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The Imposter
8.5
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They say you can't choose your family . . . But what if they're wrong? Chloe lives a quiet life....
Psychological thriller
This thought provoking book has come along at a time when everyone is talking about vaccines: should we have them, or shouldn’t we? Will they cause us and our children irreparable damage? Do we have a responsibility to tell other people if we or our children have not been vaccinated?
These are all the questions that are posed in The Herd. I started this with a very pro-vaccination stance, and whilst I’m still pro-vaccination, I can appreciate the other side of the story much more now.
The Herd is all about parents doing what they think is best for their children - as parents, it’s all we can do.
The characters of Bryony and Elizabeth represented these opinions really well. I kept putting myself in both women’s shoes, and to be honest, both sides were heart-breaking.
The Herd is a balanced, well-told story of friendship, deception, mental health and the toxic side of social media. It gave me and my fellow Pigeonhole readers lots to think about and discuss. It’s most definitely a book of our time, and perfect for book groups. I’d recommend it to anyone, to be honest!
These are all the questions that are posed in The Herd. I started this with a very pro-vaccination stance, and whilst I’m still pro-vaccination, I can appreciate the other side of the story much more now.
The Herd is all about parents doing what they think is best for their children - as parents, it’s all we can do.
The characters of Bryony and Elizabeth represented these opinions really well. I kept putting myself in both women’s shoes, and to be honest, both sides were heart-breaking.
The Herd is a balanced, well-told story of friendship, deception, mental health and the toxic side of social media. It gave me and my fellow Pigeonhole readers lots to think about and discuss. It’s most definitely a book of our time, and perfect for book groups. I’d recommend it to anyone, to be honest!
Rise of The Unicorn
Book
Augustus 'Gus' Martin is an embattled LAPD negotiator. Months after suffering a significant blow to...
Mystery Suspense Thriller Psychological Fiction African-American Mystery
BookblogbyCari (345 KP) rated Too Close: A new kind of thriller that will leave you breathless in Books
May 7, 2019
I love thrillers. I chose this one because I thought it would start out all light-hearted, heart-warming and fluffy. And it was a tale that included friendship, but the friendship the book is really about is not the one you’d expect.
After the prologue, Connie wakes up in a mental illness institution, and her dissociative amnesia means she has no idea why she has such deep cuts in her wrists, or why she has clumps of hair missing from her head. She is visited by only one family member and the reader is left wondering why.
As the book progresses, you learn about Connie’s friend Vanessa, and how she gently edged her way in to the life of Connie and her family. A friendship and closeness that led to Connie’s ruin.
Throughout the book, Connie is completely disinhibited. Connie’s therapist is Dr Emma Robinson, and Connie meets her with wise-cracking wit and banter. The press is against Connie, but Dr Robinson is quite taken with her, seeing her strength and her despair. A friendship forms.
There is an unexpected twist in the tale about the halfway mark, and another twist at about the three-quarter (no spoilers!)
By the end of the book, Dr Robinson uses hypnotherapy and Connie has a break-through. Dr Robinson succeeds in her work, and the events of that fateful night are unabashedly told.
Connie does not recover though, and in her letters to Dr Robinson, Connie reveals that the crux of the matter was never friendship after all, but something else entirely (no spoilers!)
I was very entertained by this book and found the ending thought provoking.
After the prologue, Connie wakes up in a mental illness institution, and her dissociative amnesia means she has no idea why she has such deep cuts in her wrists, or why she has clumps of hair missing from her head. She is visited by only one family member and the reader is left wondering why.
As the book progresses, you learn about Connie’s friend Vanessa, and how she gently edged her way in to the life of Connie and her family. A friendship and closeness that led to Connie’s ruin.
Throughout the book, Connie is completely disinhibited. Connie’s therapist is Dr Emma Robinson, and Connie meets her with wise-cracking wit and banter. The press is against Connie, but Dr Robinson is quite taken with her, seeing her strength and her despair. A friendship forms.
There is an unexpected twist in the tale about the halfway mark, and another twist at about the three-quarter (no spoilers!)
By the end of the book, Dr Robinson uses hypnotherapy and Connie has a break-through. Dr Robinson succeeds in her work, and the events of that fateful night are unabashedly told.
Connie does not recover though, and in her letters to Dr Robinson, Connie reveals that the crux of the matter was never friendship after all, but something else entirely (no spoilers!)
I was very entertained by this book and found the ending thought provoking.
ClareR (5779 KP) rated Your House Will Pay in Books
Oct 29, 2019
Your House Will Pay is about racial tensions in LA, and it follows two families - one Korean-American, the other African-American - and the shooting of a black girl in the 1990’s. Shaun Matthews sister, Ava, was that teenaged girl, and the killing of another black teenager and the subsequent rallies and demonstrations bring back bad memories of that time. His family is trying hard to keep on the straight and narrow, especially after his cousin Ray is released from prison.
