Tag Archives: no spoilers

Oct30

Lil Red’s Book Club: Incidents Around The House By Josh Malerman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Incidents Around The House By Josh Malerman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a horror novel by Josh Malerman called Incidents Around The House. I see a fair amount of book related posts on my Facebook newsfeed and the first page of this book has shown up several times during my scrolling sessions. The first page is absolutely gripping and I finally decided to give it a go. Once I started reading, I literally couldn’t stop and finished this three hundred seventy page book in one day! It was excellent and I can’t wait to read more by Malerman. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Incidents Around The House for disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Bela is a little girl who lives with her Mommy and Daddo. She is on summer vacation and has been spending an awful lot of time indoors. Bela doesn’t have many friends to play with, but that’s okay. She has Other Mommy and Other Mommy is her friend. She thinks so, anyways. Other Mommy lives in Bela’s closet and has been visiting in the night for as long as Bela can remember. Sometimes they would laugh and play games, sometimes Other Mommy just watches her.

Although Bela is excited to see Other Mommy when she goes to bed at night, she is scared of her too. Other Mommy has a frightful appearance and has been known to pull terrifying faces, grow gargantuan in size, and slither around the floor like a snake. Other Mommy says that she’s Bela’s friend and that friends should help each other whenever they can. All Bela needs to do to help Other Mommy is let her into her heart. Then, Other Mommy can be Bela and Bela can live wherever Other Mommy goes whenever she slinks back into the closet.

Other Mommy has grown increasingly persistent and impatient for an answer from Bela about her request. So much so, that she has began making herself known to the adults in Bela’s life. Now that Mommy and Daddo know about Bela’s Other Mommy, they must protect their daughter from the evil in their home. But how? No matter where they go, Other Mommy follows and Other Mommy hurts. Will Other Mommy be vanquished for good? Or is Bela letting her into her heart the only solution? Read Incidents Around The House to find out!

Holy wow! Creepy right? Incidents Around The House was an unputdownable horror read from start to finish. I have to say, it was also delightfully refreshing to read some horror that isn’t Stephen King, as much as I love him! Incidents Around The House definitely reminded me of Coraline and this isn’t a bad thing as I am a huge fan of the book and movie. But make no mistake, this is no children’s book and truly feels like a Coraline for adults. I enjoyed every single page and couldn’t turn them fast enough.

Incidents Around The House is told from Bela’s perspective and my heart just broke for this poor girl. She is dealing with something SO scary all by herself. And, even when adults know about Other Mommy, she is still alone. The adults around her are cracking after just one glimpse of Other Mommy, while Bela has seen her every night. Incidents Around The House is, of course, about being brave even when you are by yourself. But it is also a firm reminder of the danger of harboring secrets and how quickly it can get out of hand when it finally comes to the surface. If you are a horror fan, this is a must read!

Overall, I am going to rate Incidents Around The House with a nine out of ten stars. I suspect there will be a lot more book club reviews for Josh Malerman’s books in the future. Also, I cannot wait to see the movie of this book coming out next year!

Have you read Incidents Around The House? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Long Walk By Stephen King (As Richard Bachman) Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Long Walk By Stephen King (As Richard Bachman) Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing The Long Walk by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman). As a huge horror movie gal, I am most interested in seeing the movie based on this book that recently came out. Of course, I had to read the book first! After reading through the sweet and cute as can be Chocolat series, I was very excited to delve back into my usual horror and suspense novels. I can’t think of a better place to start than with Stephen King – especially since spooky season is upon us! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this book for graphic violence, child abuse, sexual assault references, harm to animals, and disturbing content all involving children. If you’re up to it, let’s get to it:

The Long Walk is the nation’s favorite yearly pastime. It is a contest in which one hundred teenage boys simply walk under the watchful gaze of soldiers and the mysterious Major. The catch? You must maintain a pace of four or more miles per hour. Should you hit below four, you will receive a warning. There is no additional warning after the third one – you will be dead before you blink. One by one, the boys will be eliminated until there is one lone Walker to claim the prize: Fame and money beyond your wildest dreams and wishes granted. This is a contest that is not for the faint of heart and for boys who have nothing in their lives to lose.

Ray Garraty is our primary contestant and has a strong backing from his state of Maine. Did he enter The Long Walk for the glory, for repentance, or because he has a death wish? Who’s to say? But he is here and he is going to give it his best shot. Some boys compete in The Walk with a plan like to lone wolf it or frustrate other people into making mistakes. In Garraty’s case as with many others, they linked up in groups. Regardless of how you go about The Walk, there can only be one winner. There are no runner ups, no honorable mentions, and death is imminent for ninety-nine other competitors.

