Šajā iknedēļas rakstā iekļūst trīs grāmatu vāku bildes, kuras man šķitušas interesantas un foršas jeb spridzīgas, vai vienkārši neparastas. Ideja radās aplūkojot LE BELLE blogu.
MarcyKate Connolly ”Monstrous”
Neil Gaiman ”The Graveyard Book Volume 1” (The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel #1)
Leslie Parry ”Church of Marvels”
Tā kā ik palaikam sanāk noskatīties kādu filmu, tad grēks šo to neiekļaut blogā. Ideja par šo rakstu iegūta no Tējtasītes ‘’Mazo filmu komentāriem’’.
Funky Forest: The First Contact (2005)
Iedvesmu noskatīties šo filmu guvu no Fine Brothers Entertainment – Youtubers React video. Filma pārsvarā sastāv no epizodiskām ainām, no kurām pāris tematiski atkārtojas un dažas arī robežojas kā pretīgas, bet tomēr nespēj novērsties :D. Mežs tiešām ir funky, un nebūtu kļūdījušies apzīmējot arī kā bizarre, bet vietām var arī pasmieties.
The Lazarus Project (2008)
Pat Pols Vokers galvenajā lomā nespēja īpaši uzlabot filmu. Sižetiskajā ziņā visai vienkārša. Pēc atlaišanas no darba spiests piekrist piedalīties laupīšanā, turklāt nesen beidzies probācijas laiks. Laupīšana noiet galīgi greizi, kā rezultātā tiek piespriests nāves sods, bet kā filmas nosaukums varētu vedināt domāt, tad ar to viss nebeidzas.
Let’s Go To Prison (2006)
Viegla komēdija bez liekas domāšanas par dzīvi cietumā – karjeras kāpums no pakalpiņa līdz pat bosam. Aiz gara laika var noskatīties, bet nekas ievērojams tomēr nav, arī kā komēdija.
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
The New York Times bestselling author of The Jefferson Keybrings you a short story that takes readers on a perilous hunt for . . . The Devil’s Gold
Once he was called the Sphinx, a man so inscrutable that neither his adversaries nor fellow intelligence operatives could predict his next move. Now a contract agent with a secret mission, Jonathan Wyatt has gone rogue. For eight years he’s been plotting. Waiting. Scheming to kill Federal agents Christopher Combs and Cotton Malone, whom he blames for the loss of his career. But as Wyatt prepares for a final confrontation in a remote South American village, he makes a discovery that stretches back to the horrors of World War II, to the astounding secret of a child’s birth, to Martin Bormann and Eva Braun—and to a fortune in lost gold.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Lejuplādēju no torenta
Vērtējums/Rating: 3/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Džonatans Vaiats izseko savu bijušo priekšnieku Kristoferu, bijušo, jo pirms astoņiem gadiem pieņēma kļūdainu lēmu, kā rezultātā mira divi kolēģi. Kamēr izseko, ar nolūku atriebties, atklāj arī kaut ko negaidītu saistībā ar Vāciju un Hitleru, un vēl dažiem. Sava vieta īsajā tekstā arī dārgumiem, tai skaitā zeltam.
Bet Kristofers nav vienīgais, kuru Džonatans vaino savās nelaimēs, un tas otrs būtu Malons. Šķiet iznākumu varēs izlasīt septītajā sērijas grāmatā ‘’The Jefferson Key’’.
Kaut arī stāsts nav pārāk garš, Džonatans Vaiats paspēj radīt negatīvu iespaidu par sevi.
Jonathan Wyatt follows his ex-boss Christopher Combs. Ex because eight years ago he made mistake which led to death of two colleagues. While Jonathan follows with intent to take revenge he discovers something unexpected tied to Germany, Hitler and few others. In the short text there is a place for treasure including gold.
But Christopher isn’t the only one who Jonathan blames for everything bad that happens to him and the other guilty one is Cotton Malone. It seems that the outcome might be in the 7th book of this series – The Jefferson Key.
Although the story isn’t long Jonathan Wyatt manages to create bad impression about him.
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors, has remained sealed for more than 2,000 years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won’t allow anyone to open it. Why?
