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Hazel (2934 KP) rated Freefall in Books

Dec 15, 2019  
Freefall
Freefall
Jessica Barry | 2019 | Mystery, Thriller
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Doesn't tax the brain too much
This book is a pretty successful debut and follows the struggles for both Allison, who miraculously survived a plane crash, and her mum Maggie, who, along with everyone else, thinks she didn't. Told from both the perspectives of Allison and Maggie, covering the past and the present, the story is not only of survival but one of the sometimes difficult relationship between a mother and her daughter.

Written at good pace, I raced through this book helped by short chapters. I admit it wasn't the most unpredictable of endings however, the drip-drip of suspense and gradual revealing of secrets makes this a compelling read.

The two main characters of Allison and Maggie are very well developed with Maggie being a particular favourite of mine. The story captures both of their strengths and weaknesses extremely well together with their determination and resilience.

There are a few flaws with the plot that have been mentioned in other reviews but although these were a little annoying, they didn't detract too much from my overall enjoyment of this book.

Overall, I would recommend this to people who enjoy an easy and quick mystery that doesn't tax the brain too much.

Thank you to Random House UK, Vintage Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
  
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Lowri Catryn (229 KP) rated Netflix in Apps

Jan 23, 2020  
Netflix
Netflix
Entertainment, Lifestyle
8
8.7 (588 Ratings)
App Rating
Films (2 more)
Documentaries
Dramas
Not enough selection (3 more)
Price increase
Titles removed
Low rated movies
Netflix is a great application for watching movies, dramas, documentaries etc. The app allows you to have multiple accounts so that friends and family can use their own account to add movies etc to their list to watch and keep a track of what they are watching, without interfering with what you are watching. The app allows you to use Netflix also on multiple devices such as an iPad, Playstation, Laptop etc, which makes for easy viewing on the go. The ap does however require internet connection for viewing. There is a lot of choice, with Netflix series becoming more popular and well-made. The downfall would be that well-loved titles are often removed, for example such as 'Home Alone' being removed at the most popular time (Christmas Holidays), or the Grinch. These movies are often removed at peak times, so that viewers often have to pay for the movies elsewhere. It makes you wonder why you're paying subscription fees, if titles like these are removed just as you want to watch them! Also I've noticed a recent increase in the subscription fees, which is a shame, especially as more and more similar and competing apps are becoming more popular, such as Amazon prime (which offers the very latest, more choice - especially with series).
  
Good Girls Lie
Good Girls Lie
J.T. Ellison | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
7
7.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

J.T. Ellison's latest work, Good Girls Lie, is set in an elite boarding school which is set atop a hill in the small town of Marchburg, Virginia. The students are only the best girls who are hand-picked each year by the dean. However, it is not a young adult book. It is a thriller full of secrets, secret societies, lies, and a strict honor code that is not always followed.

In the beginning, I found it difficult to get into the book but I am glad I kept reading. Several reviewers described it as fast-paced but I disagree. It is a slow burn but it does definitely burn. The twists were both expected and unexpected but worked well.

It opens with a body being found then flashes back to learn the events that lead up to the death. It is not a new tactic but, with the story, it works well.

J.T. Ellison is best known for her Lt. Taylor Jackson series. The 8th book, "Field of Graves" was published in 2015. She has teamed up with Catherine Coulter to write "A Brit in the FBI" series. The 6th book in the series, The Last Second, was published in 2019.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/10/2020.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Bell Jar in Books

Mar 18, 2020  
The Bell Jar
The Bell Jar
Sylvia Plath | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.4 (23 Ratings)
Book Rating
A worthy classic
The Bell Jar is one of those well known classic books that pretty much everyone has heard of, but yet for me I hadn't a clue what the story was actually about. The story centres around a young woman's mental breakdown and descent into depression, and her subsequent slow path to recovery. It's not in the slightest what I was expected, but this is actually a rather good and worthy classic novel.

I wouldnt say Esther is a particularly endearing protagonist, there's a lot about her tale that doesn't make sense or seems a little lacking but I'm guessing this is because it's meant to represent her rather unhinged state of mind. It can get a little frustrating when things aren't explained properly, but for the most part the plot and story is very interesting and I struggled to put this down. It's well written without being pretentious, and it seems to be a very realistic tale about mental illness. The metaphor of the bell jar itself is a rather wonderful term despite the subject matter and one of the best metaphors I've ever come across in literature, as it's so true.

Overall this is a great classic and whilst it may seem a little dated, it's a really good study on mental health.