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ClareR (5950 KP) rated Fake Like Me in Books
Jul 19, 2019 (Updated Jul 19, 2019)
I really enjoyed Fake Like Me by Barbara Bourland. It’s told from the point of view of a nameless artist who is struggling to live and produce the art that she wants to make. Just as she’s building up to a huge show, her loft burns down containing all of the art she’s going to show. She tells the gallery and her agent that they are undamaged. She manages to secure studio space in Pine City where her art hero, Carey Logan lived and worked prior to her suicide.
I loved how the narrator was so passionate about her work; there are loads of descriptions of paints, colours, methods and textures. If like me, you know nothing about art, never fear! This is all about the mystery of what happened to Carey Logan. It’s also about loyalty, doing the things that you love and the sacrifices you will make to reach these ends. All of the artists in this story are passionate about their work. We also see that a lot of these people are already very privileged, and this is likely the reason why they are able to achieve so much in their careers - unlike the main protagonist who seems to have to fight and work really hard for everything she does.
I’d definitely recommend this book - I didn’t see the twist coming at all (I know that some people did), but maybe that’s because I enjoyed the journey of the story so much. Either way, it’s a really good read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
I loved how the narrator was so passionate about her work; there are loads of descriptions of paints, colours, methods and textures. If like me, you know nothing about art, never fear! This is all about the mystery of what happened to Carey Logan. It’s also about loyalty, doing the things that you love and the sacrifices you will make to reach these ends. All of the artists in this story are passionate about their work. We also see that a lot of these people are already very privileged, and this is likely the reason why they are able to achieve so much in their careers - unlike the main protagonist who seems to have to fight and work really hard for everything she does.
I’d definitely recommend this book - I didn’t see the twist coming at all (I know that some people did), but maybe that’s because I enjoyed the journey of the story so much. Either way, it’s a really good read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
Merissa (13178 KP) rated Over the Falls (Ryder Bay #1) in Books
Jan 17, 2019
Over the Falls (Ryder Bay #1) by Jordan Ford
Over the Falls is the first book in the Ryder Bay series, and it's one I can't wait to continue. It is full of those extreme feelings you can only get when you are young, plus hardships, and a dash of mystery. I have read 'Dear Diary' and loved the insight into Harley. I'm glad I don't have to wait until book three to find out what happened in her past, and yet I am totally thrilled to find out how she moves forward. I've already found some of it out in this book, but I just know there is so much more to come.
The characters are all extremely well written, whether you like them or not! There is one in particular who I think I know what happened, but don't want to say anything yet, because no doubt Jordan Ford will put a twist on it, and I shall be wrong! ? The situations are all completely believable, the conversations are natural, and the relationships are perfect - whether they are new or have been there for a while.
I devoured this book in one sitting. After I started it, I just couldn't put it down. With a slight cliffhanger ending, it has definitely left me wanting more. I will absolutely be continuing with this series, and have no hesitation in highly recommending it.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
The characters are all extremely well written, whether you like them or not! There is one in particular who I think I know what happened, but don't want to say anything yet, because no doubt Jordan Ford will put a twist on it, and I shall be wrong! ? The situations are all completely believable, the conversations are natural, and the relationships are perfect - whether they are new or have been there for a while.
I devoured this book in one sitting. After I started it, I just couldn't put it down. With a slight cliffhanger ending, it has definitely left me wanting more. I will absolutely be continuing with this series, and have no hesitation in highly recommending it.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated The Bye Bye Man (2017) in Movies
Nov 11, 2019 (Updated Jul 18, 2020)
I had rated it 7, I change my mind...
Contains spoilers, click to show
I remember watching this before but recently I've started a list of horrors and I'm going to watch them all, either for the first time or just again. I started with The Bye Bye Man. Bad Idea.
So first off, where's the origin? It literally doesn't make sense to have a character you can't think or speak of without a reason where he came from. Surely even an old wives tale or something? But no, we just get some crazy guy on a killing spree to stop the name being spread. But oh wait! Nobody could have guessed the name would be written somewhere! What a plot twist! (I hope you can hear my eyes rolling) So in return we get 3 people in college? who move into the house the Bye Bye Man lives in or something, I don't know, again no explanation. And of course he finds the desk! And after reading, don't think it, dont say it, who wouldn't say his name out loud!?!? So the all get terrorised by some creep in a hood with his dog who by the way, is also never explained, and also not needed because all it does is eat the face off one of the bodies. But obviously they all die in the end, when the only thing left to do it set fire to the house. But shock! Survivor! The sleeve ball "best friend' who was sleeping with his gf. And of course he tells the nosy copper the name! Ooooh suspenseful cliff hanger!
