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Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Gambit (The Prodigy Chronicles, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
<i>Gambit </i>is one of those books that are slow, but the slow feel of the book fits with the plot decently. Willow Kent, the main character, lives in a world where people with extraordinary powers live good lives in the Core (analogize it to the Capitol in the Hunger Games, if you will) and those without live in poverty. She doesn't really know much about her childhood aside from the fact she got left with a family and adopted by them at a really young age, and it remains that way until a Core officer discovers she is really a lost heiress and strives to bring her back to her original family.
Nearly half the book is located in a small village where Willow grows up in trading items is a thing, messengers traveling from the Core and back exist, and it's basically back to the old fashioned world where wearing a swimming suit is bad for ladies (because <em>perverts</em>). The characters in the villages have the <em>weirdest</em> character names I've ever seen, like Patchie and Temsik Temsik doesn't bother me as much as Patchie does. As for the Core... I'm not too sure about that one yet.
Every once in a while a name I've heard of actually pops up, like Willow, for instance. Willow has a fire in her that I like for some reason she's fierce, stubborn, and there's definitely some humor in her snark, especially towards Commander Reece (she's like a ball trying to bounce at the wall that won't budge).
The other half of the book is dedicated to a small portion of the Core where Willow was <em>supposed</em> to have grown up in. Although it's only one particular area and then some more, Denault gives enough information that gives a good idea on what the rest of the Core is really like. Blinds don't exist and it's the coolest technology ever. I personally think Willow will do perfectly fine harnessing the reins of the Core from the way she negotiates.
The first of the Prodigy Chronicles is a slow first book as Willow transitions from village life to Core life, but Denault is fantastic at not boring the readers with her writing <i>Gambit </i>has a lightheartedness to it that I really enjoyed and it seems to promise of better things and more action further in the sequels.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-gambit-by-cl-denault/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<i>Gambit </i>is one of those books that are slow, but the slow feel of the book fits with the plot decently. Willow Kent, the main character, lives in a world where people with extraordinary powers live good lives in the Core (analogize it to the Capitol in the Hunger Games, if you will) and those without live in poverty. She doesn't really know much about her childhood aside from the fact she got left with a family and adopted by them at a really young age, and it remains that way until a Core officer discovers she is really a lost heiress and strives to bring her back to her original family.
Nearly half the book is located in a small village where Willow grows up in trading items is a thing, messengers traveling from the Core and back exist, and it's basically back to the old fashioned world where wearing a swimming suit is bad for ladies (because <em>perverts</em>). The characters in the villages have the <em>weirdest</em> character names I've ever seen, like Patchie and Temsik Temsik doesn't bother me as much as Patchie does. As for the Core... I'm not too sure about that one yet.
Every once in a while a name I've heard of actually pops up, like Willow, for instance. Willow has a fire in her that I like for some reason she's fierce, stubborn, and there's definitely some humor in her snark, especially towards Commander Reece (she's like a ball trying to bounce at the wall that won't budge).
The other half of the book is dedicated to a small portion of the Core where Willow was <em>supposed</em> to have grown up in. Although it's only one particular area and then some more, Denault gives enough information that gives a good idea on what the rest of the Core is really like. Blinds don't exist and it's the coolest technology ever. I personally think Willow will do perfectly fine harnessing the reins of the Core from the way she negotiates.
The first of the Prodigy Chronicles is a slow first book as Willow transitions from village life to Core life, but Denault is fantastic at not boring the readers with her writing <i>Gambit </i>has a lightheartedness to it that I really enjoyed and it seems to promise of better things and more action further in the sequels.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-gambit-by-cl-denault/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Henri Matisse: A Second Life
Book
Henri Matisse by Alastair Sooke - an essential guide to one of the 20th century's greatest artists...
Find Your Thing: How to Discover What You Do Best, Own it and Get Known for it
Book
Finding it, refining it, loving it, and actually getting out there and doing it Don't waste your...
Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Perfection (2019) in Movies
Jun 21, 2019
Dumpster fire!
Can someone please, please tell me when Netflix is going to make a good movie? Every once in a while I read a lot of gushing reviews for a Netflix made film (which means the studios didn't want it) and I give it a try.
For the record, most of them are average or below average, like Bird Box, and everyone is talking about them I suppose because it is something new. I have seen a lot of movies in my life, so I guess I am somewhat jaded or expect more or the unusual to make me interested. I am not one of those people who says "they don't make them like they used to" since I do seem to find very good recent movies as well, but not this piece of shite that's for sure.