That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address. Logging on, he sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman who’s saved his life more than once, being tortured at the hands of a mysterious man who has a single demand: Bring me the artifact she’s asked you to keep safe. The only problem is, Malone doesn’t have a clue what the man is talking about, since Cassiopeia has left nothing with him. So begins Malone’s most harrowing adventure to date — one that offers up astounding historical revelations, pits him against a ruthless ancient brotherhood, and sends him from Denmark to Belgium to Vietnam then on to China, a vast and mysterious land where danger lurks at every turn.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Lejuplādēju no torenta
Vērtējums/Rating: 4.5/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Pagājis gandrīz pusgads kopš iepriekšējās grāmatas notikumiem un Henrika nāves, kad Malons atkal tiek izrauts no grāmatu pārdošanas – jāpalīdz briesmās nonākušajai Kasiopejai. Viņas iemesls, kāpēc nonākusi tādā situācija, atrodams prīkvelā ‘’The Balkan Escape’’. Levs Sokolovs pats nonācis nepatikšanās plus viņa 4 gadīgais dēls nolaupīts; Kasiopejas iespēja atlīdzināt.
Malona ceļš vedīs uz Ķīnu, bet viss nav tik vienkārši. Tur briest varas maiņa, un par to, kurš par nākamo līderi – Ni Jongs vai Karls Tangs – ieinteresētas tādas lielvaras kā ASV un Krievija. Šajā ziņā darbībā atgriežas trešajā sērijas grāmata esošais Viktors Tomas, kurš joprojām ir tikpat neuzticams un nekādīgi nevar saprast, kurā pusē tad viņš ir.
Ni Jongs un Karls Tangs savos uzskatos un vīzijā par Ķīnas nākotni ir ļoti atšķirīgi. Viens vairāk sliecas uz valsts lielāku demokratizāciju~, bet otrs gatavs izmantot militāru spēku un bailes, lai par katru cenu panāktu savējo.
Bet lielā grāmatas tēma, ja nu nafta, kuru tagad vairumā iegūst ir nevis biotiska, tādējādi izsmeļams un ierobežots resurss, bet gan abiotiska, kuru Zeme pati pastāvīgi ražo un rodas stipri vien dziļāk. Šāda apziņa droši vien mainītu šo to pasaules kārtībā un cenu pavisam noteikti.
Sērijā parādās drusku no romantiskā. Ja līdz šim Malons un Kasiopeja savstarpējas simpātijas situācijas spiesti atlikuši otrajā plānā, tad notikumi liek piespiež ne vien apjaust jūtas, bet arī atklāt tās; sava loma tajā arī nesenajai drauga zaudēšanai.
It’s been nearly six months since events in the last book and Henrik’s death when Malone again is pulled into new deadly adventure – he has to help Cassiopeia. Reasons why her own life is in danger you can find in the prequel ‘’The Balkan Escape’’. Lev Sokolov is in danger, and also his four year old son has been kidnapped. This is a chance for Cassiopeia to repay a favor.
Eventually Malone’s path will lead him to China but not everything is that simple. Soon there will be a change as who will lead the country next and the struggle for that position is between Ni Yong and Karl Tang. Two superpowers of the world USA and Russia are interested in the outcome. In this case I have to mention a recurring character Viktor Tomas from third book of the series. Once again you can’t be 100% sure if you can trust him as he changes sides by the minute.
Ni Yong and Karl Tang are very different in their beliefs and in the vision of China’s future. On tends towards more democratization but the other is willing to use any amount of force and fear to be in the power.
The big theme of this was, what if oil that produced today was not biotic in that way non-renewable resource but abiotic – oil that Earth produces constantly and way deeper than fossil fuel. This kind of knowledge might change world order and definitely the current oil price. But that’s only what if.
In this book the romantic story line appeared a little between Malone and Cassiopeia. If previously events forced them to suppress the feelings they thought they might have then recent events and a recent loss of a mutual friend makes them realize the situation.
Steve Berry ‘’The Charlemagne Pursuit’’ (Cotton Malone book 4)
Manu recenziju varat izlasīt šeit
Ideju šim ikmēneša rakstam aizguvu no Luna’s Little Library
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
Steve Berry’s first ever eBook exclusive short story finds an adventurer in a strange and forbidding land, in search of a long lost treasure, and very much in harm’s way.
