Friends in High Places
by Marne Davis Kellogg
Another great visit with Kick Keswick, international jewel thief and gourmet.
I love visits with Kick. I love the idea of a life that glamorous and filled with beautiful things. I don't want that kind of life, I just like to dream about it and enjoy reading about others who have that kind of life.
The book was a great adventure and fun to read. I enjoyed spending time with Kick in London and the Italy. The characters in this book were fun, and the kind of people I would have as friends. They were fun people and it made the book easy to read because it was such a great visit with friends.
It's hard to say much more about the book without spoiling it. But as a warning, I would read this series in order as there are some spoilers in this book for previous ones.
If you've read other Kick Keswick books, you will love this one. If you haven't why not? Start with Brilliant and you too can come to imagine life as an international jewel thief.
One Bear's Opinion: Five Brandy Alexanders and a molten chocolate lava cake
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Thursday, May 30, 2019
One Bear's Opinion on: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
by J.K. Rowling
Okay, okay, I know I should have read this years ago, when the series first came out or anytime between now and then, but I just didn't think I would enjoy the series. Fantasy, wizards, magic, and dragons have never been my thing, so the book was really not appealing to me. And I have a thing against reading THE books everyone is reading when they are reading them. I avoid best-sellers like the plague. Nothing puts me off a book faster than everyone talking about it.
So, I LOVED IT!
I was given my copy by someone who said I am the best example of a Hufflepuff he knew and because I love the person who gave the book to me, I had to read it. Interestingly, other members of my household had never read it either, so we decided to read it aloud as part of our weekly story-time. We only read a chapter a week, so it took far longer to read than it would had we been reading it on our own, but I'm kind of glad we shared discovering the book on our own.
I had managed to avoid spoilers about the series, so it was really exciting to read the book and find out everything on my own. It was hard, because so many of our friends are fans and fans enjoy sharing with others.
I don't have any other books in the series yet, but when I get them, we will read them. Harry Potter is as much fun as I had heard. Sometimes the hype is true. I'm glad I finally read the book, but I am not glad I waited until I was ready to read it.
One Bear's Opinion: Five Cups of Tea in the common room and a plate of Chocolate Frogs for sharing
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by J.K. Rowling
Okay, okay, I know I should have read this years ago, when the series first came out or anytime between now and then, but I just didn't think I would enjoy the series. Fantasy, wizards, magic, and dragons have never been my thing, so the book was really not appealing to me. And I have a thing against reading THE books everyone is reading when they are reading them. I avoid best-sellers like the plague. Nothing puts me off a book faster than everyone talking about it.
So, I LOVED IT!
I was given my copy by someone who said I am the best example of a Hufflepuff he knew and because I love the person who gave the book to me, I had to read it. Interestingly, other members of my household had never read it either, so we decided to read it aloud as part of our weekly story-time. We only read a chapter a week, so it took far longer to read than it would had we been reading it on our own, but I'm kind of glad we shared discovering the book on our own.
I had managed to avoid spoilers about the series, so it was really exciting to read the book and find out everything on my own. It was hard, because so many of our friends are fans and fans enjoy sharing with others.
I don't have any other books in the series yet, but when I get them, we will read them. Harry Potter is as much fun as I had heard. Sometimes the hype is true. I'm glad I finally read the book, but I am not glad I waited until I was ready to read it.
One Bear's Opinion: Five Cups of Tea in the common room and a plate of Chocolate Frogs for sharing
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
One Bear's Opinion on: Home to Walnut Ridge
Home to Walnut Ridge
by Diane Moody
Another novella read. I'm on a roll with novellas/short stories lately.
This is book three of five in the Teacup Novella series. This one was interesting, but not as much as the first two were. The story-within-a-story was not as fun to read, and the main story did not have as much action as I would have liked.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it, and I'm happy with the way it ended, but I wanted more. It was good, but I'm being selfish with my friends and I wanted more for them.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea at the end of a fancy dinner
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Diane Moody
Another novella read. I'm on a roll with novellas/short stories lately.
This is book three of five in the Teacup Novella series. This one was interesting, but not as much as the first two were. The story-within-a-story was not as fun to read, and the main story did not have as much action as I would have liked.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it, and I'm happy with the way it ended, but I wanted more. It was good, but I'm being selfish with my friends and I wanted more for them.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea at the end of a fancy dinner
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
One Bear's Opinion on: Strike the Match
Strike the Match
by Diane Moody
Another book read in between other books. I was in a waiting room and needed a book and this one came up on my Kindle. It was a great read. I really like the idea of this series of novellas - basing the story on a teacup. It's a fun read and I will be sorry to read the last one.
