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Merissa (13319 KP) created a post
Feb 4, 2021
Metamorphoses of Light: Lightning, Rainbows and the Northern Lights, A Spiritual-Scientific Study
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'Goethe called colour the deeds and sufferings of the light - victorious deeds when it pierces...
Let's do it -The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood
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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'I was born with a warped sense of humour and when I was carried home...
ClareR (5991 KP) rated The Twyford Code in Books
Feb 24, 2022
The Twyford Code is written in the form of a transcribed voice recording from a mobile phone. It was a bit of a āMarmiteā book on The Pigeonhole (where I read it), and I came firmly down in the āloveā camp. It was such an original idea.
Steve a former criminal, has recorded messages to the adult son he has only met a couple of times. His son has decided that he doesnāt want to see him, but Steve has something important that he wants to share with him. He repeatedly says that he hopes his son will get to listen to what he has to say. But as the book goes on, it looks increasingly less likely. Danger is around him at every turn.
Steve has joined the hunt for hidden treasure, and he believes the clues are hidden in a series of childrenās books by Edith Twyford.
Ok, so apparently the clues can be found in this book, but Iām afraid my brain just doesnāt seem to work like that. So, Iām here to say that I read this, enjoyed it immensely, and was just happy to sit back, read the book, and let the story unfold. If you like puzzle solving, you might enjoy that aspect to it. But itās not imperative!
I thought it was fascinating. The writing style took a couple of pages to get used to, and often the words were written phonetically. Steveās Remedial English teachers name was written as āmissilesā instead of Miss Isles, for example. There are lots of spellings that follow this pattern, because the recordings have apparently gone through a computer programme that changes the spoken word into text. I did wonder if Steveās own writing would have been much different, as we learn that he only really learnt to read and write whilst in prison.
I donāt want to say too much and spoil the book, but I will say that this had me hooked. I enjoyed each and every stave on The Pigeonhole. This book deserves the hype!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to Janice Hallett and her publisher.
Steve a former criminal, has recorded messages to the adult son he has only met a couple of times. His son has decided that he doesnāt want to see him, but Steve has something important that he wants to share with him. He repeatedly says that he hopes his son will get to listen to what he has to say. But as the book goes on, it looks increasingly less likely. Danger is around him at every turn.
Steve has joined the hunt for hidden treasure, and he believes the clues are hidden in a series of childrenās books by Edith Twyford.
Ok, so apparently the clues can be found in this book, but Iām afraid my brain just doesnāt seem to work like that. So, Iām here to say that I read this, enjoyed it immensely, and was just happy to sit back, read the book, and let the story unfold. If you like puzzle solving, you might enjoy that aspect to it. But itās not imperative!
I thought it was fascinating. The writing style took a couple of pages to get used to, and often the words were written phonetically. Steveās Remedial English teachers name was written as āmissilesā instead of Miss Isles, for example. There are lots of spellings that follow this pattern, because the recordings have apparently gone through a computer programme that changes the spoken word into text. I did wonder if Steveās own writing would have been much different, as we learn that he only really learnt to read and write whilst in prison.
I donāt want to say too much and spoil the book, but I will say that this had me hooked. I enjoyed each and every stave on The Pigeonhole. This book deserves the hype!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to Janice Hallett and her publisher.
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Children Act (2018) in Movies
Sep 28, 2021
āAnd the Oscar goes toāā¦ (or should go to)ā¦ āDame Emma Thompsonā.
Given my last review was for āThe Equalizer 2ā, where Denzel was judge, jury and executioner, itās a nice seque that this film follows the life of a senior judge in Londonās Law Courts: trying to do the justice job, but in the right way!
Judge Maye (Thompson) is a childless wife to her loving husband Jack (Tucci), but is also a workaholic. This is driving the long-term couple to the point of infidelity: a fact the ever-focused Fiona ā whose life, to her, probably feels to be in a perfect if selfish equilibrium ā is oblivious to. With Fionaās intense but comfortable world about to cave in around her, her increasing stress is not helped by the latest case she is working on: one where Adam ( Fionn Whitehead from āDunkirkā), a Jehovahās Witness boy and a minor, is refusing on religious grounds the blood transfusion he desperately needs to fight his leukaemia. Fionaās decisions in the months ahead go much further than a simple judgement on the case.
