Search

Search only in certain items:

Covert Amish Christmas
Covert Amish Christmas
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Christmas + Suspense = Count me in!

I am a sucker for a fast paced, action packed, Christmas story and boy does Mary Alford deliver it in spades with this book. From the first page to the last I was enthralled by the plot, the characters, and the Christmas theme. While a little over the dramatic (not very dramatic, just a few instances that fit well with the story line), I enjoyed the characters struggles and the underlying message of God being able to forgive all our sins no matter how big or small. Definitely a good read and Mary Alford is a new to me author that I will look for in the future.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
  
The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)
The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)
Brandon Sanderson | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry
8
9.2 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
<strong>What other reviews day is true.</strong>

I had read a lot of reviews of this book, and what most of them said turned out to be true. This book has pacing issues, and it was a bit of a slog to get through. That being said, it's important to remember that it is the middle book of a trilogy, and therefore you are getting only the middle of the begging. Middle and end of a story structure, and I always find that the middle of stories already drag a little anyway. What I want to stress though, is that the pay off is well worth it! I was considering taking a break from Mistborn for a couple of books, but after reading that ending, I have no choice but to continue!
  
40x40

Taika Waititi recommended The Graduate (1967) in Movies (curated)

 
The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate (1967)
1967 | Classics, Comedy, Drama

"The Graduate is always a good one to have on my list. It’s hilarious, but also has that element of treading between comedy and drama and doing it so well, and actually being about something. It’s probably the best version of those films about rich people and their boring problems, you know, that anyone’s ever made. People have tried to do that since — that film has totally inspired generations of filmmakers. For me it’s just fresh. There’s also the energy of the actors: Hoffman, just young and going for it; he hasn’t become jaded. That film could come out today in a fresh print and still be incredible; everyone would think “Oh, Wes Anderson made a new film,” or “Sofia Coppola made a new film.” I’ve always loved that film."

Source
  
40x40

Baxter Dury recommended Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys in Music (curated)

 
Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys
Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys
1986 | Hip-hop, Rock

"I saw The Beastie Boys when I was about 14, perhaps around the corner at Hammersmith Odeon. I was fucking obsessed. There were loads of twats like me wearing ill-fitting Adidas, looking like Harry Enfield characters. We were so into it, but very young. I started off with Run DMC, though, I liked the stuff where it was just a drum machine and them singing. We were really into Def Jam, and we pre-empted a big wave of other people being into it. I think we saw Run DMC as well, that was a bit tougher. I guess with Beastie Boys, cynically they were just Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin saying ‘let’s make a band for all the white kids’, and we were just gone, we were away."

Source
  
40x40

Stephen Morris recommended Drumming by Steve Reich in Music (curated)

 
Drumming by Steve Reich
Drumming by Steve Reich
2003 | Classical
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"There aren't many tunes here - it's just a way of making music, really. It's one of those things where you read the sleeve notes and listen to it and just become completely engrossed. It's a bit pretentious being a drummer and liking Drumming by Steve Reich. But it's basically really, really simple and primitive, and I like it. I like how it has a simple motion which just gradually becomes something incredibly sophisticated without you noticing, but it's all in your head. You're making it like that. It's a great driving record. Going down the motorway listening to Drumming is absolutely brilliant. Does it remind me of working with Martin Hannett? Well, he wasn't tyrannical, but he was in charge. And he would never let you forget that."

Source
  
How the West Was Won (1963)
How the West Was Won (1963)
1963 | Action, Western
Sprawling account of fifty years of American history, as encountered by various members of one pioneer family. Starts with the initial settlement of the west, takes in the Civil War, the coming of the railroads, and concludes with the triumph of law and order (well, sort of).

At least partly sold on the sheer number of stars involved, but in the end there's hardly any John Wayne, not much more Jimmy Stewart, and probably a bit more George Peppard than you'd honestly care for. It's quite naive, sentimental stuff, in many ways, and the technical side-effects of it being shot in VistaVision are very obvious. There's some magnificent photography, the odd effective cameo, and very occasionally a moving moment - but too often this is stodgy and episodic rather than a stirring saga.