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Becca Major (96 KP) rated The Greatest Showman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Original Soundtrack / Various Artists in Music
Apr 12, 2018
The grand scale (2 more)
The emotion
It's an earworm
I don't have much to say about the album that hasn't been said already. It is amazing. Easily the best part of the movie because each song is full of emotion and energy.
I would like to say that I noticed there was some character swapping going on between the soundtrack version and the movie versions. In "A Million Dreams" I'm pretty sure Charity is supposed to sing one of the verses, and I don't think she does on the album, and in "This is Me" Charlie is supposed to sing the second verse, but Lettie does on the album. It doesn't ruin the soundtrack for me, I just thought it was interesting.
If I had to pick a favorite song, I would have to choose Tightrope because it is very emotional and simple, and I love the subject of the song. It's totally something I would want played at my wedding if I ever got married.
I would like to say that I noticed there was some character swapping going on between the soundtrack version and the movie versions. In "A Million Dreams" I'm pretty sure Charity is supposed to sing one of the verses, and I don't think she does on the album, and in "This is Me" Charlie is supposed to sing the second verse, but Lettie does on the album. It doesn't ruin the soundtrack for me, I just thought it was interesting.
If I had to pick a favorite song, I would have to choose Tightrope because it is very emotional and simple, and I love the subject of the song. It's totally something I would want played at my wedding if I ever got married.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated The Act in TV
May 13, 2019
Loving this wont be an Act!
I had heard of the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case so I had an idea of the story heading into this however i didnt know everything and this show was AMAZING!! It tells the story of Gypsy Rose, a wheelchair bound young girl with many different life threatening illnesses and her mum Dee Dee as they move into a new charity built house. By the end of the first episode Dee Dee is dead and Gypsy is missing. The series is the story of what lead to this incident and all is not as it seems. The performances are amazing. Patricia Arquette was almost unrecognisable as Dee Dee - I didnt even realise it was her till ep 3! However the star of the show is Joey King as Gypsy Rose. She completely becomes Gypsy and is simply amazing. After watching this I watched the HBO documentary 'mummy dead and dearest' and its scary how much King looks, sounds and acts like Gypsy. Truly awesome
Roxanne (13 KP) rated Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster in Books
Nov 14, 2018
Being a part of the Gothic subculture I have followed these events since they happened. I have donated to the charity and I have joined marches through Plymouth in memory of Sophie. This collection of poems truly moved me, it did not matter that the poetry wasn't written in a style I'm more used to, I still very much enjoyed them and believe more people should read them. The subject matter brought tears to my eyes and the last poem made my heart ache. After recently becoming a mum myself I can not even begin to imagine the pain her family felt when she slipped away from them. Even though I did not know Sophie I still feel connected to her and am unbelievably sad that she was taken from this world in such a brutal and disgusting way...just because she and her boyfriend were different.
This is a beautiful collection, handled in a very sensitive way, I hope for this to reach more people as things need to change.
Rest in peace beautiful Sophie.
This is a beautiful collection, handled in a very sensitive way, I hope for this to reach more people as things need to change.
Rest in peace beautiful Sophie.
Amy Louise (1 KP) rated The Shock of the Fall in Books
Jan 2, 2019
The book I read in one evening
This book sat on my shelf for six months before I picked it up. I must admit, I am guilty of judging a book by its cover occasionally and although it engaged me enough to pick it up in a charity shop haul, there always seemed to be something more appealing for me to pick up ahead of it.
I scanned the front cover and gave it a go and honestly I didn't put it down that evening until I had finished it. I couldn't. I had to continue hearing his story and it broke my heart in the most poignant and beautiful way.
The format is engaging and the letters, images and use of font and type really lend it a verisimilitude like no other, you are sucked into a life you never knew you cared about and he becomes close to your heart almost instantly.
Read this and be changed, be given an insight into mental health like no other.
I scanned the front cover and gave it a go and honestly I didn't put it down that evening until I had finished it. I couldn't. I had to continue hearing his story and it broke my heart in the most poignant and beautiful way.
The format is engaging and the letters, images and use of font and type really lend it a verisimilitude like no other, you are sucked into a life you never knew you cared about and he becomes close to your heart almost instantly.
Read this and be changed, be given an insight into mental health like no other.
