tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70575983629133294582024-03-12T23:48:06.432+00:00Certainly GeekyWelcome to my little bit of the internet! It's full of geeky things, books, and anything that catches my eye! I hope you enjoy it!Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-84606797378279133682020-01-13T18:00:00.000+00:002020-01-13T18:00:13.196+00:00Recent Reads: Creative Journalling by Renee Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DVGIkyjlx5c/XgcNKkrl_DI/AAAAAAAAnKk/wk-7n-YYA7YnKzNF2J_YHxTapodA6YOjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/creative%2Bjournalling.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DVGIkyjlx5c/XgcNKkrl_DI/AAAAAAAAnKk/wk-7n-YYA7YnKzNF2J_YHxTapodA6YOjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/creative%2Bjournalling.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My review: π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Creative Journaling is a guide to layouts for bullet journals (called dot grid journaling here), junk journals (when you use left over ticket stubs, pages from books and so on to make a journal), mixed-media journals (when you use paint, hot glue guns, and other things to make an artistic journal), and travel journals (making pockets to put tickets and so on).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I use a bullet journal, but I hadn't seen how to set up any of the others, and so this book gives you clear instructions for how to set up all of these, and make it your creatively. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoyed the different layouts for the bullet journal, as that's what I will probably mostly take away from it, although the travel journal is something I've always wanted to do, so seeing the suggestions here, hopefully I'll be inspired to make something next time I'm planning on travelling!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of clear instructions and lovely photos, along with a list of resources and explanations! This is a great introduction to journaling!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45731555-creative-journaling?from_search=true&qid=5hgz9wjO4I&rank=1">Creative Journaling</a> was published on 14th January 2020, and is available to buy </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Journaling-Techniques-Amazing-Travel/dp/1631066390/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=creative+journalling&qid=1577520531&sr=8-4">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/creative-journaling/renee-day/9781631066399">Waterstones</a>. I've found a <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch">link</a> to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow Renee Day on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thediyday/">Instagram</a>, or through her <a href="http://www.thediyday.com/">website</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you're interested in other resources for Bullet Journaling, have a look at my review of <a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/09/recent-reads-bullet-journal-method-by.html">The Bullet Journal Method</a> by Ryder Carroll. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you're inspired to do crafty things, then have a look at <a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/12/recent-reads-crafting-cute-polymer-clay.html">Crafting Cute: Polymer Clay the Kawaii Way</a> by Dani Banani.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can also visit <a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2015/09/kirstie-allsops-handmade-fair.html">The Handmade Fair</a> with me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to <a href="https://twitter.com/quartoknows">Quarto Knows</a> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(the publishers) for this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1424213-pam-sartain" target="_blank">GoodReads profile</a> to see more reviews!</span></div>
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-17579794188518950152020-01-10T18:00:00.000+00:002020-01-10T18:00:05.381+00:00Recent Reads: Chew the graphic novel series by John Layman and Rob Guillory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fbDyiqsiuM/Xgcwq3c4ckI/AAAAAAAAnK8/GAn2LJuXLiUu5Srv_dQX2ba6SEI5tmFLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/chew%2Bvol%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="296" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fbDyiqsiuM/Xgcwq3c4ckI/AAAAAAAAnK8/GAn2LJuXLiUu5Srv_dQX2ba6SEI5tmFLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/chew%2Bvol%2B1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My review: π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Welcome to a world where avian flu has swept the world, and where eating chicken has been outlawed. The most powerful law enforcement agency is the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as they have to shut down any and all ways of people eating chicken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Tony Chu is a cibopath, which means that he can see where something he has eaten has come from, it's memories, you might say. The same is true if he eats normal food, or people. The only thing that stops his powers are beets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This graphic novel series is not for the faint of heart or stomach! Yes, Tony does indeed take bites out of people, and we have blood, and guts, and other people eating others, because, believe it or not, Tony Chu is an FDA Agent, and eating people is often part of his job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I've read all 12 volumes of the graphic novel, and it was very entertaining, funny, heartwarming, gross and sad. I really recommend it, but just bear in mind my warnings over the grossness of it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you do read it, I hope you enjoy, and do go all the way until the end!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6839093-chew-vol-1?from_search=true&qid=fLD5jqBpjI&rank=1">Chew volume 1</a> was published in 2009, and is available to buy </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chew-Vol-1-Tasters-Choice-ebook/dp/B007KAN33O/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=chew&qid=1577529329&sr=8-3">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/chew-volume-1-tasters-choice/john-layman/rob-guillory/9781607061595">Waterstones</a>. I've found a <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch">link</a> to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow John Layman on <a href="https://twitter.com/themightylayman">Twitter</a>, and Rob Guillory on <a href="https://twitter.com/rob_guillory">Twitter</a> and on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rob_guillory/?hl=ru">Instagram</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1424213-pam-sartain" target="_blank">GoodReads profile</a> to see more reviews!</span></div>
