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Merissa (11800 KP) rated It's a Match in Books
May 2, 2022 (Updated Jun 20, 2023)
IT'S A MATCH was an intriguing story from beginning to end, not going in the direction I thought it would, and oh-so-better for it!
Sarah is living in a world where AI is all around, reminding her of appointments and even advising her on what to wear. Her friends all use it to one degree or another. Her love life is not what she wants it to be so she comes up with the crazy idea of using her AI to sort out her matches for her. This opens a can of worms that deals with just how much is too much, whilst giving an insight into the various supporting and main characters.
There is a lot here about being part Chinese (and other nationalities) but all living together in London. It was an insight into how their lives may be and what the perfect qualities in a partner might be. I say might because I'm not Chinese and so don't know for sure! Some of it seemed quite picky but I'm positive that part is 100% true from what I've heard from friends.
Told mainly from Sarah's perspective, it did throw me slightly when I would get someone else start speaking. My review copy didn't have any headings on the chapters, so it only became clear who was 'speaking' as the chapter continued.
An intriguing story that will have you question what is right and wrong. How much morality exists in AI? Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have no hesitation in recommending it.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 26, 2022
Sarah is living in a world where AI is all around, reminding her of appointments and even advising her on what to wear. Her friends all use it to one degree or another. Her love life is not what she wants it to be so she comes up with the crazy idea of using her AI to sort out her matches for her. This opens a can of worms that deals with just how much is too much, whilst giving an insight into the various supporting and main characters.
There is a lot here about being part Chinese (and other nationalities) but all living together in London. It was an insight into how their lives may be and what the perfect qualities in a partner might be. I say might because I'm not Chinese and so don't know for sure! Some of it seemed quite picky but I'm positive that part is 100% true from what I've heard from friends.
Told mainly from Sarah's perspective, it did throw me slightly when I would get someone else start speaking. My review copy didn't have any headings on the chapters, so it only became clear who was 'speaking' as the chapter continued.
An intriguing story that will have you question what is right and wrong. How much morality exists in AI? Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have no hesitation in recommending it.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 26, 2022
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Yoko Ono recommended Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide in Books (curated)
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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated Crazy Rich Asians in Books
May 10, 2022
Such an interesting read. I have never really known how rich the people in Singapore really are until I read this book.
I have always thought that Singapore was beautiful and had amazing things, their airport is legendary as is the park in the sky.
It was a great introduction into how some Chinese families work, and how they are obsessed with finding the right match for their children, which doesn’t just mean a nice person, they have to come from a good family with money or they are looked down upon.
I also liked how Kevin Kwan used a lot of the phrases and words that would be used in real conversations and explained them in the footnotes so that it still seemed authentic while reading.
I would definitely love to carry on this series!
I have always thought that Singapore was beautiful and had amazing things, their airport is legendary as is the park in the sky.
It was a great introduction into how some Chinese families work, and how they are obsessed with finding the right match for their children, which doesn’t just mean a nice person, they have to come from a good family with money or they are looked down upon.
I also liked how Kevin Kwan used a lot of the phrases and words that would be used in real conversations and explained them in the footnotes so that it still seemed authentic while reading.
I would definitely love to carry on this series!
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ClareR (5603 KP) rated The Good Women of China in Books
Nov 4, 2017
Eye opening
Xinran was a radio journalist in China who collected the stories of women who had stories to tell. This is a side of China that we don't really hear of: women who had lived through the cultural revolution and the damage it had inflicted on their lives. How women were still pretty much regarded as chattel, homosexuality was a criminal offence, women were sexually coerced, raped and unwillingly married off to high standing officials. This is just a small selection of the lives of women in these stories. You can hear the voices of these women as though they're in the room with you. The stories are often heartbreaking. I'm so glad I picked this book up - and all because the authors name began with an X (for an alphabet reading challenge!!).
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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Meg (2018) in Movies
Apr 2, 2019
Jurassic Shark
Megashark vs Jason Statham movie has its moments but suffers a bit from lacking a clear sense of what it actually wants to be: family-oriented disaster movie, cheesy B-movie fun, or special effects blockbuster. Some people get stuck at the bottom of the sea, top diver (Statham) is recruited to get them out; in the process an enormous prehistoric shark is unleashed.
Actually feels a bit like one of those ultra-calculated Chinese blockbusters we are beginning to see (cf. Skyscraper); perhaps this explains why it is always just a bit too bland and clean to really succeed. You can easily imagine Dwayne Johnson starring in this instead. Statham manages to bring his own brand of nuttiness to the affair, far outshining the rest of a pretty nondescript cast. Script is predictable, special effects are okay, ending is unexpectedly inventive. More fun than it sounds.
