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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Case Against Sugar in Books
Oct 5, 2017
Detailed look at how sugar is peddled to the masses
It's true, a lot of the arguments seem obvious in this day and age that sugar is bad for you. However, this book explains how for decades, giant corporations such as Coca Cola and well known confectioners, and academics with interests in the sugar foundation attempted to thwart all research surrounding this. For much of the time, sugar was seen as the better evil compared to saturated fat, but actually it has been the number one cause in the rise of diabetes, illnesess related to cancer and even dementia.
It is important to read why sugar has been ignored for so long, and no doubt it'll make you feel guilty for reaching for that chocolate bar, and possibly question if that spoonful in your tea is a good idea.
It is important to read why sugar has been ignored for so long, and no doubt it'll make you feel guilty for reaching for that chocolate bar, and possibly question if that spoonful in your tea is a good idea.
Nikki G. (48 KP) rated The Fault in Our Stars in Books
Sep 2, 2017
There was a point where the tears started to drip, faintly, from my eyes, and they didn't stop until I closed the book and lay there for a bit.
I avoided this book for a while because it has been super-hyped, and most of the time, those are the books that do not live up to my expectations. This, however, was pretty solid. Hazel and Augustus have the short of overblown, pretentious conversations I had as a young adult, back when I thought I was so Worldly because I'd read a handful of classics. The only difference, of course, is that I did not have a terminal illness. I appreciate Mr. Green's attempt to bring the sometimes ugly reality that is cancer to the fore. It was also humorous in parts, and sweet. Hit all the right notes for me.
I avoided this book for a while because it has been super-hyped, and most of the time, those are the books that do not live up to my expectations. This, however, was pretty solid. Hazel and Augustus have the short of overblown, pretentious conversations I had as a young adult, back when I thought I was so Worldly because I'd read a handful of classics. The only difference, of course, is that I did not have a terminal illness. I appreciate Mr. Green's attempt to bring the sometimes ugly reality that is cancer to the fore. It was also humorous in parts, and sweet. Hit all the right notes for me.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Deadpool (2016) in Movies
Feb 19, 2018
Not the first R-rated superhero movie, nor the first superhero comedy film, nor even the first movie to feature Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, but it does a good job of appearing to do something new and different, and has lots of good jokes. Garrulous mercenary volunteers for special procedure in attempt to fend off terminal illness; basically ends up with cancer as a super-power.
The plot is really very secondary to the style of the film, anyway, which is all about being very irreverent and transgressive towards the perceived conventions of the superhero movie; there's a bit of a straw man argument being made here, but the action is well staged and it is, as mentioned, very funny. Not the future of the genre, no matter what people may say, but a well-crafted piece of entertainment nevertheless.
The plot is really very secondary to the style of the film, anyway, which is all about being very irreverent and transgressive towards the perceived conventions of the superhero movie; there's a bit of a straw man argument being made here, but the action is well staged and it is, as mentioned, very funny. Not the future of the genre, no matter what people may say, but a well-crafted piece of entertainment nevertheless.
CKD (37 KP) rated The Runaway Jury in Books
Dec 7, 2018
This is a book about a jury in a tobacco company trial. A widow is suing a tobacco company because her husband died from lung cancer from smoking this company's cigarettes for many years. (No real tobacco companies were named in this book). At first glance, it appears that one juror (#2) is controlling the jury. But is he? Is he acting alone or is he working with someone on the outside? A woman keeps calling a jury consultant and giving information that turns out to be true - could she be working with Juror #2? One side wants/needs a verdict in favor of the tobacco company and the other side wants/needs a verdict in favor of the widow. Who will win?
Was also made into a movie in 2003 staring John Cusack, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman, among others.
Was also made into a movie in 2003 staring John Cusack, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman, among others.
