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Daniel Lopatin recommended La Haine (1996) in Movies (curated)

 
La Haine (1996)
La Haine (1996)
1996 | International, Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"I saw this film when I was a teenager, and it had a lasting impact on me, having been a fan of hip-hop but being largely unaware of the social conditions in France that made hip-hop culture so powerful there. There’s a scene in particular I have fond memories of in which Cut Killer is deejaying above the streets of his banlieue. So good."

Source
  
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Greta Gerwig recommended Americanah in Books (curated)

 
Americanah
Americanah
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"In this book, Ms. Adichie has constructed a full on romance that has the addictive power of a Jane Austen novel but with the specifics of life in Nigeria, as well as life in the United States as an immigrant. I fell in love with Ifemelu and Obinze in a way that I haven’t felt since I was a child reading novels for the first time."

Source
  
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
1940 | Classics, Comedy, Romance
9.0 (4 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Well, I was a super fan of Katharine Hepburn as a kid, so let’s say The Philadelphia Story. I also really loved Cary Grant as a kid, so you could do a subset of, like, His Girl Friday; you know, Rosalind Russell, Cary Grant, incredible movie. The dialogue is just mindblowing. The pace at which they manage to speak, I find to be incredible."

Source
  
Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born
Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born
Jamie Lee Curtis | 2000 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"As I watched my daughter’s delighted face as I read her this book, I would send a silent “thank you” to the brain and heart of Jamie Lee Curtis. This is a story that celebrates the excitement an adoption brings to a family, while still normalizing the experience for all children who love to know about the moment they arrived to make a family whole."

Source
  
You Must Believe In Spring by Bill Evans
You Must Believe In Spring by Bill Evans
1981 | Pop
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Ahh, it's gorgeous. The images I have, just putting it on on a Saturday morning. There's something always very quiet and leisurely about a Saturday morning, and again, it's just a complete album. I like the bass sound, it's a slightly more modern sound, and the brilliant execution, the mastery of it – I would say to anybody, just have that album, put it on and relax."

Source
  
Return to Me
Return to Me
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
3.5 stars.

I was a bit bored for the first 40 or so per-cent but then we forwarded 4 years and things got interesting. I don't want to give too much away but there's a twist near the end and I was surprised in a good way.

I'm still slightly confused about the shark though? Was it there for a reason or not?
  
I received a free copy of this short story from www.netgalley.com and the publisher, Randomhouse UK, Cornerstone and I wish to thank them for this.

I am only a little familiar with Temperance Brennan having read only one of the previous books - funnily enough, it's the one that's mentioned in this story - "the case of a body found in a barrel of asphalt at the Charlotte Motor Speedway" but it was a few years ago and I can't remember what it's called but I must have enjoyed it otherwise I wouldn't have remembered it!

Anyway, this short story will only take a couple of hours to read but it packs a lot in and not only is it entertaining but it's educational too - I learnt a lot about pythons! The descriptions of the setting made me feel that I was there - my hair even went frizzy! The characters, not only Temperance herself, but the "extras" were developed just enough to add to the overall interest and made me want to read more.

I enjoyed it. It was well written, had good pace and tension and a twist ... what more do you want from a story even one that is as short as this.

http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/
  
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BTPBookclub (18 KP) rated The Lido in Books

May 11, 2019  
The Lido
The Lido
Libby Page | 2019 | Contemporary, Humor & Comedy, Romance
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Uplifting. Beautiful story
There are not enough words to describe this story, but here’s a few; uplifting, comforting, friendship, community, beautiful, joyful, kind, tender, charming and a feel good novel. That should be enough right?

I had my head in this book and didn’t want to leave it or put it down. I was a part of that community with them the whole time, I was their friend and welcomed. I truelly devoured this story and sad that I finished it. It is a stunning debut. A must read if you haven’t already. One you won’t forget.

I loved the whole community within the book. The friendships, the bonds, the stories they tell and lastly how they always stuck together and fought together till the end. My heart was with them the whole time. A beautiful lot of characters, especially Kate and Rosemary they had such a cute and amazing unexpected relationship. I think they both needed each other to be honest. I loved them all.

Beautifully written. I cannot recommend this story enough. A must buy. A well deserved five stars from me and it’s got to have a place in my top twenty of the year. Beautiful. Amazing. Outstanding. Absolutely loved every minute of it.
  
Gwendy's Button Box
Gwendy's Button Box
Stephen King, Richard Chizmar | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
8.8 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
An interesting plot bunny, but a bland book.
So, one of the things that makes a lot of horror book lovers give me the stink-eye is the fact that I freely admit to the fact that I don't really like to read Stephen King's books. I'm a huge fan of his plots, but I have an attention span the length of a gnat, so when he goes off on his 'wanders', I go glaze-eyed and generally move on to something else.

But, I saw everyone talking about Gwendy's Button Box, and took note of the fact that it had been 'co-written' by Richard Chizmar. Given the fact that it was a novella, I decided to give it a try. (I got the audio version from the library.) And.. it was... okay? Yeah, okay is the right word.


The narrator did a fantastic job as Gwendy, and the concept of the Button Box was a great one. The character development of Gwendy is excellent. However, the actual story itself just left me scratching my head and wondering if I missed something. It was a good thought experiment, but coming from two horror writers, I was a little taken aback at the lack of actual, you know, horror.
  
Touch of Regret (The Collectors #1)
Touch of Regret (The Collectors #1)
Autumn Reed | 2020 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
207
Kindle
Touch of Regret ( The Collectors book 1)
By Autumn Reed

Review will be posted in comments via Smashbomb once read

The day I truly started to live, I sentenced him to die.

At 24, I'd resigned myself to a simple life following in my mother's footsteps. I would manage the antique shop she left me and marry a kind, stable man. Most importantly, I would never tell a soul about my psychic abilities.

But with a single, intentional touch and a vision of the past, I set events in motion that expose my secret. I'm part of a world I never knew existed, and my new allies are dismantling my carefully constructed walls.

Except, those walls had a purpose - they kept me hidden.

Now, my abilities make me a target. And my mere existence is endangering everyone I care about.

My name is Adele Rose, and I know nothing but regret.


Well I wasn’t expecting that! The first couple weeks f chapters seem very run of the mill romance but once it gets going it’s a very intriguing well written story. The characters are strong and you’re left asking more and more questions. The story is interesting and leaves you wanting to keep reading. Highly recommended!! Even with a cliffhanger!