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Elif Shafak recommended Orlando in Books (curated)
Toni Lynn Donald (1997 KP) rated The Devil In Pew Number Seven in Books
Jan 27, 2020
I couldn't put it down, it took me less than a week to read. Great book! It is a biography written in story form from the perspective of the pastor's daughter. It's heartbreaking reading what this family endured for many years from a man trying to get pastor Nichols to give up as pastor and leave town. They stayed strong when anyone else in their position would have given up. There are also many twists and turns, the story never got dull. This is also a good book for people struggling with forgiveness. It takes a strong person to forgive after what they went through.
Imogen SB (4507 KP) created a post in Smashbomb Council
Dec 9, 2019
GustavoCampello (6 KP) rated Texas Cyclone (1932) in Movies
Feb 10, 2022
A fun western starring Tim McCoy, king of the western at the time and who would make a biography full of stories for Hollywood to film. The movie is fun, with fast and realistic fight scenes. The story is also great, which despite being a cliché, it would be great if they were used for a series these days. We still have John Wayne, at the beginning of his career and with his excellent charisma already honed that would earn him the post of king of the western in the following decades. The film is fast, so all the unwinding too, but the film manages to close all the ends very well. I enjoyed it a lot.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose in Books
Nov 20, 2017
Poignant, humanising a politician
Listening to Joe Biden's frank and open memoir dealing with his son's cancer and bereavement is heartfelt, especially as it is read by himself.
Unlike most books by politicians, "Promise Me, Dad" is committed to communicating to us the values and principles of a family man who happens to have been a senior member of government.
His most compelling narration comes in the form of him discussing his hopes, fears, dreams and nightmares through which a family succumbs while dealing with cancer. I became emotional listening to him break down while discussing the death of his son - his voice audibly trembles which is why the audiobook gives a whole new depth to the biography.
Warm, insightful and thought-provoking.
Unlike most books by politicians, "Promise Me, Dad" is committed to communicating to us the values and principles of a family man who happens to have been a senior member of government.
His most compelling narration comes in the form of him discussing his hopes, fears, dreams and nightmares through which a family succumbs while dealing with cancer. I became emotional listening to him break down while discussing the death of his son - his voice audibly trembles which is why the audiobook gives a whole new depth to the biography.
Warm, insightful and thought-provoking.
Lewis John Hatchett (23 KP) rated Rocketman (2019) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Exceptional fun
After seeing Bohemian Rhapsody only a few months ago, I had quite high hopes for the film seeing as it was directed by the same director who (unofficially) took over for the director of Rhapsody and boy did the film deliver. A fun filled film with loads of toe tapping music and an intriguing story to go along with it.
Fairly cheesy in parts but it's to be expected when it's a film about Elton John. Also it felt more of a musical than bohemian Rhapsody which took me put of the film and made it feel almost fake at times.
Perfect for the West End or Broadway but a fun film nonetheless.
Fairly cheesy in parts but it's to be expected when it's a film about Elton John. Also it felt more of a musical than bohemian Rhapsody which took me put of the film and made it feel almost fake at times.
Perfect for the West End or Broadway but a fun film nonetheless.
Sonofdel (6265 KP) rated De Niro: A Biography in Books
Aug 21, 2020
More an attack than a good read
What amazed me about this book which details the life of a great actor is that i always thought that he was one of the most successful and wanted actors in Hollywood. I have seen lots of his films (my two favourites being Once Upon a Time in America and Casino) and to me his acting is outstanding. I rather felt that the writer here spent too much time saying what was bad about the films and concentrating on the negatives. Dont get me wrong i know that de niro had problems off screen and on screen but this felt more like an attack than a biography.
Ross (3282 KP) rated Surprisingly Down to Earth, and Very Funny in Books
Oct 27, 2020
Funny but at times harrowing auto-biography
I wouldn't say I was a huge fan of Limmy's. I've seen a few of his sketches on youtube and have heard him interviewed on a few podcasts. He seems quite strange and a bit of an odd character. I have read his books of short stories and found them to be brilliantly well-written and original.
His auto-biography starts brilliantly, giving a great insight into the childhood that shaped the comedian. There are funny stories of growing up isolated and playing strange games with strange friends. This gets darker as Limmy ages, as he finds himself looking for danger and things to make him feel alive. This inevitably leads to trouble with the police, and on to drink and drugs and more police trouble.
He seems to have always been looking to try and find somewhere to fit in, a niche in the world where he can be himself and be otherwise left alone, though he is his own worst enemy along the way. Battles with depression, suicide and social issues hold him back at almost every stage. He finally finds his niche when he discovers flash programming. This gives him an avenue for his creativity and silliness, and leads to his genius being discovered, eventually leading to a successful podcast and TV shows - though even those weren't plain sailing.
This is the charming, though at times harrowing, story of a man with so many ideas in his head, but so many issues holding him back, and the battle to overcome demons to do what he wants to do, and to do it his way.
His auto-biography starts brilliantly, giving a great insight into the childhood that shaped the comedian. There are funny stories of growing up isolated and playing strange games with strange friends. This gets darker as Limmy ages, as he finds himself looking for danger and things to make him feel alive. This inevitably leads to trouble with the police, and on to drink and drugs and more police trouble.
He seems to have always been looking to try and find somewhere to fit in, a niche in the world where he can be himself and be otherwise left alone, though he is his own worst enemy along the way. Battles with depression, suicide and social issues hold him back at almost every stage. He finally finds his niche when he discovers flash programming. This gives him an avenue for his creativity and silliness, and leads to his genius being discovered, eventually leading to a successful podcast and TV shows - though even those weren't plain sailing.
This is the charming, though at times harrowing, story of a man with so many ideas in his head, but so many issues holding him back, and the battle to overcome demons to do what he wants to do, and to do it his way.
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated I Am the Messenger in Books
Aug 21, 2018
I got this book from the library, just because I got the cover. I didn't see who wrote it or what it's called. After I finished the last page, and read the author's biography, I realised it's the author of The Book Thief, a book I have bought and adore. Then I realised why I loved the main character. He reminds a lot to the boy I love, and Audrey resembles on me. What I loved the most about this book was the message the boy gives to all those people, and for no particular reason. I loved the symbolism with the aces. Perfect book. I even enjoyed it more then the book thief. Thank you, Markus, for making me think about becoming a better person. Great job ♥
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020
In another piece of perfect casting, Douglas realised that in this old tale of massive mythological appeal the role of Doc Holliday is far more interesting than the lead of Wyatt Earp. Even so, he managed to earn level billing with lifelong friend Burt Lancaster, such was his box office draw at this point. The two had worked together before, but it wasn’t until this hugely entertaining western that they really bonded; apparently laughing so much between takes that on several occasions director John Sturges sent them home, as no work was possible that day. Douglas also talks in his auto-biography about how he became obsessed with how many times Doc would cough in a scene to maintain continuity – evidence of just how seriously he did take his screen work and craft.