As a favor to enigmatic billionaire Henrik Thorvaldsen, Cassiopeia Vitt treks into Bulgaria’s Rila mountains in search of a buried stash of exceedingly rare artifacts from a bygone civilization: the ancient tomb of a Thracian king. But when her presence is discovered by a shadowy group of Russians secretly mining the area, she needs a way out. Who to trust becomes the question, and her life depends on choosing the right option.
Includes a sneak-preview of the Cotton Malone thrillers The Emperor’s Tomb.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Lejuplādēju no torenta
Vērtējums/Rating: 3.5/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Notikums pirms pieciem gadiem dziļi Balkānu kalnos, Bulgārijā. Kārtējo reizi neatklāti dārgumi, šoreiz trāķiešu.
Skatpunkts no Kasiopejas, kura tur devusies pēc Henrika lūguma. Parādītas vēl divas galvenāki personāži – Varga, kurš seko pavēlēm, un arheologs Levs Sokolovs.
Tā kā šis ir prīkvels sestajai sērijas grāmatai ‘’The Emperor’s Tomb’’, tad varbūt vienu no abiem manīsim arī tajā, protams arī Kasiopeju.
Events from five years ago deep into Balkan mountains, Bulgaria. Once again it’s about treasure, this time Thracians.
The short story is told from POV of Cassiopeia, who went there after Henrik’s request. In the story participates two more characters with names – Petar Varga, someone who follows orders, and archeologist Lev Sokolov.
As this is a prequel for the sixth book in the series The Emperor’s Tomb then we might meet see one of them again, of course not without Cassiopeia.
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821, he took to the grave a powerful secret. As general and emperor, he had stolen immeasurable riches from palaces, national treasuries, and even the Knights of Malta and the Vatican. In his final days, his British captors hoped to learn where the loot lay hidden. But he told them nothing, and in his will he made no mention of the treasure. Or did he?
Former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone isn’t looking for trouble when it comes knocking at his Copenhagen bookshop. Actually, it breaks and enters in the form of an American Secret Service agent with a pair of assassins on his heels. Malone has his doubts about the anxious young man, but narrowly surviving a ferocious firefight convinces him to follow his unexpected new ally.
Their first stop is the secluded estate of Malone’s good friend, Henrik Thorvaldsen. The wily Danish tycoon has uncovered the insidious plans of the Paris Club, a cabal of multimillionaires bent on manipulating the global economy. Only by matching wits with a terrorist-for-hire, foiling a catastrophic attack, and plunging into a desperate hunt for Napoleon’s legendary lost treasure can Malone hope to avert international financial anarchy.
But Thorvaldsen’s real objective is much more personal: to avenge the murder of his son by the larcenous aristocrat at the heart of the conspiracy. Thorvaldsen’s vendetta places Malone in an impossible quandary—one that forces him to choose between friend and country, past and present. Starting in Denmark, moving to England, and ending up in the storied streets and cathedrals of Paris, Malone plays a breathless game of duplicity and death, all to claim a prize of untold value. But at what cost?
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Lejuplādēju no torenta
Vērtējums/Rating: 4.25/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Iemesls, kāpēc Malons aizgāja no dienesta bija pēdējā, šķietami mazsvarīga uzdevuma, traģiska neveiksme, kam par upuri kļuva Henrika Torvaldsena dēls, kas vēlāk rezultējās Malona un Henrika draudzībā. Ja iepriekšējā sērijas grāmatas pamatā Malona interese par tēva likteni, tad šinī Henrika atriebe par nogalināto dēlu (vien par kādu cenu?).
Ar vienu no vainīgajiem Henriks tiek galā jau sākumā, bet, lai tiktu galā ar otru, Greihamu Ašbiju(Graham Ashby), viņš aicina talkā Semu Kolinsu (atlaists no slepenā dienesta savu uzskatu un aktivitāšu dēļ), kā arī Malonu. Bet zinot, ka Kasiopeja visticamāk mēģinātu atrunāt, viņai zvanīts netiek.