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Turning Forty in Books
Jun 21, 2019
Typical Mike Gayle
I loved this book. Written in a first person point of view, the reader counts down the days with Matt, until his 40th birthday. The beginning of the novel see's Matt in his expensive house, admiring his new shed paid for by his high flying job. This false sense of security is short lived and the reader watches as the protagonist's life falls apart.
For me, this novel is all about the character's; Ginny, the back up plan, Gerry, the ex music idol and now charity shop manager, Rosa, the too young and too controlling girlfriend, and many many, more. These characters are believable and cringe worthy at the same time.
I think the most refreshing thing about the novel, however, is the ending. All the way through the story I held out hope for Matt, and the ending, although not exactly a fairytale ending, was realistic.
I love Mike Gayle's work, easy to read, believable, funny and sad, a real look at the idiosyncrasies of people.
For me, this novel is all about the character's; Ginny, the back up plan, Gerry, the ex music idol and now charity shop manager, Rosa, the too young and too controlling girlfriend, and many many, more. These characters are believable and cringe worthy at the same time.
I think the most refreshing thing about the novel, however, is the ending. All the way through the story I held out hope for Matt, and the ending, although not exactly a fairytale ending, was realistic.
I love Mike Gayle's work, easy to read, believable, funny and sad, a real look at the idiosyncrasies of people.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Just in Books
Nov 18, 2019
This is a very difficult book to review, only because it covers a lot of ground. The story revolves around Scott Langbrook, a doctor who has volunteered with a charity to help refugees in North Africa. There he falls in love with his team leader but soon discovers that the world she inhabits is very different from his own.
The book delves deep into both their pasts as well as following their stories in the present day. As they get more desperate both their worlds start to unravel and there seems to be no way out.
Covering subjects involving terrorism and people trafficking this is a fairly grim read, and fairly slow at times too. The characters are written well and the plot does take the reader to unexpected places - both good and bad.
However for me the whole didn't quite equal the sum of its parts. Some of the storytelling seemed a little disjointed with jumping between different times without any clear idea of the sequence or timing of events. But that doesn't detract from an intriguing read
The book delves deep into both their pasts as well as following their stories in the present day. As they get more desperate both their worlds start to unravel and there seems to be no way out.
Covering subjects involving terrorism and people trafficking this is a fairly grim read, and fairly slow at times too. The characters are written well and the plot does take the reader to unexpected places - both good and bad.
However for me the whole didn't quite equal the sum of its parts. Some of the storytelling seemed a little disjointed with jumping between different times without any clear idea of the sequence or timing of events. But that doesn't detract from an intriguing read
Emma (519 KP) rated Pet Sematary in Books
Feb 23, 2020
I've wanted to read this book for years, and searched for it in charity shops with no luck. Finally I got a chance to buy a batch of Stephen King books from a lady I knew and this was in them.
I enjoyed the book, and yet again with Stephen King his descriptive use really elevates the sense of suspense youfeel when you're reading his stories. However i did find it a chore to carry on with this one. I'm not sure if it was because I expected too much from it.
When you really cool the book down the excitement and suspense only happens in the last three chaptersif that. And by the time i got to that point i was a bit bored of it. When he finally does get you to that point in the book, it is so rushed you finish it with a kind of 'is that it?!' Feeling.
All in all a good Stephen King book, but I think I maybe hyped it up too much for myself before I read it and therefore was slightly disappointed.
I enjoyed the book, and yet again with Stephen King his descriptive use really elevates the sense of suspense youfeel when you're reading his stories. However i did find it a chore to carry on with this one. I'm not sure if it was because I expected too much from it.
When you really cool the book down the excitement and suspense only happens in the last three chaptersif that. And by the time i got to that point i was a bit bored of it. When he finally does get you to that point in the book, it is so rushed you finish it with a kind of 'is that it?!' Feeling.
All in all a good Stephen King book, but I think I maybe hyped it up too much for myself before I read it and therefore was slightly disappointed.
David Byrne recommended Swing Lo Magellan by Dirty Projectors in Music (curated)
Debbiereadsbook (1084 KP) rated Owned by the Sea in Books
Jul 2, 2018
really REALLY good
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
A year ago, Jonty's world imploded at the loss of his parents and his sister in a storm at sea. In an effort to get out more, and begin to try to get on with his life, Jonty decides a charity auction to raise funds for the lifeboat station that saved him would be a good idea. Jed was on that lifeboat, indeed, was that one to pull Jonty from the stormy sea and he knew, he KNEW that day, that one day, Jonty would be his. The charity auction is a great way to spend time with Jonty, to get Jonty into his life, and into his bed.
