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Here Comes the Sun
Book
The soundtrack of Harrison's spiritual journey begins with the explosions of battle and ends,...
Audi Design: Evolution of Form
Book
Alongside technology, design is the key criterion that decides whether or not a car is regarded as...
An English Affair: Sex, Class and Power in the Age of Profumo
Book
WINNER OF THE POLITICAL BOOK AWARDS POLITICAL HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014. Published to coincide...
PW
Pathfinder: Worldscape
Book
The Pathfinders Valeros, Seoni, Kyra, and Merisiel are drawn into the interdimensional Worldscape,...
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dune (1984) in Movies
Jul 21, 2021
David Lynch's crack at the famous novel buckles under the weight of the sheer amount of exposition the director feels compelled to include; it's not even especially good exposition as the story remains sluggish and bafflingly impenetrable (even if you've read the book). A young man is caught up in the power-politics of a galactic empire and rises to become a superhuman, messianic figure - not that any of this would be at all clear without the voice-overs which keep explaining what's actually going on; scenes themselves are usually windy affairs with characters talking bafflegab about Gom Jabbars, the Water of Life, the Shai-Halud, the weirding way, and the Kwisatz Haderach. All that's wrong with the film is summed up by the fact the final line is someone declaring 'He is the Kwisatz Haderach!' when it is still unclear why this is important and what it even means.
Fine actors like Patrick Stewart, Max von Sydow and Sian Phillips stand around doing their best with the material; some lavish sets and interesting costumes, and the music is rousing and imperious; you always know when something important is happening even if you don't really understand what it is or what it signifies. But it's all basically form without content on a lavish scale; a relatively simple story drowns in background details.
Fine actors like Patrick Stewart, Max von Sydow and Sian Phillips stand around doing their best with the material; some lavish sets and interesting costumes, and the music is rousing and imperious; you always know when something important is happening even if you don't really understand what it is or what it signifies. But it's all basically form without content on a lavish scale; a relatively simple story drowns in background details.
Without Merit
7.0
Rate It
Book
Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness. ...
Romance fiction
ClareR (5991 KP) rated The Witches of Vardø in Books
Dec 30, 2022
What starts off as a story about the life of a child in a fishing community, soon turns into a seemingly hopeless struggle for their lives. It’s dangerous to be a woman in the 1600’s. Dancing, laughing, drinking - all of these simple, everyday things can result in an accusation of witchcraft. Funnily enough, if a man does them, that’s ok (I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with the injustice of it all!).
The young girls are the ones that hold the story together. They are the link between the accused women (their mothers, aunt and another villager) and the King’s prisoner, Anna. Anna is trusted to ‘care’ for the witches whilst they’re held in the Witches hold - a thoroughly inhumane incarceration. She’s a woman with an education, so I expected for her to treated a lot worse than she was.
There’s a great mix of history and magic in this, although done in such a way as the magic didn’t seem out of place - and fitted in perfectly with the rest of the book. It was interesting to learn about the way the Sámi were regarded by the rest of Finn-mark (I’m unsure of the spelling!) - even though it wasn’t good (they weren’t Christians, and therefore dangerous).
It was a really engrossing read - I loved it.
The young girls are the ones that hold the story together. They are the link between the accused women (their mothers, aunt and another villager) and the King’s prisoner, Anna. Anna is trusted to ‘care’ for the witches whilst they’re held in the Witches hold - a thoroughly inhumane incarceration. She’s a woman with an education, so I expected for her to treated a lot worse than she was.
There’s a great mix of history and magic in this, although done in such a way as the magic didn’t seem out of place - and fitted in perfectly with the rest of the book. It was interesting to learn about the way the Sámi were regarded by the rest of Finn-mark (I’m unsure of the spelling!) - even though it wasn’t good (they weren’t Christians, and therefore dangerous).
It was a really engrossing read - I loved it.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2432 KP) rated The Dark Wind in Books
Aug 14, 2025
Plane Crash Brings Mystery
Navajo police detective Jim Chee has recently transferred to a new area in the reservation, and his unfamiliarity with the area and people is making it hard to investigate cases. For example, there’s the John Doe body he can’t even identify. And he has no leads on the case of the windmill that is being sabotaged. While out staking it out overnight, Chee witnesses a plane crash. A plane that was flying low without lights. Chee figures those flying the plane were up to no good, and he is ordered to stay away from the Federal investigation. But it’s kind of hard when the Feds think he knows more about the crash. Can he figure out what happened without framing himself more?
While this is the fifth book in the series, and the second to feature Jim Chee, it reads like a standalone, with little from the previous book being brought up here. That isn’t to say that the characters are bad, it’s just a difference in storytelling from what we get today. I found the characters pulled me in. The mystery was strong with plenty to keep me guessing and a red herring that distracted me. Yet the ending was logical. As always, the landscape and culture came to life. I’m looking forward to more.
