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Andy K (10823 KP) rated Blade Runner 2049 (2017) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018
Pretty visuals are just not enough any more
As usual I am late to the party as to just watching this movie tonight, but I was not impressed overall.
In the days of every high budget movie now has striking visuals the last 15 years, it is not impressive enough to me to just have a movie look good. I am all about nonlinear storytelling, or movies that are vague and not all tied up in a know at the end, but this movie just felt like it was missing something.
I'm sure Harrison Ford got a health paycheck (as he always says on all the talk shows he's on promoting his films these days) to reprise his role from Ridley's Scott's 1982 classic, but he really doesn't have much to work with here. This time Deckard is a hideaway recluse with some loose ends in his life.
This film puts to rest some of the hanging threads in the many versions of the original film and there are a few surprises too.
Overall, I would say interesting film with some cool visuals, but ultimately disappointing.
In the days of every high budget movie now has striking visuals the last 15 years, it is not impressive enough to me to just have a movie look good. I am all about nonlinear storytelling, or movies that are vague and not all tied up in a know at the end, but this movie just felt like it was missing something.
I'm sure Harrison Ford got a health paycheck (as he always says on all the talk shows he's on promoting his films these days) to reprise his role from Ridley's Scott's 1982 classic, but he really doesn't have much to work with here. This time Deckard is a hideaway recluse with some loose ends in his life.
This film puts to rest some of the hanging threads in the many versions of the original film and there are a few surprises too.
Overall, I would say interesting film with some cool visuals, but ultimately disappointing.

Leah (: (569 KP) rated Wolves and Roses (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum book 1) in Books
Sep 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It follows the story of Bryar Rose a human girl who should be following a Sleeping Beauty life template, however Bryar has different ideas.
This book is not a re telling of Sleeping Beauty it has lots of different elements that make the story unique. The story has quite a few secrets and mysteries which was good as the reveals were often a surprise. The story was quite fast paced which kept it engaging and the ending was not rushed.
I liked Bryar’s character as I found her a realistic teenage girl. She gets a bit boy crazy but not to the point that she loses her character. She likes to ignore/ put off some of her problems and pretend she is normal when things get a bit too crazy. I enjoyed seeing her friendship with Elle as it did show her more mature side.
This book is part of a series so most of Bryar’s story is resolved there is a novella and another book left of Bryar before we move onto Elle’s story. So I imagine the big storyline which effects other characters will still take a while to finish.
This book is not a re telling of Sleeping Beauty it has lots of different elements that make the story unique. The story has quite a few secrets and mysteries which was good as the reveals were often a surprise. The story was quite fast paced which kept it engaging and the ending was not rushed.
I liked Bryar’s character as I found her a realistic teenage girl. She gets a bit boy crazy but not to the point that she loses her character. She likes to ignore/ put off some of her problems and pretend she is normal when things get a bit too crazy. I enjoyed seeing her friendship with Elle as it did show her more mature side.
This book is part of a series so most of Bryar’s story is resolved there is a novella and another book left of Bryar before we move onto Elle’s story. So I imagine the big storyline which effects other characters will still take a while to finish.

Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Cold Granite (Logan McRae #1) in Books
Dec 19, 2019
Gritty Police procedural.
If you are not going to manage with descriptions of horrendous crimes committed against young children though I would step away from this one.
Listening to the audio of this book narrated by Steve Worsley felt a lot like curling up in front of the TV to watch a post-watershed BBC police procedural series set in Scotland. If you like a good dark down to earth police procedural then this may well be up your alley.
Logan McRae is just returning to work following sustaining horrific injuries in the line of duty and is thrown straight back into the thick of it when the mutilated body of a young boy is discovered. Numerous threads, involving various cases and a smattering of personal life then intertwine to give a very solid down to earth police procedural. OK, I could of done with Logan being a bit less obsessed with every bit of leg he saw but for the time and place set probably fairly accurate…
First in a long-running series and as there's not much on the TV at the minute I'm on board for more of these
Listening to the audio of this book narrated by Steve Worsley felt a lot like curling up in front of the TV to watch a post-watershed BBC police procedural series set in Scotland. If you like a good dark down to earth police procedural then this may well be up your alley.
Logan McRae is just returning to work following sustaining horrific injuries in the line of duty and is thrown straight back into the thick of it when the mutilated body of a young boy is discovered. Numerous threads, involving various cases and a smattering of personal life then intertwine to give a very solid down to earth police procedural. OK, I could of done with Logan being a bit less obsessed with every bit of leg he saw but for the time and place set probably fairly accurate…
First in a long-running series and as there's not much on the TV at the minute I'm on board for more of these

