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3.5 stars.

Once again I was just getting into the story when it ended--rather abruptly, I think.

Well it's been a while since I read book 1 of this series so I was a little confused with how this book started. I remembered a few little bits but as to what was said that she needed to respond to straight away...I had no idea. THEREFORE I RECOMMEND YOU EITHER RE-READ THE FIRST ONE (which I didn't) OR READ THEM ONE AFTER ANOTHER (which I also won't be doing, lol).

I'm not too keen on this being a serial. This is something that should probably have been made into probably 4 or 5 longer books, not 20-odd smaller instalments because I'm refusing to pay the price of them all individually (unless they go to 99p, because I'm tight like that.)

I like it but I'm not in any hurry to carry it on.
  
Pumpkin Pied
Pumpkin Pied
Karen MacInerney | 2015 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Halloween Hijinks
Natalie Barnes has a rare few days off at her bed and breakfast, her only guest being her college roommate Lucy Resnick. The timing is perfect since the annual Cranberry Island Harvest Festival is about to start. However, rumors are swirling that the area is haunted, and Natalie and Lucy witness a few weird things themselves. What is going on?

As a fan, it was fun to pop in to visit these characters in this October set short story. The plot was good and entertaining. It perfectly kept my attention for this short read. This is a short story that took me under an hour to read. Fans of the author will recognize Lucy as the star of her own series, and I enjoyed seeing her first appearance here as well as visiting the residents of Cranberry Island. Throw in a couple of delicious sounding pumpkin recipes, and you’ve got a festive winner.
  
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DJ Muggs recommended Strictly Business by EPMD in Music (curated)

 
Strictly Business by EPMD
Strictly Business by EPMD
1988 | Rap
1.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"The way their styles went back and forth was some sick street shit. Their beats were ill and they had like a slur, a slang style going on that resonated with so many people on the street. When I first heard 'You're A Customer' I was hooked; every single record was so tight and so completely banging. I think they had four or five gold records in a straight row which was such an incredible achievement. They were on some ill roll that just continued. They also listened to the dopest shit too and you could tell that from listening to their music. As well as being influenced by so much themselves, they influenced a lot of people too. Bands like us, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C were just talking about EPMD so much. Back then, you had to make music that sounded real because if you didn't, people just saw straight through that shit. Most motherfuckers didn't make it but then artists like EPMD showed you how."

Source
  
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Hari Nef recommended Safe (1995) in Movies (curated)

 
Safe (1995)
Safe (1995)
1995 |
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"What can I say about Julianne Moore other than that she is a queen and a goddess and I love her. This film is so unsettling, and I find it hard to describe because the monsters and enemies are invisible. What is leading this woman who is technically fine, technically well-off, technically clean, and technically shouldn’t have anything to worry about down this spiral of sickness and paranoia? I often feel that way about myself when I’m dealing with existential crises of my own. I count my blessings, but I can’t get away from, at certain points, this feeling that something is wrong, and this film hit me right there. Haynes was ahead of his time in creating that sort of ominous, intrusive, odious ambiance without beating you over the head with outright horror or contagion, or all of the easy ways to get you to feel scared. It’s all that isn’t being seen in the film that is scariest."

Source
  
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John Cusack recommended The Shining (1980) in Movies (curated)

 
The Shining (1980)
The Shining (1980)
1980 | Horror

"Well The Shining I thought a lot about, because we did Stephen King’s 1408, which was another movie set in a hotel room, and the madness of that. But I think just seeing it in theaters, you know — I think it’s when you saw it. My mom was from Boston, so we used to go to Nantucket, and it was the summer and I remember I snuck away in the afternoon to go see it, at around 4 or 6 o’clock or something, and when I came back out it was dark and I had to walk down this dark street alone. And I remember being really, I mean really scared coming out of that theater; like, I did not want to leave the street lights to walk home. The other experience I remember was I saw Apocalypse Now in the theaters and I remember coming out of that and I almost couldn’t speak. Stunned."