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-26032483619880957492020-01-06T18:00:00.000+00:002020-01-06T18:00:03.412+00:00Recent Reads: The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying up by Marie Kondo, illustrated by Yuko Uramoto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tzXxm4RBF3E/XgcYEDBLLJI/AAAAAAAAnKw/kdjFNSyjYe0KuvoGbdUClBMlgKZTPQdOACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/The%2Blife%2Bchanging.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tzXxm4RBF3E/XgcYEDBLLJI/AAAAAAAAnKw/kdjFNSyjYe0KuvoGbdUClBMlgKZTPQdOACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/The%2Blife%2Bchanging.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My review: π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">KonMarie has been a way of tidying up that has been around for a while, and is one of those that lots of people rave about!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A Netflix series came out in 2019 called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, and I really enjoyed starting it! You could tell who had watched it from Instagram posts about folding clothing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the manga (graphic novel) about how to implement the KonMarie method, as you follow along Chiaki, a young woman with a super messy apartment, who is helped by Marie Kondo with how to tidy her apartment, and see the magic of it helping her life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed the manga, seeing the uncertainness of Chiaki, saying the things that you know clients and others who have put the method into practice will have said! It showed exactly what you should do, making it clear, and giving you the reason why you do this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34043787-the-life-changing-manga-of-tidying-up?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=3c1Umv6FQ0&rank=1">The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up</a> was published on 17th October 2019, and is available to buy </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Changing-Manga-Tidying-Up-Nonfiction/dp/1529028353/ref=sr_1_1?crid=F6UTNUEB9NWV&keywords=the+life+changing+manga+of+tidying+up&qid=1577523317&sprefix=the+life+changing+man%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-life-changing-manga-of-tidying-up/marie-kondo/9781529028355">Waterstones</a>. I've found a <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch">link</a> to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow Marie Kondo on <a href="https://twitter.com/MarieKondo?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a>, or through her <a href="https://konmari.com/">website</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow Yuko Uramoto on <a href="https://twitter.com/uramotomaru?lang=mr">Twitter</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you're interested in self help books, then here's some others I've reviewed:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/10/recent-reads-edited-life-simple-steps.html">An Edited Life: Simple Steps to Streamlining Your Life, at Work and at Home</a> by Anna Newton </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/05/recent-reads-hinch-yourself-happy-by.html">Hinch Yourself Happy</a> by Mrs Hinch </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to <a href="https://twitter.com/panmacmillan">Pan Macmillan</a> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(the publishers) for this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1424213-pam-sartain" target="_blank">GoodReads profile</a> to see more reviews!</span></div>
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-8764525331610554772020-01-03T18:00:00.000+00:002020-01-03T18:00:06.856+00:00Recent Reads: Heida by Steinunn SigurΓ°ardΓ³ttir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My review: π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Heida is a farmer in Iceland, in the highlands. She is a former model, and lives with her mother on the farm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a really interesting account of her life, giving you insight to what it really must be like to live up there, have 500 sheep with the lambing, shearing, scanning for pregnancies, and herding them in for the winter. All whilst living next to a volcano.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This reads as a mix between diary, flow of consciousness and interview. There doesn't always seem to be a link between paragraphs, but it is a really interesting account of Heida trying to keep a hydro-electric dam from taking some of her land, and how she had to balance her farm with going in to politics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I did enjoy Heida, it's an enjoyable adventure to a completely different life, and one that I feel is very apt for January as Heida's life is so matter of fact and without unnecessary waste, which is what we often want in January!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45100477-heida">Heida</a> was published on 18th April 2019, and is available to buy </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heida-Shepherd-at-Edge-World-ebook/dp/B07L97JM9M/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1576129938&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/heida/steinunn-sigurdardottir/9781473696471">Waterstones</a>. I've found a <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch">link</a> to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow Steinunn SigurΓ°ardΓ³ttir on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sigurdardottir.Steinunn/">Facebook</a>, or through her <a href="http://steinunn.gotobest.net/">website</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you're interested in other stories of women's lives, then here's some others I've reviewed:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/09/recent-reads-three-women-by-lisa-taddeo.html">Three Women</a> by Lisa Taddeo </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/09/recent-reads-art-of-love-romantic-and.html">The Art of Love: The Romantic and Explosive Stories Behind Art's Greatest Couples </a>by Kate Bryan and illustrations by Asli Yazan </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/05/recent-reads-furious-hours-murder-fraud.html">Furious Hours; Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper Lee</a> by Casey Cep </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to <a href="https://twitter.com/johnmurrays">John Murray Press</a> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(the publishers) for this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1424213-pam-sartain" target="_blank">GoodReads profile</a> to see more reviews!</span></div>
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-1209466662899874332019-12-31T06:11:00.000+00:002019-12-31T06:11:01.485+00:00Recent films: A Bad Moms Christmas (31st December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lYSeLX6cdrg/XgizXioGzrI/AAAAAAAAnQI/WASZ-4z8YpENn_YYZ5ewjIhRLKPmj9FSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/a%2Bbad%2Bmoms%2Bchristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lYSeLX6cdrg/XgizXioGzrI/AAAAAAAAnQI/WASZ-4z8YpENn_YYZ5ewjIhRLKPmj9FSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/a%2Bbad%2Bmoms%2Bchristmas.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've seen <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6359956/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0">A Bad Moms Christmas</a> before, but I enjoyed it, and wanted to watch it again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the second film in the Bad Moms series, and I just love all of the characters, and how they struggle together to find themselves rather than doing what society tells them they should be doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this instalment, our bad Moms are being visited by their Moms, just in time for Christmas! And you can see where they each get their habits from! Which is exactly what you need at such a high pressure time as Christmas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoyed the film, even if I was cringing at some points (I've not managed to get through Bridesmaids), but otherwise I found it hilarious!