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An unexpected emotional ride.
As a fan of the Serial and This American Life podcasts I jumped on this podcast from the same makers. I love true crime and the initial hype around this sounded like it was going to be an investigative reporting adventure into a town where a rich boys murder had been covered up. However over the course of the podcast it changed into something quite unique.
Focusing on the person who initially contacted this American Life, John McLemore, it’s based in the small town of Woodstock and gives a stark look into the world of small town Alabama.. We get to know John well, he’s a horologist (clock maker / repairer - it was the new word of the week for me) who seems to be pretty well known in the industry for his restoration skills. John is an amazing character and as the podcast takes a dramatic change of direction we end up getting sucked into his story which is moving and full of lessons on living in a place you don’t feel you fit in.
It was an emotional ride and if you like This American Life, this is like an episode on steroids and then some.
Focusing on the person who initially contacted this American Life, John McLemore, it’s based in the small town of Woodstock and gives a stark look into the world of small town Alabama.. We get to know John well, he’s a horologist (clock maker / repairer - it was the new word of the week for me) who seems to be pretty well known in the industry for his restoration skills. John is an amazing character and as the podcast takes a dramatic change of direction we end up getting sucked into his story which is moving and full of lessons on living in a place you don’t feel you fit in.
It was an emotional ride and if you like This American Life, this is like an episode on steroids and then some.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated The Castle of Llyr (The Chronicles of Prydain #3) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
One of the more interesting novels of the series because it did not have to deal with Arawn directly yet still progressed the storyline in that sense. Despite Eilonway being my second to last favorite character due to her annoying chatter, I still loved reading about her story and history. Alexander actually made me feel pity for both Eilonway and Archen while wanting for Taran to desperately come to terms with his feelings.
Rhun was a light-hearted addition to the cast. he was a temporary character that made me feel constantly frustrated and yet, sympathetic. The only true nuisance to the story was Glew, who must be excused by mean of insanity. I am disappointed, however, that we never find out what happens to the self-centered, simple-minded creature. I also believe that Llyan was a great addiction to the party. I love animal characters and she is just to adorable to resist. A harp loving cat? Yes, adorable.
All in all, it tends to be my favorite novel of the series because, while it still progress the plotline dealing with Arawn (even if indirectly), it gives you much greater insight to the world, Taran's growing maturity and feelings for his female companion, and Eilonway's history, even if it is destroyed. It's a nice refresher with the dramatic and action filled first two novels.
Rhun was a light-hearted addition to the cast. he was a temporary character that made me feel constantly frustrated and yet, sympathetic. The only true nuisance to the story was Glew, who must be excused by mean of insanity. I am disappointed, however, that we never find out what happens to the self-centered, simple-minded creature. I also believe that Llyan was a great addiction to the party. I love animal characters and she is just to adorable to resist. A harp loving cat? Yes, adorable.
All in all, it tends to be my favorite novel of the series because, while it still progress the plotline dealing with Arawn (even if indirectly), it gives you much greater insight to the world, Taran's growing maturity and feelings for his female companion, and Eilonway's history, even if it is destroyed. It's a nice refresher with the dramatic and action filled first two novels.
Kristin (149 KP) rated True Colors (The Masks, #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I was given an ARC e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
True Colors follows Caitlyn "Caity" Davis, a high school senior just trying to make her way through her final year alongside all her friends. Little does must she know that one night out will change her life forever. A mysterious stranger bestows an even stranger gift on her, and she must try and deal with the fallout. Can she find a way to cope with her new-found ability with the help of her cute neighbor, or will it be the end of her friendship and life as she knows it?
This book, like all of Melissa's books, pulled me in right from the start. The story is such a new and different one, and I absolutely loved her way of putting it into words. The characters are all entertaining, and they certainly evoke strong emotions: envy, anger, empathy, sorrow, etc. For Caitlyn, she can see all those emotions rolling across the faces of those around her, and I felt like I would have been an open book to her while reading her story. I cannot wait for the next book to come out, as this plot is so intriguing. And the nod to the "Betwixt" series was a great crossover!!
5 stars (because that's as high as Goodreads will let me go!)
True Colors follows Caitlyn "Caity" Davis, a high school senior just trying to make her way through her final year alongside all her friends. Little does must she know that one night out will change her life forever. A mysterious stranger bestows an even stranger gift on her, and she must try and deal with the fallout. Can she find a way to cope with her new-found ability with the help of her cute neighbor, or will it be the end of her friendship and life as she knows it?
This book, like all of Melissa's books, pulled me in right from the start. The story is such a new and different one, and I absolutely loved her way of putting it into words. The characters are all entertaining, and they certainly evoke strong emotions: envy, anger, empathy, sorrow, etc. For Caitlyn, she can see all those emotions rolling across the faces of those around her, and I felt like I would have been an open book to her while reading her story. I cannot wait for the next book to come out, as this plot is so intriguing. And the nod to the "Betwixt" series was a great crossover!!
5 stars (because that's as high as Goodreads will let me go!)
