Ingrid Bergman by Grace May Carter

 I am not a huge movie watcher but even I have heard of Ingrid Bergman - admittedly I coudln't pick her out of a line up but I know the name.  What interested me in this book was the fact it wasn't just a celebrity gossip book but rather covered her whole life.  In fact, I finished it feeling like a lot had been only touched upon from her Hollywood years and that there was far more beneath the words than this book told us.

Whilst every actor has "scandals" in their past Ingrid Bergman's are not discussed in any great detail.  They are mentioned but in an "in passing" sort of way rather than covering them in great depth.  Where it does excel is in her early life before she came to Hollywood and there is a great deal of very informative investigation done in to her childhood and family life.  The other thing it does really well is the whole Hollywood Machine and how the Studios had such a stranglehold on the talent - definitely gives the impression that they were a commodity rather than a person.

As much as I enjoyed the book it did feel like an introduction to the actress and it has left me wanting to read some more in depth about certain areas of her life.  Bit of an Ingrid Bergman 101.

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 25th and 27th July 2020 so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.

Desperately Ever After by Laura Kenyon

 2.5 Stars

Whilst I love a good fractured fairy tale this book certainly didn't cast the necessary spell for me.  I am definitely not a feminist but even I felt uncomfortable with the preoccupation of the characters with their appearance and how others perceive them.  It is just so facile and unimportant but Conderella's whole reason to be in the book seems to be to moan about her obsession with fitting in to her iconic blue dress *gag*.  I suppose the fable of the book is about insta-celebrity and how it really means nothing blah, blah, blah BUT for me it just didn't work.

I haven't checked the publishers recommended age range for the book but it reads very much like a sauced up tweenager book rather than YA and I would imagine that is the main audience this is aimed at - I would be shocked if it is supposed to be a novel aimed at adults.  Dialogue is mostly stilted and unrealistic, especially as these women are all supposed to be so close to each other there is no real feeling of connection between them from their interactions.

On the whole I feel like if you are interested in the whole Cult Of Celebrity then you would probably really enjoy this version on what happens after the marriage.  If such things more or less leave you cold then probably best to avoid this one.

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 11th and 13th July 2020 so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.

Lego Journey To The Skull Dungeons 71717

 The Ninjago sets continue to surprise me in a very good way.  I will be honest and say the only reason I purchased this set because of the board game feature - I bought the Skull Dungeon because it looked incredible on the pack art and then got this because it ties in for a board game.

The little castle dungeon this builds is really nicely detailed and was a really enjoyable construction experience.  It comes with a little pathway up to the dungeon itself which forms the spaces for the board game and is surprisingly large when all put together.  I really liked that there is a little cot bed in the dungeon so at least your minifigure captive can be comfy.

As seems to be the case with these Ninjago kits there are a plethors of minifigures included and the little Orc type guy is incredibly detailed.  Sadly he doesn't fit in the cage with his battle axe in hand but he does fit without it.

The mechanism for the cage raising and lowering is simple and very effective.

Definitely a fan of this kit and it is going to look great when I get the whole 4 built and on display - likely will never actually play the board game as it is a rather basic race to the end style game but the gameplay available with even just this as a stand alone piece is incredible and reminds me strongly of the castle kits from the late 1980s/early 1990s and this is a GOOD thing.

Number Of Pieces: 401

Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.06

Build Time: 1.25 Hours

 

Hot Mess by Lucy Vine

This was a fun dis-engage brain before reading book.  It was light and didn't take itself too seriously so perfect for settling down with a cuppa for a 15 minute bit of me-time.  Definitely easy to pick up and put down around normal life (as much as you can call 2020 normal) and you know each time you pick it up you will be entertained.

Ellie's voice is really strong as she narrates us through her life.  I loved that it felt like you were having a quick catch up with a really good friend every time you dived in to the book.  Yes, it covers a lot of ground and there is no real plot to speak of.  Life isn't a plot, it just is and this book portrays that and I loved the juxtaposition between being at work and your brain very definitely being on anything but work.  I'm not sure why Ellie refers to her life as a Hot Mess as she seems to have it pretty much together from my perspective.

Relaxing and fun read that won't teach you anything but WILL keep you entertained.

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 9th and 11th July 2020 so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.

Midnight's Twins by Holly Race

           In my opinion what doesn't help this book is the fact that Fern, our supposed heroine, is not a particularly likeable character.  I found her to be unsympathetic and verging on the annoying.  Yes, I get that her life isn't particularly great but it just felt like she blamed everyone else for her isolation from society whilst existing in it and did nothing at all to help herself.  No wonder the order of Annwn didn't want her and only wanted Ollie - she is far too self absorbed to make a good protector.

The world building is pretty average as well, you get a bit of a feel for Annwn but it never felt fully fleshed out.  Whilst based off Welsh folklore there is still an awful lot of room for the author to build a full and rich world but it never quite materialises.  There are some interesting details but then it tapers off in to generics again which draws you out of the world again and again whilst in the midst of the "action".  Couple this with a rotating cast of characters that are, on the whole, never properly introduced and it does become a bit of a muddy mess.

It just felt like the whole book was a huge missed opportunity.  It is a real shame as I was looking forward to a ripping YA fantasy and what I actually got was a set of good ideas that were not actualised so left me feeling more than a bit flat.

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 5th and 9th July 2020 so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.
       

It's A Lego Advent - Day 6

 

Haul Time

 This is what happens when you have 2 AFOLs living under the same roof that decide to randomly vsit Smyths Toys

The ISS actually came from Argos.  Thanks to both of us having some Love 2 Shop Vouchers we actually got that for free after pooling the vouchers so that was a major score.

The Avengers stuff belongs to the boy.  Theoretically the Ninjago kits are for both of us but in reality they are mine, all mine...muhahahaha.

The worst thing is I only really went to get The Child but couldn't restrain myself.