Despite these horrible circumstances, the boys trudge on. Armed with nothing but the clothes on their backs, a canteen of water, and food concentrates they must withstand whatever The Walk brings: Stormy weather, the delirium of no sleep, intense mental duress, and the pain that shoots through every inch of their bodies. Yet, they walk on. They walk until their death is the only option they desire. Only the strongest will survive. Will it be Garraty? Read The Long Walk to find out!

I have really mixed feelings about The Long Walk because it was written in a way that told us so much but also told us nothing. The Walk was, obviously, the focal point of this book and was the main character. It surpassed Garraty as the lead meaning that we knew next to nothing about the boys competing and everything about The Walk itself. This left little time to learn full back stories of the key handful of competitors and I wish that that was explored more. In a way, it was a mercy on King’s part. There were several teens that you wanted to see succeed and knowing more would have made their probable failure even more harrowing. The thing is, is that I’m nosey and still would have liked a bit of background information. On the other hand, it gives you the opportunity to draw your own conclusions.

Although I have some qualms with where the plot lacked, that is not to take away from the fact that is was expertly written, as always, by Mr. King/Bachman. He has a style that is undeniably his own and it continues to radiate. The way he describes horror is almost in a casual sense, then he surrounds the situation with joy wherever it can be found. A funny joke told by one of the boys, a competitor helping a fellow Walker to their feet, a rally by someone you thought was done for. In these moments of beauty, whatever painful situation that comes next hits even harder. There were sections in this book where it literally felt like I was being punched in the gut. Love or hate his books, there is no arguing in that they are a masterclass in pure horror.

Overall, I am going to rate The Long Walk with a six and a half out of ten stars. It wasn’t my favorite King/Bachman novel but it was still pretty good. I am looking forward to seeing the movie!

Have you read The Long Walk or seen the movie? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct20

Lil Red’s Book Club: Vianne By Joanne Harris Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Vianne By Joanne Harris Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the newly released prequel to the Chocolat series by Joanne Harris called Vianne. I have read through *almost* the entire series, skipping on Chocolat as I know the story well, in preparation for the prequel. It has been a delightful experience to read these charming novels of magic, hope, and change. However, I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t excited to delve back into my horror and thriller novels! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Vianne for pregnancy difficulties and miscarriage. Now, let’s get to it:

Vianne and her maman have been on the move for as long as she can remember. Their lives were spent traveling from country to country picking up menial work and living hand to mouth all in the name of avoiding the Man in Black. When the winds change, they ride it and go somewhere new. But, now, the destination is up to Vianne and her alone. Her mother has passed and Vianne would follow their old methods but these are special circumstances. Vianne is with child and she knows that she must find work and a place to call home to prepare for the arrival of her baby.

She ends up in Marseilles and every business she visits in search of work denies her. Finally, she tries her luck at a bistro called La Bonne Mere where the owner, Louis, takes a shine to her. Perhaps it is because of her pregnancy or he just needs the help, but he offers her a job in the kitchen and lodging. At La Bonne Mere, Vianne learns the recipes of Louis’s beloved wife and begins to get to know the people in the community. There is Guy and Mahmed who are opening a chocolate shop, cantankerous Emile, wise Khamaseen, and strangers who will become friends. Being Vianne, she has quickly turned Louis’s ramshackle bistro into a place to be but it worries her. It feels too much like home – too much like a good thing.

After an especially kind gesture from Louis, Vianne does what she does best. She flees. She ends up roughing it in Toulouse until she is beckoned back to Marseilles by Guy. He promises her work in the chocolate shop and will teach her everything he knows. Vianne is in no position to turn down this opportunity over living on the streets and accepts. Knowing that she must go back and make right the lives of the people who suffered in her abrupt parting.

With Guy, Vianne learns the magic of chocolate and helps prepare the chocolaterie for its grand opening. She revels in the ritual, in trying new recipes, and using her magic in a more domestic setting. Magic that spreads good into the world with the taste of chocolate on the tongue. Like the bistro, the chocolaterie feels like a place that Vianne can stay. But will that ever be good enough? Or will she answer the call to the wind once more? Read Vianne to find out!

I really enjoyed reading Vianne and it was so worth reading the Chocolat series through for this experience. After the entirety of the series was said and done, there was still so much that we didn’t know about Vianne prior to her arrival in Lansquenet. The prequel answered all of these questions and made me love this fantastical character even more. To finally know her backstory and fully understand her choices was like a gift from Joanne Harris and I craved reading Vianne as much as I crave chocolate on a regular basis.

