 2018)
World Government speeds the game up (1 more)
Additional corporations are great
A Worthy First Expansion
Venus Next does exactly what an expansion should do: add more content, without changing the game. The expansion delivers more corporations and cards, and adds a few new mechanics.
The new cards are not over or under powered, but still manage to be different enough from the base cards. The new corporations are also balanced, and aren't terrible, like a few of the base ones.
I do wish terraforming Venus had more of an impact on the game. One of our favorite parts of Terraforming Mars is that you can win with virtually any strategy. Unfortunately, terraforming Venus does not appear to be a very viable strategy.
The new cards are not over or under powered, but still manage to be different enough from the base cards. The new corporations are also balanced, and aren't terrible, like a few of the base ones.
I do wish terraforming Venus had more of an impact on the game. One of our favorite parts of Terraforming Mars is that you can win with virtually any strategy. Unfortunately, terraforming Venus does not appear to be a very viable strategy.