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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Rachel Joyce | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.9 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
Despite the slightly Christian undertones, this is a truly touching story about an ordinary man who compounds his long suffering life by suddenly deciding to walk almost the length of Britain to see an old friend and colleague who is in the final stages of cancer.

Beautifully written and carefully filled with just the right amounts of flashbacks and foreshadowing, we follow Harold Fry and discover him as he discovers his own self. While "coming of age" isn't typically used for a story about a man his age (he's retired), it does seem to fit in this instance.

You can read my full review here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2013/08/02/a-trek-of-self-discovery/
  
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Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Wildfire in Books

Jan 12, 2018  
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Wildfire
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
[Wildfire] is a story of a young woman trying to escape her past and what is expected of her and finding where she belongs. It is a true coming of age novel of love, loss and discovery. [Mary Pauline Lowry] catches the true feeling of rebellion of the main character Julie as she tries to overcome the pain of her past with the Pikers, a hot shot crew, forest fire fighters who often hike or fly into the heart of fires all through fire season. This book kept me reading and was finished off in a day. It was a very well told story.
  
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Jessica Simpson recommended Normal People in Books (curated)

 
Normal People
Normal People
Sally Rooney | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
6.8 (8 Ratings)
Book Favorite

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/abr/arp/B08DL6GPJS?ref_=sin_abr_cat_art_list&theme=light "Normal People is one of the most realistic and heart-wrenching depictions of how young love nestles itself within the universal, vulnerable heart. It is a story that lays bare the beauty and brutality of coming-of-age discovery and first love with all of its divine, euphoric highs and melancholy, longing lows. The truth embodied in these characters makes you want to jump right into the pages to express your own empathy for what is being said and left unsaid. We have all lived these honest moments of connection and miscommunication in the soulful, connective force that is love. If I had to give this book a rating with stars I would give it a shooting star indeed."

Source
  
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Cori June (3033 KP) rated Black Unicorn in Books

Dec 3, 2018 (Updated Dec 4, 2018)  
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Black Unicorn
Tanith Lee | 1993
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I read this book last, of the three unicorn books this one (for me) was the hardest to find. I actually started with the second book purchased at a school's book fair at about age 12 and found the third book somewhere in high school then after a decade found this one in a used books store. My first thought was this is a children’s book? This chaotic crazy story, that called the main character a slut when something goes bad that is put in situations that could go extremely wrong. An anger that has occasionally levity of the peeve (one of the best characters ever). This is a book for preteens? But it just shows that with age perspective changes. Because rereading it the story changed.
Tanith Lee is a great story teller and the ending of the book it worth the trouble of the beginning. How Tanaquil grows and how less self centered and selfish she becomes is subtle. I don’t know if I would recommend reading the second unicorn book first or this one. Either way, it is a journey of discovery.
  
Star Trek: Picard - Season 1
Star Trek: Picard - Season 1
2020 | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
High hopes let down
I'm sure we all had a vision of what the triumphant, long-awaited return of Captain Jean-Luc Picard would look like. The series starts and ends in that vein, being exciting, thoughtful and with a moral lesson, but with a lot of padding throughout the series. Much like Discovery, the series decided to throw a lot of side adventures in the mix and while Picard is much more focussed than its Netflix cousin there are still times when it drags.
Stewart tries well to play his most famous role, but his age shows at times and I felt the makers missed the chance to sensitively keep his character but replaced with a younger actor in the last episode. This would have allowed Stewart to bow out gracefully and show more promise for the future series of his life.
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After the End (After the End, #1)
Amy Plum | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
[After The End] by [Amy Plum] has a deceptive tile because it leads you to think it is an dystopian novel. Although I love those books this was a welcomed surprise. It turned into more of an action/adventure with a little coming of age thrown in for good measure.

[Plum] did an excellent job of developing a creative, fearless, intelligent character in Juneau. Although she is naive do to lack of exposure she know how to survive. Her loyalty to family even though they hurt her is endearing.

Miles, on the other hand, is a spoiled rotten brat who has had the easy life. He starts out for his own gain but what he really gains is a new insight about life and love.

This story has some supernatural aspects but over all is more of an exciting journey of discovery for two young people who have a lot to learn from each other.
  
The Book of Gates (Galenor #1)
The Book of Gates (Galenor #1)
Audrey Verreault | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A well written, thoroughly enjoyable read. Galenor has everything you'd hope for in a young adult fantasy. Danger, self -discovery, love, coming of age... the list goes on! I was enveloped in a new world that kept me guessing as to what would happen next.


At times tense, deep and shocking and others light-hearted and fun, which creates a great base for character development and relationship building. JudyAnn makes me smile, she takes things in her stride and is open to learning. She's likeable and I feel like I'd definitely pick her as a friend.


A fab weekend read that will transport you to another world!

 @Merissa
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The Tomb of Ligeia (1965)
The Tomb of Ligeia (1965)
1965 | Classics, Drama, Horror
7
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Vincent Price (0 more)
Cat!!!!!
The Tomb of Ligeia- is anethor Roger Corman, Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe Collab.

The plot: Verden Fell (Vincent Price) is shattered after the death of his lovely wife. But, after an unexpected encounter with Lady Rowena Trevanion (Elizabeth Shepherd), Fell soon finds himself married again. Nevertheless, his late wife's spirit seems to hang over the dilapidated abbey that Fell shares with his new bride. Lady Rowena senses that something is amiss and, when she investigates, makes a horrifying discovery -- learning that Fell's dead wife is closer than she ever imagined possible.

Corman later gave Martin Scorsese permission to use a clip from the film in Mean Streets.

Roger Corman later said he thought the film was "one of the best Poe pictures and Vincent's performance in the film was very good. It was simply a matter of age."

Its a really good movie.
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Joseph Mount recommended Innervisions by Stevie Wonder in Music (curated)

 
Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
1973 | Rock
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I think I first heard it when it was in my parents’ record collection and there was a point where I’d learnt how to put a record on, I must have been about 8. At that point you’re going through the records and judging them by their covers and Innervisions has got this really engaging cover. I got really into Stevie Wonder when I was 16. My taste in music at that age was kind of mirroring my sister’s, but I remember lots of her friends and lots of us were listening to Stevie Wonder like it was a new discovery. We listened to Talking Book, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, Innvervisions and Music Of My Mind which I can’t believe were all made around the same time, this insane output. Now if I don’t know what I want to listen to, I’ll put on Stevie Wonder. It’s a simple, satisfying conclusion to that question."

Source
  
The Witches
The Witches
Quentin Blake, Roald Dahl | 1983 | Children
10
8.5 (19 Ratings)
Book Rating
Awesome book. Will reread it to my children multiple times.
The Witches by Roald Dahl, like all of his books is a classic. While some children may find it a bit on the scary side depending on their age and mentality I read it to my toddlers recently and they did just fine.

 This is a story of a young boy who goes to live with his grandmother after his parents sadly die. He was already close to his grandmother so the transition was not too hard on him. She always told him stories of witches, how they hate children and want to destroy them and also how to identify them, but he doesn't believe they are real.

 One day he goes on a vacation with his grandmother to a hotel and discovered it is also the location of the secret yearly meeting of witches. Upon this accidental discovery the boy spies on them and learns of their evil plan. Now it is up to him with the help of his grandmother to put a stop to the evil witches.

 I would rate this book 4 out of 4 or 5 out of 5 and highly recommend it.
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