Two acting giants ā one born in London; one born in New York ā tower over this Ian McEwan adaptation like leviathons. I bandy around the phrase ānational treasureā a lot in these reviews but, if there was a league table of national treasures, Emma Thompson would qualify for the Championās League every season. Here she is simply breathtakingly powerful in the lead role of Judge Fiona Maye, exhibiting such extremes of emotion that you would like to think that an Oscar nomination would be assured. (However, before I run out and put a Ā£10 bet on her to win, the film is such a small British film that unfortunately both a nomination and a win seem unlikely! THIS IS A CRIME! So I have added the tag #OscarBuzz to this postā¦. please share and lobby people, lobby! Perhaps at the very least we can hope for some BAFTA recognition).
Sometimes a masterly lead performance can make a co-star performance seem unbalanced, but no such danger here. Stanley Tucci makes a perfect acting foil for Thompson: if he were a wine he would be described as āexasperation, frustration, compassion with strong notes of respectā. And he carries it off with perfection.
This is an incredibly intelligent film, working on so many different levels and subject to so much interpretation. Fionaās feelings for the troubled teenager feel more maternal than sexual, but when those feelings become returned and escalate the whole piece develops a queasily oedipal quality. Many films have focused on illicit attractions between teacher and pupil, but here lies a new variation, with Maye fighting against her best professional insticts to ādo the right thingā. āIām frightened of myselfā she eventually wails to a colleague.
In his opening hospital scenes*, Adam seems completely other-wordly compared to a typical teen and this comes across as utterly false. That is, until you consider the oddness of his family background and Jehovahās Witness upbringing. As such, the film just about gets away with it. Whitehead does a good job with a difficult role. (*It took my wife to point out ā after the film, thank goodness ā the similarities between this hospital scene and a famous guitar-playing scene in āAirplaneā at which I dissolved into guffaws!).
If youāve been in a court, youāll know that there is something regal and magical about a judge in full regalia entering a packed courtroom. So itās unusual to see the view from the other side of the doorā¦ a non-descript office corridor and a non-descript door. Helping the judge on this side of the door is her PA Nigel, played by the brilliant Jason Watkins: a TV regular (e.g. āLine of Dutyā, āW1Aā) but seen far less at the movies.
As a story of obsessive fixation, it borders on McEwanās disturbing earlier work āEnduring Loveā. And it has the potential to go in lots of interesting directions as a sort of bonkers platonic love triangle (āHe wants to live with US?ā splutters Tucci). Where the story does end up going was not particularly to my liking, and a melodramatic concert scene was ā for me ā a little overdone. However it does give rise to a scene (the āsopping wetā scene) that shows Thompson at her most brilliant: if she DID get Oscar or BAFTA nominated then this will be her pre-announcement snippet.
Itās a great film for showcasing acting talent, but beware: itās not got a ālot of laffsā. As such itās very much a āFather Ted filmā that takes a while to recover from.
Judge Maye (Thompson) is a childless wife to her loving husband Jack (Tucci), but is also a workaholic. This is driving the long-term couple to the point of infidelity: a fact the ever-focused Fiona ā whose life, to her, probably feels to be in a perfect if selfish equilibrium ā is oblivious to. With Fionaās intense but comfortable world about to cave in around her, her increasing stress is not helped by the latest case she is working on: one where Adam ( Fionn Whitehead from āDunkirkā), a Jehovahās Witness boy and a minor, is refusing on religious grounds the blood transfusion he desperately needs to fight his leukaemia. Fionaās decisions in the months ahead go much further than a simple judgement on the case.
