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Trick of the Spotlight (A Series of Falling Stars #1)
Trick of the Spotlight (A Series of Falling Stars #1)
M.L. East | 2020 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Kit is a rising K-pop star who is doing everything she can to be as successful as her idols vortex she has a crush on one of the members how far will it go?


Oh my gosh, parts of this book had me completely broken! I have never known so many torn emotions swirling around at once. The relationships of everyone involved are almost like a vortex, there are so many moments where my heart was breaking for one character and getting angry at another at the same time.


There are some very important topics covered in this book in my opinion, and I think it would be a good read for anybody who is struggling to be able to be true to themselves. It takes you on a tempestuous journey of romance, heartache, the highs and lows of being famous and the behind the scenes issues and trauma that stars have to deal with in order to keep a picture-perfect world.


This is a recommendation for you to read
  
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MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Vox in Books

Sep 19, 2018  
Vox
Vox
Christina Dalcher | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
10
8.8 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book made me so ANGRY.
Contains spoilers, click to show
** spoiler alert ** Somewhere along the line, what was known as the Bible Belt, that swath of Southern states where religion ruled, started expanding. It morphed from belt to corset, covering all but the country’s limbs—the democratic utopias of California, New England, the Pacific Northwest, DC, the southern jurisdictions of Texas and Florida—places so far on the blue end of the spectrum they seemed untouchable. But the corset turned into a full bodysuit, eventually reaching all the way to Hawaii. And we never saw it coming.

This book made me so ANGRY. I read it in a flurry of outrage in less than 24 hours because I just.could.not.stop.

It's the very near future, and the religious right has (seemingly) won in the United States. Women no longer hold jobs, are no longer allowed to read or write, and are limited to speaking 100 words per day, enforced by an electric-shock "bracelet" counter, their voices effectively silenced, their rights taken away. A religious zealot is pulling the strings of the puppet-President. School textbooks are replaced with religious tomes. The LGBTQ community is forced into prison/work camps for "conversion" to the "normal" way (read: man/woman). Engage in premarital or extramarital sex? Work camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota for the rest of your life, with a counter on your wrist set to ZERO. You may think "none of this would ever happen!" .....wouldn't it, though? Consider the current political climate and treatment of women, folks. Maybe it's not that far off the mark.

“Whose fault do you think it was?” he said. I stood in my kitchen, wanting to explain, careful not to, while he told me we’d marched one too many times, written one too many letters, screamed one too many words. “You women. You need to be taught a lesson.”

There will be the inevitable comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale, of course. I personally could not slog my way through The Handmaid's Tale,, so I can't speak to those comparisons. I can only tell you that if you aren't outraged by the very IDEA that this could happen, there may be something wrong with you.

I did feel like the ending was slightly rushed, but not to the point that it took away from the rest of the story. It was a satisfying, hopeful ending.

What would you do to be free?
  
The Angry Birds Movie (2016)
The Angry Birds Movie (2016)
2016 | Animation, Family
The new kids’ movie Angry Birds is a joint venture between Columbia Pictures and Rovio Animation.

I did not hold high hopes for this movie when I went to screen it, and really only went because I knew my 7 year old son would want to see it.

It has a wide range of actors and actresses voicing the characters: Jason Sudeikis as Red, Josh Gad as Chuck, Danny McBride as Bomb, Maya Rudolph as Matilda, Bill Hader as Leonard, Peter Dinklage as Mighty Eagle, Sean Penn as Terence, and Blake Shelton as Earl Pig.

If you have ever played the game by the same name, you will recognize the characters, as well as the soundtrack music.

It was a decent (kids) story, and the movie is certainly colorful and fast paced. In my opinion, the 3-D aspect helped.

We follow the main character, Red, as he tried to fit into a happy, steady society, that frowns upon and even penalizes outburst of bad temper, whether they are warranted or not.

He blows up at a customer, and has to go to court, where he is sentenced to anger management classes. The instructor, Matilda, has a hard time getting through to him and gets frustrated with his inability to control his anger responses.

In the middle of Red’s classes, the Pigs show up, bearing “gifts” and acting as if they are the Birds best friends. Red is suspicious and tries to both investigate to find out more, as well as warn the other birds that the pigs are after more than being “best friends”, but is shut down time after time as his warnings fall on deaf ears.

In the end, Red is right, and must organize a rescue. Ironically, he must encourage the other Birds to harness their anger in order to use it to help rescue their eggs.

I thought the movie was cute, and fun for a family afternoon out. I probably would not take very very young kids to it, more in the age group of 6 or 7 and up, but for my son it was just fine, and it was fun for him because he recognized the characters both from the game as well as the cartoon shorts that are on the internet.

For a family movie, I would give Angry Birds 2.75 out of 5 stars.
  