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that's it! My last Christmas film! This has been an interesting experience watching all of these films and writing about them, and I'm in the process of writing a post about it, so stay tuned!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you've enjoyed this! Any suggestions for films to watch next year?</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-24785690584961624402019-12-30T18:00:00.000+00:002019-12-30T18:00:12.887+00:00Recent Reads: The Ghost of Christmas Past by Angie Fox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ1aasBRQDU/Xgb-9ifziaI/AAAAAAAAnKY/PqHmjLKAYkwZKE8i6ra8SE18ZvGjHzrWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bghost%2Bof%2Bchristmas%2Bpast.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ1aasBRQDU/Xgb-9ifziaI/AAAAAAAAnKY/PqHmjLKAYkwZKE8i6ra8SE18ZvGjHzrWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/the%2Bghost%2Bof%2Bchristmas%2Bpast.png" width="258" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My review: π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Verity and her boyfriend Ellis are in love, the only down side being his family, or more particularly, his mother. It doesn't help that Verity was engaged to Ellis' brother, Beau, and broke it off due to Beau's can't keep it in his pants behaviour, and then Virginia, Beau and Ellis' mother saddled Verity with the bill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Virginia doesn't think Verity is good enough for Ellis, but then, Virginia doesn't think any one does anything well enough to her mind, and this has been a growing problem for Verity, and this Christmas Eve is the night that Verity snaps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This novella is a take on A Christmas Carol, and it was one that I enjoyed! The characters are explained to you so that you don't have to have read previous books to understand the situation, and it helps to remind you if you can't remember what happened in a previous book!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49108628-the-ghost-of-christmas-past?from_search=true&qid=uRpQMmfkWe&rank=6">The Ghost of Christmas Past</a> was published on 29th November 2019, and is available to buy </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-Christmas-Past-Angie-Fox-ebook/dp/B07XPGBZ1L/ref=sr_1_1?crid=W0N9KY1AV1LR&keywords=the+ghost+of+christmas+past&qid=1577517319&sprefix=the+ghost+of+chris%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-ghost-of-christmas-past/angie-fox/9781939661616">Waterstones</a>. I've found a <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch">link</a> to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This is book 8.5 in the Southern Ghost Hunter series, and I've reviewed number 7, <a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/04/recent-reads-pecan-pies-and-dead-guys.html">Pecan Pies and Dead Guys</a> and number 8, </span><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/12/recent-reads-mint-julep-murders-by.html" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Mint Julep Murders</a>.</div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Angie Fox also has another series of books called Accidental Demon Slayer, which has 11 books in the series! She</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> also has a </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AngieFoxAuthor/" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Facebook page </a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">and a </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/317089635033397/?ref=pages_groups_card&source_id=176533609089557" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">reader group</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you're interested in cosy crime books, then other than the previous book in this series, I'd suggest <a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/08/recent-reads-liar-in-library-by-simon.html">The Liar in the Library</a> by Simon Brett </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Moose Island Books and Author Collective 20 </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(the publishers) for this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1424213-pam-sartain" target="_blank">GoodReads profile</a> to see more reviews!</span></div>
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-61117903750912931902019-12-30T06:11:00.000+00:002019-12-30T06:11:05.039+00:00Recent films: Christmas Break-in (30th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NC2GOgGZcA/XgifA3n306I/AAAAAAAAnP8/b1anpcNfipsOP62wok7ZERIMkDjihre6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/christmas%2Bbreak-in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NC2GOgGZcA/XgifA3n306I/AAAAAAAAnP8/b1anpcNfipsOP62wok7ZERIMkDjihre6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/christmas%2Bbreak-in.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: πππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hadn't heard anything about <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8244578/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl">Christmas Break-in</a>, but I spotted it on Netflix, and when I saw it had Danny Glover in it, I was sold!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Izzy is 9 years old, and her parents are a little distracted when trying to remember things for her, such as 3 dance recitals they missed. Her elder brother tries to step in to help out, and is also exasperated at their parents uselessness. Izzy has a way of reminding them about things which involves writing on them in permanent marker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the last day of school before Christmas, and Izzy's guitar teacher / janitor (yes, Danny Glover!) feels like the only other person who cares about Izzy other than her brother. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into the mix, we have 3 robbers who have stolen coins from the Salvation Army store the night before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's very much like Home Alone! There's hijinks, and slapstick comedy. It's a family film, and was entertaining and cheesy, complete with Nick, a delivery driver for North Pole deliveries. </span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-68877587897265504472019-12-29T06:10:00.000+00:002019-12-29T06:10:07.822+00:00Recent films: The Grinch (29th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3Ey4w2McE0/XgduHkzDKaI/AAAAAAAAnLI/SkCQhsxmVPcP2e_yRjGwVy3eVuSdniLNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bgrinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3Ey4w2McE0/XgduHkzDKaI/AAAAAAAAnLI/SkCQhsxmVPcP2e_yRjGwVy3eVuSdniLNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bgrinch.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: πππππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0170016/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">How The Grinch Stole Christmas</a> starring Jim Carrey is a film that I've loved for I don't remember how many years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Grinch lives near Whoville, where everyone loves Christmas maybe a little too much! The Grinch hates Christmas, and hates Who's. Some of them share his dislike, and others are scared of the rumours about his.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little girl starts doubting the meaning of Christmas, is the one who wants to know more about the Grinch, and so starts a chain of circumstances that brings about the Grinch stealing Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like the mix of the cartoon with the reality, such as the hole that Max makes when thrown into the snow. I enjoy Jim Carrey's humour in the film, and his physicality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoy the social commentary that there is throughout the film - that people think Christmas is only about presents, and are obsessed with outdoing each other. This is a film that presents things in a different way, and I enjoyed all of it!</span><br />