The idea of a story in a story is very similar to the story-within-a-story in Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series. It's a fun way to weave multiple stories into one.
This one was a fun story, even though the main character of the teacup story was a bit of a brat. I enjoyed the way the story-within-a-story came together. And I am looking forward to the end of the main character's story.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea and a plate of fresh, warm doughnuts
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Diane Moody
Another book read in between other books. I was in a waiting room and needed a book and this one came up on my Kindle. It was a great read. I really like the idea of this series of novellas - basing the story on a teacup. It's a fun read and I will be sorry to read the last one.
The idea of a story in a story is very similar to the story-within-a-story in Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series. It's a fun way to weave multiple stories into one.
This one was a fun story, even though the main character of the teacup story was a bit of a brat. I enjoyed the way the story-within-a-story came together. And I am looking forward to the end of the main character's story.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea and a plate of fresh, warm doughnuts
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
One Bear's Opinion on: The Cornish Mystery
The Cornish Mystery
by Agatha Christie
This was a quick read in between other books. I enjoy reading the Hercule Poirot short stories as individual books rather than in a larger volume. I always feel reading a collection in a book means I should read the whole book, rather than dipping in and out. Individual books mean I don't have to feel conflicted about not finishing the book.
All while I was reading this story, I had a feeling I had read this before, but I knew I had not. I may have seen it with David Suchet as Poirot, but the feeling was not of this exact story, more just the plot. That is one of the hazards of coming to discovery Christie after having read a good number of other mysteries, the plots are reused and re-worked. As a result when I finally read the original, it feels like it is a copy of so many other things.
It was an interesting story and I always enjoy visits with Hercule Poirot. As I said, I have a feeling about having read this plot before so I knew the solution going in. It was a fun read though, and a great way to end a night before drifting off to dreamland.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea at a lingering Cornish Cream Tea (Jam First!)
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Agatha Christie
This was a quick read in between other books. I enjoy reading the Hercule Poirot short stories as individual books rather than in a larger volume. I always feel reading a collection in a book means I should read the whole book, rather than dipping in and out. Individual books mean I don't have to feel conflicted about not finishing the book.
All while I was reading this story, I had a feeling I had read this before, but I knew I had not. I may have seen it with David Suchet as Poirot, but the feeling was not of this exact story, more just the plot. That is one of the hazards of coming to discovery Christie after having read a good number of other mysteries, the plots are reused and re-worked. As a result when I finally read the original, it feels like it is a copy of so many other things.
It was an interesting story and I always enjoy visits with Hercule Poirot. As I said, I have a feeling about having read this plot before so I knew the solution going in. It was a fun read though, and a great way to end a night before drifting off to dreamland.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea at a lingering Cornish Cream Tea (Jam First!)
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Review of Eurovision 2019 Grand Final
It's finally Eurovision 2019 Final Night here in Australia. And yes, I could have stayed up after election returns to watch it at 5am, but I was cold and my people needed cuddles, so we stuck with the plan of watching the Prime Time re-broadcast.
But the excitement has built to its crescendo and I am tightly wound spring of bounces ready to explode around the living room. I am hopeful that the 6 entrants I have not seen before will bring some happy songs & performances tonight. The Semi-Finals were fun, but a bit angry and lackluster in the performances. I'd like a bit more fun and excitement. If you can't bounce and be silly at Eurovision, where can you? And, come on, truthfully the world needs some fun bounces and silliness now. You all know I'm right about that!
Things I liked about this year's telecast: I really liked the idea of the video postcards from Eurovision (filmed in Israel) rather than postcards to Eurovision (filmed in the contestants' home countries). And it may have been because I watched the Prime-Time re-broadcasts rather than the live coverage, but I liked there wasn't too much down time or filler in the Semi-Finals. I hope that continues tonight with the Final. I don't really need to see too much of of either the on-stage hosts or the local commentary team. The backstage interviews are great for refilling the snack bowl and answering calls of nature, but the on-stage/commentary booth banter I can do without. Titles on screen and/or voiceovers reading out the program take care of what viewers want and need to know, the hosts are a bit superfluous. (Aside, isn't superfluous a rather bouncy wound to say? It just naturally bounces. Well, it does to me anyway.)