While this is the fifth book in the series, and the second to feature Jim Chee, it reads like a standalone, with little from the previous book being brought up here. That isn’t to say that the characters are bad, it’s just a difference in storytelling from what we get today. I found the characters pulled me in. The mystery was strong with plenty to keep me guessing and a red herring that distracted me. Yet the ending was logical. As always, the landscape and culture came to life. I’m looking forward to more.
Nikki Massey (8 KP) rated Carrie in Books
Feb 7, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
Stephen King has been on my 'must read' list for many years. I've always wanted to read his books but never plucked up the courage.
I finally went down to my local library and the librarian raved about him - which books were good, what collections were interesting, all about the films, TV shows, similar authors. I was sold!
I went in expecting Carrie to be this evil witch using her telekinesis to harm others. I ended up feeling so sorry for her and in some way able to relate to her. She had a difficult time through school, singled out for being different and getting bullied for it. I didn't enjoy school myself and the people who say that it is the best time of your life are highly mistaken and lying through their teeth.
Carrie was just pushed one too many times and then all hell is let loose at her Senior Prom.
I found the writing method quite different to anything I had read in the past. It is an epistolary novel - in that it uses clippings of newspapers, diary entries and such to get the story across. It is also quite unusual in that due to the clippings you find you know what has happened quite early on in the novel but not how. I guess that is what keeps you reading, to find out exactly how it panned out.
I finished with a few questions remaining but perhaps that is part of the joy of a good novel - it gets you thinking and you end up questioning what actually happened and researching possible alternative endings.
I have found my new favourite author in Stephen King and already have Salem's Lot, The Shining and The Stand on order from the library!
I finally went down to my local library and the librarian raved about him - which books were good, what collections were interesting, all about the films, TV shows, similar authors. I was sold!
I went in expecting Carrie to be this evil witch using her telekinesis to harm others. I ended up feeling so sorry for her and in some way able to relate to her. She had a difficult time through school, singled out for being different and getting bullied for it. I didn't enjoy school myself and the people who say that it is the best time of your life are highly mistaken and lying through their teeth.
Carrie was just pushed one too many times and then all hell is let loose at her Senior Prom.
I found the writing method quite different to anything I had read in the past. It is an epistolary novel - in that it uses clippings of newspapers, diary entries and such to get the story across. It is also quite unusual in that due to the clippings you find you know what has happened quite early on in the novel but not how. I guess that is what keeps you reading, to find out exactly how it panned out.
I finished with a few questions remaining but perhaps that is part of the joy of a good novel - it gets you thinking and you end up questioning what actually happened and researching possible alternative endings.
I have found my new favourite author in Stephen King and already have Salem's Lot, The Shining and The Stand on order from the library!
Kristin (149 KP) rated The Gangster's Son (Shig Sato #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Shig Sato took a hiatus from the police department, working security details for the Japanese elite to spend more time with his wife. However, now he's back at his desk and ready for action. Too bad his very first night back, a waitress is murdered at a jazz club owned by the son of a family friend. Shig must decide which is a higher priority: solving the case and bringing her killer to justice, or supporting his honor code to a friend to whom he is indebted.
This was a very interesting book from the start, and it really pulled me in. I felt like I understood the various cultural aspects, even though I have basically no idea about anything Japanese. The author does a very good job of explaining various ideas related to the area, the culture, the way of life, etc. As for Shig, I really identified with him: He's a man working at a job he loves, trying to do the right thing by everyone, but he just can't seem to make everything line up to keep everyone happy. Haven't we all been down that road a time or two? The only problem is, he gets stuck between a rock and a hard place once certain details of the case come to light, and he must contemplate his next point of action very carefully. What does he decide to do? You'll have to read it to find out.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, who has a penchant for police procedurals, and/or who might be interested in learning a little about the Japanese culture.
4 stars
Shig Sato took a hiatus from the police department, working security details for the Japanese elite to spend more time with his wife. However, now he's back at his desk and ready for action. Too bad his very first night back, a waitress is murdered at a jazz club owned by the son of a family friend. Shig must decide which is a higher priority: solving the case and bringing her killer to justice, or supporting his honor code to a friend to whom he is indebted.
This was a very interesting book from the start, and it really pulled me in. I felt like I understood the various cultural aspects, even though I have basically no idea about anything Japanese. The author does a very good job of explaining various ideas related to the area, the culture, the way of life, etc. As for Shig, I really identified with him: He's a man working at a job he loves, trying to do the right thing by everyone, but he just can't seem to make everything line up to keep everyone happy. Haven't we all been down that road a time or two? The only problem is, he gets stuck between a rock and a hard place once certain details of the case come to light, and he must contemplate his next point of action very carefully. What does he decide to do? You'll have to read it to find out.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, who has a penchant for police procedurals, and/or who might be interested in learning a little about the Japanese culture.
4 stars