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The Science of Discworld
Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen
8.5
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This is the fantastic first book in the Sunday Times bestselling Science of Discworld series. When a...
Pumpkin Spice and Chill (Boyfriend Café #2)
8.0
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Albert Accidents don't happen to me. I eliminate random chance with surgical precision, whether...
Contemporary MM Romance
Starboard (Voyagers #2)
10.0
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Dylan: I’ve lived my adult life under the Hollywood spotlight, but no one really sees who I am....
Contemporary MM Romance
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2324 KP) rated The Art of Vanishing in Books
May 4, 2018
Someone is Out to Destroy Arts Week
Every spring semester, Stonedale University puts on an arts festival, and Lila has been roped into serving on the committee. The big name for the week is author Damon Von Tussel, who has just released his second book decades after his critically acclaimed debut. Lila is sent to interview him before the big event to gain some publicity, but before she can talk to him, he disappears. Then everyone on the committee starts to get threatening e-mails. What is going on?
I don’t read too many mysteries set in the academic world, so I enjoyed changing that with this book. The internal politics of the college and Lila’s worries since this is her first-year teaching there overshadowed the mystery at times. The mystery itself is a little different than many of the books I read, and I found it a refreshing break. The characters are fun, especially Lila’s mother, and I am curious how some of these relationships will develop in the future.
I don’t read too many mysteries set in the academic world, so I enjoyed changing that with this book. The internal politics of the college and Lila’s worries since this is her first-year teaching there overshadowed the mystery at times. The mystery itself is a little different than many of the books I read, and I found it a refreshing break. The characters are fun, especially Lila’s mother, and I am curious how some of these relationships will develop in the future.
Awix (3310 KP) rated A Chump at Oxford (1940) in Movies
Mar 24, 2019 (Updated Mar 24, 2019)
Disjointed L&H slapstick comedy, one of their last films for Hal Roach. Originally made as a 40-minute 'streamlined feature' and was extended to 62 minutes by the addition of an opening section which is a tidied-up remake of their 1928 short From Soup to Nuts; naturally, this has no connection with the rest of the story. Stan and Ollie try their hands at catering (badly), stop a robbery (accidentally) and as a reward are sent to Oxford University to better themselves. They antagonise the local students which leads to some surprising revelations as to Stan's past.
The individual sections are not too bad, but the episodic nature of the film means it feels longer than an hour; there are some good bits, but also a sense of the boys having run out of ideas and either repeating themselves or trying too hard. Spotting Peter Cushing (this is possibly the best-known of the films he made while in Hollywood for a couple of years as a young man) adds to the fun, though.
The individual sections are not too bad, but the episodic nature of the film means it feels longer than an hour; there are some good bits, but also a sense of the boys having run out of ideas and either repeating themselves or trying too hard. Spotting Peter Cushing (this is possibly the best-known of the films he made while in Hollywood for a couple of years as a young man) adds to the fun, though.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Rosie the Tarantula: A True Adventure in Chicago’s Field Museum in Books
Jun 14, 2018
Rosie the Tarantula: A True Adventure in Chicago’s Field Museum by Peggy Macnamara is a cute picture book. It is a story about a pink footed tarantula, Rosie, who lives at the Chicago field museum. One day in 2011 she escaped from her room. She didn’t appear until 2012. This book imagines the adventure she might have had. It is also used to describe what can be found at the field museum. Plus there are lots of notes at the end about the real rosie, and other animals mentioned in the book. I will say the rhymes are hard and do not flow well, but for this book I don't think it is needed. I applaud the author for getting the words to rhyme in the first place. And while this book is about a Chicago based institution, lots of kids will love its story and colorful illustrations.
I received an ARC from Northwestern University Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I give the book 4/5 stars.
I received an ARC from Northwestern University Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I give the book 4/5 stars.
Loz Hughes (80 KP) rated Big Hero 6 (2014) in Movies
Jul 14, 2018
The storyline (3 more)
The setting
The characters felt solid and real in their personalities (the brothers(
Baymax ofc
Made me cry.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Loved this film, real solid family animation. I can see it being a firm favourite still in years to come.
The loss of his brother in the fire was quite visceral and I teared up bad (im a sucker for a good storyline and emotion), it was almost on par with the loss of mufasa from the Lion king, (still gets me).
I like the portrayal of a slightly different angle where intelligence is actually promoted and displayed- the university and college scenes, rather than the usual hero plot.
The only niggle I had with the film was that the villian storyline seemed a bit off, it was great until you learnt it was all a plot to get revenge for his daughter that then turned into a rescue mission and they are reunited at the end, just appeared a bit lacklustre but then I have to remember its a kids film and not be so critical!
The loss of his brother in the fire was quite visceral and I teared up bad (im a sucker for a good storyline and emotion), it was almost on par with the loss of mufasa from the Lion king, (still gets me).
I like the portrayal of a slightly different angle where intelligence is actually promoted and displayed- the university and college scenes, rather than the usual hero plot.
The only niggle I had with the film was that the villian storyline seemed a bit off, it was great until you learnt it was all a plot to get revenge for his daughter that then turned into a rescue mission and they are reunited at the end, just appeared a bit lacklustre but then I have to remember its a kids film and not be so critical!
Very enjoyable short stories!
This collection of short stories really surprised me. I'm not usually a fan of this type of story (short!), but I seem to be reading more and more of them lately, and I'm beginning to change my mind. Some of these stories are set in Florida, where the natural world seems to be a central theme: uncontrollable, untameable. Two stories are set in France, and another in Brazil. Again, the central characters appear to be in situations where they have no control.
I really enjoyed the stories 'Dogs Go Wolf' where two young girls are abandoned on an island and left to fend for themselves; 'Eyewall', where a woman decides to stay in her home during a hurricane (which I hope never to experience!); 'Above and Below' which tells the story of a young woman who fails her course at university, leaves and becomes homeless. This last story was frankly frightening, as it portrayed how easy it is to become homeless, how little support there is, and how people can become estranged from their families.
A really good collection.
I really enjoyed the stories 'Dogs Go Wolf' where two young girls are abandoned on an island and left to fend for themselves; 'Eyewall', where a woman decides to stay in her home during a hurricane (which I hope never to experience!); 'Above and Below' which tells the story of a young woman who fails her course at university, leaves and becomes homeless. This last story was frankly frightening, as it portrayed how easy it is to become homeless, how little support there is, and how people can become estranged from their families.
A really good collection.