Sevda (1 KP) rated A Walk to Remember in Books
Jan 9, 2019
Definitely worth reading
Contains spoilers, click to show
Omg I could not put this book down at all from beginning to end. Omg by the time I was done, I was an emotional wreck. Ok this is where I let you know what happens in the end. So don't want to know, then stop right here. Ok so the story is about this boy named Landon who falls in love with this girl named Jamie. Now Jamie is not like the rest of the girls at school. But that doesn't stop andon from falling in love with her. But there is a secret that she kept hidden from him. She was dying from cancer. So to make her biggest wish come true, He proposes to her. You'll need alot of kleenex for this.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Midnight Sun (2018) in Movies
Nov 20, 2020
Brutally effective cry-porn, succeeds at that and nothing else but it doesn't really need to - and considering how clunky the rest of it feels it's probably for the best that it didn't try to be anything more. Enough has been said about the very justified anger this caused in romanticizing this incredibly serious disorder but imo it isn't all too much different from how 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 also cheesily used cancer. Thorne and Riggle are terrific, Patrick Schwarzenegger gives one of the worst performance of 2018 and it's straight-up riotous to watch this guy try and emote. Has the 2014 artsy Tumblr hipster white-Christmas-lights aesthetic and everything. Mostly all I could have hoped for out of it as this stupid, overly-quirky genre of John Green clones continues to ironically swoon me.
David McK (3369 KP) rated I Am Legend (2007) in Movies
Apr 4, 2021
Messing with nature is never a good idea
Will Smith as Robert Neville
The sole survivor of the Zombie Apocalypse in New York City.
This is actually the third movie to be based on the classic Richard Matheson novel, taking liberties (like the previous two both do as well) with that source material - there is a very different ending here (even in the alternate cut!) than that novel originally had.
It also, for large parts, an acting masterclass by the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as he is onscreen alone for large swathes of the movie - only really sharing the screen in the flashback portions to the pre-pandemic time (hmm .... sound familiar? I'm writing this in 2021), when scientists believe they have found a genetic cure for cancer.
But, oh Sam ...
(I'll deliberately leave that obscure)
The sole survivor of the Zombie Apocalypse in New York City.
This is actually the third movie to be based on the classic Richard Matheson novel, taking liberties (like the previous two both do as well) with that source material - there is a very different ending here (even in the alternate cut!) than that novel originally had.
It also, for large parts, an acting masterclass by the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as he is onscreen alone for large swathes of the movie - only really sharing the screen in the flashback portions to the pre-pandemic time (hmm .... sound familiar? I'm writing this in 2021), when scientists believe they have found a genetic cure for cancer.
But, oh Sam ...
(I'll deliberately leave that obscure)
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Entertainment reporter Michael Ausiello has enjoyed immense success in his professional life, progressing from writing at a soaps magazine to Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide to his current job as co-founder at TVLine.com. Ausiello is well-known for his snarky and knowledgeable insights about pop culture and TV. But while Ausiello's career was taking off, he was going through immense personal anguish: the death of his husband, Kit, from neuroendrocrine cancer in early 2015. Ausiello's memoir catalogues meeting Kit, thirteen years before his death, and also describes the heartbreaking journey of losing him to cancer--with much of the trademark wit and humor we see in many of his entertainment posts.
I don't know what possessed me to request this book. I love Ausiello, his reporting, and his columns, yes, but how I thought I'd come out unscathed from an incredibly sad memoir about a lovely gay man losing his beloved husband to cancer... I don't know. <i>Sure, parts of this memoir are funny and snarky, but much of it is just heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.</i> Good grief. There's no real equivalent of reading about a man openly and honestly telling you about losing a great love of his life.
Ausiello's memoir goes back in forth in time. While most of the book focuses on the present-day: learning about Kit's shocking diagnosis, how that affects couple, and ultimately leading up to his death. Still, he also goes back to when the two met, began to date, and fall in love. There's a sweetness to reading about young Kit and Mike, for sure. The early parts of the memoir very much remind me of reading pieces of someone's journal. Some of the beginning parts were a bit of a struggle for me, as you get bogged down in so much detail: what they ate, where they went, where they walked, who called who, etc. That was a little excruciating at times, but as I said, there was also a sweetness and tenderness to it. It just seemed like sometimes there was a little too much oversharing--details and moments that weren't necessarily relevant to the overall story. A little too much telling versus showing, especially in the first half or so of the book.
