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ClareR (6253 KP) rated Burntcoat in Books

Feb 13, 2022  
Burntcoat
Burntcoat
Sarah Hall | 2021 | Contemporary, Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This novella really packs a punch - as all good novellas do!
It’s set in a world that we all know a little about. A Covid-19-type virus, except far more severe, breaks out and social panic ensues. Society goes ion to lockdown, hospitals are unable to cope with the sheer volume of cases, and the army is drafted in to keep order. Shops are looted, food is rationed, people die horrifically.

Edith Harkness looks back on her life as she prepares to enter the last stages of Long-Nonovirus. It’s a much more serious version of Long-Covid, where the affected person dies. Edith looks back on her life, from her childhood where she lives with her brain-damaged mother, to her years of study and consequent art prizes, and then her time in lockdown with her lover, a Bulgarian Turk.

It’s a book about love, sex, desire, illness, caring, family and grief. Those are some big topics for a slim book, but it’s beautifully told.
Now I need to read some more Sarah Hall books.
  
Black Widow (2021)
Black Widow (2021)
2021 | Action
Good casting, Scarlett and Florence felt like actual sisters. (1 more)
Good chemistry and acting from David Harbour and Rachel Weisz.
Not much of a thriller or thinker for a spy movie. (1 more)
One actor was greatly wasted in their role.
Scarlett's Swan Song Had Plenty of Action With A Decent StoryNatasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and her sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) are living what seems like a normal life in 1995 Ohio, with their parents, mother, Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz) and
Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and her sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) are living what seems like a normal life in 1995 Ohio, with their parents, mother, Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz) and father, Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) when suddenly they must leave the country. They are all Russian undercover agents and Alexei, the super-soldier known as Red Guardian, has stolen intel from S.H.I.E.L.D. They flee to Cuba where the sisters are forcibly taken to the "Red Room" for training after they've met General Dreykov (Ray Winstone), their boss. Now in 2016 after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha finds herself a fugitive on the run from U.S. Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) after violating the Sokovia Accords. She's attacked by an incredibly skilled assassin called the Taskmaster and finds that she's not his target but rather a package she had with her. After learning the package originated from Budapest she heads there where she finds her sister Yelena and learns of a plot that not only jeopardizes the safety of those trained in the "Red Room" but possibly the whole world.


This movie was really good and it was great to see a Marvel movie again. I didn't see this one in theaters but I still enjoyed watching it in the safety of my home with my family. So this movie came off like a really good spy/action movie but definitely had that Marvel feel to it. It really felt like watching something out of the Bourne or Bond series films but with admittedly less plot and gadgets, but the action was really spot on. There was awesome car chase scenes and expertly crafted fight choreography too. It was even reported that they went through 13 BMW X3's for the car chase scene with Scarlett and Florence so you can tell that they really wanted to get things right and had a vision of what they wanted the audience to see for that particular scene as well. I thought there was really great chemistry from all the actors together and that it was pretty good casting. Scarlett and Florence argue throughout the film just like real sisters, and the looks that David Harbour and Rachel Weisz exchange feel like they were genuinely together. The opening scene of the movie had great acting and was very emotional. I just feel like one role/actor was kind of a bad casting and/or was greatly underutilized. I think the biggest flaw of the move was that for being a spy movie, the plot never had any mystery to it and everything was kind of predictable or at least very easy to follow. Not much of a thriller or thinker where you had to put two and two together. The cinematography was spot on and felt like you were watching any big budget spy or action movie and on par with what you expect from Marvel Studios. The tone fit the film for the most part but kind of "see-saw"-ed from time to time as they mixed serious themes with comedic dialogue throughout. But that's to be expected from a PG-13 action/spy movie from Marvel and it was a little reminiscent of the film Captain America in that regard. The music was good and there were a couple of songs that stuck out in that regard American Pie by Don Mclean and a cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit by Think Up Anger; also Cheap Thrills by Sia. The musical score was also good and the Black Widow theme was pretty epic but also with hints of melancholy to it that seemed to underline both her tragic background as well as the tragedy of the events to come in her future. Altogether the movie was really good and I give it a 7/10. If you are big time into the MCU and Marvel franchise movies then this is a must see film but if not then it might come off as just a barely above average action/spy film so that's why it doesn't get my "Must See Seal of Approval"
  
Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1)
Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1)
Anne Rice | 1976 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.4 (51 Ratings)
Book Rating
History (0 more)
A vampire story you can sink your teeth into
I credit Anne Rice with my love of vampire novels and series. It has become a lifelong reading habit.

If you love a good vampire book, you need to read the one written by the Queen Mother of all vampire series. It takes you through the centuries of Louis the vampires life, how he came to be, who his friends are, who he meets and what happens. It's a long, winding tale of intrigue, betrayal and love.

I love the rich history and the detailed characters, background and psychology. Rice is a great writer, creates a detailed world within out world, that you find yourself falling into and falling in love with.

Pick this up, you will be hooked and there's more books, so you won't be dissapointed.
  
Show all 3 comments.
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Rachel Maria Berney (114 KP) Dec 4, 2018

That's not the best book on the series in all honesty. This first one is good and is what introduces you to Lestat and the second book is all about him. Without that love/hate relationship with the character LeStat, I think the third book would be a big struggle. It's well worth starting from beginning and powering through, there are amazing books after the queen one, with great characters and the over all vampire story arc gets tied up really well.

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Rebecca Starkey (19 KP) Dec 4, 2018

If I come across it I'll give it a go. :)

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Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) created a post

Dec 13, 2018 (Updated Dec 13, 2018)  
I've always loved everything about the Titanic shipwreck. Not to sound kooky, but I'm pretty sure I died by drowning in a previous life, and I've always been drawn to the Titanic.




This new game preview showed up in one of my social media feeds and I wanted to share it with y'all. It's a puzzle and mystery game that takes place on the ship. You'll have to traverse the ship, talk to passengers and crew and solve puzzles. I think they did a pretty good job with graphics and soundtrack and I'm very interested in checking it out when it becomes available. What do you think of the preview and description?


#gaming #games #puzzles #mystery #titanic

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j5zdy3/explore-every-inch-of-the-titanic-in-unreal-engine-in-this-upcoming-game
     
    Cakes

    Cakes

    Marianne Hudson

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    Book

    Amid the stress and chaos of modern life, do you ever long for a few peaceful moments, in which you...

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Adam Silvera recommended Where Things Come Back in Books (curated)

 
Where Things Come Back
Where Things Come Back
John Corey Whaley | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"I'm gonna be a good Adam and come back to review this over the weekend 'cause seriously, I was WOW'ed. This book is now on my favorites shelf. Why I put the book off this long was beyond me. I highlighted the hell out of this book to the point where my highlighter was drying out. For those who know me, you know I'm rather inhuman. I rarely cry in real life and have never cried over a book. I came close with a devastating scene in "Mockingjay", a super devastating scene in "Okay for Now", and the ending of "A Monster Calls". "Where Things Come Back" has been added to my Almost-Cried-Man-Tears List (which I think I might make a shelf for...) Hell yeah, John Corey Whaley! Big cheers to the next John Green, folks!"

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