Tonight's review will follow the format of the reviews of the Semi-Finals, where I'll score the performance out of 5 flags and then at the end I'll list my Top Ten. So far this year, I'm batting .500 for picks in my Top Ten moving on. I don't expect that to change too much with the Final. I have a fairly bad track record in having my favorite song be the ultimate winner. I still say Denmark got robbed last year! Higher Ground still gives me goosebumps when we watch the YouTube video. It was much, much, much better than Toy. I'm bouncing off on a tangent. On to tonight's Grand Final:
Malta
Michela
Chameleon
🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹 (4/5)
I like the bounces. It's not a winning entry; but thanks for the pops of color and happy song, Malta.
Albania
Jonida Maliqi
Ktheju tokës
🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱 (3/5)
This staging of this song has an angry feel, even if the song is not strictly angry. It's not one of my favorites, but it was a good performance.
Czech Republic
Lake Malawi
Friend of a Friend
🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿 (4/5)
There is nothing wrong with the song, it's catchy and poppy, but the inability of the performers to successfully mime playing the instruments is distracting to me. Good effort, but it's not going to be a winner.
Germany
S!sters
Sister
🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪 (3/5)
First new entry tonight. They look like very nice people, but the performance is not grabbing me. This one is probably not going to win.
Russia
Sergey Lazarev
Scream
🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 (3/5)
His voice is good, but neither the song nor the performance are stand-out to me.
Denmark
Leonora
Love Is Forever
🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰 (5/5)
I like the fun, bouncy feel of this song and the happy performance. Unless something changes with the new-to-the-final entrants, it's my Number 1 for the night. I do not expect this to be the overall winner. My favorites have never won.
San Marino
Serhat
Say Na Na Na
🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲 (4/5)
The bouncy upbeat feel is nice, but it's not going to be a winner
North Macedonia
Tamara Todevska
Proud
🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰 (3/5)
I like the message but not the song. Tamara does a great job in the performance, it's just not a favorite of mine.
Sweden
John Lundvik
Too Late For Love
🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪 (5/5)
The roller skating in the postcard is fun. I want to give him 5 flags for just that! But this is my second favorite so far. It might move down later in the night, but it's a solid favorite.
Slovenia
Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl
Sebi
🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮 (5/5)
I like this one. It's not my top pick, but a definite Top Ten. And the performers look happy and nervous. It feels real, not practiced to be down pat.
Cyprus
Tamta
Replay
🇨🇾🇨🇾🇨🇾 (3/5)
The performance and feel is upbeat, even so this is not a favorite.
The Netherlands
Duncan Laurence
Arcade
🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱 (5/5)
The announcers say this is the favorite. It's a Top Ten for me, but not a favorite.
Greece
Katherine Duska
Better Love
🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷 (4/5)
The staging is light and bright, and she's doing a great job. A solid performance, but not a winner for me.
Israel
Kobi Marimi
Home
🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 (4/5)
New for tonight. It's a nice soft, simple, solid song.
Norway
KEiiNO
Spirit in the Sky
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴 (5/5)
I can't explain it. I really like this one. Definitely Top Five.
United Kingdom
Michael Rice
Bigger Than Us
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 (3/5)
Another new-for-tonight song. It's a safe, middle of the pack song for the UK, nothing special, but nothing that would make me turn the channel if it came on the radio.
Iceland
Hatari
Hatriò mun sigra
🇮🇸🇮🇸 (2/5)
I do not like this one. I didn't really like it in the Semi-Final and it has not grown on me since. I hate to give performances lower than 3 flags, but I am going to in this case.
Estonia
Victor Crone
Storm
🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪 (5/5)
I like this song. It's a Top Ten for sure. I like it even more because he looks like he's having such a good time just being there.
Belarus
SENA
Like It
🇧🇾🇧🇾🇧🇾 (3/5)
I didn't really like it in the Semi-Final and it hasn't grabbed me any more tonight.
Azerbaijan
Chingiz
Truth
🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿 (4/5)
The robots are still cool, but the song is nothing really special to me. There's nothing wrong with it, just nothing stand-out about it either.
France
Bilal Hassani
Roi
🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 (5/5)
New tonight. It does not surprise me in the least that France is singing in French. And I love the plus-size ballerina. The message the performance sends is great.
Italy
Mahmood
Soldi
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 (4/5)
Two new-to-tonight songs in a row. It's kind of catchy. I like it.
Serbia
Nevena Božović
Kruna
🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸 (3/5)
I know she's giving a great performance, but it's not one of my favorites.
Switzerland
Luca Hänni
She Got Me
🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 (4/5)
I remember this from the Semi-Final. I didn't like the red lighting then and I don't like it any more now, but the song is kind of catchy and bouncy fun.