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<br />Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-63359747596040172062019-12-28T06:10:00.000+00:002019-12-28T06:10:30.295+00:00Recent films: Elf (28th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3FLYTKSx2M/XgXFH46CWHI/AAAAAAAAnKM/LdJXPmToSn4T6PXqx3fjzWMOQHXp32pHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/elf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3FLYTKSx2M/XgXFH46CWHI/AAAAAAAAnKM/LdJXPmToSn4T6PXqx3fjzWMOQHXp32pHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/elf.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Elf</a> is a film that a lot of people really enjoy, and has generated so many memes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buddy is a human who crawls into Santa's sack as a baby, gets taken back to the North Pole by mistake, and adopted by an elf. No one has the heart to tell him he's a human for a long time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he overhears that he's a human, and goes to his father, he's told his story, and his father tells him when he can find his biological father. Which is why Buddy ends up going to New York.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His childlike innocence, love of sugar, and all round enthusiasm make a hilarious mix.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a fun mix of fantasy, stop motion animation, and a lot of enthusiasm and cynicism, and whilst not a film I'll watch every Christmas, it is one that I enjoy when it's on!</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-63100003359430079322019-12-27T18:00:00.000+00:002019-12-28T07:03:36.212+00:00Recent Reads: The Christmas Party by Karen Swan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1R5u5SGGfes/XgW3lQlWJuI/AAAAAAAAnKA/EAgWpidGvLgrzrKTvi9t47pCsCaVV80CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bchristmas%2Bparty.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1R5u5SGGfes/XgW3lQlWJuI/AAAAAAAAnKA/EAgWpidGvLgrzrKTvi9t47pCsCaVV80CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/the%2Bchristmas%2Bparty.png" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The last knight in Ireland dies suddenly, and leaves the castle to his youngest daughter (Willow), his eldest daughter (Ottie) gets a camp site and her cottage, and his middle daughter (Pip) gets the stables that she loves, and his wife (Serena) gets the dower house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Willow has a hard decision to make as she can't afford to do the repairs that the castle so desperately needs, and so decides to sell the castle, which none of her sisters or mother likes, if only for the fact that they don't understand why Willow has inherited it, and not Serena, or Ottie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everyone has secrets in this book, and they are all going to come out at the Christmas party which is to be held at the castle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I enjoyed the book, and found some of the secrets obvious, and others a surprise. It did set the scene well, with the castle feeling like another character in the book!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46025913-the-christmas-party?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VjxN0eYSr2&rank=1">The Christmas Party</a> was published on 31st October 2019, and is available to buy </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Party-Karen-Swan/dp/1529006058/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+christmas+party&qid=1577433014&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-christmas-party/karen-swan/9781529006063">Waterstones</a>. I've found a <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch">link</a> to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow Karen Swan on <a href="https://twitter.com/karenswan1">Twitter</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you're interested in family drama books, then here's some others I've reviewed:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-seven-sisters-by-lucinda-riley.html">The Seven Sisters</a> by Lucinda Riley </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/05/recent-reads-butterfly-room.html">The Butterfly Room</a> by Lucinda Riley </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/05/recent-reads-those-who-are-loved-by.html">Those Who Are Loved</a> by Victoria Hislop </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/10/recent-reads-confession-by-jessie-burton.html">The Confession</a> by Jessie Burton </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/11/recent-reads-perfect-dress-by-louisa.html">The Perfect Dress</a> by Louisa Leaman </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/11/recent-reads-rachels-pudding-pantry-by.html">Rachel's Pudding Pantry</a> by Caroline Roberts </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/12/recent-reads-christmas-at-rachels.html">Christmas at Rachel's Pudding Pantry</a> by Caroline Roberts </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to <a href="https://twitter.com/panmacmillan">Pan Macmillan</a> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(the publishers) for this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1424213-pam-sartain" target="_blank">GoodReads profile</a> to see more reviews!</span></div>
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-44147600342720799772019-12-27T06:11:00.000+00:002019-12-27T06:11:02.464+00:00Recent films: The Holiday (27th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4KkmShyTbs/XgUWbFWfWdI/AAAAAAAAnJ0/thzTWaqN6AMfmqGc2yleMYY35sqdDVQJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bholiday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4KkmShyTbs/XgUWbFWfWdI/AAAAAAAAnJ0/thzTWaqN6AMfmqGc2yleMYY35sqdDVQJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bholiday.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: ππππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ah, it's time for <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457939/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">The Holiday</a>! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was another re-watch because I enjoy the film! Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz swapping homes for Christmas whilst both try to get over guys is a film that probably wouldn't be made these days, as pointed out by my husband! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They are getting over guys, and meeting new ones. So quite a male centric film, which I didn't spot until he pointed it out to me. I think writing these blog posts has made me more analytical in that way, but I'm still not sure I would have noticed that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Any way, I enjoy the film, and the differences in the houses, even if the "English cottage" has an American cooker, and of course an American stove top kettle (those are the things I notice in films...