Yeah don't watch it.
So first off, where's the origin? It literally doesn't make sense to have a character you can't think or speak of without a reason where he came from. Surely even an old wives tale or something? But no, we just get some crazy guy on a killing spree to stop the name being spread. But oh wait! Nobody could have guessed the name would be written somewhere! What a plot twist! (I hope you can hear my eyes rolling) So in return we get 3 people in college? who move into the house the Bye Bye Man lives in or something, I don't know, again no explanation. And of course he finds the desk! And after reading, don't think it, dont say it, who wouldn't say his name out loud!?!? So the all get terrorised by some creep in a hood with his dog who by the way, is also never explained, and also not needed because all it does is eat the face off one of the bodies. But obviously they all die in the end, when the only thing left to do it set fire to the house. But shock! Survivor! The sleeve ball "best friend' who was sleeping with his gf. And of course he tells the nosy copper the name! Ooooh suspenseful cliff hanger!
Yeah don't watch it.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Frozen II (2019) in Movies
Dec 7, 2019 (Updated Jan 22, 2020)
Frozen II is a genuinely fantastic sequel that build on the original in every way.
It's feels more mature for a start. It's still a magical, kid friendly, animated adventure for sure, but the film manages to touch upon subjects such as death, loss, depression, how it's ok to feel angry, and all without veering too far away from a family feature.
The more mature tone comes with more mature animation - and it's really something. The animation is pretty much flawless. The contrasting colour pallets - the icy cold blues and white of Arendelle, to the autumnal greens and oranges of the forest - are all pleasing to look at.
I'm not one for musicals, and I wasn't keen on the songs from the original, but the music in Frozen II is way more tolerable. Well written, and sometimes epic, and that Lost in the Woods song is a banger - the fact that Weezer did a recording of it just earns the movie bonus points in my eyes.
The plot is easy to follow, whilst offering a twist here and there, but the overall message is once again, the importance of family, and the importance of writing wrongs from the last. Interestingly, there is no villain in Frozen II. The focus is purely on the good guys trying to make the world a better place for everyone. It's all rather wholesome.
The characters are all great in their own ways, and the creature designs are fantastic.
I have nothing bad to say about Frozen II. It's a damn solid sequel that easily surpasses the first film. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and listen to Weezer all night.
It's feels more mature for a start. It's still a magical, kid friendly, animated adventure for sure, but the film manages to touch upon subjects such as death, loss, depression, how it's ok to feel angry, and all without veering too far away from a family feature.
The more mature tone comes with more mature animation - and it's really something. The animation is pretty much flawless. The contrasting colour pallets - the icy cold blues and white of Arendelle, to the autumnal greens and oranges of the forest - are all pleasing to look at.
I'm not one for musicals, and I wasn't keen on the songs from the original, but the music in Frozen II is way more tolerable. Well written, and sometimes epic, and that Lost in the Woods song is a banger - the fact that Weezer did a recording of it just earns the movie bonus points in my eyes.
The plot is easy to follow, whilst offering a twist here and there, but the overall message is once again, the importance of family, and the importance of writing wrongs from the last. Interestingly, there is no villain in Frozen II. The focus is purely on the good guys trying to make the world a better place for everyone. It's all rather wholesome.
The characters are all great in their own ways, and the creature designs are fantastic.
I have nothing bad to say about Frozen II. It's a damn solid sequel that easily surpasses the first film. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and listen to Weezer all night.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Marriage Story (2019) in Movies
Dec 7, 2019
A bad movie disguised as a good movie
Wow what a disappointment.
I would say for a movie without out of the ordinary cinematography, art direction, costumes, lighting locations, sets or soundtrack; it had better have a good screenplay. And it didn't. I found the dialogue to be unbelievable, corny and not the way real people talk. I'll forgive this on occasion if I am listening to screenplay prose, like Tarantino maybe, where I don't care if his characters go on and on about nothing because the way they say it is so interesting. Here there is none of that.