Two acting giants ā one born in London; one born in New York ā tower over this Ian McEwan adaptation like leviathons. I bandy around the phrase ānational treasureā a lot in these reviews but, if there was a league table of national treasures, Emma Thompson would qualify for the Championās League every season. Here she is simply breathtakingly powerful in the lead role of Judge Fiona Maye, exhibiting such extremes of emotion that you would like to think that an Oscar nomination would be assured. (However, before I run out and put a Ā£10 bet on her to win, the film is such a small British film that unfortunately both a nomination and a win seem unlikely! THIS IS A CRIME! So I have added the tag #OscarBuzz to this postā¦. please share and lobby people, lobby! Perhaps at the very least we can hope for some BAFTA recognition).
Sometimes a masterly lead performance can make a co-star performance seem unbalanced, but no such danger here. Stanley Tucci makes a perfect acting foil for Thompson: if he were a wine he would be described as āexasperation, frustration, compassion with strong notes of respectā. And he carries it off with perfection.
This is an incredibly intelligent film, working on so many different levels and subject to so much interpretation. Fionaās feelings for the troubled teenager feel more maternal than sexual, but when those feelings become returned and escalate the whole piece develops a queasily oedipal quality. Many films have focused on illicit attractions between teacher and pupil, but here lies a new variation, with Maye fighting against her best professional insticts to ādo the right thingā. āIām frightened of myselfā she eventually wails to a colleague.
In his opening hospital scenes*, Adam seems completely other-wordly compared to a typical teen and this comes across as utterly false. That is, until you consider the oddness of his family background and Jehovahās Witness upbringing. As such, the film just about gets away with it. Whitehead does a good job with a difficult role. (*It took my wife to point out ā after the film, thank goodness ā the similarities between this hospital scene and a famous guitar-playing scene in āAirplaneā at which I dissolved into guffaws!).
If youāve been in a court, youāll know that there is something regal and magical about a judge in full regalia entering a packed courtroom. So itās unusual to see the view from the other side of the doorā¦ a non-descript office corridor and a non-descript door. Helping the judge on this side of the door is her PA Nigel, played by the brilliant Jason Watkins: a TV regular (e.g. āLine of Dutyā, āW1Aā) but seen far less at the movies.
As a story of obsessive fixation, it borders on McEwanās disturbing earlier work āEnduring Loveā. And it has the potential to go in lots of interesting directions as a sort of bonkers platonic love triangle (āHe wants to live with US?ā splutters Tucci). Where the story does end up going was not particularly to my liking, and a melodramatic concert scene was ā for me ā a little overdone. However it does give rise to a scene (the āsopping wetā scene) that shows Thompson at her most brilliant: if she DID get Oscar or BAFTA nominated then this will be her pre-announcement snippet.
Itās a great film for showcasing acting talent, but beware: itās not got a ālot of laffsā. As such itās very much a āFather Ted filmā that takes a while to recover from.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Into the Blue (2005) in Movies
Aug 14, 2019
In the thriller Into the Blue Sam (Jessica Alba), and Jared (Paul Walker), spend a lot of time scantily clad and swimming in the clear waters in some of the most lavish locales known.
Sam is an Oceanographer and Jared spends his time trying to restore his boat in hopes of searching for lost treasure and artifacts at various spots where ships were reported to have been lost over the years. They have a simple yet happy life, and although Jared feels that the time has come for him to make something of his life.
An arrival of Bryce (Scott Caan), and his new girlfriend Amanda (Ashley Scott), who seek to have some fun and party the days away provides a distraction to Sam and Jared and before long, they are taking in the luxury of the house Bryce is using, and its lavish boat.
A series of dives eventually leads the group to a sunken plane filled with cocaine and into more danger than they can realize. Convinced they have found the fabled lost ship Jared has long sought, he fears that turning the plane in will result in the loss of his claim. The group makes a pact to keep the plane, cargo and location a secret until they can finalize their claim on the shipwreck. Before long, the need for money leads to thoughts of selling the drugs to finance a salvage operation.
A bad situation becomes even worse when the owners of the drugs become aware of what the group is up to, and seek to reclaim their lost fortune letting nothing stand in their way.