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think it's a light hearted romance, where you are cheering the women on in getting over their heart breaks, and wanting more for them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's not many days left in December, and so I'm picking films I want to watch, and might mix in some that I've not seen before! You'll have to wait and see what else I'm watching!</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-84389643742551014042019-12-26T06:11:00.000+00:002019-12-26T06:11:11.360+00:00Recent films: Die Hard (26th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hEuBQsuKtHM/XgL3iXvqo9I/AAAAAAAAnJc/c-A3iwwAkrQkhp6RCRaGUMWR1VYFP8P2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/die%2Bhard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hEuBQsuKtHM/XgL3iXvqo9I/AAAAAAAAnJc/c-A3iwwAkrQkhp6RCRaGUMWR1VYFP8P2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/die%2Bhard.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ah, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Die Hard</a>! It's a film that it became fun to say was a festive film, and it's especially funny as it's true! It's also a change from all of the other Christmas films in that there is a whole bunch more death in this film than in any of the others I've reviewed for this Christmas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do I think this is a festive film? It has the angst of parents trying to do the best for their kids, especially when they live apart. It has a Christmas party, with people doing things they really should know better than to do. It has the amazing sweatshirt saying: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Now I have a machine gun </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ho-Ho-Ho</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which you can buy on Amazon, Etsy and probably lots of other places! I'm pretty should that all together, that makes it a Christmas film!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw a version of this <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRyanParker/status/944045049544712192">tweet</a> for the first time this Christmas Eve, and it really made me laugh:</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-z-0vOWsqk/XgL4l9rX7yI/AAAAAAAAnJk/KVsI39Ii0okSnezeJLpfTehKFgBOBYi-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-12-25%2B05.49.53.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="601" height="112" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-z-0vOWsqk/XgL4l9rX7yI/AAAAAAAAnJk/KVsI39Ii0okSnezeJLpfTehKFgBOBYi-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screenshot%2B2019-12-25%2B05.49.53.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yes, Die Hard is a Christmas film for me! If it isn't for you, that's fine, and if there's a film that sums up Christmas for you that I've not reviewed yet, let me know! I've got ideas for what I'm going to watch for the rest of this Christmas period, but what about next Christmas?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-49555637192792791152019-12-25T06:10:00.000+00:002019-12-25T06:10:14.264+00:00Recent films: The Santa Clause (25th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xkYyYoBzYIg/XgLwDEAByRI/AAAAAAAAnJQ/q0Pxr7gazfANMA_shI3i43VtYXS7yZDNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bsanta%2Bclause.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xkYyYoBzYIg/XgLwDEAByRI/AAAAAAAAnJQ/q0Pxr7gazfANMA_shI3i43VtYXS7yZDNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bsanta%2Bclause.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's time for an old favourite: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111070/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">The Santa Clause</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven't seen the film, Tim Allen plays Scott Calvin, an executive at a toy making company, who is to have his son (Charlie) for Christmas Eve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charlie is at the age where he no longer believes in Santa, and Scott, finding this upsetting, tells Charlie that he still believes. Scott's ex wife, Laura, and her new husband Neal (a psychiatrist) find this alarming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scott and Charlie have an adventure that night, with Scott putting on Santa's suit, and delivering presents, ending up at the North Pole, where Scott gets told he has entered into a contract by putting on the suit, and so has 11 months to get his life in order before he's due back at the North Pole!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The friction of divorced parents trying to work out the best for their child is throughout this film, and the difficulties of Scott and Neal's relationship. I think this helps the film by showing the hard times along with the good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this film - it has magic, Santa, and sparkly lights! Yes, it's showing it's age in places, but it's still a film I enjoy and want to go back to every year!</span><br />
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<br />Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-85239888058458496862019-12-24T06:10:00.000+00:002019-12-24T06:10:09.883+00:00Recent films: The Christmas Chronicles (24th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xNtzVcVn2I/XgBfZzRy3WI/AAAAAAAAnI0/CvXzqbxDtPIdrcD9Ce6ZqYp0bTMq-zVKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bchristmas%2Bchronicles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xNtzVcVn2I/XgBfZzRy3WI/AAAAAAAAnI0/CvXzqbxDtPIdrcD9Ce6ZqYp0bTMq-zVKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bchristmas%2Bchronicles.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2990140/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0">The Christmas Chronicles</a> is another Netflix original, and has a brother and sister who are grieving for their father, and getting through their first Christmas without him. Their mother works in a hospital, and so on Christmas Eve is called to work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The siblings end up waiting up for Santa, complete with camcorder, and the hijinks that ensue is what makes up the rest of the film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's another film of lessons, but I love the different take on Santa (complete with complaints about how the media portrays him as fat), and with the quotes of Christmas songs ('are you listening' said in a menacing tone!), I enjoyed it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has the right amount of entertainment for children, and humour for adults, so one everyone can enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/news/ni62710482?ref_=tt_nwr1">Christmas Chronicles 2</a> is due out next year (2020) with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell again! Hurrah!</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-28883730787296977082019-12-23T06:09:00.000+00:002019-12-23T06:09:01.768+00:00Recent films: Klaus (23rd December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTthGV4vZgs/Xf8ULbxu8kI/AAAAAAAAnIo/2z-OFzzQftYTLCFx19didYRnHjjeCNzEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Klaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTthGV4vZgs/Xf8ULbxu8kI/AAAAAAAAnIo/2z-OFzzQftYTLCFx19didYRnHjjeCNzEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Klaus.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: </span>πππππ<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4729430/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0">Klaus</a> is an original film from Netflix that came out for Christmas 2019. It's animated, and has a lovely style!