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Brilliant insight into Bram Stoker's life
*** Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review ***
This book stays true to the format of Stoker's Dracula, being written in the form of a compilation of diary entries, letters and newspaper reports. This allows some of the main characters to embed their own voice and to give their view of events, the narratives interweaved to give a good, suspenseful story.
Bram Stoker was not well as a child, pretty much bed-bound until the age of 7. Then he suddenly recovered and went on to become a successful athlete and University graduate. This book takes that life story and layers on a brilliant prequel to Dracula, suggesting that vampires very much impacted on Stoker's life and he himself did battle with Count Vlad.
Excellent, atmospheric story with plenty of suspense and action, and a few twists and turns along the way. A perfect read for this time of year.
This book stays true to the format of Stoker's Dracula, being written in the form of a compilation of diary entries, letters and newspaper reports. This allows some of the main characters to embed their own voice and to give their view of events, the narratives interweaved to give a good, suspenseful story.
Bram Stoker was not well as a child, pretty much bed-bound until the age of 7. Then he suddenly recovered and went on to become a successful athlete and University graduate. This book takes that life story and layers on a brilliant prequel to Dracula, suggesting that vampires very much impacted on Stoker's life and he himself did battle with Count Vlad.
Excellent, atmospheric story with plenty of suspense and action, and a few twists and turns along the way. A perfect read for this time of year.
Becs (244 KP) rated A Room Away From the Wolves in Books
Jan 4, 2019
So many things being represented!
Like LGBTQ+, abuse, assualt, depression, etc. (1 more)
Ghosts + love + death + dark back story = recipe for the best book ever!
A wicked ghost story that will satisfy every need!
I absolutely loved this novel!! I couldn't get enough of it and didn't want it to end. There's LGBTQ+ representation, romance, death, mystery, family drama, talk of suicide and domestic violence. I mean A Room Away From the Wolves has it all!
The only reason why this novel isn't sitting at a 5-star rating is that it was a little confusing in the beginning. I didn't quite understand the story-line and plot and the characters seemed to be lacking. But once I actually delved deeper into the novel, I got my answers and everything became clear yet again.
Want to read more? Head over to my blog: bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
The only reason why this novel isn't sitting at a 5-star rating is that it was a little confusing in the beginning. I didn't quite understand the story-line and plot and the characters seemed to be lacking. But once I actually delved deeper into the novel, I got my answers and everything became clear yet again.
Want to read more? Head over to my blog: bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
Access to any translation you desire (2 more)
Opportunity to leave notes
Share passages with friends
A truly pocket sized Bible
This app is a marvel. Allows you to always have access to a bible, I try to carry my Bible always but I can’t read my small one well and the one I can read is HUGE and therefore heavy.
This app allows me to read passages in several different translations with great ease.
I am currently doing a bible study with this app with friends in Australia and Rome and yet this app makes it possible for us to read together and connect and share our thoughts as though we were all together.
The app offers a verse of the day and really does encourage people to interact with it.
My only concern is that with this app being so good will people stop picking up their actual Bibles because electronic is no match for actual pages.
This app allows me to read passages in several different translations with great ease.
I am currently doing a bible study with this app with friends in Australia and Rome and yet this app makes it possible for us to read together and connect and share our thoughts as though we were all together.
The app offers a verse of the day and really does encourage people to interact with it.
My only concern is that with this app being so good will people stop picking up their actual Bibles because electronic is no match for actual pages.
David McK (3557 KP) rated Civil War II in Books
Jan 28, 2019
The original Civil War storyline - which sees Captain America and Iron Man/Tony Stark come down on different side of the ethical debate over whether Super-powered individuals should be subject to governmental oversight - was adopted for the 2016 Marvel Cinematic Universe film 'Captain America: Civil War'.
I could very easily see this being adopted for a later film, after the as-yet-unfinished 'Infinity War'. Once again, we have a split in the super-hero community, this time brought about by the discovery of a new Inhuman who appears to be able to see the future -on the one hand, we have those who believe that they have to do whatever they can to stop those visions coming true (even if it means arresting the individual before the crime: hello, 'Minority Report'!) whilst on the other we have those that believe these are only potential futures, and that, well, the crime has to come before the punishment!