Bez atriebes, kā lielais noslēpums izvēlēti iespējamie Napoleona dārgumi, kurus viņš it kā paspējis noslēpt pirms trimdas. Šo dārgumu atrašanā ieinteresēts ir ne vien Ašbijs, bet arī Elīza Larokve. Viņas motivācija vairāk balstās uz ģimeniskām jūtām. Turklāt savākusi kopā pāris bagātu ļaužu ar plānu, kā ar bailēm sabiedrībā, iespējamiem draudiem un aizdevumiem varētu pamatīgi nopelnīt.
Jauniņais galvenākais tēls Sems (juška, ka varētu parādīties tālāk sērijā) likās interesants un labs papildinājums.
Tas, ko Henriks, neparedzēja un neiedomājās, ka arī amerikāņi, un šeit parādās Stefānija, varētu būt ieinteresēti Ašbijā; viņš ir viņu spiegs Elīzas izveidotajā klubiņā.
Diemžēl grāmatas atrisinājums pavisam bēdīgs, un, lai gan maitekļus reizēm neesmu atturējies izpaust, šis tomēr tāds pārāk nozīmīgs, un atliek vienīgi – KĀPĒC?! :/
The reason why Malone left Magellan Billet was devastating failure of seemingly easy last task which resulted in casualties and one of whom was son of Henrik Thorvaldsen. If the previous books was about Malone and his father than this one is about Henrik’s revenge for murder of his son (but really at what cost?).
One of the perpetrators Henrik kills already at the beginning but to deal with the other one, Graham Ashby, he has to call help – Sam Collins (fired from Justice Department because of his activities and beliefs) and also Cotton Malone. But knowing that Cassiopeia might try to talk him out of it she is left aside.
Without the revenge there are also possible treasure, this time they are treasure that supposedly Napoleon Bonaparte was able to hide away before his exile. In finding them Graham Ashby isn’t the only interested, it’s Eliza Larocque. Hers motivation is based on family-oriented feelings. Furthermore she has gathered together few filthy rich people and she has a plan make them even richer using fear in general public, probable threat and loans.
The new good gut Sam was interesting and a nice addition to the main characters. And I have a feeling that he might show up later in the series.
But what Henrik wasn’t able to anticipate was that Americans (where Stephanie shows up) would be interested in Graham Ashby; he is their spy in Elizas little club.
Unfortunately the book has very sad ending and although from time to time I reveal few spoilers this one is too important. I can just ask WHY?! :/
Pirmdienas teikums ir mana versija par Bonespark~ “Sunday Sentence”, kurā tiek izcelts teikums no tā, kas iepriekš izlasīts.
It was familiar territory, expansive and isolated, but its heart remained compact, about two miles long and a mile wide—and had wisely managed for centuries to keep the world at bay.
Steve Berry ‘’The Venetian Betrayal’’ (Cotton Malone book 3)
Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:
As a child, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone was told his father died in a submarine disaster in the North Atlantic, but now he wants the full story and asks his ex-boss, Stephanie Nelle, to secure the military files. What he learns stuns him: His father’s sub was a secret nuclear vessel lost on a highly classified mission beneath the ice shelves of Antarctica.
But Malone isn’t the only one after the truth.
Twin sisters Dorothea Lindauer and Christl Falk are fighting for the fortune their mother has promised to whichever of them discovers what really became of their father–who died on the same submarine that Malone’s father captained.
The sisters know something Malone doesn’t: Inspired by strange clues discovered in Charlemagne’ s tomb, the Nazis explored Antarctica before the Americans, as long ago as 1938. Now Malone discovers that cryptic journals penned in “the language of heaven,” inscrutable conundrums posed by an ancient historian, and the ill-fated voyage of his father are all tied to a revelation of immense consequence for humankind.
In an effort to ensure that this explosive information never rises to the surface, Langford Ramsey, an ambitious navy admiral, has begun a brutal game of treachery, blackmail, and assassination. As Malone embarks on a dangerous quest with the sisters–one that leads them from an ancient German cathedral to a snowy French citadel to the unforgiving ice of Antarctica–he will finally confront the shocking truth of his father’s death and the distinct possibility of his own.
Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books
Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?
Lejuplādēju no torenta
Vērtējums/Rating: 4.75/5
Mana recenzija/My review
Malonam kopš 10 gadu vecuma nācās uzaugt bez tēvā, jo viņš, būdams jūras kara flotē, mira – pēc oficiālās versijas kopā ar 10 citiem vīriem viņa komandētā zemūdene nogrimusi un nav atrasta. Malons beidzot grib noskaidrot patiesību, nevis samierināties vien ar to, kas atklāts. Tā nu viņš palūdz Stefāniju atgriezt pakalpojumu, un viņa piekrīt nodot viņam vajadzīgo informāciju, bet abi nevar iedomāties, ko tas aizsāks.
Zemūdenes un tēva atrašanā ir ieinteresētas arī māsas Doroteja un Kristla. Lai gan dvīnes, abas ir ļoti atšķirības, turklāt necieš viena otru. Nevarētu teikt, ka māte censtos abas samierināt tieši pretēji. Ne mirkli Malons nevar būt drošs, kam un kurai vairāk var uzticēties.
Tikmēr pāri okeānam Stefānijai iet ne mazāk jautri. Šoreiz kopā ar Edvīnu Grīnu(prezidenta Denija Danielsa tuvs, uzticams padomnieks~) jātiek galā ar Langfordu, admirālis, kurš gatavs radīt(ne personiski) pāris līķu, lai virzītos pa karjeras kāpnēm. Viņa saistība ar kopējo stāstu, ka bijis uz vienīgā kuģa, kas devies meklēt zemūdeni. Atrastais visticamāk šokētu ne vien ASV sabiedrību, bet arī visu pārējo pasauli.
Iemesls, kāpēc bijušas slepenas misijas uz apledojušo Antarktīdu, bijusi kāda varena un ar zināšanām bagāta civilizācija, kas attīstījusies pirms mums un vairākkārt visapkārt pasaulē nodevusi tālāk zināšanas. Tomēr arī pašu viedums šķiet nav bijis neizsmeļams, jo palikuši uz kontinenta pat tad, kad tas pamazām apledojis, pametot vien spiestā kārtā. Prātā nāk dziesma ‘’End of Days’’, kur lirikā vienā minēti vārdi par seno ēģiptiešu piramīdām un elektrību…
To visu varētu, protams, pieskaitīt pie konspirāciju teorijām, bet tik un tā liek aizdomāties.
Since being 10 Malone was forced to grow up without his father because after the official story his commanded submarine sunk and wasn’t found with ten other in the crew. Malone finally wants to know the truth and not just what has been released. So he asks Stephanie to return a favour and she agrees but neither can imagine what by doing that had started.
Malone isn’t the only one who wants to find father and that sub – sisters Dorothea and Cristl. Despite being twin sister they are very different and resent each other. You couldn’t say that their mother would try to bring them to understanding, just the opposite. Malone can’t be sure for a moment to which he could trust more.
Meanwhile over the ocean Stephanie doesn’t have time to be bored. This time she teams up with Edwin Green (close and reliable adviser for President Danny Daniels). They have to deal with Langford Ramsey, admiral who is willing the create bodies (not himself) so he could move up in his carrier. His connection with the story is that he was on the only ship that went looking for the lost submarine. What was found probably would shock not only Americans but the whole world.
The reason for such secret mission in Antarctica was a mighty civilization, rich with knowledge which developed before us and has travelled all over the planet teaching those societies. Though they may have not been that smart because they left the continent only when forced by the nature (ice). This made me to remember a song ‘’End of Days’’ and words about Egyptians and pyramids – that they had to have electrical power…
This all could be called a conspiracy theory but it makes you think and question things.
Šajā iknedēļas rakstā iekļūst trīs grāmatu vāku bildes, kuras man šķitušas interesantas un foršas jeb spridzīgas, vai vienkārši neparastas. Ideja radās aplūkojot LE BELLE blogu.
Jessica Day George ”Silver in the Blood” (Silver in the Blood book 1)
TyCobbsTeeth ”BREAKFAST is SEVERED”
Jami Attenberg ”Saint Mazie”
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