Grace Parks is a pharmacist in a Korean pharmacy and lives with her parents. She has a strained relationship with her sister who left home and refused to speak to her mother thereafter. She won’t, however, tell Grace why she won’t talk to their mother.
When a terrible crime happens, Grace is confronted with another crime that happened 30 years before, and the Parks family are forced to face the Matthews family.
I really loved this book - the build up and the slow reveal was really well done, I thought. It looked at a part of American life that I, as a white British female, would have little personal knowledge of - other than what I’ve read. It was so thought provoking. This isn’t an escapist read, and I could feel the tension coming off the page, but it was a page turner that I didn’t want to put down. I read this on The Pigeonhole, so due to the fact that they released a stave a day for 10 days, I HAD to wait 24 hours for each instalment!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for choosing such a great book for us to read!
Grace Parks is a pharmacist in a Korean pharmacy and lives with her parents. She has a strained relationship with her sister who left home and refused to speak to her mother thereafter. She won’t, however, tell Grace why she won’t talk to their mother.
When a terrible crime happens, Grace is confronted with another crime that happened 30 years before, and the Parks family are forced to face the Matthews family.
I really loved this book - the build up and the slow reveal was really well done, I thought. It looked at a part of American life that I, as a white British female, would have little personal knowledge of - other than what I’ve read. It was so thought provoking. This isn’t an escapist read, and I could feel the tension coming off the page, but it was a page turner that I didn’t want to put down. I read this on The Pigeonhole, so due to the fact that they released a stave a day for 10 days, I HAD to wait 24 hours for each instalment!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for choosing such a great book for us to read!
Math Mutation Classics: Exploring Interesting, Fun and Weird Corners of Mathematics: 2016
Book
Use math in unique ways to analyze things you observe in life and use proof to attain the...
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Starfish Pier (Hope Harbor #6) in Books
Feb 24, 2021
What a roller coaster this book was, hold on and prepare the Tacos!
I loved Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon. From the characters to the setting, it drew me in and made me feel at home from the very beginning. Starfish Pier is part of the Hope Harbor series (I believe book #6) but it can be read as a standalone. All the books are just based in the same town, so you get to see previous and future characters interwoven throughout the series; I think it is a lot like some of the series Debbie Macomber has written.
Holly and Steven were a great combination of characters. Each one had a unique viewpoint, some very different personalities, and struggles to overcome. I loved Holly’s outlook on life, she was always reaching out to others to try and help make their days better even when she was not having a good day herself. Now Steven. I loved his strength, his selflessness, and his willingness to put others before his happiness. His character is someone I could know in real life.
The themes in this book were quite varied, from depression, physical disabilities, overcoming addiction, protection of life… So many thought-provoking arguments were brought forth in this book, and both sides of the arguments were presented, which I thought was interesting. Plus, you cannot forget the yummy Tacos and advice!
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the in-depth characters, varied themes, and the love of Tacos! I recommend reading this book!
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
I loved Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon. From the characters to the setting, it drew me in and made me feel at home from the very beginning. Starfish Pier is part of the Hope Harbor series (I believe book #6) but it can be read as a standalone. All the books are just based in the same town, so you get to see previous and future characters interwoven throughout the series; I think it is a lot like some of the series Debbie Macomber has written.
Holly and Steven were a great combination of characters. Each one had a unique viewpoint, some very different personalities, and struggles to overcome. I loved Holly’s outlook on life, she was always reaching out to others to try and help make their days better even when she was not having a good day herself. Now Steven. I loved his strength, his selflessness, and his willingness to put others before his happiness. His character is someone I could know in real life.
The themes in this book were quite varied, from depression, physical disabilities, overcoming addiction, protection of life… So many thought-provoking arguments were brought forth in this book, and both sides of the arguments were presented, which I thought was interesting. Plus, you cannot forget the yummy Tacos and advice!
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the in-depth characters, varied themes, and the love of Tacos! I recommend reading this book!
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
ClareR (5779 KP) rated Creation Lake in Books
Jan 20, 2025
Creation Lake was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and I can see why. I really enjoyed this story of a spy called Sadie, who infiltrates an eco-terrorist cult in France. They are led from afar by a man called Bruno, who lives in a cave, and believes that the only way to save humanity is to give up technology and return to out non-mechanised, non- fossil-fuelled past. They are extremists, but even the eco-cult reach a point where they can see that Bruno’s vision goes a bit too far.
I really enjoyed reading Bruno’s emails with Sadie (she has hacked into the email account of the eco-terrorists), got really involved with his theories, googled some and discovered that what he was saying may not have been 100% true or sane.
Sadie is an observer. She’s not your typical all action spy, but she certainly drinks quite a lot of alcohol and has to fend off a lot of unwanted male advances. But she does also use her sexuality to get what she wants.
There are some observations on the state of modern life: greedy landowners who will do anything to make money, the effects of modern life on the young (there’s a young boys story that I found particularly disturbing, and the fact that I wasn’t surprised by it, made it all the more disturbing!).
There were several laugh out loud moments in this too, and the laughs tended to come most needed.