There were shades of Black Swan, Suspiria, Hostel and even I Spit on Your Grave in this film; however, the plot twists are so ridiculous here there were moments I gasped in aughter when I'm sure I was supposed to be disgusted.
Nothing extreme I can see in a movie bothers me anymore, so the gruesome bits weren't the problem. The horrid, contrite screenplay and bad over acting were.
If anyone seriously is considering watching this film please let me know and I will seriously give you 1000 other movies which you should watch instead.
I think I would say watching your TV turned off for 90 minutes would be more entertaining than watching The Perfection.
For the record, most of them are average or below average, like Bird Box, and everyone is talking about them I suppose because it is something new. I have seen a lot of movies in my life, so I guess I am somewhat jaded or expect more or the unusual to make me interested. I am not one of those people who says "they don't make them like they used to" since I do seem to find very good recent movies as well, but not this piece of shite that's for sure.
There were shades of Black Swan, Suspiria, Hostel and even I Spit on Your Grave in this film; however, the plot twists are so ridiculous here there were moments I gasped in aughter when I'm sure I was supposed to be disgusted.
Nothing extreme I can see in a movie bothers me anymore, so the gruesome bits weren't the problem. The horrid, contrite screenplay and bad over acting were.
If anyone seriously is considering watching this film please let me know and I will seriously give you 1000 other movies which you should watch instead.
I think I would say watching your TV turned off for 90 minutes would be more entertaining than watching The Perfection.
MaryAnn (14 KP) rated Fruit Flies in Our Faith: Nurturing and Sharing the Fruit of the Spirit in Books
Nov 4, 2019
What happens when we let a bowl of pears sit on the counter a bit too long? Mushy fruit and fruit flies!
What happens when we let the Fruit of the Spiritlove, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) sit unused? Spiritual Fruit Flies! The Fruit of the Spirit never goes bad but spiritual fruit flies, like worry, temptations, impatience, bad habits, etc. distract us from living out the Spirits fruit in our lives.
In Fruit Flies in Our Faith you will learn to:
Listen to the Spirit and begin to recognize the spiritual fruit flies buzzing around you.
Rely on the Spirit to begin to make realistic changes to exterminate those pesky fruit flies.
Experience the wonder of the Spirits fruit growing and ripening in your life.
Share the Spirits delicious fruit with the world around you.
Focus on what the Spirit is teaching you through your own experiences and stories.
My Thoughts: We certainly know what happens when we don't use fruit, it rots! God has given us fruit to use and use it we must. In this book, the reader will learn to recognize their fruit and to learn to use it before it stagnates.
With lots of good teaching and encouragement, the reader will learn to grow and develop their fruits.
Truly encouraging and inspiring!
????
What happens when we let the Fruit of the Spiritlove, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) sit unused? Spiritual Fruit Flies! The Fruit of the Spirit never goes bad but spiritual fruit flies, like worry, temptations, impatience, bad habits, etc. distract us from living out the Spirits fruit in our lives.
In Fruit Flies in Our Faith you will learn to:
Listen to the Spirit and begin to recognize the spiritual fruit flies buzzing around you.
Rely on the Spirit to begin to make realistic changes to exterminate those pesky fruit flies.
Experience the wonder of the Spirits fruit growing and ripening in your life.
Share the Spirits delicious fruit with the world around you.
Focus on what the Spirit is teaching you through your own experiences and stories.
My Thoughts: We certainly know what happens when we don't use fruit, it rots! God has given us fruit to use and use it we must. In this book, the reader will learn to recognize their fruit and to learn to use it before it stagnates.
With lots of good teaching and encouragement, the reader will learn to grow and develop their fruits.
Truly encouraging and inspiring!
????
The Housekeeper: A Novel
Book
"[The Housekeeper] will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page." -Buzzfeed "I am...