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
1994 | Drama
Everything. Thoroughly enjoyed this film. (0 more)
Not a huge fan on what happens to Andy with regards to the "Sisters". But that's just me! (0 more)
One of the Best
Contains spoilers, click to show
My husband made me watch this one evening when we were first moved in together and usually the films he has made me watch haven't gone well!
I saw how old the film was and as I am a classic film lover I gave it a try and it has become one of my favourite films of all time!
The acting is superb, just raw talent and real passion.
I definitely think this film deserves it's high rating on rotten tomatoes and IMdb, it had everything in it that makes a good film and more. It has me laughing, crying, cringing, angry, sad and rooting for Andy and Red!
In the 'Bad' section I have only included one issue I have but that is because of how much you start to like the character of Andy. To see him go through what he did in the film genuinely breaks my heart every time I watch it.
If you haven't seen this film, Please get watching, I'm certain you won't regret it!
  
Blown Away
Blown Away
Tate Clover | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Emmy Adler is living her dream, opening a kite shop called Strings Attached in Rock Point, Oregon, and living with her best friend Avery right on the beach. However, the morning her shop is due to open, Emmy discovers a dead body, that of Avery’s ex on the beach. With the police certain that Avery is the killer and the evidence mounting against her, Emmy jumps in to find the real killer. Can she do it?

I fell in love with the setting in the first chapter even with the discovery of the dead body by the end of it. The pace was off a couple of times, but everything did come together for the climax, and we got some good twists along the way. Emmy seemed to get angry easily, sometimes I understood and sometimes it seemed over the top. The other characters were a varied bunch and I enjoyed them. Overall, this was a good debut, and I look forward to visiting again soon.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-blown-away-by-clover-tate.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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MissCagey (2652 KP) rated Trauma in TV

Feb 17, 2018  
Trauma
Trauma
2018 | Thriller
4
6.5 (13 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
So disappointed with this series. It could have been and should have been so much better., the premise was a great one.The two lead actors are well respected but were let down by bad ideas. John Sim's character can apparently "read" people better than "Lie to me's" Tim Roth. He then turns into some kind of psychopath in order to find the truth. I can understand a parent's need to want the truth but to go that far, I don't think so. He manages to firstly access the operating theatre, then get a job at the hospital and then enter a closed meeting all with ease. Then he hoodwinks the daughter and wife of the doctor to gain access to their house. The daughter apparently just stays upstairs whilst the mother is at knife-point downstairs, the mother does not back off even though he is brandishing a knife and then at the end the daughter is more angry with her father, cause of his lies, rather than the knife-wielding maniac that's just threatened them all? Just made me frustrated and annoyed. Grrr
  
Barrel Fever: Stories and Essays
Barrel Fever: Stories and Essays
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'm a HUGE David Sedaris fan but this was not my favorite. This was written in 1994, his early years of being published, and he has definitely improved with age. He's still trying to find his voice and clearly we all know he does! "Me Talk Pretty One Day", "Naked", and "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" are proof of that.

"Santaland Diaries" is an exception - I give that 5 stars alone, his recollections about being a mall elf at Macy's are hysterical to say the least, and you glimpse true Sedaris wit and satire. If you want to read a better Sedaris book, that also includes "Santaland Diaries", read "Holidays on Ice" and it's also published there for your reading pleasure!

Some bits of these stories are fun and witty, but I found most a bit angry, a little disturbing in parts and somewhat tiresome. The immaturity in his early writing is definitely evident, but it's classic Sedaris at the root of the stories... and we know it only gets better from here. A true Sedaris fan should read it for sure either way.
  
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
2017 | Comedy, Drama
Okay...now I’m angry!!
I just started binge watching this show tonight and I couldn’t stop!! Now, it’s 2:30 in the morning and I’m sad and grumpy it’s over...mostly because I just know my kids will wake my butt up early tomorrow. But let’s be honest, it was worth it for my crazy Mrs. Maisel!!
I came because Gilmore Girls is right up there with my favorite shows of all time. I love Gilmore Girls for the wittiness, pop references, and girl power and Mrs. Maisel definitely delivered in many of the same ways. The characters are well-developed and sympathetic—I even felt for her “evil” husband. The only criticisms I had were that it bugged me that as a mom, she basically never took care of her own children, but I get that the show wasn’t really about that at all.
I highly recommend this series. Hilarious and charming. I can’t wait for more episodes! Just watch it!
Then, once you’re done with that, find Bunheads (same writers) and watch that. Then, come see me and we’ll bitch about how that show deserved more episodes, too!!
  
Doctor Who - Season 25
Doctor Who - Season 25
1988 | Sci-Fi
Daleks (2 more)
Cybermen
The S
Season 25 starred Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace and comprised of four serials.

Remembrance of the Daleks was a trip back to 1963 and to Coal Hill School. Two Dalek factions trying to acquire some Time Lord technology the Hand of Omega. We get Daleks exploded, Daleks attacking each other and a superb cast. It is only bested by Genesis of the Daleks

The Happiness Patrol was probably remembered best for it's Bertie Bassett inspired Candyman who some fans thought immature but I loved him. There is girl gangs, a blues musician and an angry dog but Happiness will prevail.

Silver Nemesis was the return of the Cybermen. Plus we see more of The Doctors engimatic side as the race is on to find the living statue of Nemesis. Nice to see the Cybermen still been allergic to gold and also just what is the Doctor's name?

The Greatest Show in the Galaxy is the Doctor goes to the circus. It's fact clowns are freaky and so are bus conductors. As note we also meet Mags here a werewolf.