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Revival

Stephen King

7.9 (16 Ratings) Rate It

Book

A dark and electrifying novel about addiction, fanaticism, and what might exist on the other side of...

Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Orange is the New Black: My Time in a Women's Prison in Books

May 14, 2017

Brutally honest and well structured (0 more)

Could be slow at times (0 more)

Better that the netflix series

When I lifted this book from the shelve I thought it had been put in the wrong section as I was looking for memoir. I was delighted however, when I turned the book over and the blurb revealed that is was in fact a memoir. I had just finished watching all three series of 'Orange is the New Black' on Netflex and had quickly become a fan. The TV program is very thinly based on Kerman's actual experience and because of this I cannot make comparisons. The novel stands alone as an intelligent and well structured memoir that reads like fiction. The author portrays her time in prison through her connection with the other female prisoners and the way in which they were/are forced to endure prison life. The book is emotional, funny and heartbreaking. Kerman has captured a time in her life with precision that only a true writer can. I feel like I could have been there with her. Well done.

Kudos

ClareR (6054 KP) rated This Motherless Land in Books

Nov 23, 2025

This Motherless Land

Nikki May | 2024 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

This Motherless Land is a modern day retelling based loosely on Mansfield Park. Instead of the differences between a poor working class girl and a rich upperclass family, TML shows the differences between family split between Lagos and Somerset.

Funke is by no means from a poor family in Lagos, in fact quite the opposite. Instead of ‘just’ class (as in Mansfield Park), this novel shows the attitudes and racism towards Funke, and the class they perceive her to be based on that racism, when she is sent to live with her grandparents in England. Instead of the love and support she needs and deserves, her family are detached and racist. Her cousin Liv is the only one who makes an effort, and they form a special relationship as children. But even this relationship isn’t safe, and after a misunderstanding, Funke faces more tragedy.

I loved this book. Told over three decades, I really got to know the characters (although I could have really done without ever knowing Funke’s English aunt). There are emotional highs and lows for Funke and her family. Grief and loss are central themes. I loved the cultural contrasts between Nigeria and England and the way they were described - these countries are worlds apart.

I was RAGING at some parts of this book - such was the frankly excellent writing. I was all in!!

Kudos

Anna Karenina

Rosamund Bartlett and Leo Tolstoy

6.4 (5 Ratings) Rate It

Book

At its simplest, Anna Karenina is a love story. It is a portrait of a beautiful and intelligent...

MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated The Kitchen (2019) in Movies

Dec 3, 2019 (Updated Dec 3, 2019)

The Kitchen (2019)

2019 | Action, Crime, Drama

6.1

(18 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Here's my quick review for this one:

I had zero idea this movie was based on a DC graphic novel; I was just intrigued by the premise of mob wives taking over. I enjoyed the story line. Margo Martindale is always great, no exception here. Melissa McCarthy felt weak, acting-wise and character-wise. Elizabeth Moss was EVERYTHING, and I don't normally care about her one way or the other. Her character's story arc was by far my favorite, her acting the most believable.

And then we come to Tiffany Haddish. She makes me cringe, and her voice makes me want to puncture my own eardrums. I just do not like her, and this movie did nothing to change my opinion. But if you can get past her, the movie was worth a watch.