I liked this one, a lot, a LOT!
It focuses on Jonty coming out of himself, pushing his own boundaries. On Jed's 'no rush' approach to getting Jonty into his bed. On the fact that neither of these two men see this...whatever it is...as a quick fling. And on Jonty's art auction, that pulls the whole village together to raise money for the lifeboat station.
It's well told, from both men's point of view, so we get Jonty's escape from the sea, and his effort to pull himself out of his painting funk. We get Jed and all the naughty thoughts he has about Jonty, and his infinite patience.
There is no break up/make up, no nutty ex to spoil anything between them and their growing love. It's a really great easy read and I mean this in a very VERY good way!
Jed in a Dominant that calls to Jonty's submissive side, but it's only in the bedroom and nothing too heavy. I've NOT filed it on the BDSM shelf, because of that fact. I actually found it not overly explicit for a MM book, and I really liked that it wasn't too heavy on the sexy time. It's not needed for THIS book.
OH!!!
Be warned! There is a third in this relationship, a Newfoundland dog called Marmite. He really steals the show, that is, right up until Jed gives Jonty his gift right near the end. Some proper giggle out loud moments!
A great story, well written, that was the perfect way to spend a lazy, wet, holiday afternoon.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
A year ago, Jonty's world imploded at the loss of his parents and his sister in a storm at sea. In an effort to get out more, and begin to try to get on with his life, Jonty decides a charity auction to raise funds for the lifeboat station that saved him would be a good idea. Jed was on that lifeboat, indeed, was that one to pull Jonty from the stormy sea and he knew, he KNEW that day, that one day, Jonty would be his. The charity auction is a great way to spend time with Jonty, to get Jonty into his life, and into his bed.
I liked this one, a lot, a LOT!
It focuses on Jonty coming out of himself, pushing his own boundaries. On Jed's 'no rush' approach to getting Jonty into his bed. On the fact that neither of these two men see this...whatever it is...as a quick fling. And on Jonty's art auction, that pulls the whole village together to raise money for the lifeboat station.
It's well told, from both men's point of view, so we get Jonty's escape from the sea, and his effort to pull himself out of his painting funk. We get Jed and all the naughty thoughts he has about Jonty, and his infinite patience.
There is no break up/make up, no nutty ex to spoil anything between them and their growing love. It's a really great easy read and I mean this in a very VERY good way!
Jed in a Dominant that calls to Jonty's submissive side, but it's only in the bedroom and nothing too heavy. I've NOT filed it on the BDSM shelf, because of that fact. I actually found it not overly explicit for a MM book, and I really liked that it wasn't too heavy on the sexy time. It's not needed for THIS book.
OH!!!
Be warned! There is a third in this relationship, a Newfoundland dog called Marmite. He really steals the show, that is, right up until Jed gives Jonty his gift right near the end. Some proper giggle out loud moments!
A great story, well written, that was the perfect way to spend a lazy, wet, holiday afternoon.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Night Circus in Books
Sep 18, 2018
Beautifully written
I read this a few years ago and really enjoyed it, and have read it again this week as I'm going to a charity ball themed around the book at the weekend and felt the need to refresh my memory.
This book is even better than I remembered. The description and detail that have gone into the writing are superb. The circus itself is the main character in this and the depth of writing is truly wonderful and magical, it really makes you feel like you're in a circus and definitely makes you wish you could visit a similar one in real life! Whilst the characters themselves take a back seat to the actual circus, they're still well written and aside from a few, are all endearing characters. The plot itself is not quite what you'd expect and I feel like the only issues with this book are the slightly lacklustre ending and the constant jump in time periods that can get a little confusing. Aside from this though, I could not put this book down. It's hugely enjoyable and entertaining, and definitely worth a read.
This book is even better than I remembered. The description and detail that have gone into the writing are superb. The circus itself is the main character in this and the depth of writing is truly wonderful and magical, it really makes you feel like you're in a circus and definitely makes you wish you could visit a similar one in real life! Whilst the characters themselves take a back seat to the actual circus, they're still well written and aside from a few, are all endearing characters. The plot itself is not quite what you'd expect and I feel like the only issues with this book are the slightly lacklustre ending and the constant jump in time periods that can get a little confusing. Aside from this though, I could not put this book down. It's hugely enjoyable and entertaining, and definitely worth a read.