Tag Archives: Review

Origin by Dan Brown

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OriginTITLE: Origin
AUTHOR: Dan Brown

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Appearance: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (4.5)

AMAZON DESCRIPTION:
Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend the unveiling of a discovery that “will change the face of science forever.” The evening’s host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist, and one of Langdon’s first students.

But the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch’s precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced to flee. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum director who worked with Kirsch. They travel to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch’s secret.

Navigating the dark corridors of hidden history and extreme re¬ligion, Langdon and Vidal must evade an enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain’s Royal Palace. They uncover clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch’s shocking discovery…and the breathtaking truth that has long eluded us.

Buy it HERE on Amazon!

THE CRITICAL POINTS

WRITING: The only other Dan Brown book I’ve read was The Da Vinci Code, which I loved. This one was even better! You only have to look at the thousands of 5-star amazon reviews to know that Brown is a world-renowned author and that Origin was named the #1 worldwide bestseller for a reason.

STORY: Origin asks the questions we’ve all wondered… Where do we come from and, where are we going? Diving deep into such philosophical questions, Brown analyzes both creationism and science. Origin is masterfully written and thought provoking, making you question your own beliefs and reasoning. It is fast-paced, action packed, and will keep you on the edge of your seat as you quickly turn page after page to find out what will happen next.

CHARACTERS: As in The Da Vinci Code, and I’m sure all the other books in the series, Professor Robert Langdon, Brown’s lead character, is fleshed out to the point that you feel like you could reach into the book and shake his hand. Brown has not only given the character of Langdon purpose and a mission, he has breathed life into him. Reading a Brown book is like taking a master class on character development. There isn’t anything you feel you don’t know about his characters. From Langdon to Edmond to Ambra and especially Winston, Brown’s characters are unique and special.

APPEARANCE: The cover of Origin is beautifully simple and the circular staircase representation in the middle is surprisingly appropriate once you’ve read deep enough into the book.

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My 2 Cents… Blade Runner 2049

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blade runnerBlade Runner 2049 – A young blade runner’s discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford), who’s been missing for thirty years.

I can’t say I loved this one, but I definitely enjoyed it. It had the gritty feel of the original Blade Runner and Ryan Gosling was perfectly cast as ‘K’! With that said, the computer graphics really bothered me, pulling me out of the film and back to reality all to often. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for Harrison Ford’s character, Rick Deckard, to make his appearance. When he did – the story blended the two films together perfectly. I was excited, devastated, angry, and a slew of other emotions as K learned the secrets the film has to offer.

The ending definitely leaves the door open for another sequel. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but that’s Hollywood for you… if it’s making money keep squeezing it!

Have you seen it? What did you think?

Watch the official trailer here:

 

My 2 Cents… Breathe

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BreatheBreathe – The inspiring true love story of Robin Cavendish (played by Andrew Garfield) and Diana Cavendish (played by Claire Foy), an adventurous couple who refuse to give up in the face of a devastating disease. Their heartwarming celebration of human possibility marks the directorial debut of Andy Serkis.

WOW… Just WOW! Everything from the script (written by William Nicholson) to the casting, to the set and the costumes, to the soundtrack was beautifully constructed to work seamlessly together. I can’t say enough about how much this film touched my heart and spoke to me not just as viewer but as a member of a society that all to often forgets about the small pleasures we can find in each and every day.

This film brought out all the feels… laughter, shock, tears of joy, and yes… tears of sadness and grief. Even if your life is nothing like the ones portrayed in this movie, you’ll be able to relate to them on some level simply by sharing the act of breathing.

Have you seen it? If so, what did you think?

Watch the official trailer here:

 

My 2 Cents… Cobra Kai

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Cobra 🐍 Kai – Set thirty years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, the series focuses on Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, which causes his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) to be reignited.

Ok, if you liked the Karate Kid movies than you’re going to LOVE Cobra Kai. Believe me, I was skeptical at first but once I started the first episode I was hooked. I binge watched the entire series in just two days and it was a great way to introduce my love for the Karate Kid to my kids.

The writers do a great job bringing back the original characters in a way that you can believe their choices/life paths have brought them to where they are 30 years later. It’s the perfect combination of serious and comedy. If you give it a try, you won’t be disappointed!

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt7221388/?ref=m_nv_sr_5

The Darkest Minds (book 1)

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The Darkest Minds

TITLE: The Darkest Minds
AUTHOR: Alexandra Bracken

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★ 1/2
Appearance: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4.625)

AMAZON DESCRIPTION:
“Book one in the hit series that’s soon to be a major motion picture starring Amandla Stenberg and Mandy Moore—now with a stunning new paperback look and an exclusive bonus short story featuring Liam and his brother, Cole. When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control. Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. But when the truth about Ruby’s abilities—the truth she’s hidden from everyone, even the camp authorities—comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. On the run, she joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp: Zu, a young girl haunted by her past; Chubs, a standoffish brainiac; and Liam, their fearless leader, who is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. While they journey to find the one safe haven left for kids like them—East River—they must evade their determined pursuers, including an organization that will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. But as they get closer to grasping the things they’ve dreamed of, Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.”

Buy it HERE on Amazon!

THE CRITICAL POINTS

WRITING: Alexandra Bracken is a wonderful writer. She has a natural talent for describing things so perfectly that you can see, smell, hear, and feel everything as if you’re experiencing it firsthand. Her characters are fully developed, believable and relatable. Although there were a handful of typos throughout the book they weren’t distracting. Besides, as an indie author, I love seeing that even the big publishing houses have editing issues and types in the books they put out. We’re all just human and no one is perfect!

STORY: Bracken has taken an often-overused theme of ‘characters with powers’ and fashioned something completely new. The dystopian world she has created is terrifying and unthinkable. The story is gripping, leaving you eager to turn the page and find out what will happen next. With every twist and turn you become more and more invested in the characters and what their destiny’s hold.

As an author, I love a good cliffhanger, and Bracken does not disappoint. The heartbreaking cliffhanger at the end of book 1 will leave you wanting more! From page one to the end this book will keep you guessing and engaged.

CHARACTERS: In the beginning of the book we’re introduced to a number of characters and given just enough time to start feeling emotionally connected before they’re ripped away and out of the spotlight. Although irritated, and left with unanswered questions, the book’s fast pace and intense action doesn’t leave the reader disappointed for long. Ruby, one of the dangerous ones, and the primary character soon finds her tribe unlikely friends; Liam, Chubs, and Zu.

I’m a huge fan of back story, and for the most part The Darkest Minds delivers, but by the end of the book I was still left with unanswered questions and wanted to know more about each of the main characters. You’d think that was a bad thing but because I was able to go straight to the bookstore and buy the next three books in the series, I didn’t mind at all.

APPEARANCE: The cover is beautiful yet ominous. The mysterious glowing symbol on the front makes you wonder what to expect before you even break the spine. When you pull back the cover you’re surprised with a second full-color cover, and a quote from one of the main characters, “Time to carpe the hell out of this diem.” Very well done!

Check out my NEW YouTube CHANNEL and the video review here… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video. 

PS.. I’m new to the YouTube things, so be patient with me while I figure it all out. I promise my videos will get better. lol