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Exorcist in Opera House Manchester (Manchester, United Kingdom) in Shows
Jul 22, 2020
Brilliant set design
I went to watch The Exorcist at the Opera House in Manchester in October 2019. I've never been a huge fan of The Exorcist film, I think it's a tad overrated but I was intrigued to see how they'd bring a story like this to life on the stage. And they've put together a well produced and atmospheric show. The set design is brilliant and the effects are spot on, producing a chilly and at times scary show, which isn't something you'd usually expect in such a big theatre and a large audience. The show is that well produced that it's a shame it's rather let down by the acting. A lot of the acting seemed very over the top and exaggerated, and some was just plain poor. Which is a shame as there was a standout performance from Tristram Wymark as Burke who was downright hilarious and a welcome relief to the scarier aspects of the show. Also having Ian McKellen voice the demon is a work of genius. Hearing such a seasoned actor voice a horrible character is brilliant and the young girl miming him is impressively good, even if she does seem to overact at times.
Overall definitely worth seeing for the production if nothing else, and I would've marked a little higher had it not been for some of the acting!
Overall definitely worth seeing for the production if nothing else, and I would've marked a little higher had it not been for some of the acting!
Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Conspirator (2011) in Movies
Sep 1, 2019
Love me a good true historical drama
Director Robert Redford delves into a story everyone knows, but doesn't really know.
After the assassination of our 16th and very popular president, Abraham Lincoln, the conspirators are shot and/or caught to face an outraged and shocked nation right at the end of the Civil War. Among the accused is Mary Surratt who is on trial for her involvement in aiding, lodging and collaborating with those accused. The entire nation wants justice however they can get it, so her circumstance seems dire without a lot of reprieve.
Enter her reluctant defense attorney who doesn't really want the job of defending a woman everyone wants to see brought to justice. Her trial seems one-sided at best with witnesses changing their stories and the judges not allowing much argument against the accused.
Mary herself seems she has given up hope with little regard for her own life.
Redford manages to build the tension slowly as the evidence becomes increasingly bleak for the defendant and everyone's eyes on the trial's outcome. Stellar performance by the always interesting James McAvoy. He wrestles with his own emotions and the growing prejudice the trial has brought upon him and his family to persevere and provide ample defense for his client.
After the assassination of our 16th and very popular president, Abraham Lincoln, the conspirators are shot and/or caught to face an outraged and shocked nation right at the end of the Civil War. Among the accused is Mary Surratt who is on trial for her involvement in aiding, lodging and collaborating with those accused. The entire nation wants justice however they can get it, so her circumstance seems dire without a lot of reprieve.
Enter her reluctant defense attorney who doesn't really want the job of defending a woman everyone wants to see brought to justice. Her trial seems one-sided at best with witnesses changing their stories and the judges not allowing much argument against the accused.
Mary herself seems she has given up hope with little regard for her own life.
Redford manages to build the tension slowly as the evidence becomes increasingly bleak for the defendant and everyone's eyes on the trial's outcome. Stellar performance by the always interesting James McAvoy. He wrestles with his own emotions and the growing prejudice the trial has brought upon him and his family to persevere and provide ample defense for his client.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019) in Movies
Aug 15, 2020
Isabela Moner (2 more)
Eva Longoria
Micheal Peña
One-Two songs were annoying (1 more)
Not Enough of Swiper. He seemed like a pointless charcter.
Swiper No Swipe
Dora and the Lost City of Gold- does remind me of the tv series with the songs, Dora talking to the audience, Boots, Diego, and the Map. Its funny, cute, adventurist and action-e.
The plot: Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure yet -- high school. Accompanied by a ragtag group of teens and Boots the monkey, Dora embarks on a quest to save her parents while trying to solve the seemingly impossible mystery behind a lost Incan civilization.
I know people were annoyed by the songs and that their were to many of them. I wasnt to annoyed of them, expect for one of them. I only counted like 4 or 5 songs, maybe their were more but as i remember that was the tv series, the songs were are apart the series and this movie was trying to replicate the series and it did do a good job at that.
I like how Danny Trejo voiced Boots and Benico Del Toro voiced Swiper.
If you liked the tv series than you will like this movie. Its for the whole family.
The plot: Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure yet -- high school. Accompanied by a ragtag group of teens and Boots the monkey, Dora embarks on a quest to save her parents while trying to solve the seemingly impossible mystery behind a lost Incan civilization.
I know people were annoyed by the songs and that their were to many of them. I wasnt to annoyed of them, expect for one of them. I only counted like 4 or 5 songs, maybe their were more but as i remember that was the tv series, the songs were are apart the series and this movie was trying to replicate the series and it did do a good job at that.
I like how Danny Trejo voiced Boots and Benico Del Toro voiced Swiper.
If you liked the tv series than you will like this movie. Its for the whole family.