Divorce is not a pleasant subject and the portrayal of their profession in this film makes them out to be all scum sucking horrible people. I know acting in the best interest of their clients is what they are supposed to do, but the way they twist every conversation or nonchalant occurrence between two people into something that happens to their client's advantage is just horrible.
While watching I was trying to decide if these reasons were why I was not enjoying and that was just not the case.
It's poor writing. The scene that everyone is talking about where Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver yell at each other and become increasingly emotional at the same time is all right, but honestly I felt overacting. I kind of felt that way through the entire film to be honest.
Not sure why this is getting all the accolades it is and am hoping it gets snubbed during awards season (but not likely).
What a disappointment...
I would say for a movie without out of the ordinary cinematography, art direction, costumes, lighting locations, sets or soundtrack; it had better have a good screenplay. And it didn't. I found the dialogue to be unbelievable, corny and not the way real people talk. I'll forgive this on occasion if I am listening to screenplay prose, like Tarantino maybe, where I don't care if his characters go on and on about nothing because the way they say it is so interesting. Here there is none of that.
Divorce is not a pleasant subject and the portrayal of their profession in this film makes them out to be all scum sucking horrible people. I know acting in the best interest of their clients is what they are supposed to do, but the way they twist every conversation or nonchalant occurrence between two people into something that happens to their client's advantage is just horrible.
While watching I was trying to decide if these reasons were why I was not enjoying and that was just not the case.
It's poor writing. The scene that everyone is talking about where Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver yell at each other and become increasingly emotional at the same time is all right, but honestly I felt overacting. I kind of felt that way through the entire film to be honest.
Not sure why this is getting all the accolades it is and am hoping it gets snubbed during awards season (but not likely).
What a disappointment...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated A Parfait Murder in Books
Dec 9, 2019
Can Tally Clear Her Cousin of the Parfait Crime?
The country fair is in fully swing, and Tully Jones is hopping between her ice cream store and the booth she’s set up at the fair. Things get even more complicated when her cousin Bree’s ex-husband Sonny walks back into town after fifteen years. Bree is considering going after him for years of back child support, but before that can happen, he slaps her with a paternity suit, trying to claim that Alice isn’t really his daughter. The next day, Sonny’s lawyer is shot inside the haunted rodeo attraction at the fair, and the only other person in the ride is Bree. Tally can’t believe her cousin would do something like this, and Bree flat out denies it. But who else could it have been?
This is a great third book in the series. I loved the twist on the locked room puzzle presented here. There are several good suspects and clues that kept me reading as Tully worked to match the right suspect with the ability to pull off the crime. I also love the characters. Tully and her family are strong, and their relationships go through quite a bit here. I appreciate the growth it showed us for them. Naturally, the suspects are just as strong. I also appreciated that the characters understood why the police were focusing on Bree. They disagreed, but they worked to change their minds. Naturally, as an ice cream lover, I also enjoyed the ice cream descriptions. The book left me smiling and yearning for ice cream.
This is a great third book in the series. I loved the twist on the locked room puzzle presented here. There are several good suspects and clues that kept me reading as Tully worked to match the right suspect with the ability to pull off the crime. I also love the characters. Tully and her family are strong, and their relationships go through quite a bit here. I appreciate the growth it showed us for them. Naturally, the suspects are just as strong. I also appreciated that the characters understood why the police were focusing on Bree. They disagreed, but they worked to change their minds. Naturally, as an ice cream lover, I also enjoyed the ice cream descriptions. The book left me smiling and yearning for ice cream.
JT (287 KP) rated Greta (2019) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
Psychological thrillers come without much surprise these days. After the initial character introductions and back stories have bee laid out, the tension is ramped up until a climactic ending, which often falls flat – unless there is a clever twist.
With Greta, director Neil Jordan (Crying Game) uses an expensive green handbag to connect two lonely individuals together. One recovering from the death of her mother, while the other lives alone, longing for company and for someone to share meaningful conversation with.
While riding the subway after work one night Frances (Chloë Grace Moretz) comes across the green handbag and after being coerced into keeping the contents by her flatmate (Maika Monroe) her conscious tells her to return it. There she meets Greta, a softly spoken woman with a seemingly kind heart.