I could very easily see this being adopted for a later film, after the as-yet-unfinished 'Infinity War'. Once again, we have a split in the super-hero community, this time brought about by the discovery of a new Inhuman who appears to be able to see the future -on the one hand, we have those who believe that they have to do whatever they can to stop those visions coming true (even if it means arresting the individual before the crime: hello, 'Minority Report'!) whilst on the other we have those that believe these are only potential futures, and that, well, the crime has to come before the punishment!
Well, now, that was ... unusual.
Unusual in that I don't think I've ever come across history told in such a manner before.
And, I have to say: I think it worked.
This tells the life story of Manfred von Richtohofen, otherwise (and perhaps more famously) known as The Red Baron - a German ace during the infancy of flight, and of warfare in the air (during The Great War, or World War One as it would later become known).
While it does, perhaps, gloss over the more horrific aspects of the war in the air (no parachutes,with the planes being death-traps, and with Richtohofens policy of aiming for the pilot rather than the plane) I have to say that I did learn more from this than I was already aware of - and no, unlike some of my American counterparts, my knowledge of him did NOT come from the Peanuts (right? isn't that the one with Snoopy?) cartoon!
Unusual in that I don't think I've ever come across history told in such a manner before.
And, I have to say: I think it worked.
This tells the life story of Manfred von Richtohofen, otherwise (and perhaps more famously) known as The Red Baron - a German ace during the infancy of flight, and of warfare in the air (during The Great War, or World War One as it would later become known).
While it does, perhaps, gloss over the more horrific aspects of the war in the air (no parachutes,with the planes being death-traps, and with Richtohofens policy of aiming for the pilot rather than the plane) I have to say that I did learn more from this than I was already aware of - and no, unlike some of my American counterparts, my knowledge of him did NOT come from the Peanuts (right? isn't that the one with Snoopy?) cartoon!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated In Darkness (2018) in Movies
Dec 24, 2018
An average thriller
I’m pretty sure this went straight to tv over here, so I wasn’t expecting much however it is slightly better than I expected, even if it still a bog standard thriller.
The soundtrack is great, and the first part of them film is very well executed and comes across as quite arty, with some great music. The problem is that the rest of the film seems to get bogged down with a convoluted plot that’s made more complicated than it needs to be. Natalie Dormer is very good, it’s nice to see Joely Richardson in something recent, and it’s always nice to see Neil Maskell (even if he does play a similar character in everything he’s in - he seems to be the go to bloke for British cops). It’s just a shame that the cast can’t rise above the average plot. And the twist ending I saw coming a mile off.
One of those films that’s watchable but instantly forgettable as being distinctly average.
The soundtrack is great, and the first part of them film is very well executed and comes across as quite arty, with some great music. The problem is that the rest of the film seems to get bogged down with a convoluted plot that’s made more complicated than it needs to be. Natalie Dormer is very good, it’s nice to see Joely Richardson in something recent, and it’s always nice to see Neil Maskell (even if he does play a similar character in everything he’s in - he seems to be the go to bloke for British cops). It’s just a shame that the cast can’t rise above the average plot. And the twist ending I saw coming a mile off.
One of those films that’s watchable but instantly forgettable as being distinctly average.
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated The Babysitter (2017) in Movies
Aug 13, 2019
Proper cheesefest
I put this movie off for ages as it didn't look that great from trailers, but i kept getting drawn back to it so thought I may as well give it a go.
Basically the movie is about a young teen called Cole - i use the word teen loosely as i swear he only looks about 12!- who has a hot babysitter. She's kind, sweet and Cole enjoys her being around. However, one night he decides to stay up and see what she gets upto when he's asleep, turns out she's part of a satanic cult. When she finds out that he knows, her and her cult friends set out to try and kill Cole and it turns into a cross between scream, scary movie and home alone.