Australia
Kate Miller-Heidke
Zero Gravity
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 (4/5)
I still like it more at Eurovision than I did in the Australia Decides, but it's suffering from overplay and I'm kind of over it. And the bendy sticks are still making me nervous, humans do not have bottoms made out of rubber and tops made out of springs.
Spain
Miki
La Venda
🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸 (4/5)
Last song, and last new song for the night. I'm glad they are ending on a peppy, happy, catchy, bright song.
My Top Ten:
1. Denmark
2. Sweden
3. Norway
4. Estonia
5. Slovenia
6. The Netherlands
7. France
8. Italy
9. Australia
10. Israel
Thanks for joining me for my reviews of the Eurovision 2019 Song Contest.
If my favorite can't win, I hope yours did.
Tigger
But the excitement has built to its crescendo and I am tightly wound spring of bounces ready to explode around the living room. I am hopeful that the 6 entrants I have not seen before will bring some happy songs & performances tonight. The Semi-Finals were fun, but a bit angry and lackluster in the performances. I'd like a bit more fun and excitement. If you can't bounce and be silly at Eurovision, where can you? And, come on, truthfully the world needs some fun bounces and silliness now. You all know I'm right about that!
Things I liked about this year's telecast: I really liked the idea of the video postcards from Eurovision (filmed in Israel) rather than postcards to Eurovision (filmed in the contestants' home countries). And it may have been because I watched the Prime-Time re-broadcasts rather than the live coverage, but I liked there wasn't too much down time or filler in the Semi-Finals. I hope that continues tonight with the Final. I don't really need to see too much of of either the on-stage hosts or the local commentary team. The backstage interviews are great for refilling the snack bowl and answering calls of nature, but the on-stage/commentary booth banter I can do without. Titles on screen and/or voiceovers reading out the program take care of what viewers want and need to know, the hosts are a bit superfluous. (Aside, isn't superfluous a rather bouncy wound to say? It just naturally bounces. Well, it does to me anyway.)
Tonight's review will follow the format of the reviews of the Semi-Finals, where I'll score the performance out of 5 flags and then at the end I'll list my Top Ten. So far this year, I'm batting .500 for picks in my Top Ten moving on. I don't expect that to change too much with the Final. I have a fairly bad track record in having my favorite song be the ultimate winner. I still say Denmark got robbed last year! Higher Ground still gives me goosebumps when we watch the YouTube video. It was much, much, much better than Toy. I'm bouncing off on a tangent. On to tonight's Grand Final:
Malta
Michela
Chameleon
🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹 (4/5)
I like the bounces. It's not a winning entry; but thanks for the pops of color and happy song, Malta.
Albania
Jonida Maliqi
Ktheju tokës
🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱 (3/5)
This staging of this song has an angry feel, even if the song is not strictly angry. It's not one of my favorites, but it was a good performance.
Czech Republic
Lake Malawi
Friend of a Friend
🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿 (4/5)
There is nothing wrong with the song, it's catchy and poppy, but the inability of the performers to successfully mime playing the instruments is distracting to me. Good effort, but it's not going to be a winner.
Germany
S!sters
Sister
🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪 (3/5)
First new entry tonight. They look like very nice people, but the performance is not grabbing me. This one is probably not going to win.
Russia
Sergey Lazarev
Scream
🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 (3/5)
His voice is good, but neither the song nor the performance are stand-out to me.
Denmark
Leonora
Love Is Forever
🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰 (5/5)
I like the fun, bouncy feel of this song and the happy performance. Unless something changes with the new-to-the-final entrants, it's my Number 1 for the night. I do not expect this to be the overall winner. My favorites have never won.
San Marino
Serhat
Say Na Na Na
🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲 (4/5)
The bouncy upbeat feel is nice, but it's not going to be a winner
North Macedonia
Tamara Todevska
Proud
🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰 (3/5)
I like the message but not the song. Tamara does a great job in the performance, it's just not a favorite of mine.
Sweden
John Lundvik
Too Late For Love
🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪 (5/5)
The roller skating in the postcard is fun. I want to give him 5 flags for just that! But this is my second favorite so far. It might move down later in the night, but it's a solid favorite.
Slovenia
Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl
Sebi
🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮 (5/5)
I like this one. It's not my top pick, but a definite Top Ten. And the performers look happy and nervous. It feels real, not practiced to be down pat.
Cyprus
Tamta
Replay
🇨🇾🇨🇾🇨🇾 (3/5)
The performance and feel is upbeat, even so this is not a favorite.
The Netherlands
Duncan Laurence
Arcade
🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱 (5/5)
The announcers say this is the favorite. It's a Top Ten for me, but not a favorite.