However, as it continues, it either improves or I became more used to the style. You become really caught up in Kit and Mike's relationship journey. It's painful and sad to read, but there are definitely humorous parts interspersed within as well (thank goodness). Ausiello appears to be brutally honest in his portrayal of everything--the ups and downs of their relationship, the cancer and its toll on Kit (and Mike), and more. What we're left with is a heartbreaking, poignant tale, with a reminder to truly live life to the fullest, as you really never know what comes next.
Overall, despite a slow (detailed) start, <i>this is a lovely tribute to Mike and Kit's love and life together.</i> It's heartbreaking and touching and a beautiful ode to his husband. My heart goes out to Ausiello, but after reading Kit and Mike's story, you'll be left grateful for the time the two had together. We should all be so lucky. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available everywhere as of 09/12/2017.
<center><a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">Blog</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristyHamiltonbooks">Google+</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/justacatandabook/">Instagram</a>; </center>
I don't know what possessed me to request this book. I love Ausiello, his reporting, and his columns, yes, but how I thought I'd come out unscathed from an incredibly sad memoir about a lovely gay man losing his beloved husband to cancer... I don't know. <i>Sure, parts of this memoir are funny and snarky, but much of it is just heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.</i> Good grief. There's no real equivalent of reading about a man openly and honestly telling you about losing a great love of his life.
Ausiello's memoir goes back in forth in time. While most of the book focuses on the present-day: learning about Kit's shocking diagnosis, how that affects couple, and ultimately leading up to his death. Still, he also goes back to when the two met, began to date, and fall in love. There's a sweetness to reading about young Kit and Mike, for sure. The early parts of the memoir very much remind me of reading pieces of someone's journal. Some of the beginning parts were a bit of a struggle for me, as you get bogged down in so much detail: what they ate, where they went, where they walked, who called who, etc. That was a little excruciating at times, but as I said, there was also a sweetness and tenderness to it. It just seemed like sometimes there was a little too much oversharing--details and moments that weren't necessarily relevant to the overall story. A little too much telling versus showing, especially in the first half or so of the book.
However, as it continues, it either improves or I became more used to the style. You become really caught up in Kit and Mike's relationship journey. It's painful and sad to read, but there are definitely humorous parts interspersed within as well (thank goodness). Ausiello appears to be brutally honest in his portrayal of everything--the ups and downs of their relationship, the cancer and its toll on Kit (and Mike), and more. What we're left with is a heartbreaking, poignant tale, with a reminder to truly live life to the fullest, as you really never know what comes next.
Overall, despite a slow (detailed) start, <i>this is a lovely tribute to Mike and Kit's love and life together.</i> It's heartbreaking and touching and a beautiful ode to his husband. My heart goes out to Ausiello, but after reading Kit and Mike's story, you'll be left grateful for the time the two had together. We should all be so lucky. 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available everywhere as of 09/12/2017.
<center><a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">Blog</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristyHamiltonbooks">Google+</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/justacatandabook/">Instagram</a>; </center>
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Local Gone Missing in Books
Aug 24, 2022
Local Gone Missing is an engaging police procedural with a bit of a difference. The main character, Detective Elise King, is on sick leave, recovering from breast cancer treatment. But when one of the villagers in her village goes missing, she finds herself back at work in a more informal way.
I liked this a lot. For such a small village there’s a lot going on: drugs, tensions between new and old villagers, fires - and a disappearing neighbour. Honestly, it made me vow to never move to a village!
The main characters are great. Dee, who knows everyone’s secrets and flies under everyone’s radar; Ronnie, the typical nosey neighbour who wants to be Elise’s sidekick; and Elise, who is worried about going back to the job she clearly loves.
I didn’t guess who did it, as is usual.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this and expanding my reading horizons!
I liked this a lot. For such a small village there’s a lot going on: drugs, tensions between new and old villagers, fires - and a disappearing neighbour. Honestly, it made me vow to never move to a village!
The main characters are great. Dee, who knows everyone’s secrets and flies under everyone’s radar; Ronnie, the typical nosey neighbour who wants to be Elise’s sidekick; and Elise, who is worried about going back to the job she clearly loves.
I didn’t guess who did it, as is usual.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this and expanding my reading horizons!
