Here’s my Metro News reviews for the week of July 28th.
And the Mountains Echoed
By Khaled Hosseini
Kindle/iBooks/Kobo
Five Stars
Travelling from one likeable character to another, Hosseini poignantly charts a series of reprehensible events across the globe and down through family generations. A companion website, EchoProject.ca, matches the book’s pages to interactive illustrations, videos, and maps made by fans that reveal the resonant themes of his story without feeling like a gimmick or taking away from its emotive spell.
Flower Power
iPhone/Android
4 Stars
$69.95
Although its short range limits use to house plants, this app-connected sensor is an effective way to understand the needs of your plant by monitoring water, sunlight, and temperature changes.
Top Chef University
iPhone/iPad
Free
Get past the annoying pop-ups and there’s actually some handy instructional videos on using basic tools and prepping specialty ingredients in this tie-in to the popular reality cooking TV series.
Blue Note 75
iPad
Free
The finest Jazz since 1953, this impressive label retrospective offers traditions, stories, artwork, and a timeline. Through Rdio and iTunes there’s streaming music organized by influence, mood, and smart recommendations.
The Last of Us Remastered
PS4
Rated: Mature 17+
5 Stars
It’s emotional storytelling that makes The Last of Us an outstanding experience. Remastering doesn’t change that, it visually enhances shadows and far-off landscapes, conveniently packages in a documentary and the prequel, but adds nothing important to Joel and Ellie’s post-apocalyptic journey. It’s a bonus if you have a PS4, but PS3 bargain buyers aren’t missing out. Sure, there’s more control options and an Instagram-like feature to take and share photos, but really this is just a reminder not to miss out on one of the best games of all time.