Greece
Katherine Duska
Better Love
🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷 (4/5)
The staging is light and bright, and she's doing a great job. A solid performance, but not a winner for me.
Israel
Kobi Marimi
Home
🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 (4/5)
New for tonight. It's a nice soft, simple, solid song.
Norway
KEiiNO
Spirit in the Sky
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴 (5/5)
I can't explain it. I really like this one. Definitely Top Five.
United Kingdom
Michael Rice
Bigger Than Us
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 (3/5)
Another new-for-tonight song. It's a safe, middle of the pack song for the UK, nothing special, but nothing that would make me turn the channel if it came on the radio.
Iceland
Hatari
Hatriò mun sigra
🇮🇸🇮🇸 (2/5)
I do not like this one. I didn't really like it in the Semi-Final and it has not grown on me since. I hate to give performances lower than 3 flags, but I am going to in this case.
Estonia
Victor Crone
Storm
🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪 (5/5)
I like this song. It's a Top Ten for sure. I like it even more because he looks like he's having such a good time just being there.
Belarus
SENA
Like It
🇧🇾🇧🇾🇧🇾 (3/5)
I didn't really like it in the Semi-Final and it hasn't grabbed me any more tonight.
Azerbaijan
Chingiz
Truth
🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿 (4/5)
The robots are still cool, but the song is nothing really special to me. There's nothing wrong with it, just nothing stand-out about it either.
France
Bilal Hassani
Roi
🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 (5/5)
New tonight. It does not surprise me in the least that France is singing in French. And I love the plus-size ballerina. The message the performance sends is great.
Italy
Mahmood
Soldi
🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 (4/5)
Two new-to-tonight songs in a row. It's kind of catchy. I like it.
Serbia
Nevena Božović
Kruna
🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸 (3/5)
I know she's giving a great performance, but it's not one of my favorites.
Switzerland
Luca Hänni
She Got Me
🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 (4/5)
I remember this from the Semi-Final. I didn't like the red lighting then and I don't like it any more now, but the song is kind of catchy and bouncy fun.
Australia
Kate Miller-Heidke
Zero Gravity
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 (4/5)
I still like it more at Eurovision than I did in the Australia Decides, but it's suffering from overplay and I'm kind of over it. And the bendy sticks are still making me nervous, humans do not have bottoms made out of rubber and tops made out of springs.
Spain
Miki
La Venda
🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸 (4/5)
Last song, and last new song for the night. I'm glad they are ending on a peppy, happy, catchy, bright song.
My Top Ten:
1. Denmark
2. Sweden
3. Norway
4. Estonia
5. Slovenia
6. The Netherlands
7. France
8. Italy
9. Australia
10. Israel
Thanks for joining me for my reviews of the Eurovision 2019 Song Contest.
If my favorite can't win, I hope yours did.
Tigger
Friday, May 17, 2019
Review of 2019 Eurovision Semi-Final No. 2
It's 2019 Eurovision Semi-Final No. 2 tonight. We have been able to avoid all spoilers so we do not know anything about tonight's competitors. I prefer it that way.
(I noticed yesterday when viewing the post on a phone that my flags don't come through on the phone, so tonight I'll mention how many flags I have awarded to each as well as using the flag emojis.)
Ahh, Madonna is going to be at the Final. That's interesting.
Armenia
Srbuk
Walking Out
🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲 (3/5)
I don't like the red lighting. Not a favorite.
Ireland
Sarah McTernan
22
🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 (4/5)
It's fun and bouncy. I'll keep it in reserve. I wonder if the milkshakes are real or just props. They look pretty yummy.
Moldova
Anna Odobescu
Stay
🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩 (4/5)
The sand art is really nice, can I vote for the sand artist? It was not bad, but I don't think it's going to win.
Switzerland
Luca Hänni
She Got Me
🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 (3/5)
I would like it better without the red lighting.
Latvia
Carousel
That Night
🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻 (5/5)
I really like this one; first favorite of the night.
Romania
Ester Peony
On a Sunday
🇷🇴🇷🇴🇷🇴🇷🇴 (4/5)
I was hoping for a peppier song based on the title.
Denmark
Leonora
Love Is Forever
🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰 (5/5)
It's fun, peppy and bouncy. I like it.
Sweden
John Lundvik
Too Late For Love
🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪 (5/5)
I like this one.
Austria
PÆNDA
Limits
🇦🇹🇦🇹🇦🇹 (3/5)
It's not bad, but it's not really a favorite.
Croatia
Roko
The Dream
🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷 (3/5)
Nothing special.
