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James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Where the World Ends in Books

Nov 3, 2019 (Updated Nov 3, 2019)

Where the World Ends

Geraldine McCaughrean | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Thriller

5.7

(3 Ratings)

Book Rating

McCaughrean does an incredible job here. She heard a true story of a group of boys and men in the 1800s who go to a 'stack' to farm birds. The stack is a juttering jagged rock rising from the cold Scottish seas, a nasty place to be, so they plan to stay for a few days and then they hope to be collected. Although they weren't. McCaughrean then tried to imagine what happened to them next and what we get is an incredible well imagined narrative of hardship and survival filled with hope and love and triumph and turmoil. One of those novels which gives you a piece of history which was unknown and hard to imagine and at the same time makes you ask yourself what you would do in the same situation.

Kudos

Merissa (13176 KP) rated Guarding Bloodlines (The Princeton Allegiant #2) in Books

Nov 11, 2019

GUARDING BLOODLINES is the second book in The Princeton Allegiant series. We reunite with the characters we met in book one, and finally, learn more about the elusive Julianna. After 300 years of running from Loren, she is here to stay, no matter what that may bring.

I enjoyed this one much more than book one, although I enjoyed that one too. I think Ms Garland's writing has improved tremendously, and there is such an eye to detail, it improves the whole story. The world-building is excellent and character growth remains true to the individual.

The overall arc is still in place and more information is given throughout the book, leaving you wanting more. Personally, I can't wait to read book three, and four, and you get the idea.

Definitely recommended by me!

Kudos

LaBMaC (116 KP) rated Brain on Fire (2016) in Movies

Aug 3, 2019

Highlights the real life presentation of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (2 more)

Engaging and emotive plot

Highlights issues surrounding misdiagnosis and psychiatric incarceration

Over acted (0 more)

Contains spoilers, click to show

This movie is unsettling as it is based on a true story, told in the book of the same name by Suzannah Cahalan.
A healthy young woman in her early 20's suddenly and inexplicably withdraws from life. As her personality is destroyed as is much of her life. The illness begins with sensory sensitivity and confusion and ends in catatonia.
When watching it I found myself trying to figure out what exactly what could make someone act like this. Epilepsy, stress, schizophrenia, mental breakdown. The diagnosis was none of these and it reminds the viewer that the brain is a complex and vulnerable entity that could fail in numerous ways.

Kudos

ClareR (5950 KP) rated The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel in Books

Aug 6, 2019

The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel

Margaret Atwood, Renée Nault | 2019 | Comics & Graphic Novels, Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry

7.8

(17 Ratings)

Book Rating

A worthy addition to the original story.

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel which remains true to the original novel by Margaret Atwood. It seems even more disturbing with the pictures: the starkness of the almost black and white background against the red of the Handmaids clothes, not only makes the Handmaids stand out, it also, for me, highlights their separateness or ‘otherness’.

It’s a while since I read the original book, but the prose in it felt right. It’s not all prose in speech bubbles, there are more in-depth, explanatory short paragraphs - and I think they really worked well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I can see myself reading this again and again - and I might just have to re-read the original too, especially in the lead up to The Testaments.