A revelation at dinner one night Frances confronts Greta and after an unnerving exchange, Frances leaves, in the hope that she will never see her again – but Greta is not about to let go of her that easily. French actress Isabelle Huppert gives a sinister performance – not many can stand still and look menacing without really trying, but she gets it spot on. It certainly put the fear in me.
Despite her quirky and innocent advances Frances is not fooled and does all she can to push back, without success. Even a private investigator intent on uncovering the truth about Greta is no match for the softly spoken malevolent loner.
There is some tense moments and the film is at the higher end of the psychological scale, but more could have been done with the writing to elevate it to one of sheer terror.
With Greta, director Neil Jordan (Crying Game) uses an expensive green handbag to connect two lonely individuals together. One recovering from the death of her mother, while the other lives alone, longing for company and for someone to share meaningful conversation with.
While riding the subway after work one night Frances (Chloë Grace Moretz) comes across the green handbag and after being coerced into keeping the contents by her flatmate (Maika Monroe) her conscious tells her to return it. There she meets Greta, a softly spoken woman with a seemingly kind heart.
A revelation at dinner one night Frances confronts Greta and after an unnerving exchange, Frances leaves, in the hope that she will never see her again – but Greta is not about to let go of her that easily. French actress Isabelle Huppert gives a sinister performance – not many can stand still and look menacing without really trying, but she gets it spot on. It certainly put the fear in me.
Despite her quirky and innocent advances Frances is not fooled and does all she can to push back, without success. Even a private investigator intent on uncovering the truth about Greta is no match for the softly spoken malevolent loner.
There is some tense moments and the film is at the higher end of the psychological scale, but more could have been done with the writing to elevate it to one of sheer terror.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Get Out (2017) in Movies
Feb 18, 2020
Get Out is an incredibly strong directorial debut from Jordan Peele and is easily in the top tier of horror/thriller movies in the last few years.
He manages to craft a film that has an underlying sense of unease throughout, an aspect of the film that hardly lets up at any point.
The plot revolves around Rose (Allison Williams) taking her African-American boyfriend Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) away for the weekend to meet her very white family. Chris has reservations, understandably, due to the fact that casual racism is a thing that unfortunately exists. As the weekend draws on, Chris begins to realise that his worries perhaps aren't that unfounded. The only other black people around are house servants, and are acting strange, and it's doesn't take too long before a truly disturbing truth is discovered. To say any more would spoil the narrative, but it's a great plot, with a ridiculous twist.
Layered underneath the madness of the horror is a strong social commentary about race divides, and how a lot of white people perceive others. It's executed brilliantly, and is absorbing as much as it is uncomfortable.
The cast are terrific, especially Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Betty Gabriel, and LaKeith Stanfield.
Catherine Keener is another highlight - I'm so used to seeing her play good people, that the sinister nature of her character in Get Out is so unnerving, and adds even more the experience.
With both Get Out, and last year's Us, Jordan Peele has started his career in horror on a hot streak, and I can't wait to see what he brings to the table next.
He manages to craft a film that has an underlying sense of unease throughout, an aspect of the film that hardly lets up at any point.
The plot revolves around Rose (Allison Williams) taking her African-American boyfriend Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) away for the weekend to meet her very white family. Chris has reservations, understandably, due to the fact that casual racism is a thing that unfortunately exists. As the weekend draws on, Chris begins to realise that his worries perhaps aren't that unfounded. The only other black people around are house servants, and are acting strange, and it's doesn't take too long before a truly disturbing truth is discovered. To say any more would spoil the narrative, but it's a great plot, with a ridiculous twist.
Layered underneath the madness of the horror is a strong social commentary about race divides, and how a lot of white people perceive others. It's executed brilliantly, and is absorbing as much as it is uncomfortable.
The cast are terrific, especially Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Betty Gabriel, and LaKeith Stanfield.
Catherine Keener is another highlight - I'm so used to seeing her play good people, that the sinister nature of her character in Get Out is so unnerving, and adds even more the experience.
With both Get Out, and last year's Us, Jordan Peele has started his career in horror on a hot streak, and I can't wait to see what he brings to the table next.
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