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Haunted: Horror of Haverfordwest in Books
Dec 7, 2018
creepy, scary haunted house
Blissful beginnings for a young couple turn into a nightmare after purchasing their dream home in Wales in 1989. Their love and their resolve are torn apart by an indescribable entity that pushes paranormal activity to the limit. Haunted: Horror of Haverfordwest is the prequel to the bestselling A Most Haunted House. Dare you step inside...
Whether you are a believer in the paranormal or not you shall enjoy reading this book. This is a very well written story and it is based around the authors’ own experience he had living in a haunted house in Wales. The writer had over 20 years’ worth of evidence. There are incidents and events that still linger long after you finish reading that will keep you thinking long into the night.
This book for me is just brilliant and I love the paranormal as I grew up in a haunted house and have my own experiences as well. This book just grabs you and doesn’t let go. The atmosphere of the book is not for the faint hearted and easily scared but if you are be sure to read with all the lights on. You simply cannot go wrong if what you're looking for is an intense and spooky story.
Many thanks to John Hunt Publishing and Net Galley for an ARC.
Whether you are a believer in the paranormal or not you shall enjoy reading this book. This is a very well written story and it is based around the authors’ own experience he had living in a haunted house in Wales. The writer had over 20 years’ worth of evidence. There are incidents and events that still linger long after you finish reading that will keep you thinking long into the night.
This book for me is just brilliant and I love the paranormal as I grew up in a haunted house and have my own experiences as well. This book just grabs you and doesn’t let go. The atmosphere of the book is not for the faint hearted and easily scared but if you are be sure to read with all the lights on. You simply cannot go wrong if what you're looking for is an intense and spooky story.
Many thanks to John Hunt Publishing and Net Galley for an ARC.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Manhunt: Unabomber in TV
Sep 15, 2018
Good performances make it watchable
I was told i had to watch this by my brother, and more surprisingly my mum, but in all honesty I wasn't too impressed.
The performances in this are great and these are what kept me watching. Paul Bettany is very unnerving as Ted and even Sam Worthington, who I don't particularly rate as an actor, was actually quite good. Visually it looks good and the script, staging and directing are all well done and quite gritty and dark.
The problem with this series is that there's nothing to grip you & no surprises. Whilst I wasn't aware of the true story behind the Unabomber, the series starts off by telling you who he is and then relaying how he was caught across the 8 episodes. Even the trial at the end isn't particularly interesting. I can understand why they wanted to tell the story in a non linear manner, but for me this just didn't work. I didn't want to know who the unabomber was right at the start, as even though the investigation into how he's caught is vaguely interesting, there are no plot twists or turns to keep you hooked. It made for a very dull series and my hopes for a massive twist ending or something shocking were sadly dashed.
The performances in this are great and these are what kept me watching. Paul Bettany is very unnerving as Ted and even Sam Worthington, who I don't particularly rate as an actor, was actually quite good. Visually it looks good and the script, staging and directing are all well done and quite gritty and dark.
The problem with this series is that there's nothing to grip you & no surprises. Whilst I wasn't aware of the true story behind the Unabomber, the series starts off by telling you who he is and then relaying how he was caught across the 8 episodes. Even the trial at the end isn't particularly interesting. I can understand why they wanted to tell the story in a non linear manner, but for me this just didn't work. I didn't want to know who the unabomber was right at the start, as even though the investigation into how he's caught is vaguely interesting, there are no plot twists or turns to keep you hooked. It made for a very dull series and my hopes for a massive twist ending or something shocking were sadly dashed.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated After the Fire in Books
Nov 14, 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
"After the Fire" is a chilling look at a young adult's tale of growing up in and surviving a fictional cult. I have read from the perspective of an adult but this was through the eyes of a young girl, "Moonbeam". She lived for years in the fanatical religious cult with her mother and her "brothers" and "sisters". We are given a glimpse into her thought process, her true faith, and relationships with the other cult members.
By Will Hill selecting Moonbeam as his central character to tell the story of what happened before and after the fire, we are able to empathize with her and the other "family" members. As with any group, there are good and bad, young and old, male and female. We are able to see they are regular, every day people who believe they are following a prophet.
"After the Fire" was inspired by the 1993 Waco siege in which members of the Branch Davidian sect, including children, and government agents died in a fire fight. This story imagines what it was like to like in a similar base (Moonbeam does not like the word compound) and is told mostly through an interview and flashbacks.
"After the Fire" is a chilling look at a young adult's tale of growing up in and surviving a fictional cult. I have read from the perspective of an adult but this was through the eyes of a young girl, "Moonbeam". She lived for years in the fanatical religious cult with her mother and her "brothers" and "sisters". We are given a glimpse into her thought process, her true faith, and relationships with the other cult members.
By Will Hill selecting Moonbeam as his central character to tell the story of what happened before and after the fire, we are able to empathize with her and the other "family" members. As with any group, there are good and bad, young and old, male and female. We are able to see they are regular, every day people who believe they are following a prophet.
"After the Fire" was inspired by the 1993 Waco siege in which members of the Branch Davidian sect, including children, and government agents died in a fire fight. This story imagines what it was like to like in a similar base (Moonbeam does not like the word compound) and is told mostly through an interview and flashbacks.
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