For all of its delight, Vianne was a bittersweet read. We already know how it’s going to end because the rest of the series exists. But this book allows you to see what could have been. A cast of characters as dear as the ones in Lansquenet, another chocolate shop that is trying to stay on its feet, a permanent home for her children. Part of me wished for more of these stories because it was all too easy to find a closeness to the Marseilles community. We all know that Vianne wouldn’t be Vianne without accepting the winds of change and this book showed us how she came into her own. To learn the magic of chocolate and to be herself. The woman and mother she wants to be.

Overall, I am going to rate Vianne with a seven out of ten stars. This was definitely one of the better books in the series and was a lovely way to conclude my visit to the world of Vianne Rocher!

Have you read the Chocolat series? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct9

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Strawberry Thief By Joanne Harris Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Strawberry Thief By Joanne Harris Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the fifth and final installment of the Chocolat series called The Strawberry Thief. I have been rereading the series to gear up for the newly released prequel called Vianne and I am so excited to sink my teeth into it next. In October, scary movies reign supreme as Johnny and I complete the 31 scary movies in 31 days challenge. These lighthearted, easy read books are a nice change of pace from that and I have really enjoyed revisiting Joanne Harris’s work again. Before we begin chatting about one of my favorite books in the series, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Strawberry Thief for child abuse and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

It has been eight years since Vianne returned to Lansquenet with Anouk and Rosette after receiving a letter from her beloved and deceased friend. She had no intention of staying for long, just long enough to solve a problem for Father Reynaud and then it was back to Paris to be with Roux. However, the urge to settle became too strong and so Vianne, the girls, and even Roux made Lansquenet their home once again. A lot has changed in eight years but some things have remained the same. Vianne’s chocolaterie is open once more, Anouk is now living in Paris with her boyfriend, Rosette is still Rosette, and Roux has stayed in the same place for longer than he ever has before. Life is good, but the wind is blowing and with that wind comes drastic changes.

Rosette has never been one for words and prefers to use sign language or make animal noises. She makes some people uncomfortable but found a friend in the elderly man who runs a flower shop named Narcisse. He is gruff and unfriendly to almost everyone but has taken a shine to Rosette, his little strawberry thief. This nickname came from her love of exploring the woods behind his shop and eating her fill of the wild strawberries that grow there. She dreams of living there one day all by herself and maybe she will. Narcisse passed away suddenly and left the woods on his property to Rosette, much to the disdain of his daughter and family.

Not only did Narcisse leave Rosette a substantial piece of property but he made Father Reynaud the executor of his will. He also leaves behind his confession and life story that is for Reynaud’s eyes only. This infuriates his daughter even more and she spends her time harassing Vianne, Roux, Reynaud, and Rosette for more information. She wants to contest the will so she can have Rosette’s property all to herself. This isn’t the only change that the wind has brought. Shortly after Narcisse died, a new renter has set up in his old flower shop. A mysterious place, ran by an even more mysterious woman.

Vianne has a bad feeling about whatever is going on in that shop and demands that Rosette stay away. Perhaps because the owner reminds her a bit too much of Zozie, the eater of hearts? Despite her mother’s urges, the temptation to enter the shop is too great and Rosette enjoys the company of the owner named Morgane. On her first visit, she learns that Morgane is a tattoo artist – a profession that Lansquenet has never seen the likes of. This information delights Vianne because there is no way that a tattoo parlor will flourish in their small village. Right?

Wrong! Soon enough, Lansquenet is buzzing with tattoo fever and even the most unlikely residents have gotten fresh ink from Morgane. Rosette loves visiting the shop and between the stress of Morgane and her daughter’s friendship, a faltering romance with Roux, and Rosette’s newly acquired property, Vianne takes matters into her own hands. Vianne was once an outcast in Lansquenet and she wants Morgane to have the same treatment. No one, even Father Reynaud, can see what she sees but she feels it fiercely. Maybe if the wind takes Morgane away, the Kindly Ones will be satisfied and leave Vianne in peace. Or maybe, what she’s feeling is all in her head. Will Rosette be able to keep her woods? And will order be restored in Lansquenet if Morgane were to just pack up and go? Read The Strawberry Thief to find out!

I absolutely loved The Strawberry Thief and it was such a wonderful change of pace from its predecessor, Peaches For Father Francis. The Strawberry Thief was fast paced, short and sweet, and I devoured it in three sittings. This book was told from the point of view of Vianne and Father Reynaud as well as Rosette and this delighted me. Finally being able to hear Rosette’s thoughts after two books of not knowing much about her was so amazing. Rosette is sixteen in this book and her chapters spoke of growing up, social isolation, and carving a place in the world that was just for her. The words in her chapters moved me so deeply and solidified what I always knew – she’s not so different after all.