Malta
Michela
Chameleon
🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹 (5/5)
It's a bouncy and happy sounding song, with fun bright staging. On the favorite list.
Lithuania
Jurij Veklenko
Run With The Lions
🇱🇹🇱🇹🇱🇹🇱🇹🇱🇹 (5/5)
I'm surprised but I really like this one.
Russia
Sergey Lazarev
Scream
🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 (3/5)
I don't really like it.
Albania
Jonida Maliqi
Ktheju tokës
🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱 (4/5)
Points for the non-English language, but I don't see this as a winner.
Norway
KEiiNO
Spirit in the Sky
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴 (5/5)
More fun than I thought it was going to be.
The Netherlands
Duncan Laurence
Arcade
🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱 (4/5)
It's definitely a pop radio song.
North Macedonia
Tamara Todevska
Proud
🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰 (3/5)
It's a nice message, but not a favorite song.
Azerbaijan
Chingiz
Truth
🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿 (4/5)
The robotic arms are cool. Not bad, but not a favorite either.
Congratulations to all the competitors at this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Good Luck to everyone who has moved on to the Final.
My Top Ten:
1. Denmark
2. Latvia
3. Norway
4. Lithuania
5. Sweden
6. Malta
7. The Netherlands
8. Ireland
9. Romania
10. Moldova
Thanks for joining me tonight.
See you on Sunday for the Final.
Tigger
(I noticed yesterday when viewing the post on a phone that my flags don't come through on the phone, so tonight I'll mention how many flags I have awarded to each as well as using the flag emojis.)
Ahh, Madonna is going to be at the Final. That's interesting.
Armenia
Srbuk
Walking Out
🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲 (3/5)
I don't like the red lighting. Not a favorite.
Ireland
Sarah McTernan
22
🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 (4/5)
It's fun and bouncy. I'll keep it in reserve. I wonder if the milkshakes are real or just props. They look pretty yummy.
Moldova
Anna Odobescu
Stay
🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩 (4/5)
The sand art is really nice, can I vote for the sand artist? It was not bad, but I don't think it's going to win.
Switzerland
Luca Hänni
She Got Me
🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 (3/5)
I would like it better without the red lighting.
Latvia
Carousel
That Night
🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻 (5/5)
I really like this one; first favorite of the night.
Romania
Ester Peony
On a Sunday
🇷🇴🇷🇴🇷🇴🇷🇴 (4/5)
I was hoping for a peppier song based on the title.
Denmark
Leonora
Love Is Forever
🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰 (5/5)
It's fun, peppy and bouncy. I like it.
Sweden
John Lundvik
Too Late For Love
🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪 (5/5)
I like this one.
Austria
PÆNDA
Limits
🇦🇹🇦🇹🇦🇹 (3/5)
It's not bad, but it's not really a favorite.
Croatia
Roko
The Dream
🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷 (3/5)
Nothing special.
Malta
Michela
Chameleon
🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹 (5/5)
It's a bouncy and happy sounding song, with fun bright staging. On the favorite list.
Lithuania
Jurij Veklenko
Run With The Lions
🇱🇹🇱🇹🇱🇹🇱🇹🇱🇹 (5/5)
I'm surprised but I really like this one.
Russia
Sergey Lazarev
Scream
🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 (3/5)
I don't really like it.
Albania
Jonida Maliqi
Ktheju tokës
🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱 (4/5)
Points for the non-English language, but I don't see this as a winner.
Norway
KEiiNO
Spirit in the Sky
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴 (5/5)
More fun than I thought it was going to be.
The Netherlands
Duncan Laurence
Arcade
🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱 (4/5)
It's definitely a pop radio song.
North Macedonia
Tamara Todevska
Proud
🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰 (3/5)
It's a nice message, but not a favorite song.
Azerbaijan
Chingiz
Truth
🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿 (4/5)
The robotic arms are cool. Not bad, but not a favorite either.
Congratulations to all the competitors at this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Good Luck to everyone who has moved on to the Final.
My Top Ten:
1. Denmark
2. Latvia
3. Norway
4. Lithuania
5. Sweden
6. Malta
7. The Netherlands
8. Ireland
9. Romania
10. Moldova
Thanks for joining me tonight.
See you on Sunday for the Final.
Tigger
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Review of Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final No. 1
It's Eurovision time again, and Tigger is excited to review the Semi-Finals and Final. Due to the time difference, we get the broadcast later than Europe, so everyone who's interested will already know the results by the time they read this, but Tigger has fun reviewing it anyway. We hope all the readers have as much fun reliving the performances.
