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This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
1984 | Comedy

"I’ve played in heavy rock bands, funk bands, jazz bands, and this film captures the hilarious madness of touring life: the egos of musicians and managers, the pedantry behind getting the right things on riders, the bathos behind big epic concerts… I got lost in a labyrinth of corridors before getting to the stage once, just like Spinal Tap! This remains a tour bus favourite because of the attention to detail, particularly in the actors’ performances. I couldn’t believe it when I realised that Michael McKean from Better Call Saul was the guy who played David St Hubbins. But of course he was. He was always that good."

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Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (2018)
Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Animation, Comedy
Sequel to Wreck-it Ralph, in which Ralph and Venelope travel to the internet in search of a replacement part for a broken wheel in Venelope's Sugar Rush arcade race.

It's not a bad film: animation (as expected) is top notch, and it has the requisite life lesson thrown in for good measure, but for me this just seemed somewhat lacklustre compared to the earlier entry. I did enjoy all the various internet nods throughout, however (some way more obvious that others - Amazon, E-Bay, Google, etc) - and the scene with the Disney Princesses are amongst the contender for the best of the film, but all-in-all ...
  
Struck By Lightning
Struck By Lightning
Chris Colfer | 2012 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A good quick read
Carson Phillips is a high school senior with big dreams. He is an outcast who is disliked by most of his peers. This becomes a problem when he decides to create a literary magazine in hopes of getting accepted into the college of his dreams. To get the submissions he needs from other students he blackmails those around him.
Carson is a main character that you will either love or hate. The book is wrote as his diary entries, so the reader gets an inside look at his life. This makes it hard to dislike him despite his questionable moral choices. He is a sarcastic and funny character who often times critical about high school life. He does experience some personal growth throughout the book, and the reader can't help but cheer for his success.
The other characters make for an entertaining cast. Many of them depict stereotypes, but they all prove to be more complicated than they first appear. This book isn't super long so it's a good weekend read. If you like stories about high school under dogs chasing there dreams then you should definitely pick this up.
  
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Justin Hawkins recommended Foreigner 4 by Foreigner in Music (curated)

 
Foreigner 4 by Foreigner
Foreigner 4 by Foreigner
2002 | Pop, Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Well Mutt Lange produced that one and obviously he produced Back In Black and Highway To Hell and loads of other albums that I really love. But Foreigner 4… well it’s wrong to like it, but it’s just so good! It’s really synthy and really poppy. It’s got ‘Waiting For A Girl Like You’ and ‘Urgent’ and loads of really big songs which all sound just like Mutt Lange. I love Mutt Lange and I love Foreigner, so really it’s my ultimate album. The way Lou Gramm sings is just so earnest, as if his life depends on it, but when you actually listen to what he’s saying, it’s really trite. So singing that like his life depends on it makes things kind of uncomfortable to actually analyse what you’re listening to, but it feels really good in the moment. Out of all the Foreigner albums, this and Double Vision are the ones I always come back to a lot. I once bought an Agent Provocateur t-shirt ironically and then worked my way back from there (laughs). Got the t-shirt, THEN bought the album and bought the one before that, and loved it!"

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The One Who Fell ((A Whitecliff Bay Mystery Book 1) [Audiobook]
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The description of this book pretty much sets the scene and paints a good picture of what this book is about so I won't repeat any of it here but what I will say is that the narrator made the book for me; she was brilliant and really brought to life the characters and the overriding sense of building tension.

The One Who Fell is the first in the series and a pretty good opener I think to a set of mystery books. The characters were really strong and believable and the plot was intriguing; the side story of the panther was a bit odd at first but was weaved into the main story pretty well at the end.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this audiobook; it was a little slow to begin with but as the tension built, the pace increased to a satisfying conclusion and thanks must go to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The One Who Fell.
  
Lost Cause (Life Sucks #8)
Lost Cause (Life Sucks #8)
Elise Faber | 2023 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
LOST CAUSE is the eighth book in the Life Sucks and it would be handy to have read the others, just so you know the other characters and the bit of backstory that is mentioned.

Frankie says she had a privileged upbringing, but it sounds absolutely horrible. No wonder she left that life behind... or did she? Lex isn't convinced and watches her for a year to see if she's telling the truth. When her father shows up, Lex thinks he's both vindicated in his thoughts and has also caught the criminal who nearly wrecked his life. Is it black and white though?

Of course not! This is an Elise Faber novel! There are some twists and turns to it, but it is clearly laid out and none of it comes as a surprise. I guess the only surprise for me was how easily Frankie accepts Lex's excuses, which is touched on in the story and explained. I know Frankie is supposed to have a 'quiet strength,' but at times, she almost seemed too easy-going - especially with someone as strong-willed as Lex.

This was an enjoyable read where love conquers all and the good guys get the win. So if that's what you're after, you've got the right book. Definitely recommended.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 9, 2023