Not only did we get to see the world through Rosette’s eyes, but we also got to travel back in time with Narcisse’s life story. There is a secret that he took to his grave and needed to confess to someone in his passing. Who better than Father Reynaud? To learn the secret, we must start at the beginning and his is a harrowing tale of trauma, abuse, and grief that never left him. It was heartbreaking but beautiful as this shed light on why he became so fond of Rosette. With all of the excitement of these interweaving tales AND a tattoo shop opening in Lansquenet, I simply couldn’t stop turning the pages. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and was definitely one of the strongest in the entire series!

Overall, I am going to rate The Strawberry Thief with an eight out of ten stars. After my wishy washy sentiments over Peaches For Father Francis, I wasn’t sure what I was in for with this book. It was even better than I hoped for!

What are you currently reading? Who is your favorite author? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct5

Groovy Movies: The Strangers – Chapter 2 Edition

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Groovy Movies: The Strangers – Chapter 2 Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, now is your time to shine. There are countless new scary flicks on the horizon that look awesome and previous releases that share the same sentiments. One movie that I was particularly looking forward to is The Strangers – Chapter 2 because I absolutely love that franchise. I saw it this past week and I really enjoyed it despite the reviews raking it through the coals.

I never go into watching a horror movie with the expectation of a masterpiece and view them as popcorn flicks instead. Regardless of the outcome, I will be entertained and that was very much the case for the newest addition of The Strangers. It was a popcorn flick through and through! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always. But, before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on the film for harm to animals, disturbing content, and graphic violence. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!

The Strangers – Chapter 2 picks up exactly where Chapter 1 left off. The lone survivor, Maya, is recovering in the hospital after her terrifying first ordeal with The Strangers and is grieving the loss of her beloved fiance. She is wounded, in pain, and an emotional wreck but her problems are far from over. She is the only one who has ever survived an encounter with The Strangers and they aren’t going to let it stay that way. They have already infiltrated the hospital and the mad chase begins.

As Maya becomes the hunted once more, she emerges from the hospital into the rainy night in Venus, Oregon. Is there anyone she can really trust, though? Everywhere she turns, it seems like the whole small town is in on it and The Strangers know her every move before she even makes it. During moments of blessed solitude when Maya tends to her wounds, we learn flashbacks about Pin-Up Girl and Scarecrow when they were children in school as well as the origins of the question on everyone’s mind: Who is Tamara? Maya’s time alone is always short lived and she is outnumbered and has no one or nowhere to turn for help. Will she survive her second night being hunted by The Strangers? We’re going to have to wait for Chapter 3!

As I mentioned earlier, the reviews for The Strangers – Chapter 2 were anything but flattering and it scored a whopping eighteen percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The main qualms being that The Strangers should have been a stand alone film and that we don’t need a backstory into the three villains. My thoughts? The first Strangers movie was brilliant. It’s actually one of my favorite movies and I can see why people would say that it should have just been left alone. Its predecessors pale in comparison but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t entertaining. As for the backstory on The Strangers themselves, I am so there for it. Yes, it’s harrowing that their original reason for their murderous spree was “because you were home”. However, it is enticing to me to learn exactly why that is and how the whole town plays a part in it.

The Strangers – Chapter 2 was fast paced and clocked at just under an hour and forty minutes. For its entire duration, I was on the edge of my seat. It had plenty of good jump scares and the fact that The Strangers always seem to be everywhere was so suspenseful. Even more so because it was easy to root for Maya – seriously can that poor girl catch a break? I was genuinely bummed out when the movie ended on a To Be Continued because I wanted it to keep going and wanted to know more. I don’t know, I really liked it!

Overall, I am going to rate The Strangers – Chapter 2 with a seven out of ten stars. If you are a fan of this franchise, go into it with no preconceived notions. I think you will like it too!

What is your favorite scary movie? What did you think of The Strangers – Chapter 2? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct2

Lil Red’s Book Club: Peaches For Father Francis By Joanne Harris Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Peaches For Father Francis By Joanne Harris Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the fourth installment of the Chocolat series by Joanne Harris called Peaches For Father Francis. I have been a fan of Joanne Harris for a long time and when I learned that a prequel to Chocolat called Vianne was recently released, I just had to revisit the best little chocolateer in all of Paris. I have so enjoyed reading through the series and regret not rereading Chocolat to start with. It has been a phat minute since I read that book! However, I know the outline well enough and that has not made reading any of its predecessors anything short of a delightful experience. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Peaches For Father Francis for sexual assault, violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Vianne, Roux, Anouk, and Rosette are finally a family and living together on a houseboat in Paris. They live simply, love fiercely, and savor every moment together like it’s their last. Life is so good, but the winds are changing and with it brings a letter. A letter from a beloved friend back in Lansquenet who is deceased. In her letter, she states that there are people in Lansquenet who need her and her final wish is for Vianne to return to the little town where it all began. To the tiny village where, eight years ago, she opened her chocolaterie with Anouk and sent the ultra religious into a frenzy that was headed by Father Francis Reynaud. Vianne’s memories of Lansquenet are bittersweet but she cannot refuse her friend’s parting wish and decides to take the girls on a little vacation.