Oliver
Hello Everyone!
Eurovision 2019 is here and I am a bundle of bounces that cannot be contained! The local Australian station is airing the Semi-Finals on Thursday and Friday nights, followed by the Final on Sunday night. (The 2019 Australian Federal Election is on Saturday, so there will be a break from Eurovision that night.)
Because there is an Australian competitor this year, try as we might, we were unable to avoid spoilers from Semi-Final No. 1. I am sorry I know the result of the Australian entrant, but I am going to review the Semi-Final as though I do not know.
As in past years, I am going to rate each entrant by awarding 1 to 5 flags, then listing my top 10 at the end. Results are available at other sites, including Eurovision 2019, so I will not be listing the final results on my reviews.
Come and join me as we watch Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final No. 1:
Toy wasn't my choice last year, but I do have to say this new staging for the performance seems to fit the song better than the performance when it won last year.
The video postcards are fun but I still miss the ones when the performers made the county flags out of things. I do like that the postcards are all in places in Israel, rather than the performers' home countries. That's a fun twist on them.
Cyprus
Tamta
Replay
🇨🇾🇨🇾
This one is not doing anything for me.
Montenegro
D mol
Heaven
🇲🇪🇲🇪🇲🇪🇲🇪
Not terrible; I like the instrumental parts of the song best.
Finland
Darude featuring Sebastian Rejman
Look Away
🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮
Nothing special.
Poland
Tulia
Fire of Love (Pali siȩ)
🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱
Singing in the native language always gets extra points from me. It was fun.
Slovenia
Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl
Sebi
🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮
Another one in their native language, I'm always happy for those. Not bad.
Czech Republic
Lake Malawi
Friend of a Friend
🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿
I like that it's poppy and bouncy.
Hungary
Joci Pápai
Az én apám
🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺
I really like this one, absolutely a favorite from tonight.
Belarus
SENA
Like It
🇧🇾🇧🇾🇧🇾
I don't dislike it.
Serbia
Nevena Božović
Kruna
🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
I wish it weren't quite so angry.
Belgium
Eliot
Wake Up
🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪
Not bad, in fact, I really like it.
Georgia
Oto Nemsadze
Keep on Going
🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪
It's interesting, but I don't think the angry tone fits the words.
Australia
Kate Miller-Heidke
Zero Gravity
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
I like it more now than in the Australia Decides competition, but those flexible stnads make me very nervous.
Iceland
Hatari
Hatiò mun sigra
🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸
Another angry song; it's a bit scary in sound and performance.
Estonia
Victor Crone
Storm
🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪
Ohh, this one is definitely a favorite!
Portugal
Conan Osiris
Telemóveis
🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹
This is weird. The Australian commentators said it was weird, and they were right.
Greece
Katherine Duska
Better Love
🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
I am surprised how much I like this one.
San Marino
Serhat
Say Na Na Na
🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲
It's fun and bouncy, but not my pick for winner.
It's been an interesting combination of musical styles and genres through this Semi-Final. I hope it continues in Semi-Final No. 2.
My top ten:
1. Estonia
2. Hungary
3. Australia
4. Greece
5. Belgium
6. Czech Republic
7. Poland
8. Montenegro
9. Slovenia
10. Portugal
Thanks for joining me.
See you tomorrow for Semi-Final No. 2
Tigger
Oliver
Hello Everyone!
Eurovision 2019 is here and I am a bundle of bounces that cannot be contained! The local Australian station is airing the Semi-Finals on Thursday and Friday nights, followed by the Final on Sunday night. (The 2019 Australian Federal Election is on Saturday, so there will be a break from Eurovision that night.)
Because there is an Australian competitor this year, try as we might, we were unable to avoid spoilers from Semi-Final No. 1. I am sorry I know the result of the Australian entrant, but I am going to review the Semi-Final as though I do not know.
As in past years, I am going to rate each entrant by awarding 1 to 5 flags, then listing my top 10 at the end. Results are available at other sites, including Eurovision 2019, so I will not be listing the final results on my reviews.
Come and join me as we watch Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final No. 1:
Toy wasn't my choice last year, but I do have to say this new staging for the performance seems to fit the song better than the performance when it won last year.
The video postcards are fun but I still miss the ones when the performers made the county flags out of things. I do like that the postcards are all in places in Israel, rather than the performers' home countries. That's a fun twist on them.
Cyprus
Tamta
Replay
🇨🇾🇨🇾
This one is not doing anything for me.
Montenegro
D mol
Heaven
🇲🇪🇲🇪🇲🇪🇲🇪
Not terrible; I like the instrumental parts of the song best.