Actually feels a bit like one of those ultra-calculated Chinese blockbusters we are beginning to see (cf. Skyscraper); perhaps this explains why it is always just a bit too bland and clean to really succeed. You can easily imagine Dwayne Johnson starring in this instead. Statham manages to bring his own brand of nuttiness to the affair, far outshining the rest of a pretty nondescript cast. Script is predictable, special effects are okay, ending is unexpectedly inventive. More fun than it sounds.
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Everything Here Is Beautiful in Books
Mar 2, 2018
A wonderful and tragic exploration of mental health
This is a beautifully written, tragic tale of love, loss and mental health.
Following the story of sisters Miranda and Lucia, born to Chinese parents and living in America, the elder of the two siblings attempts to shelter her sister Lucia as she is seen to suffer from a form of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Miranda is responsible and organised, while her sister is a free spirit, but she seems to have no control over her fate and protecting her from her demons.
It is a wonderful exploration into mental health, and how it affects all communities, and the effect it has on the people around them. It's sometimes heartbreaking knowing what could end up happening to Lucia when there is no safety net or support network to help her through her episodes. An unexpected gem.
Following the story of sisters Miranda and Lucia, born to Chinese parents and living in America, the elder of the two siblings attempts to shelter her sister Lucia as she is seen to suffer from a form of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Miranda is responsible and organised, while her sister is a free spirit, but she seems to have no control over her fate and protecting her from her demons.
It is a wonderful exploration into mental health, and how it affects all communities, and the effect it has on the people around them. It's sometimes heartbreaking knowing what could end up happening to Lucia when there is no safety net or support network to help her through her episodes. An unexpected gem.
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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Number One Chinese Restaurant in Books
Jan 28, 2020
Average and lacklustre
This is a rather strange book. Not because of the subject matter, but because it's well written yet with a strangely average and lacklustre plot.
I'm not entirely sure if this book is meant to be a commentary on Chinese culture or immigrants, but for me it didnt come across that way. The majority of the characters aren't particularly likeable in many different ways, and the whole story seemed a little pointless as the characters didn't appear to have developed much after all of the events that had occurred. The plot itself could have been interesting but it was spoilt a lot by the constant bickering and toing and froing between the families.
Overall it's written well enough to keep my attention for the entire book, but sadly this is ultimately forgettable and not one that moved me in any way.
I'm not entirely sure if this book is meant to be a commentary on Chinese culture or immigrants, but for me it didnt come across that way. The majority of the characters aren't particularly likeable in many different ways, and the whole story seemed a little pointless as the characters didn't appear to have developed much after all of the events that had occurred. The plot itself could have been interesting but it was spoilt a lot by the constant bickering and toing and froing between the families.
Overall it's written well enough to keep my attention for the entire book, but sadly this is ultimately forgettable and not one that moved me in any way.
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Emma Watson recommended Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide in Books (curated)
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Stephin Merritt recommended Mother Fist... and Her Five Daughters by Marc Almond With the Willing Sinners in Music (curated)
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Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated The Meg (2018) in Movies
May 14, 2019
Jason
#themeg all be it a highly forgettable film manages to be an extreamly enjoyable #shark romp that ends just before it begins to out stay its welcome. Sitting somewhere between #Theshallows & #deepbluesea #meg is an an American-Chinese co-production & it shows. There's an incredible amount of #chinese cast members here witch is very refreshing to see in a big #American #blockbuster & they all do a fantastic job at acting too. China locations are also #beautiful to look at & there's a fantastic sense of depth to the #ocean visuals making for some gorgeously tense silent under #water scenes. Cgi is alright for the most part & does a good job with its highly detailed shark models. Surprisingly #jasonstatham is the star of the show here & when he wasnt on screen I was longing for more time with him rather than the shark itself. Not only is he extremely #charming & charismatic he's absolutely hilarious, clearly realising what type of movie he signed up for & just having a ton of fun. Its a very silly film which plays to its advantage but the problems come when it tries to get to serious, it just kills the flow & makes the film #grind to a halt at times. Over all the message was alright too with its themes of how the human ego leads us to being so #cocky & sure of ourselves that we believe we are superior & invulnerable only to be shot down or knocked off guard by something more primitive. Major influences from old #japanese #monster #movies are a nice touch & characters are all very likable but they seem to have no cares for each other at all which all though odd actually does work in the films favour. A bit repetitive after a while with an abrupt anticlimactic ending Meg is well worth a watch & a ton of #silly forgettable #fun. Way less violent than I expected too. #odeon #odeonlimitless #friyay #gore #horror #scary #themegmovie #review #filmbuff #sharknado