While the film is mostly Alba, Walker, and the cast lounging semi clothed in the sun, with numerous close ups of Alba swimming slowly by the camera, there are some good moments in the film. Despite the plot holes, gaps in logic, and some bad acting, the film does have some entertaining moments. The buzz on the film was largely negative prior to my screener, yet I found myself enjoying it. The final segment of the film lost much of the earlier progress as the formulaic and stale ending, complete with the stiff and drawn out action, sink what could have been a good film.
That being said, the film does make for a nice diversion, just keep your expectations low.
Sam is an Oceanographer and Jared spends his time trying to restore his boat in hopes of searching for lost treasure and artifacts at various spots where ships were reported to have been lost over the years. They have a simple yet happy life, and although Jared feels that the time has come for him to make something of his life.
An arrival of Bryce (Scott Caan), and his new girlfriend Amanda (Ashley Scott), who seek to have some fun and party the days away provides a distraction to Sam and Jared and before long, they are taking in the luxury of the house Bryce is using, and its lavish boat.
A series of dives eventually leads the group to a sunken plane filled with cocaine and into more danger than they can realize. Convinced they have found the fabled lost ship Jared has long sought, he fears that turning the plane in will result in the loss of his claim. The group makes a pact to keep the plane, cargo and location a secret until they can finalize their claim on the shipwreck. Before long, the need for money leads to thoughts of selling the drugs to finance a salvage operation.
A bad situation becomes even worse when the owners of the drugs become aware of what the group is up to, and seek to reclaim their lost fortune letting nothing stand in their way.
While the film is mostly Alba, Walker, and the cast lounging semi clothed in the sun, with numerous close ups of Alba swimming slowly by the camera, there are some good moments in the film. Despite the plot holes, gaps in logic, and some bad acting, the film does have some entertaining moments. The buzz on the film was largely negative prior to my screener, yet I found myself enjoying it. The final segment of the film lost much of the earlier progress as the formulaic and stale ending, complete with the stiff and drawn out action, sink what could have been a good film.
That being said, the film does make for a nice diversion, just keep your expectations low.
Rula: My Colourful Life
Book
Rula Lenska's is an extraordinary life. Born in Britain to Polish aristocrats, refugees from the...
The Retreat of the Elephants: An Environmental History of China
Book
This is the first environmental history of China during the three thousand years for which there are...
The Magic of Terry Pratchett
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Book
About The Magic of Terry Pratchett The Magic Of Terry Pratchett is the first full biography of Sir...
Discworld Terry Pratchett Biography
Peter Shephard (2822 KP) rated Munchkin in Tabletop Games
Jun 12, 2019
Excellent group game
One of the easiest to learn games, yet the most fun, games I've played. The cards are almost entirely self explanatory, and the huge amount of nods to the different variations and flavours of games (particularly Dungeons and Dragons) is brilliant.
Whether you fight the Level 8 Gazebo, the Level 1 Potted Plant, or the Level 20 Plutonium Dragon, the deals you can make with your friends and enemies can be almost anything - we even house rule that it can be outside of the game (for example, "I will make the next drink if you help me in this fight, and only take 1 treasure"). Its also entirely possible to "help" in the fight, but sabotage the fight so they dont gain levels!
With dozens of expansions, too, the game can grow and grow, and if you like a particular genre, they probably have it as an option (Sci Fi? Space Munchkin. Vampires? Munchkin Bites etc) - and they can all be played in one huge pile, if you want!!
Brilliant game
Whether you fight the Level 8 Gazebo, the Level 1 Potted Plant, or the Level 20 Plutonium Dragon, the deals you can make with your friends and enemies can be almost anything - we even house rule that it can be outside of the game (for example, "I will make the next drink if you help me in this fight, and only take 1 treasure"). Its also entirely possible to "help" in the fight, but sabotage the fight so they dont gain levels!
With dozens of expansions, too, the game can grow and grow, and if you like a particular genre, they probably have it as an option (Sci Fi? Space Munchkin. Vampires? Munchkin Bites etc) - and they can all be played in one huge pile, if you want!!
Brilliant game