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Everything but the Truth in Books
Sep 24, 2020
I really don’t know, what I was expecting from this book, but it left me absolutely confused. I still can’t decide if I liked it or not. I enjoyed the story, but why did it make me feel bored at the same time?
This is a story told by Rachel, about the secrets Jack was hiding. But the funny part is, Rachel has her own secrets, which she is hiding from Jack. So there are so many lies in this book, that I am wondering, how these two even a couple. When Rachel found out that Jake is hiding something, she went all the way into finding it out. Full homemade detective: snooping around, checking emails, ordering court material, everything to find out what Jack is hiding. Why? Because Jack is not telling the truth, but amending it, to fit his needs. What she finds out shocks her, but leaves her confused as well. Is he really guilty?
I really enjoyed the determination of this little investigation. I liked the ways Rachel was seeking the truth, it was interesting to watch, and quite relatable. Most probably we all checked our other half’s phone, or observed their actions during some situations. The book was time travelling between past and present. The way author incorporated Rachel’s story from the past, with one of her cancer patients, was very amusing. I liked the way she described her feelings towards the boy, it was beautiful.
This book is full of decisions, and really difficult ones. The ones regarding Jack were quite repetitive to be honest, just like the whole wish to find everything out. It was written in so many places, why Rachel wants to know the truth, that it made it boring. Another thing, which was not my favourite, was her decision, which she should’ve taken after finding out the truth, that confusion was so dragged, that I wanted to shout “Either you want him or not, stop beating about the bush!”.
The themes used in this book where quite interesting, and they made me question myself, what I would’ve done in Jack’s place? Or, was Rachel’s decision right regarding her cancer patient? What I would’ve done in her place? That’s why this book made me confused, because it has really deep meaning and interesting topics, but it was boring at the same time.
The writing style of this novel is easy to read, with lovely and short chapters. This book didn’t offer any twists or turns in my opinion, and kind of just plodded along. Whatever twists or turns supposedly were in this book, were really predictable, even the ending of the book was predictable. So to conclude, I enjoyed some of the parts of this book, but I think it could’ve been better. Doctors, nurses, or people who have someone suffering from cancer would find this book close to their hearts and maybe a good read…
Was given this book by publisher and NetGalley for honest review.
This is a story told by Rachel, about the secrets Jack was hiding. But the funny part is, Rachel has her own secrets, which she is hiding from Jack. So there are so many lies in this book, that I am wondering, how these two even a couple. When Rachel found out that Jake is hiding something, she went all the way into finding it out. Full homemade detective: snooping around, checking emails, ordering court material, everything to find out what Jack is hiding. Why? Because Jack is not telling the truth, but amending it, to fit his needs. What she finds out shocks her, but leaves her confused as well. Is he really guilty?
I really enjoyed the determination of this little investigation. I liked the ways Rachel was seeking the truth, it was interesting to watch, and quite relatable. Most probably we all checked our other half’s phone, or observed their actions during some situations. The book was time travelling between past and present. The way author incorporated Rachel’s story from the past, with one of her cancer patients, was very amusing. I liked the way she described her feelings towards the boy, it was beautiful.
This book is full of decisions, and really difficult ones. The ones regarding Jack were quite repetitive to be honest, just like the whole wish to find everything out. It was written in so many places, why Rachel wants to know the truth, that it made it boring. Another thing, which was not my favourite, was her decision, which she should’ve taken after finding out the truth, that confusion was so dragged, that I wanted to shout “Either you want him or not, stop beating about the bush!”.
The themes used in this book where quite interesting, and they made me question myself, what I would’ve done in Jack’s place? Or, was Rachel’s decision right regarding her cancer patient? What I would’ve done in her place? That’s why this book made me confused, because it has really deep meaning and interesting topics, but it was boring at the same time.
The writing style of this novel is easy to read, with lovely and short chapters. This book didn’t offer any twists or turns in my opinion, and kind of just plodded along. Whatever twists or turns supposedly were in this book, were really predictable, even the ending of the book was predictable. So to conclude, I enjoyed some of the parts of this book, but I think it could’ve been better. Doctors, nurses, or people who have someone suffering from cancer would find this book close to their hearts and maybe a good read…
Was given this book by publisher and NetGalley for honest review.