Read, Watched, Loved: May 2017

 

Hey everybody! This post is going up super late this month – I was happily scheduling away on here and didn’t notice that I still hadn’t put this guy up. So as usual, here’s my monthly rundown (but for May). Let me know what you’ve seen and haven’t seen, and just generally how you are 🙂

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 (2017) – I don’t think anyone was able to hate this film. It was buckets of fun, and I really have such a soft spot for Baby Groot (who doesn’t?). It is similar to the first film but bigger and more of the formula that worked. The plot wasn’t as solid as the first, but I was able to have a fantastic time regardless of that.

Pride and Prejudice (2005) –I liked this movie so much that when I wanted to initially write a quick blurb for here I ended up writing out the review. It is a wonderful film. I am now convinced I need a Mr. Darcy. He’s difficult and worth it. The adaption is fantastic and the chemistry between the leads is amazing.

Sweet home Alabama (2002) – I watched this as a young person – maybe at around 21 years or so, and really enjoyed it. I have such love for Reese Witherspoon, she truly is a beautiful and talented woman. Her character has the terrible task of choosing between Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey, and this movie has humor and heart to it.

Jackie Brown (1997) – I watched this for Tom and Mark’s Decades Blogathon.It is one of the few Tarantino films I hadn’t seen as yet, and found it a great pleasure to watch.

The Host (2013) – I just had to watch this film again to compare source material to it. It is not as unforgivably bad as the internet make it out to be, and I had a rather enjoyable time watching it.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice is a slow read, that is no lie, but I enjoyed it so much. It is a wonderful, wonderful book with many events and excellent character development. It also gave me yet another book hero to attach strongly to.

Three Fates – Nora Roberts: I reviewed this before and seemed to have a good thing to say about it. Strange, because I don’t remember loving it so much. I am having a really good time rereading it again though, it is truly Nora Roberts and some good and light reading.

The Host – Stephanie Meyer: I’m not sure whether the I was a masochist or just seeking enjoyment without thinking too much about it, but I decided to pick up The Host again. It is okay and certainly better than Meyer’s previous novels. It raises some moral questions and has interesting theories despite some slow parts.

What did you do this month?

June 28, 2017June 12, 2017 by Natasha Categories: 2017, Books, Fun, Movies, movies, reading, Review, ReviewsTags: 2017, Bradley Cooper, Brenda Blethyn, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Donald Sutherland, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, Jackie Brown, Jake Abel, Jane Austen, Josh Lucas, Judi Dench, Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Max Irons, May, monthly rundowns, Movies, Nora Roberts, Nora Roberts Three Fates, Pam Grier, Patrick Dempsey, Quentin Tarantino, Rosamund Pike, Samuel L. Jackson, Saoirse Ronan, Stephanie Meyer, Sweet Home Alabama, The Host, Three Fates, Vin Diesel, Zoe Saldana 7 Comments

Book Review: Three Fates (Nora Roberts)

Plot:

When the Lusitania sank, one survivor became a changed man, giving up his life as a petty thief—but keeping the small silver statue he lifted, a family heirloom to future generations. Now, nearly a century later, that priceless heirloom, one of a long-separated set of three, has been stolen. And Malachi, Gideon, and Rebecca Sullivan are determined to recover their great-great-grandfather’s treasure, reunite the Three Fates, and make their fortune. The quest will take them from their home in Ireland to Helsinki, Prague, and New York where they will meet a brilliant scholar who will aid them in their hunt—and an ambitious woman who will stop at nothing to acquire the Fates.. (Goodreads)

Rating: 7/10

It took me roughly forever to finish this book – surprising, because I liked it. This is Nora Roberts when she was on her right path – interesting and intricate books that kept you reading. I enjoyed the multiple leading characters, and thought each was interesting enough to read about. I liked the mythology of the Three Fates and the lengths everyone was prepared to go to possess all three. I am always interested in the notion that people will go so far to obtain art objects – not that I don’t get their beauty or value, I am just always amazed that there are people out there who get obsessed by the thought of possessing an antique statue.

Anita was a good villain who just loved being despicable. I always have fun when girls are the bad guys but Anita could have been more intense – she is still a very PG13 villain. I thought her ruthless disposal of her henchmen were well done – it showed she only kept you as long as she used you. I would have loved if Jack could have found out that she had killed her husband and his good friend, because it would have been even better if she had been caught out on that as well.

The characters are, as always, unrealistic. Easy going Irishmen who believe in home and heart does not always end up with strippers or neurotic academics. I thought that Tia Marsh completely overreacted when she found out what Malachi was up to but it is not THAT bad. I did like Cleo Tolliver, although her character wasn’t all that solid – she was a stripper who didn’t want it, who lost her money because she basically gave it away to her slick lover (who is EVER that stupid), etc. etc. I really liked Jack Burdett and Rebecca Sullivan the most of the characters – they at least seemed a possible match.

I’m happy I found this though, because it is so much better than her Cousins O’Dwyer trilogy I was unfortunate enough to open.

Overall, one of the better Nora Roberts books out there. I really adore the woman specifically because of books like these – while it is fun and light to read, it is still compelling and interesting.

January 21, 2015January 16, 2015 by Natasha Categories: Books, ReviewsTags: Books, Nora Roberts, Reviews, Three Fates 5 Comments