time travel

Movie Reviews 4/5 stars: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Julie Gilbert Fantasy, ghosts, Young Adult , , , , , , ,
This is the movie poster. I do not own the rights to it, but it’s not exactly a state secret.

*mild spoilers possible in discussion

Summary:

I had no expectations going into the movie, except that if Tim Burton directed it, you’re bound to be in for some brand of weird.

Additional Comments:

  • I never read the books, so I can’t compare how that story lines up/lives up to this one.
  • Casting department did a nice job. Eva Green as Miss Peregrine pulled off austere yet caring very well. The kid who played Jake Portman pulled off average Joe look very well too.
  • Characters 4/5: There are a heck of a lot of characters here. Jake and Emma are fairly quickly singled out as the would-be love interests. Miss Peregrine explains she’s an em-something or other lady who can control time. Their powers are kind of ordinary for Gifts, but it still works very well. Don’t remember all their names but there’s an adorable little girl who has super strength. (That led to some great moments like her picking up the twins and holding them up so they can see.) Fiona can make things grow. Enoch can control inanimate objects as long as they have a little creepy heart he puts in them. Emma can fly. There are a few others, but I forget their powers
  • Plot 3/5: I enjoyed the sections seeing the parts of their daily life and meeting the Peculiars.
  • Pacing 2/5: They could definitely have cut like 20 minutes and been fine. The beginning part crawled. Once he actually got to the home, things moved along better.
  • For kids? Content warnings: Not sure who the movie was aimed at. Seems like a kid movie, but the thing with the eyes was kind of nasty. I get it, they’re monsters, but still, that’s just gross.
  • Favorite part: When the bad guy brings Jake to the home and Miss Peregrine agrees to go with him. The part where she shushes the bad guy like 3 times was hilarious. I enjoyed the fact that it was a powerful moment but they put some humor into it.
  • Comparatives: It’s most similar to Percy Jackson in terms of monster fighting. A wee bit of Harry Potter school/ routine influence.

Time travel aspect:

  • I’ve very rarely seen time travel stories that work. This is one of those rare explanations that I buy the explanation.

Conclusion:

I enjoyed it. Don’t think it’ll ever be in my top 10 must see movies ever, but I’m glad I took the time to watch it.

Associate links to follow…

This Movie…

Amazon Prime

 

Audible – If you’d like some free codes, please email me at [email protected] with requests for any of my works.

Try The Dark Side of Science.


OR

4 More Free Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

Julie Gilbert dystopia, Fantasy, Paranormal, Reader Resource, romance, Young Adult , , ,

Starstruck Cover

Introduction:

And we’re back with more fantasy. This time, I’m chucking in the science fiction option too.

YA Paranormal Romance: Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt

Arguably one of the few genres that fit in the “not my thing” category, but they’re popular. Oh, so popular. I do love the cover.

Epic Fantasy: Slumbering by C.S. Johnson

While we’re judging books by their covers … this one looks dark, foreboding, and awesome. Love the angel wings or are they demon wings?

Fantasy not your thing? Try Science Fiction.

Nothing says Scifi like Time travel: Knot in Time by Alan Tucker

This one’s definitely going to have a distinct voice. You get that much from the blurb. Some people love time travel books and some don’t. If you’re in the “do” category, give this a go.

Bonus:

Nyssa Glass and the Crisis Caper by H. L. Burke

Steampunk novelette.

Conclusion:

This collection hits multiple flavors: epic, lighthearted, and romantic. If you’re a reading omnivore, I’d love to hear your thoughts on all three.

(associate links to follow)

Kindle Unlimited

Anybody ever tried this? What do you think of Kindle Unlimited? When I retire in like 60 years, I’m totally signing up.

 

Amazon Prime

Free Kindle Reading App

Audible


Audiobook Reviews: 4/5 Beacon by Chess Desalls

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy, Reader Resource , , ,

 

Summary:

A girl goes for a coveted apprenticeship and doesn’t know what exactly that entails.

Additional Comments:

– The story has some neat little twists but it also has some questionable points such as why the apprenticeship is so special. I won’t elaborate on those here to avoid ticking off those who hate spoilers.

– What’s so wonderful about the lanterns anyway? (That might have been answered in book one, but I’m new to the series at book two.)

– The blurb pretty much spells out the tale.

– Serah Kettel’s a decent character. She’s not the most spectacular at anything, yet you’ll probably find yourself rooting for her anyway. There’s an innocent quality to her.

– Master Machin’s just sort of the mysterious puppet-master type, respected, yet not really known.