It has a lot of tongue in cheek humour and not to be taken seriously, if you want an easy watch with still plenty of gore give it a go.
Basically the movie is about a young teen called Cole - i use the word teen loosely as i swear he only looks about 12!- who has a hot babysitter. She's kind, sweet and Cole enjoys her being around. However, one night he decides to stay up and see what she gets upto when he's asleep, turns out she's part of a satanic cult. When she finds out that he knows, her and her cult friends set out to try and kill Cole and it turns into a cross between scream, scary movie and home alone.
It has a lot of tongue in cheek humour and not to be taken seriously, if you want an easy watch with still plenty of gore give it a go.
Bubba Gee (147 KP) rated Coimbra in Tabletop Games
Jun 21, 2019
Lots going on
This is a great game for beginners, to start with there seems to be too much going on, it is fairly easy to grasp this game within 2 or 3 playthroughs though.
The dice drafting and card drafting together give players a nice introduction to both of these game mechanics as well as trying to grow multiple paths at the same time, like many other good gateway games this has a lot to keep you interested without being super heavy or overly complex.
You will find yourself planning ahead a lot in this and it is definitely good for replayability.
I think there are more directions in which they could go with this so I hope to see more expansion packs coming out for it.
There is only one currently which I haven't managed to snag yet but I will.
I will update when I get a copy.
Happy gaming folks
The dice drafting and card drafting together give players a nice introduction to both of these game mechanics as well as trying to grow multiple paths at the same time, like many other good gateway games this has a lot to keep you interested without being super heavy or overly complex.
You will find yourself planning ahead a lot in this and it is definitely good for replayability.
I think there are more directions in which they could go with this so I hope to see more expansion packs coming out for it.
There is only one currently which I haven't managed to snag yet but I will.
I will update when I get a copy.
Happy gaming folks
Vegas (725 KP) rated AEW Dynamite in TV
Oct 28, 2019
The action (2 more)
The wrestlers
No bizarre stories (yet)
Characters will take a while to get used to for casual fans (1 more)
Still early so no established storylines
Making wrestling fun again
When Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks became the faces of upstart promotion AEW fans were excited to get a mainstream alternative to WWE which has become complacent with its position in the industry, wit would there be enough star talent to compete. The first few episodes and PPVs say YES... The wrestling often is better than WWE due to the wrestlers being less bogged down with what they can and can’t do in the ring and with less silly skits to worry about, the focus is firmly on the in ring action, with veterans Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone part of the announce team the show feels established yet modern. Hopefully it continues to do well, for their sake and WWE’s too as they will be forced to improve. Good for all fans.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Who's Afraid Too? (Tommi Grayson #2) in Books
Dec 29, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
Tommi Grayson: all bark, all bite . . . and now she's BACK!
After the worst family reunion in history, Tommi needed some space. She's spent the last few weeks trying to understand her heritage - the one that comes with a side order of fur - as well as learning about her Maori ancestry and how she can connect to it. But she can only escape for so long. ...
Maria Lewis is so refreshing! I live Tommi Grayson she kicks ass and just keeps going! Maria is never afraid to kill characters off for impact and I truly admire that! This book see Tommi dealing with the loss of friends , the news of her best friends cancer being back, her troubled relationship with Lorcan and moving on to learn how to be a werewolf. So much and such little time before another mystery hits! Love the new characters introduced.
Can not wait to read the next installment.
Recommended
After the worst family reunion in history, Tommi needed some space. She's spent the last few weeks trying to understand her heritage - the one that comes with a side order of fur - as well as learning about her Maori ancestry and how she can connect to it. But she can only escape for so long. ...
Maria Lewis is so refreshing! I live Tommi Grayson she kicks ass and just keeps going! Maria is never afraid to kill characters off for impact and I truly admire that! This book see Tommi dealing with the loss of friends , the news of her best friends cancer being back, her troubled relationship with Lorcan and moving on to learn how to be a werewolf. So much and such little time before another mystery hits! Love the new characters introduced.
Can not wait to read the next installment.
Recommended