JT (287 KP) rated My Lovely Wife in Books
Mar 11, 2020
Early Twist Will Leave You Wanting More
I told myself this year that I would read more. I'm trying to write my own thriller so thought it would be good to get some tips from a few unknown authors to get a bit of inspiration - so far I haven't been disappointed.
My Lovely Wife does something that I haven't come across yet - it drops the twist within the first chapter. It's a bold move but certainly, a clever one as it leaves the reader wondering what the rest of the story is going to entail. In this one a married couple is a pair of serial killers working together, while at the same time trying to live a normal family life, raising their two kids and going to work.
Things go a bit pear-shaped when they try to resurrect someone from the past that the town they are living in know all too well. Throw in a few more late twists and you have a cracking thriller which I guarantee you won't put down. I would love to see a film made of this.
My Lovely Wife does something that I haven't come across yet - it drops the twist within the first chapter. It's a bold move but certainly, a clever one as it leaves the reader wondering what the rest of the story is going to entail. In this one a married couple is a pair of serial killers working together, while at the same time trying to live a normal family life, raising their two kids and going to work.
Things go a bit pear-shaped when they try to resurrect someone from the past that the town they are living in know all too well. Throw in a few more late twists and you have a cracking thriller which I guarantee you won't put down. I would love to see a film made of this.

Math - Multiplication table
Education and Games
App
An easy way for kids to learn multiplication table. With "Math - Multiplication table" your child...

Louisa Waterford and John Ruskin: 'For You Have Not Falsely Praised'
Book
Louisa Waterford (1818-91), modest, retiring, of good family, renowned for her beauty, and with...

The Things Men Do
Book
Cornel Toma, a super-hunk Romanian national, is strutting his stuff on a temporary working visa in...

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated A Castle of Sand (A Shade of Vampire #3) in Books
Aug 12, 2021
128 of 250
Kindle
Castle of Sand ( A Shade of Vampire book 3)
By Bella Forrest
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
What Sofia has with Derek feels like a sandcastle; temporary and something that the waves of life and time will soon ruin...
Since the return of Gregor Novak, the island has turned several shades darker. His hatred toward Sofia and thirst for fresh blood lead to a brutal war igniting between father and son.
Meanwhile, the hunters are gaining formidable strength and resources by the day; they know that the safety of The Shade hangs entirely on its ability to remain hidden from them.
And a sinister secret lies in wait for Sofia within the bowels of an Egyptian desert ... a secret that threatens to crush her sandcastle much sooner than she could have expected.
A good read! Nothing has really jumped out of this series so far to go hey that’s a brilliant series but saying that it’s definitely a decent read! Shame we have to have a death but at least she’s not scared of letting loved characters go!
Kindle
Castle of Sand ( A Shade of Vampire book 3)
By Bella Forrest
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
What Sofia has with Derek feels like a sandcastle; temporary and something that the waves of life and time will soon ruin...
Since the return of Gregor Novak, the island has turned several shades darker. His hatred toward Sofia and thirst for fresh blood lead to a brutal war igniting between father and son.
Meanwhile, the hunters are gaining formidable strength and resources by the day; they know that the safety of The Shade hangs entirely on its ability to remain hidden from them.
And a sinister secret lies in wait for Sofia within the bowels of an Egyptian desert ... a secret that threatens to crush her sandcastle much sooner than she could have expected.
A good read! Nothing has really jumped out of this series so far to go hey that’s a brilliant series but saying that it’s definitely a decent read! Shame we have to have a death but at least she’s not scared of letting loved characters go!

ClareR (5879 KP) rated The Road Trip in Books
Aug 4, 2021
I loved this book. The Road Trip has a different feel to it compared to Beth O’Leary’s previous two novels, and whatever direction she’ll take next, I’m going along for the ride (see what I did there!🤭)
I just love the way that O’Leary writes characters: in this book they’re funny, flawed and feel like genuine, real people. There are those with mental health problems, dysfunctional families and strong sibling relationships.
We see the contrast of the carefree student on holiday, and the way that real life has a habit of sticking its oar in - and not always in a good way.
The road trip element was hilarious though. Deliciously awkward, thanks to Addie, Dylan and Dylan’s friend Marcus, with the devil-may-care attitude of Addie’s sister, Debs. And than there’s Rodney (I’l leave him right here - I don’t want to spoil THIS character for you!).
This book is a little darker in places in comparison to her other books, but I absolutely loved every page. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Beth O’Leary. Oh, and you should definitely read this book!!
Many thanks to Quercus for my copy via NetGalley.
I just love the way that O’Leary writes characters: in this book they’re funny, flawed and feel like genuine, real people. There are those with mental health problems, dysfunctional families and strong sibling relationships.
We see the contrast of the carefree student on holiday, and the way that real life has a habit of sticking its oar in - and not always in a good way.
The road trip element was hilarious though. Deliciously awkward, thanks to Addie, Dylan and Dylan’s friend Marcus, with the devil-may-care attitude of Addie’s sister, Debs. And than there’s Rodney (I’l leave him right here - I don’t want to spoil THIS character for you!).
This book is a little darker in places in comparison to her other books, but I absolutely loved every page. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Beth O’Leary. Oh, and you should definitely read this book!!
Many thanks to Quercus for my copy via NetGalley.