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It tells the story of how Santa Claus came to begin. We have a lazy postman, Jesper, who is sent to a small island, which is the furtherest outpost with a ridiculous number of letters he needs to get before he's allowed home by his father, the Post Master General! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly for Jesper, he's managed to come into the middle of all out war by the people of this island, and they can express themselves very well without letters!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesper needs to find a reason for these people to want to send letters, otherwise he's going to be stuck there forever!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a trigger warning for this film, which is it deals with infertility. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found this film to be touching, and sweet, with beautiful animation, a little fantasy, and a lot of Santa! I loved it!</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-40567810049328642002019-12-22T06:09:00.000+00:002019-12-22T06:58:01.725+00:00Recent films: Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?! (22nd December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk2imjbyBOw/XfsU74PQXQI/AAAAAAAAnIU/urnpB1-Dw2k84zc4r_JYq8OilAGRH6bCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/nativity%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk2imjbyBOw/XfsU74PQXQI/AAAAAAAAnIU/urnpB1-Dw2k84zc4r_JYq8OilAGRH6bCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/nativity%2B3.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: πππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3558642/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?!</a> is the last film in the Nativity series. We have Mr Shepard (</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Martin Clunes) </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">as the person going in to the school, and the introduction makes you feel as though you've missed something before, but they just want to get to the meaty stuff of this story, but also have some background.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Sophie (Catherine Tate) is Mr Shepard's fiance, and her ex wants to get her back. He also happens to be amazing at flash mobs, which is the competition in this film!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's just say there's memory loss, New York, and the usual trouble in this film!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, another family film that is very suitable for children, but not one I'll be going back to watch!</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-37339353510798329712019-12-21T06:09:00.000+00:002019-12-21T06:09:03.777+00:00Recent films: A Heavenly Christmas (21st December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vj7D7rfm8G4/XfsPe9IxfoI/AAAAAAAAnII/0M-9dXBgL60O4iHE_HLDqd17x5RD7v71wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/a%2Bheavenly%2Bchristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vj7D7rfm8G4/XfsPe9IxfoI/AAAAAAAAnII/0M-9dXBgL60O4iHE_HLDqd17x5RD7v71wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/a%2Bheavenly%2Bchristmas.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: πππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6263260/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">A Heavenly Christmas</a> has Kristin Davis (Charlotte from Sex and the City, and <a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/12/recent-films-holiday-in-wild-15th.html">Holiday In the Wild</a>), Eric McCormack (Will from Will & Grace) and Shirley MacLaine (from Terms of Endearment, and a lot of other films!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kristin Davis plays Eve, who puts her work above her family. She is always rushing around on her phone, trying to get new clients as she has her eye set on a partnership that is due to be announced. She trips, and hits her head, and finds herself with Pearl (Shirley MacLaine) in a white place, in white clothes, and is told that she's died, but she can do some good for those still alive. She just can't talk to anyone she knew in life, and she can't tell her family where she is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Max (Eric McCormack) looks after his niece after her parents (his sister and singing partner) died in a car accident. He has a diner, and whilst he wants to do more with his music, since his sister died he really hasn't been feeling that engaged with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eve needs to help Max to find his passion for music again, and at the same time discover what is important in life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought the film was fine. It didn't blow me away, and didn't do anything unexpected! Unremarkable is probably a good word for it. I did like that Kristin Davis and Eric McCormack were in it, considering both Sex and the City and Will & Grace started the same year (1998), so that was appealing, otherwise it's a film you can skip!</span><br />
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<br />Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-28375689224848623112019-12-20T18:00:00.000+00:002019-12-22T07:26:27.277+00:00Recent Reads: Five French Hens by Judy Leigh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F4w970XqlmA/XfhfPSDdZaI/AAAAAAAAnHg/jkRLIfm44c003bpKk6KVkYfNfBIwe3tfACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/five%2Bfrench%2Bhens.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F4w970XqlmA/XfhfPSDdZaI/AAAAAAAAnHg/jkRLIfm44c003bpKk6KVkYfNfBIwe3tfACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/five%2Bfrench%2Bhens.png" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This cover is quite mis-leading, as it makes it look like it's a Christmas book, and there isn't a single scene that is set at Christmas time. It starts in February, and ends a few months later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Five French Hens is about five ladies in their 70s discovering that life isn't over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jen is 73, and just engaged to Eddie, who has decided to go on a stag do with his son to Las Vegas. Jen, and her friends decide they want to go to Paris, and so off the go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rose, a widow who teaches piano, Pam, who loves her dog and isn't interested in a relationship with anyone, Tess who is boisterous but has a husband who loves golf, and finds her embarrassing, and Della, whose only problem is money, and who is very much in love with her husband even after all these years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed this book, even if in the back of my mind I was wondering about when Christmas would fit in!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48548334-five-french-hens?from_search=true&qid=a7qHaU1IUY&rank=1">Five French Hens</a> was published on 5th December 2019, and is available to buy </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-French-Hens-hilarious-feel-good-ebook/dp/B07YL69J6R/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=five+french+hens&qid=1576558467&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/five-french-hens/judy-leigh/9781838894597">Waterstones</a>. I've found a <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch">link</a> to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow Judy Leigh on <a href="https://twitter.com/JudyLeighWriter?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a>, or through her <a href="https://judyleigh.com/about-me/">website</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you're interested in other books where age is just a number books, then have a read of:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/03/review-mr-doubler-begins-again-by-seni.html">Mr Double Begins Again</a> by Seni Glaister </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/05/recent-reads-one-summer-in-paris-by.html">One Summer in Paris</a> by Sarah Morgan </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">π</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to <a href="https://twitter.com/BoldwoodBooks">Boldwood Books</a> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(the publishers) for this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1424213-pam-sartain" target="_blank">GoodReads profile</a> to see more reviews!</span></div>