Source
  
Bent (Destinations #1)
Bent (Destinations #1)
S.H. Timmins | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
of 250
Kindle
Bent (Destinations book 1)
By S.H. Timmins

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Alex Bradley has the life of a self-made Playboy. He owns one of the hottest clubs around with his two best friends. The women are plentiful and easily seduced by his good-looks and charm.One night he meets the woman of his most erotic fantasies. While high on lust over this vision of beauty, he makes a most painful mistake which alters his life.Join him as he shares his hilarious story by recounting the events that took him from an elusive playboy, to the perfect mate.



This was not what I expected at all!! Omg I couldn’t stop laughing all the way through it was so funny and witty as well as being romantic too. I genuinely enjoyed it and will be reading more!! I couldn’t put it down! A huge example of don’t judge a book by its cover.
  
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Karl Hyde recommended James Blake by James Blake in Music (curated)

 
James Blake by James Blake
James Blake by James Blake
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"It’s astonishing; one of those soundscape albums where the songs barely hold together, but somehow they do, so beautifully and so delicately. They’re like hymns, all of them. There’s a very spiritual quality to the chord sequences, straight from the church. It’s worshipful and soulful. In some ways it relates to Talk Talk’s last works. But they have that dark, dubstep feel to them as well. I just love the way he deconstructs songs. After I’d bought the album, it was on in a people carrier when we were being driven to a festival somewhere, and everybody was saying, "this is really dreary", but I had to pipe up and say, "actually it’s one of my favourite albums at the moment so can we leave it on?" I felt connected to it. I thought, "this isn’t dreary; it’s making me feel uplifted." I like what he does. I like anyone who takes songs and challenges the notion of song structures."

Source
  
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
1987 | Comedy
𝘋𝘶𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦 still did it significantly better imo (Downey Jr. >> Martin, but Candy >> Galifianakis) but that doesn't at all hinder this from being a damn good comedy on the whole. Definitely a lighter affair for Hughes (99% of the comedy here is simply homespun "how can my day *possibly* get any worse??" histrionics done really, really superbly) but nonetheless sports a huge, pulsating heart in its chest. Was surprised with how well this skewers overt-masculinity and the usual reductive formula of these anti-buddy comedies considering its age (and even moreso fresh off the heels of the repugnant excrement that was 𝘚𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴). Even if it isn't always seamless (i.e. the almost comedic abruptness of the ending reveal), it delves within both of its lead characters and gives us a good look where most movies of the genre would reduce them to the sum of their quirks. Rightfully earns its place as one of the definitive Thanksgiving movies.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Ronin (1998) in Movies

Jan 10, 2021  
Ronin (1998)
Ronin (1998)
1998 | Action, Mystery
Solid but faintly generic thriller is given a distinct boost by a strong cast and script. Natascha McElhone plays a woman from County Leprechaun who assembles a team of mercenaries to steal a box (which is a McGuffin of the purest kind). On the roster are Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Sean Bean, and Stellan Skarsgard, not all of whom are wholly reliable. Soon enough engines are revving, bullets flying, crosses being doubled, and meets going bad.

Thematically (as well as chronologically) this is somewhere between Mission: Impossible and the first Bourne film, initially given a wistful, existential quality by the script (co-written by David Mamet under a pseudonym). It gives an extra lift to what was already a very robust and engaging thriller. What really makes it sing are the action scenes and car chases, which are superb. The movie cops out in a few places, particularly the end, but remains extremely engaging and polished: superior stuff.
  
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
2013 | Drama
The cast, the story (0 more)
Best ballsy film ever
This is just madness yet based on a true story.
Jordan Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) goes from being an honest to God working man to the scammer of all scammers working a pump and dump stock trading system using his impressive hard selling skills.
Donnie Azoff (played by Jonah Hill) is his best friend and ally in this scam, you get the sense that Donnie is really just there for comic relief with a couple of scenes standing out.
This film is an enjoyable raucous mix of sex drugs and rock and roll within a financial office setting.
There are several other notable members of cast in this including Jordans long suffering wife Naomi (played by Margot Robbie) and smaller parts from Jon Bernthal, Matthew McConaughey, Rob Reiner and Ethan Suplee.
Well worth a watch and excellently done by Martin Scorsese as always.