Upon their arrival to Lansquenet, nothing and everything has changed. There are familiar faces and those who Vianne does not recognize. Since her departure from Lansquenet, a Muslim community has settled downriver. At first, things were very peaceful between the villagers and their new neighbors. Children played games in the streets, the adults mingled over coffee, and friends were made. Of course, Father Reynaud has never been open to strangers as we know with his tumultuous past with Vianne. He tolerates the new members of Lansquenet but finds himself questioning everything about them. Their religion, their clothing, and their traditions that are so far away from the gospel he preaches.

As tensions between Father Reynaud and the leader of the Muslim community rise, everyone in Lansquenet can sense it and begin to separate themselves. No more games, no more meals shared but each side remaining on their half of the Tannes river. In a shocking turn of events, the chocolate shop Vianne used to run which is now a Muslim school for girls is set aflame. Its residents, a mysterious woman and her daughter, are unharmed but the damage has been done and Father Reynaud takes the brunt of the blame.

Father Reynaud who has been a long term staple in Lansquenet becomes a stranger. His church is being taken over by a younger, more progressive priest. He is no longer invited to say mass and passerbys on the street can barely mask their disgust. Is this how Vianne felt when she first came to Lansquenet? Unwanted and unloved? To bring both communities back together again is beyond what Father Reynaud can do on his own. But with Vianne back in Lansquenet, he comes as close as he can to begging for her assistance. With a little magic, can Vianne return peace to the little town that will always be in her heart? Or will both sides be forever divided? Read Peaches For Father Francis to find out!

I have mixed feelings about Peaches For Father Francis. After reading The Girl With No Shadow, I not only had a taste for chocolate but more along those same lines. A fabulous new character, the sense of danger, and the delicate dance in the balance of good and evil. Peaches For Father Francis delivered on drama, yes, but I simply didn’t like it as much as the book that came prior. This novel swapped between Vianne and Father Reynaud’s point of view and I would have preferred it if another person from the Muslim community was thrown into the mix. At the end of the day, Reynaud and Vianne were essentially seeing the exact same things and it made for a lackluster read. In The Girl With No Shadow the story weaved between Vianne, Anouk, and the fantastic Zozie so we were getting the point of view from characters that ranged in age and desires. The story came to life whereas Peaches For Father Francis felt stuck.

Well over the first half of the book did nothing for me although things really picked up with the remainder. The very slow burn was finally ready to burst but by the time it did it felt like it was too late for the momentum to carry. I found myself counting down the pages to its completion and as I read The Girl With No Shadow, I didn’t want it to end. While it is always nice to be reunited with Vianne, the girls, and Roux, this was not the strongest book in the series. Despite the wishy washy sentiments, I am excited to read The Strawberry Thief next and conclude my Chocolat journey with the prequel.

Overall, I am going to rate Peaches For Father Francis with a five and a half out of ten stars. I am happy to have read it to further the series but I am even happier to be done with it!

What are you currently reading? What are your thoughts on the Chocolat series? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep25

Groovy Movies: Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Edition

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Groovy Movies: Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Edition

Hello! I absolutely love going to the movies and I have been particularly excited for the newest addition to Demon Slayer called Infinity Castle. Thanks to my brother, I am a HUGE Demon Slayer fan and have beaucoup tattoos to prove it! As you can see, Demon Slayer is easily one of my favorite animes and I knew I was in for a treat with Infinity Castle. It exceeded every expectation and I left the theater speechless as I took everything in. It has been close to a week since I’ve seen it and I still can’t stop thinking about it! As always, this review will be spoiler free and a trigger warning will be placed for graphic animated violence. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!

The Infinity Castle is Muzan Kibutsuji’s stronghold. It is a shifting, sprawling dimension that seemingly goes on for all eternity. Every step taken causes the castle to move and brings you closer to upper rank demons who want nothing more than to make a meal of the Demon Slayer Corps. Death looms around every corner and it is up to Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and hashiras to defeat the upper ranks and find Kibutsuji. As the Demon Slayers make their way through the castle, their limits will be pushed to the extreme in heated battles that could end with certain doom or the glory to fight another minute. Will our beloved characters pull through in the most intense battles they have ever faced? See Demon Slayer Infinity Castle to find out!