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-28051740199616426362019-12-20T06:09:00.000+00:002019-12-20T06:09:05.047+00:00Recent films: Call Me Claus! (20th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0O3rIMg-jl4/XfsMFdvIZsI/AAAAAAAAnH8/y9gfVedIx6UDcjX6zF0nuqR6UVCXlNrigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/call%2Bme%2Bclaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="262" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0O3rIMg-jl4/XfsMFdvIZsI/AAAAAAAAnH8/y9gfVedIx6UDcjX6zF0nuqR6UVCXlNrigCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/call%2Bme%2Bclaus.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: πππππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272018/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt">Call Me Claus</a> has Whoopi Goldberg as Lucy, who is a producer on a home shopping network. Nigel Hawthorne plays Santa aka Nick, who is looking for his replacement, and Lucy manages to hire him to play Santa on the home shopping network.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hijinks ensue with Nick saying things like 'Jumping Jingle Bells', which I loved as a phrase! He needs to persuade Lucy that he's Santa, and that she's the person who can replace him, as he has been Santa for 200 years, otherwise there's an Or Else clause, which means the end of days!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed this! The acting was fabulous, the storyline was fun, and Whoopi is always great in films!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is looking like my favourite films, for the most part, are fantasy films, which involve Santa!</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-47918354065857086902019-12-19T06:08:00.000+00:002019-12-19T06:08:10.053+00:00Recent films: Nativity 2 Danger in the Manger (19th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqE5OU9pRzg/XfnPufgpQHI/AAAAAAAAnHs/3JTfvoLh8nUGRPLVyRyfGbiRkIJwZRXKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/nativity%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqE5OU9pRzg/XfnPufgpQHI/AAAAAAAAnHs/3JTfvoLh8nUGRPLVyRyfGbiRkIJwZRXKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/nativity%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My review: πππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I went from Nativity! to <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2089750/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">Nativity 2</a> which might have been a mistake!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Martin Freeman from the first film has been replaced by David Tennant, and so we have to have a set up for why this new teacher is coming in, and what his problem is. His problems are he doesn't get on with his twin, his wife is very pregnant, and his father has come to stay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first film was fun and different. The second film is very much following in the footsteps of the first, and is a family film. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first film had who put on the best nativity. This film is about who can sing the best. Oh, and the other twin is leading his school in the singing competition, and is tipped to be first place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think if you have small children, they will probably love this film. Some of it is sweet, some of it is a bit too whacky for me! It might also be a film to not watch back to back! with the first!</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-66017313061856129292019-12-18T06:08:00.001+00:002019-12-18T06:08:05.869+00:00Recent films: Nativity! (18th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TtSBa3X4u5c/XfKGij-k23I/AAAAAAAAnF8/Loy8B64v7BIXzqmJ0y4yYuzLVIem0nuaQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Nativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="550" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TtSBa3X4u5c/XfKGij-k23I/AAAAAAAAnF8/Loy8B64v7BIXzqmJ0y4yYuzLVIem0nuaQCEwYBhgL/s320/Nativity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My rating: πππππ</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nativity! is the second British film on my list, with <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8623904/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0">Last Christmas</a> being the first, and you can read my review <a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/12/recent-films-last-christmas-9th-december.html">here</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I really enjoyed this! It was a look at a primary school event that happens annually at so many schools! The nativity! Except we have Martin Freeman as a teacher called Paul Maddens who has given up. He doesn't really care any more, but then he talks to a former university friend, Gordon Shakespeare, who asks about Maddens former girlfriend, Jennifer Lore (Ashley Jensen), who moved to Hollywood to become a big time producer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maddens manages to tell Shakespeare that Lore is coming to watch their nativity, and so the problems spiral from there, helped by Mr Poppy, a classroom assistant, who is more student than helper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was so different to the other Christmas films around, and was a breath of fresh air. It was very enjoyable!</span><br />
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-57709209548934521172019-12-17T06:07:00.000+00:002019-12-18T07:13:15.779+00:00Recent films: Jingle Belle (17th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzyEphPDqTk/XfKDRsopmGI/AAAAAAAAnFk/y8xZjXy3pTI3nXRJvz7g8k_kexd4ufhVACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jingle%2Bbelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzyEphPDqTk/XfKDRsopmGI/AAAAAAAAnFk/y8xZjXy3pTI3nXRJvz7g8k_kexd4ufhVACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jingle%2Bbelle.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My rating: ππππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9058902/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Jingle Belle</a> is the second film with Tatyana Ali that I've watched this Christmas! The first one was <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9028802/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_6">Christmas Everlasting</a>, and you can read my review <a href="https://certainlygeeky.blogspot.com/2019/12/recent-films-christmas-everlasting-10th.html">here</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bella is a singer/ songwriter who writes jingles. And now you know why the film is called Jingle Belle!