Finland
Darude featuring Sebastian Rejman
Look Away
🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮
Nothing special.
Poland
Tulia
Fire of Love (Pali siȩ)
🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱
Singing in the native language always gets extra points from me. It was fun.
Slovenia
Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl
Sebi
🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮
Another one in their native language, I'm always happy for those. Not bad.
Czech Republic
Lake Malawi
Friend of a Friend
🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿🇨🇿
I like that it's poppy and bouncy.
Hungary
Joci Pápai
Az én apám
🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺
I really like this one, absolutely a favorite from tonight.
Belarus
SENA
Like It
🇧🇾🇧🇾🇧🇾
I don't dislike it.
Serbia
Nevena Božović
Kruna
🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
I wish it weren't quite so angry.
Belgium
Eliot
Wake Up
🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪
Not bad, in fact, I really like it.
Georgia
Oto Nemsadze
Keep on Going
🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪
It's interesting, but I don't think the angry tone fits the words.
Australia
Kate Miller-Heidke
Zero Gravity
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
I like it more now than in the Australia Decides competition, but those flexible stnads make me very nervous.
Iceland
Hatari
Hatiò mun sigra
🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸
Another angry song; it's a bit scary in sound and performance.
Estonia
Victor Crone
Storm
🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪🇪
Ohh, this one is definitely a favorite!
Portugal
Conan Osiris
Telemóveis
🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹
This is weird. The Australian commentators said it was weird, and they were right.
Greece
Katherine Duska
Better Love
🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
I am surprised how much I like this one.
San Marino
Serhat
Say Na Na Na
🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲
It's fun and bouncy, but not my pick for winner.
It's been an interesting combination of musical styles and genres through this Semi-Final. I hope it continues in Semi-Final No. 2.
My top ten:
1. Estonia
2. Hungary
3. Australia
4. Greece
5. Belgium
6. Czech Republic
7. Poland
8. Montenegro
9. Slovenia
10. Portugal
Thanks for joining me.
See you tomorrow for Semi-Final No. 2
Tigger
Friday, May 3, 2019
One Bear's Opinion on: Wakestone Hall
Wakestone Hall
by Judith Rossell
Wakestone Hall is the final Stella Montgomery Intrigue. Stella has been sent off to a boarding school by her aunts and finds an exciting time. As with the other Stella Montgomery books, there is a great adventure as the main part of the story. It's a fun, thrilling kind of adventure, and the story came to a very satisfying ending, but this was not as strong a book as the first one in the series.
I preferred the mystery of this book to the mystery of the first and second ones in the series, but this book did not have the same feel as the first one. On the whole, this book was better than the second adventure, but not as exciting or fun as the first one. I'm having a hard time saying more than this without spoiling the book for future readers, and I do not want to do that.
Stella is an intriguing character, and one I would like to call a friend, but the ups and downs of the adventure make it hard to figure out how to make friends with Stella. It was much easier to make friends with the supporting characters in this book, and unfortunately readers do not have nearly enough time with them.
Ultimately, the Stella Montgomery Intrigue was a fun and satisfying read, but this reader still has some remaining unanswered questions, and really wishes the books were more even and consistent. The series is definitely worth a read, but not as much fun or as engaging as other, similar series I have read.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea, with the leaves kept for reading
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
by Judith Rossell
Wakestone Hall is the final Stella Montgomery Intrigue. Stella has been sent off to a boarding school by her aunts and finds an exciting time. As with the other Stella Montgomery books, there is a great adventure as the main part of the story. It's a fun, thrilling kind of adventure, and the story came to a very satisfying ending, but this was not as strong a book as the first one in the series.
I preferred the mystery of this book to the mystery of the first and second ones in the series, but this book did not have the same feel as the first one. On the whole, this book was better than the second adventure, but not as exciting or fun as the first one. I'm having a hard time saying more than this without spoiling the book for future readers, and I do not want to do that.
Stella is an intriguing character, and one I would like to call a friend, but the ups and downs of the adventure make it hard to figure out how to make friends with Stella. It was much easier to make friends with the supporting characters in this book, and unfortunately readers do not have nearly enough time with them.
Ultimately, the Stella Montgomery Intrigue was a fun and satisfying read, but this reader still has some remaining unanswered questions, and really wishes the books were more even and consistent. The series is definitely worth a read, but not as much fun or as engaging as other, similar series I have read.
One Bear's Opinion: Four Cups of Tea, with the leaves kept for reading
Happy Reading Everyone,
Oliver
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)