Infinity Castle was a straight forward plot: Breach the castle and fight like your lives depend on it. Due to its simplicity, it allowed you to sit back and watch every single frame amaze you. Demon Slayer has always been visually beautiful but I view Infinity Castle as its piece de resistance. It was thrilling to see the Infinity Castle expand to no ends and change on a whim, forever pushing the Demon Slayers forward or back as it saw fit. The castle was a character in itself and you never knew what it was going to do next – provide our team with a moment of contemplation or shove them headfirst into a battle with an upper rank demon. Every second of this movie was a cause for celebration – the colors, the angles, the anguish or compassion in our heroes’ eyes. It was bold and so in your face that all you could do was enjoy the ride. I was so engrossed that by the time the two and a half hour flick was over, I would have given anything to see more.

Of course it was exciting to see the epic fights our core three got themselves into but one thing I really loved was the different hashiras who finally got their day in the sun. The Demon Slayer Corps is compiled of so many hashiras we haven’t seen extensively and it was awesome to be reunited with Mr. Giyu and meet Gyomei and Obanai for more than five seconds. Watching a showdown with Giyu and Tanjiro battling together was a major highlight and it was so cool to watch their specialties work in tandem with each other… And also fan girling about how strong they each have gotten!

My favorite thing about Demon Slayer isn’t just the fighting, but the emotion that comes with it. Tanjiro has the gift of finding the good in everyone and everything he encounters. He is able to sympathize with demons in a way that no character can and by the time you are done seeing as Tanjiro does, you find yourself feeling sorry for them too. Sorry that their lives were so dark and cruel that it resulted in a lifetime of causing other people pain. It’s such an interesting juxtaposition that Demon Slayer creates. You go from rooting for the good fight to feeling an intense rush of empathy so quickly you get whiplash. It makes for a spectacle that is both stunning and exciting to watch but leaves you rethinking how you originally felt afterwards. I sure can’t seem to get my mind off of it!

I am going to award Demon Slayer Infinity Castle with the coveted ten out of ten stars. From start to finish, this movie was perfection and I would absolutely love to see it again!

What is your favorite anime? What did you think of Infinity Castle? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep21

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Girl With No Shadow By Joanne Harris

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Girl With No Shadow By Joanne Harris

Howdy and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! I recently learned that there was a new prequel to the Chocolat series by Joanne Harris and was very interested in that. I have always loved the thriller books by Harris and thought it would be fun to revisit everyone’s favorite chocolateer again. Rather than starting out with where it all began by rereading Chocolat, I delved right into the sequel called The Girl With No Shadow. I read it forever ago and forgot everything about it! It took me a minute to find my bearings again in the magical world of Chocolat but once I found my footing, I was SO in. As this is such a light and friendly read, there will be no trigger warning on this book. And, as always, no spoilers either! Let’s get into it:

After the incidents in Chocolat, Vianne Rocher seeks anonymity and refuge with her young daughters, Anouk and Rosette, and they find themselves opening a small chocolaterie in an even smaller village. She is no longer the Vianne of magic and delight but lives under the practical pseudonym of Yanne. Tiny Rosette is too small to remember the world of the extraordinary but Anouk does all too well and misses it fiercely. No more reading runes, no more spells – no more Anouk because she is now Annie. The chocolate shop is bland and a far cry from the wonderful space they created and had to flee.

Yanne is now a woman who only seeks to protect her daughters from the changing winds and the Kindly Ones as all magic used will come back to them in a negative way eventually. For financial support and companionship, she entertains an older man named Thierry who wants her hand in marriage more than anything. He tolerates the children and covets a woman who he can control and turn into his perfect little wife. And, with no word from Yanne’s beloved Roux since their departure, she lets him. Anouk’s world has been turned upside down and, as chance would have it, a beautiful stranger attempts to turn it right side up again.

Her name is Zozie and she is simply fabulous. She wears the best shoes, has amazing personal style, and a joyous personality that would give the old Vianne a run for her money. Zozie takes an instant liking to Anouk because there is something special about her – a magic so powerful that she can feel it when she is merely passing by. A magic that should be harnessed, nurtured, and used by someone like Zozie who has countless tricks up her sleeves in her own right.

Zozie begins to work at the chocolate shop alongside Yanne. She cares for the girls, charms every customer that walks in the store, and redecorates the place so that it is unrecognizable of its original drab appearance. When she is not playing hostess at the shop, she is a teacher to Anouk. Zozie teaches her about ancient gods, powerful spells, and the delicious feeling of using magic to seek revenge. As Anouk and Zozie grow closer and the customers only come to the shop to see her, Yanne sinks into the background. Zozie is doing a better job at being Vianne than she ever has.