– The cook’s probably the most fleshed out of the side characters. Loved her.

– There are some lovely descriptions in here.

 

Conclusion:

If you’re in the mood for a short fairy tale, go for it.

As Always …

If you want the chance to get the audiobook for free, please join Audiobook Readers’ Edge.

If you’re an author (or a narrator) with an audiobook you’d like featured, sign up for Audiobook Authors’ Edge.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Julie C. Gilbert

Audiobook Edge is completely free, but if you wanna donate anyway, go for it 😉

Er, just do it as a friend b/c otherwise, you’re basically just paying paypal.

Prime Student – definitely that time of year

Kindle Unlimited

Free Kindle Reading App

Audible

Audiobook Reviews: 4/5 The Time Pedaler by Michael Maxwell and Tally Scully

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, children's, middle grade, mystery, time travel , , , ,

 

Summary:

Chant Baker finds and old time machine in the basement of his parents’ shop. He uses it to visit a few key spots in history and solve a small mystery.

Additional Comments:

– It’s middle grade appropriate.

– I’m not big on time travel books in general because logic always messes with my head. They tried to address the issue of clothes a few times, but it just seemed like everywhere Chant went initially, people were very friendly and totally accepting of the fact that he appeared out of nowhere. I can see his clothes blending in well enough in the 1960’s but 1860’s?

– His family’s perfect, but that’s cool. The fact that a perfect nuclear family strikes me as abnormal is probably just a sad commentary on the state of the modern world.

– The places Chant chooses to visit do follow a certain logic, which I appreciate. (Mostly, they’re places he wants to study for history or English class.) I enjoyed the fact that he didn’t get a perfect grade even though he’d traveled back in time and witnessed the event in person because history isn’t always remembered perfectly.

– There wasn’t a real sense of danger, but that might come from the general middle grade feel than something in the plot. Probably don’t want a story like this to come across as too scary anyway.

– I hear the audio version, which was very good.

– Fun, unique premise that’s well-executed (in audio format anyway)

Conclusion:

If middle grade time travel’s something you enjoy, Chant won’t disappoint you.

 

As Always …

If you want the chance to get the audiobook for free, please join Audiobook Readers’ Edge.

If you’re an author (or a narrator) with an audiobook you’d like featured, sign up for Audiobook Authors’ Edge.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Julie C. Gilbert

Audiobook Edge and it’s Matchmaker Program are completely free now, but if you wanna donate anyway, go for it 😉

Er, just do it as a friend b/c otherwise, you’re basically just paying paypal.

 

Audiobook Reviews: The Amazing Adventures of Mr. Tinker by Dr. Paul A. Ibbetson

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Reader Resource, scifi , , ,

Introduction:

Lately, I’ve been expanding my reading palate. It’s been quite an adventure, which is fitting given the book being featured today. I’ve not read a time travel story for a very long time. I think the last time travel movie I saw was Timeline (excellent movie by the way). Here, we meet Jovan. He’s an orphan taken in as an apprentice to this brilliant professor. In 59 pages, there isn’t a lot of time to develop their characters, but a lot happens. They meet up with Hitler, visit Woodstock, and much more.

Summary:

Mr. Tinker, in of Nicola Tesla’s associates, works with a young assistant named Jovan to try and recover 9 missing time travel devices.

Slight Disappointments:

  • This is not a novel. It’s a short story.
  • It doesn’t really have an ending either. It’s more of a part 1 of 3 or 4. As a big fan of closure, that’s disappointing.
  • Content warnings: There are a few curse words near the end, ~ last half hr. Their trip to Woodstock leaves them with some striking images burned on their brains.

What I Enjoyed:

  • The story is filled with wonders of a wild imagination. That’s one of the most compelling aspects of scifi in general. You never know what you’re going to get because the author can break almost any rule as long as there’s a plausible explanation.
  • The premise is simple yet fun. A professor and his assistant travel across time to prevent 9 villains from destroying time with their misuse of a great invention.
  • The tiger and little aliens are interesting side characters.
  • The book has an unusual yet interesting cover.

Conclusion:

In The Amazing Adventures of Mr. Tinker, we have a neat intro to an intriguing series.

Want a crack at owning this book for free?

If you want the chance to get the audiobook for free, please join Audiobook Readers’ Edge.

If you’re an author with an audiobook you’d like featured, sign up for Audiobook Authors’ Edge.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Julie C. Gilbert

For a limited time, I’m offering a fantasy book to anybody who supports Audiobook Edge.