I liked this thought-provoking, tongue-in-cheek novel, and I thought that the way that Bruno’s emails were dotted throughout the novel really worked well alongside Sadie’s investigations.
I really enjoyed reading Bruno’s emails with Sadie (she has hacked into the email account of the eco-terrorists), got really involved with his theories, googled some and discovered that what he was saying may not have been 100% true or sane.
Sadie is an observer. She’s not your typical all action spy, but she certainly drinks quite a lot of alcohol and has to fend off a lot of unwanted male advances. But she does also use her sexuality to get what she wants.
There are some observations on the state of modern life: greedy landowners who will do anything to make money, the effects of modern life on the young (there’s a young boys story that I found particularly disturbing, and the fact that I wasn’t surprised by it, made it all the more disturbing!).
There were several laugh out loud moments in this too, and the laughs tended to come most needed.
I liked this thought-provoking, tongue-in-cheek novel, and I thought that the way that Bruno’s emails were dotted throughout the novel really worked well alongside Sadie’s investigations.
Me Before You
8.3
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Book
THE NEW YORK TIMES NUMBER 1 BESTSELLING NOVEL THAT IS LOVED AROUND THE WORLD, NOW A FILM STARRING...
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Haunt (2019) in Movies
Feb 15, 2020
Not Thought-Provoking But Fun!
In Haunt, a group of friends experience terror like no other when they go to a haunted house expecting a scare. For a movie that wasn’t done by a major studio, I have to say it ain’t half bad.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 3
If it wasn’t for such a slow start, I would definitely have put Haunt on the great level. Things don’t get moving nearly as fast as you like making me wonder if the rest of the movie was going to be like this. Fortunately things do pick up and, once things get rolling, the movie is good to go.
Characters: 7
The antagonists in this movie are super creepy, creepy enough to keep you entertained the whole movie. Meanwhile, the friends that are stalked can be pretty cardboard and plain, although I did appreciate how character development was worked in with a select few. It ultimately kept the story interesting.
Cinematography/Visuals: 8
Conflict: 10
The creepiness level is on 1,000 here as there is danger around every turn. The movie definitely keeps you guessing, building on intensity scene after scene like a true-to-form horror movie. I loved that I was scared when I didn’t need to be. I also appreciated that, once the movie kicks into gear, no shot is wasted from that point on. Conflict abounds consistently throughout.
Entertainment Value: 7
Memorability: 8
The movie succeeds by providing a lot of different setpieces that remain etched in your memory. The kills aren’t half bad either. Sure, it’s not the most thought-provoking film, but not bad as slashers go.
Pace: 10
Plot: 5
Resolution: 10
This movie ramps up the intensity right up to its thrilling conclusion where probably one of the most awesome kills in the film happens. I always gripe about the payoff in scary movies and how they can sometimes end abruptly so as to preserve a sequel. Haunt avoids that pitfall and goes all in with its ending that’s both engaging and fun.
Overall: 78
I would say this isn’t a bad movie to watch if it’s October and you’re tired of the same old Krueger and Jason song and dance. Had the characters been a twinge more interesting and the beginning hit with a little more boom, I would be leaning more towards the side of great horror to watch anytime. I love when independent horror and sci-fi hit the mark.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 3
If it wasn’t for such a slow start, I would definitely have put Haunt on the great level. Things don’t get moving nearly as fast as you like making me wonder if the rest of the movie was going to be like this. Fortunately things do pick up and, once things get rolling, the movie is good to go.
Characters: 7
The antagonists in this movie are super creepy, creepy enough to keep you entertained the whole movie. Meanwhile, the friends that are stalked can be pretty cardboard and plain, although I did appreciate how character development was worked in with a select few. It ultimately kept the story interesting.
Cinematography/Visuals: 8
Conflict: 10
The creepiness level is on 1,000 here as there is danger around every turn. The movie definitely keeps you guessing, building on intensity scene after scene like a true-to-form horror movie. I loved that I was scared when I didn’t need to be. I also appreciated that, once the movie kicks into gear, no shot is wasted from that point on. Conflict abounds consistently throughout.
Entertainment Value: 7
Memorability: 8
The movie succeeds by providing a lot of different setpieces that remain etched in your memory. The kills aren’t half bad either. Sure, it’s not the most thought-provoking film, but not bad as slashers go.
Pace: 10
Plot: 5
Resolution: 10
This movie ramps up the intensity right up to its thrilling conclusion where probably one of the most awesome kills in the film happens. I always gripe about the payoff in scary movies and how they can sometimes end abruptly so as to preserve a sequel. Haunt avoids that pitfall and goes all in with its ending that’s both engaging and fun.
Overall: 78
I would say this isn’t a bad movie to watch if it’s October and you’re tired of the same old Krueger and Jason song and dance. Had the characters been a twinge more interesting and the beginning hit with a little more boom, I would be leaning more towards the side of great horror to watch anytime. I love when independent horror and sci-fi hit the mark.