Thursday 24 December 2015

Star Wars or Star Warped...Contains spoilers

It may not come as a surprise to my followers/readers of the blog that I (Kooks) am a nerd/geek.  I think I can safely say that as such, 2015 has been film and television wise the year of Science Fiction and super heroes.  From Avengers Age of Ultron, through to Ant Man, culminating in the release last week of the mega hyped Star Wars The Force Awakens.  On television there have been such shows as Supergirl, Marvels Agents of Shield and for 2016 a new series of Star Trek, I would say that lovers of this genre are going to be well and truly satiated and the next generation of geeks/nerds come into fruition.

In 1977 my dad took myself and my older sister to see the original Star Wars.  I was six years old at the time.  Fast forward nearly forty years, several marriages, seven children, almost two grandchildren later and the hype that has been generated for this film is phenomenal. Star Wars fever really has struck it seems, but does the film live up to the hype?  Here is my honest opinion and it is my review and my opinion.  This does contain SPOILERS so if you haven't seen it, you'd better close the page.

I went to see it in 3D.  It's a good film.  In 3D its great.  The dialogue is so much better than the previous films, it flows and there is banter and more than a few comic moments.  The writer JJ Abrams has kept it seems to a mantra "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." What does this mean?  Simply that he's kept to a tried and trusted formula of the first one in the series pretty much running along the same lines as The Phantom Menace and A New Hope.  For example a desert planet, and the hero, in this case the heroine on a speeder wearing light airy clothing.

Han, Leia and Chewie's return was more than welcome.  However, when Leia spoke, I felt she was unable to move her lips and her lines sounded mumbled rather than spoken.

There are more than a few irritating moments during the film and it had a lot of ghosts from the previous films intertwined.  For example Anakin's petulance and frustration was apparent in his grandson (Kylo Ren) behaviour.  Seriously, using his lightsaber to destroy things in a clear paddy?  The boy needs taken over a knee and given a severe spanking.  When Kylo took his helmet off, all I could think was put it back on. Even his locks were Anakin-ish.

The storyline was what I would have expected from a Star Wars film.  This has clearly been aimed at drawing in a younger audience as well as keeping the die hard addicts satisfied.

However, JJ has my respect for one thing.  The ending. A classic keep the audience wanting more.  He left us on a cliffhanger, and not metaphorically.  For the thirty or so seconds that Luke Skywalker was in it, he was on a cliff.  Surprisingly enough for a Jedi who was so distraught that he went into hiding for so many years, he was amazingly coiffured and his hair and beard styled so that I thought he'd be perfect for a hair care commercial.

Leave the audience wanting more...JJ really has got that spot on.  He left the audience asking questions such as...Is Han really gone?  Who is Rey?  Is she Luke's daughter or is she Kylo Ren's twin sister?  Who is Finn and is he as most people suspect Lando Calrissian's son?  Poe Dameron...could he be strong in the force?  Will Yoda return?

Good it was, and go I will to see Episode VIII.  However, there is one thing left to say.  If I was asked the question Star Wars or Doctor Who, my answer is simple.

 
From Kooks (Manda) I would like to wish each and every one of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
 
Keep it Kooky xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 

 

Wednesday 9 December 2015

RETURN OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT BOOK TOUR WITH BROOK COTTAGE BOOKS


RETURN OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

 BY SUSAN BUCHANAN

 
Release Date: 29th Nov 2015
Christmas is just around the corner when Star begins working at Butterburn library, but not everyone is embracing the spirit of the season.
Sixteen-year-old Arianna’s mock exams are looming and she’s feeling under pressure. With her father living abroad and her mother working three jobs, she doesn’t have much support at home.
The bank is threatening to repossess Evan’s house, and he has no idea how he’s going to get through Christmas with two children who are used to getting everything they want.
Patricia’s cliché of a husband, after 23 years of marriage, has announced he’s moving out of the family home, and moving in with his secretary.
Daniel is doing the work of three people in his sales job, as well as looking after his kids and his wife. Pulled in too many different directions, he’s feeling stressed out.
Can Star, the library’s Good Samaritan, help set them on the path to happiness this Christmas?
 
BUY LINKS
ABOUT SUSAN BUCHANAN
 
Susan Buchanan lives in Central Scotland with her partner, Tony, and their two children. She is the author of three other novels: The Christmas Spirit, The Dating Game, and Sign of the Times. Return of the Christmas Spirit is her fourth book. She is currently working on her fifth book, What If.
Susan is also a proofreader, editor, and translator, and when not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, loves reading, the theatre, quiz shows, and eating out - not necessarily in that order!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/susan.buchanan.author
Twitter: susan_buchanan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4216164.Susan_Buchanan
Website: www.susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk
GIVEAWAY
There are 2 giveaways associated with this tour
Visit Susan’s blog at www.susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk, where there will be a Rafflecopter giveaway for a £10/$15 Amazon voucher for the duration of the tour and the launch day itself.
Plus
Enter the tour giveaway to win an ecopy (x2) of Susan’s book THE DATING GAME
 
 
MY REVIEW...BY KOOKS
This is the ideal Christmas read, especially while waiting for mince pies to bake in the oven.  Wonderfully heart-warming, with characters that the reader can relate to and empathise with. A quirky librarian with a delightful secret brings the story to life with an extra touch of magic!
The individual woes and tribulations of Patricia, Evan, Daniel and Arianna are cloaked in warm duvet thanks to Star and her way of soothing even the most troubled of hearts.
A total page turner and delightful especially for this time of the year.
 
 
 

Wednesday 2 December 2015

SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH BY KATHRYN FREEMAN. Review & Giveaway

Hi everyone and welcome to Kooks Nook.

Today on my blog I have the lovely Kathryn Freeman sharing her book Search For The Truth.
Published in August from Choc Lit this book has everything a romance reader could wish for. Anyway over to Kathryn...

Sometimes the truth hurts …

When journalist Tess Johnson takes a job at Helix pharmaceuticals, she has a very specific motive. Tess has reason to believe the company are knowingly producing a potentially harmful drug and, if her suspicions are confirmed, she will stop at nothing to make sure the truth comes out.

Jim Knight is the president of research and development at Helix and is a force to be reckoned with. After a disastrous office affair he’s determined that nothing else will distract him from his vision for the company. Failure is simply not an option.

As Tess and Jim start working together, both have their reasons for wanting to ignore the sexual chemistry that fires between them. But chemistry, like most things in the world of science, isn’t always easy to control. 

Buy Links



KOOK'S REVIEW
 
To use a somewhat strange saying here, Kathryn really does 'know her onions' when it comes to writing a romantic mystery set in the pharmaceuticals industry.  With a drop dead gorgeous hero in Jim Knight (wafts fan here!) and a secret hiding investigative journalist Tess the combination and sexual chemistry is explosive.  With witty dialogue exchanges between them, this book really does tick all the boxes for a romantic fiction reader such as myself.  Brilliantly written, with plot twists to keep the pages turning, this is a must read.  

ABOUT KATHRYN FREEMAN

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.

With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman




Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

 
GIVEAWAY

A Paperback copy of Too Charming by Kathryn Freeman

(open internationally)