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Belle lives in New York, and with so many of these films, she doesn't go home for Christmas much. She gets writers block, and when her boss hears that Belle's sister wants her help writing a song for the Christmas Eve show in her home town, she gets sent to help out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Belle used to perform at the Christmas Eve show with her ex-boyfriend, who is now the high school music teacher, and in charge of the Christmas Eve show.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a fun film, and I enjoyed the chemistry between the two as they wrote the songs. It was all Christmasy, and only a little cheesy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-37119259911789196232019-12-16T18:00:00.000+00:002019-12-16T18:00:05.006+00:00Recent Reads: You Smell! (And so does everything else) by Clive Gifford, illustrations by Pete Gamlen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXE64z2q2bo/XfHgCzFhWBI/AAAAAAAAnFY/szVWS-qq5dAz15zpf76Aat9RpgIs0NyiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/you%2Bsmell%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXE64z2q2bo/XfHgCzFhWBI/AAAAAAAAnFY/szVWS-qq5dAz15zpf76Aat9RpgIs0NyiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/you%2Bsmell%2521.png" width="311" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You Smell! is a fascinating book aimed at children all about how we smell, what we smell, and what different things smell of!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">There's lots of interesting facts that you know a little one would be eager to tell all of their friends, their parents, and any adult at the most embarrassing time. Particularly how often we fart. Enjoy that moment!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It is illustrated well, and was a good read. Because it looks at the molecules behind the smells, everyone will learn something from it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43886491-you-smell?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=nI4NRjNJ96&rank=1">You Smell!</a> was published on 7th October 2019, and is available to buy </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Smell-does-everything-else/dp/1786273926/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=you+smell&qid=1576138122&sr=8-3">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/you-smell/clive-gifford/pete-gamlen/9781786273925">Waterstones</a>. I've found a <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch">link</a> to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow Clive Gifford on <a href="https://twitter.com/clivewrites?lang=en">Twitter</a>, or through his <a href="http://www.clivegifford.co.uk/">website</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You can follow Pete Gamlen on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/petey_royale/">Instagram</a>, or through his <a href="https://petegamlen.com/">website</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenceKingPub">Laurence King Publishing</a> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(the publishers) for this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1424213-pam-sartain" target="_blank">GoodReads profile</a> to see more reviews!</span></div>
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Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-4042303886280568142019-12-16T06:07:00.000+00:002019-12-16T06:07:01.566+00:00Recent films: The knight before Christmas (16th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2Ekvhr53k4/XfB97m2x0OI/AAAAAAAAnEY/RfVY3taDuB0IvsvLP03C4MtvSxKP76amQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bknight%2Bbefore%2Bchristmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2Ekvhr53k4/XfB97m2x0OI/AAAAAAAAnEY/RfVY3taDuB0IvsvLP03C4MtvSxKP76amQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the%2Bknight%2Bbefore%2Bchristmas.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My rating: ππ</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10060094/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">The Knight before Christmas</a> is a Netflix special, with Vanessa Hudgens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sir Cole meets a witch in the woods, and gets transported to the present, where he appears in a Christmas village, and manages to stumble into the road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Brooke is a high school science teacher, who hits Sir Cole with her car as he appears in the road. She feels so guilty, she goes to the hospital with him, and when he insists he's a medieval knight, she takes him home to recover. This is the beginning of my problems with this film!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">There were moments where I was just sitting watching the film, and thinking 'why?'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an ok film, but jerked me out of suspension of disbelief too many times, so not a film that I would recommend, unless you need to watch it so you can talk to people about it!</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7057598362913329458.post-82428939789563308862019-12-15T06:07:00.000+00:002019-12-15T06:07:03.249+00:00Recent films: Holiday in the wild (15th December)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-okZL-w8XCO8/XfB6-Y-zZWI/AAAAAAAAnEM/Xciro0qv0iIJ4NJuUTD5cqyKNQYnVPx6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Holiday%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bwild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-okZL-w8XCO8/XfB6-Y-zZWI/AAAAAAAAnEM/Xciro0qv0iIJ4NJuUTD5cqyKNQYnVPx6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Holiday%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bwild.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: ππππ</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's not beat around the bush here, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8510488/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Holiday in the Wild</a> is not a Christmas film. I believed it was, and the original title was Christmas in the Wild, and there are some Christmas scenes, but really, this is in the same vein as Wild, Eat Pray Love, where a woman goes away and discovers herself, and something she's passionate about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This film was one that Kristin Davis was trying to get made for a while, as she is passionate about elephant conservation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now we've got all that out of the way, let's talk about the film! Kristin Davis plays Kate, a New Yorker, whose son is off to college for the first time, and whose husband announces, as soon as the son has left, that he wants a divorce as he's no longer happy. Kate had booked a safari as a surprise for them both, as a second honeymoon, so they could reconnect. So she goes off on the safari on her own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rob Lowe (yes, big names in this Netflix film!) plays Derek, a small plane pilot, who takes people on their safaris, but who lives at an elephant sanctuary, and who is always on the lookout for hurt or killed elephants. He spots a dead elephant with a living calf on the flight to take Kate to her safari, and so diverts to call in help. Kate decides to go with the calf, and announces that she's a former vet, who stopped practicing, but can help out, and so decides to do that instead of going on safari.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst this wasn't a Christmas film, I did enjoy it. The setting is beautiful, the story was enjoyable and I liked the story of self discovery.</span>Pam Sartainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711490094450910600noreply@blogger.com0