Of course, Yanne is grateful for Zozie albeit slightly resentful but she is in no position to refuse help. Yanne has a lot on her mind – her daughter’s growing distance, her youngest daughter who is delayed in development, and the arrival of her former love. Roux hearkens the Vianne of old but she is Yanne now. Homely, magic free, and a ghost of her former self to please Thierry. Behind closed doors, Anouk is growing more powerful by the moment and Zozie wants her desperately. Her plan? Read The Girl With No Shadow to find out!

The Girl With No Shadow was a delightful read from start to finish and it was so nice to be reunited with the core four: Vianne, Roux, Anouk, and Rosette. Joanne Harris has such a marvelous way of creating characters that you genuinely care about and want to get to know more. Even the colorful side characters in this book felt like old friends by the time I completed the last page. The Girl With No Shadow alternated between Vianne, Anouk, and Zozie’s point of view and watching their stories weave together so seamlessly was magic in itself.

As I read, I couldn’t help but feeling like I was there too. Harris has the gift of crafting such vivid imagery that you get lost in it. The smell of chocolate, the warmth of the small shop, the way the snow sounds as it falls. It was so intoxicating that it was hard to pull myself away! And, of course, for all of the beautiful prose there is an engaging story unfolding. A love triangle, a new witch in town, and a preteen who is at a crossroads. To dare to be different or to conform to a passionless life. I am about to start the third book in the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next to the owner of the best little chocolate shop in all of Paris!

Overall, I am going to rate The Girl With No Shadow with an eight out of ten stars. It was magical, whimsical, and a book that not only entertained but transported you. Highly recommend giving this lovely series a try!

What are you currently reading? Have you read the Chocolat series before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep13

Groovy Movies: The Conjuring Last Rites Edition

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Groovy Movies: The Conjuring Last Rites Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, it is your time to shine because there are SO many good scary flicks that have come out or are due to be released soon. One that I was particularly looking forward to was the fourth installment of The Conjuring called Last Rites. I think we can all agree that the first movie was excellent, the second was so so, and the third one sucked on ice. However, those sentiments did not deter me one bit from wanting to see what happens next and I’m glad for it. The Conjuring 4 was better than the second and third one combined! As always, this will be a spoiler free review but I’ll be placing a trigger warning on the movie for pregnancy difficulties, injury to an animal, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ I have no rights to this video!!

Ed and Lorraine Warren are getting older and have decided to put their paranormal investigations on an indeterminate hiatus for Ed’s declining heart health. Their days are now spent lecturing and doting on their beloved daughter, Judy, who is now all grown up and dating a young man named Tony. Like her mom, Judy is increasingly having visions of the dead and things that have already happened and are yet to come. It’s a balancing act but both of the ladies manage it the best that they can. Aside from these visions, the Warren’s lives are quiet and peaceful which is in sharp contrast to the Smurl family in a small town called Pittston in Pennsylvania.

The Smurl family compiles of the parents, four daughters, and the father’s parents. They are a devout Catholic family who is in the process of celebrating the confirmation of Heather. The family has a good meal, cake, and Heather is treated to a huge gift from her grandparents: An antique mirror that is as beautiful as it is creepy. Just as soon as the mirror is unwrapped, the entire family begins experiencing paranormal activity to the highest degree. We’re talking levitation, items moving, terrifying spirits, injuries to the family, and a puke storm that would make the little girl in The Exorcist jealous.

Try as they might, the Smurl family cannot find help to rid their home of the angry spirits and take their scary story to the news. The Warren’s are none the wiser about this case but Judy has been keeping up to date and feels the Smurl household drawing her in. After tragedy strikes a dear friend who tried to help the Smurl family, Judy heads to Pennsylvania and her parents follow suit. By the time they arrive in Pittston, Grandma Smurl is being wheeled into an ambulance because something pushed her down the stairs. Judy has already offered her assistance and Ed and Lorraine reluctantly agree to help too. What happens next? You’re going to have to see The Conjuring: Last Rites to find out!

For the most part, I enjoyed this movie. My main qualm I had with it was the pacing because this was a slow burn and I mean slow. The first forty minutes or so of Last Rites was a back and forth situation. It got you up to speed on the Warrens and Judy’s relationship while showing minor instances of the Smurl family haunting. All the while, I was mentally willing this part of the flick to hurry the hell up because I wanted to get to the good stuff. The scary stuff! What transpired in the Smurl home really was scary but it felt like it was over before it even began. The major portion of their haunting consisted of roughly the last thirty-five minutes of the movie and it didn’t feel like it was enough. I always felt like The Conjuring films had an issue with pacing and Last Rites was a shining example of my complaints.

Other than the choppiness of the movie, it really came together once all of the key players of the film were together. Last Rites provided scares reminiscent of the first Conjuring movie – perhaps even more scary. I will never forget my level of fear seeing the first one in theaters and definitely was having similar reactions all of these years later. Also, it is worth saying that any movie with Patrick Wilson is alright by me because he is a dreamboat! If you are a fan of The Conjuring franchise, Last Rites is definitely a must see. Was it great? Absolutely not. But all in all it was a pretty good conclusion to the series.

I am going to rate The Conjuring: Last Rites with a six out of ten stars. It was certainly above average and I will happily watch it again when it comes out on streaming services!

What is your favorite scary movie? What is the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep3

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Homemade God By Rachel Joyce Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Homemade God By Rachel Joyce Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the newest novel by Rachel Joyce called The Homemade God. Like my last book club review, this was a far cry from my normal thrillers but an absolutely delightful read. I already knew I was in for a treat before even reading the first page because Rachel Joyce authored one of my all time favorite books, The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry. Of course, nothing will beat the best of the best but I very much enjoyed The Homemade God! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning for addiction, self harm, miscarriage, and the death of a parent. Now, let’s get to it:

Netta, Susan, Goose (Gustav), and Iris are quite possibly the closest siblings you will ever meet. They talk on the phone constantly, see each other as often as humanly possible, and know each other better than they know themselves. This close knit group is held together by the glue of the family, their father who is a world famous artist named Vic. Perhaps, they are held together in spite of him. As their mother died when the children were young, Vic was the only parent they knew but he was an absent one.

In their youth, Vic would be gone for days on end. He could be on a bender. He could be locked away in his studio drunk and working on a painting. This left the care of the siblings up to the eldest child, Netta, and in each of their own ways they were parenting their own parent too. As adults, this sentiment remains the same because Vic is still an alcoholic and when they speak, it is usually about him. Regardless of their sad upbringing, each child fully believes that the world revolves around their dad and his world revolves around them and his art. Until it doesn’t.

At a family lunch, Vic declares that he is in love, getting married, and will be creating a new masterpiece. The children are dumbstruck as they didn’t even know their father was dating. But it gets worse. His bride to be, Bella-Mae, is only twenty-seven years old and they have only been together for six weeks. Their pleas to reconsider are meaningless to seventy-six year old Vic because his mind has already been made up. He and Bella-Mae will be married at their beautiful villa on Lake Orta in Italy and when his kids meet her, they will be crazy about her too.

The only problem is, the children don’t meet her. Every plan for luncheons or tea are foiled to last minute cancellations and their minds begin to swim. Is she a grifter who is eager for Vic’s substantial fortune? Is she forcing him into something he doesn’t truly want? For all they know and which they really do consider, she could be a porn star. The siblings decide that the best thing to do is to drop contact with their father. The fling will fizz out, he will realize he was being ridiculous, and will eventually return to them when he has dealt with the embarrassment. Vic does contact his kids again. With an invitation to Lake Orta to celebrate the wedding that has already transpired.

Of course, the siblings have no intention of traveling to their home away from home until their hands are forced. Vic has died and it is up to them to arrange for his body to be transported back to England and finally meet Bella-Mae. They do have their inheritances to sort out, after all. Heartbroken and exhausted, the kids arrive at Lake Orta and can’t help but to be suspicious. Their father died of unusual circumstances and Bella-Mae’s eccentric cousin has made himself at home in the villa. Who is this mysterious woman who is now their father’s widow? And is she the one to blame for his death? Read The Homemade God to find out!

The Homemade God was a wonderful study on the inner workings of a dysfunctional family. The toils, the tender moments, downfalls, and reunions that can change the trajectory of the lives of all effected. Rachel Joyce did an incredible job of creating the characters of the children of the eccentric but deeply troubled father. While some were larger than life than others, it was easy to see yourself in at least one of them. Are you strong willed and brazen like Netta? Maybe you are more of a follower like Susan. Could you be approval seeking like Goose? Or perhaps you are like Iris, a delicate flower who has yet to fully bloom. Their individual relationships with their dad molded them into the caricatures they are today and his death allows them to discover themselves for the very first time.

There were plenty of sad parts to go around in The Homemade God but there was so much good too. The way the light hits the lake surrounding the villa, the stories the children share that still makes them laugh, and the confirmation that life will continue to go on in any way you choose. The Homemade God is also a friendly reminder to never judge a book by its cover with an ending that I considered to be perfect. An ending that invites new beginnings and a celebration of life, art, and love.

Overall, I am going to rate The Homemade God with a seven out of ten stars. I don’t think it was one of Rachel Joyce’s strongest novels and I have read almost all of hers. It is, however, well worth the read especially if you are a fan of her work!

What are you currently reading? What is one of your favorite books? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah