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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Call Me by Your Name (2017) in Movies
Jan 7, 2018 (Updated Jan 7, 2018)
Slow first-half, heartbreaking in the second
For fans of Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise/Sunset series, Call Me By Your Name definitely has the same tone and visual style. Focusing on an unknown northern Italian landscape, the audience is taken on a journey in this coming of age film, in which 17-year-old Elio welcomes an American houseguest for the summer, and it is apparent that he begins to develop feelings for him.
From denial and hatred, to jealousy and love, Elio is portrayed as a clearly complex teenager in the sense that he is more withdrawn than his peers, infatuated with his music. But it is soon obvious why he feels like an outsider and misunderstood. On the other hand, Oliver, a charming and confident archaeologist, appears to be playing games at first only to reveal his mutual love in return. The last scene is heartbreaking when the reality dawns on them both.
The first half is definitely slow-paced, the build-up may have taken a little too long, because by the time the relationship develops, most of the film has passed. But in the meanwhile, we explore the sights and sounds of rural Italy, which is utterly glorious. The language and cultural exchange is exquisite and Elio's parents are to be hailed as truly inspiring. It is bittersweet, yet realistic.
From denial and hatred, to jealousy and love, Elio is portrayed as a clearly complex teenager in the sense that he is more withdrawn than his peers, infatuated with his music. But it is soon obvious why he feels like an outsider and misunderstood. On the other hand, Oliver, a charming and confident archaeologist, appears to be playing games at first only to reveal his mutual love in return. The last scene is heartbreaking when the reality dawns on them both.
The first half is definitely slow-paced, the build-up may have taken a little too long, because by the time the relationship develops, most of the film has passed. But in the meanwhile, we explore the sights and sounds of rural Italy, which is utterly glorious. The language and cultural exchange is exquisite and Elio's parents are to be hailed as truly inspiring. It is bittersweet, yet realistic.
The Maddie Diaries
Book
Teen dance prodigy, breakout Dance Moms star, and judge on So You Think you Can Dance: The Next...
Biography dance
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated Wild Things - Single by Annprincess in Music
Jun 21, 2019
Annprincess is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter based in Oslo, Norway. Not too long ago, she released a dance video for her “Wild Things” single.
‘Wild Things’ contains a relatable storyline, pleasing vocals, and vibey instrumentation flavored with electro-pop and tropical-dance elements.
Also, the likable tune showcases Annprincess’ effortless gift for writing R&B-infused pop tunes.
Annprincess fled her home country of Liberia at the age of seven as a refugee. Shortly afterward, she and her mother found sanctuary in Norway, the place she now calls home.
At the time, Liberia had internal conflict and attempted coups were an everyday occurrence.
Also, Annprincess’ father, Prince Yormie Johnson, was one of the prominent figures in the first Liberian Civil War (1989-1997).
He became notorious for killing anyone who opposed his views or actions. And Annprincess’ mother was repeatedly jailed for her opposition to him.
Also, his role in the torture and murder of President Samuel Doe in 1990 is well documented on video, a part for which there is a regular talk of him being indicted for war crimes.
One of ten children to Prince Yormie’s multiple wives, Annprincess grew up with a dysfunctional view of relationships.
Even those closest to her, leading to her songwriting in which many of her lyrics deal with failed interactions between people.
Forever feeling she has been the underdog in life, Annprincess’ resilience sees her balancing two jobs alongside her music career, not to mention being a successful football player and coach.
Along with her mother, she has overcome every obstacle life has thrown at her and adapted to an alien culture and language.
Also, she used the negative experiences of her story to become an inspirational example to others to never give up in the pursuit of your dreams.
‘Wild Things’ contains a relatable storyline, pleasing vocals, and vibey instrumentation flavored with electro-pop and tropical-dance elements.
Also, the likable tune showcases Annprincess’ effortless gift for writing R&B-infused pop tunes.
Annprincess fled her home country of Liberia at the age of seven as a refugee. Shortly afterward, she and her mother found sanctuary in Norway, the place she now calls home.
At the time, Liberia had internal conflict and attempted coups were an everyday occurrence.
Also, Annprincess’ father, Prince Yormie Johnson, was one of the prominent figures in the first Liberian Civil War (1989-1997).
He became notorious for killing anyone who opposed his views or actions. And Annprincess’ mother was repeatedly jailed for her opposition to him.
Also, his role in the torture and murder of President Samuel Doe in 1990 is well documented on video, a part for which there is a regular talk of him being indicted for war crimes.
One of ten children to Prince Yormie’s multiple wives, Annprincess grew up with a dysfunctional view of relationships.
Even those closest to her, leading to her songwriting in which many of her lyrics deal with failed interactions between people.
Forever feeling she has been the underdog in life, Annprincess’ resilience sees her balancing two jobs alongside her music career, not to mention being a successful football player and coach.
Along with her mother, she has overcome every obstacle life has thrown at her and adapted to an alien culture and language.
Also, she used the negative experiences of her story to become an inspirational example to others to never give up in the pursuit of your dreams.
Zayn: A New Direction
Book
When Zayn Malik unexpectedly announced on 25 March 2015 that 'after five years, I feel like it is...
TS
The Second Digital Turn: Design Beyond Intelligence
Book
In the early 1990s the design professions were the first to intuit and interpret the new logic of...
A Brief History of Walt Disney
Book
Both a fascinating account of Walt Disney's own significant artistic creations, from the iconic...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Keep the Ends Loose in Books
Feb 13, 2018
I wanted to like this book. I really did. It was a quick read, but honestly, I kept reading partly because the ridiculous and far-fetched plot sucked me in and partially because I just wanted it to be over. There were times when I found myself gritting my teeth because of the rather annoying diction and narration. You sort of became lulled into it the more you read, but it really was awful.
The novel follows 15-year-old Miranda (Mandy), who thinks she has a rather boring life and family, until her mother reveals a shocking secret that turns the family upside down. It involves Mandy's aunt, Iris, whom she adores, and encompasses the entire family - her father, Roy; her 17-year-old brother Adam; her best friend, Barley (seriously, Barley); and a whole cast of other characters.
I'll hand it to Campbell - she creates a cast of rich characters and it's a plot worthy of a soap opera. The problem is that everything just seems a little off. Mandy is so adamant about her life previously being so boring and her startling "realizations" that adults, too, have depth and problems, that you feel like you're being hit over the head with it. The author bashes you over and over with Mandy's coming of age thoughts, rather than simply letting them unfold from the plot.
Further, while Mandy is supposed to be a naive 15-year-old, at times she sounds like a kid. Other times, she's drinking beer and ruminating on sex. It's really disconcerting. Her narration is jumbled and I was left wondering if the author actually knew any teens at all. Both Mandy and Adam exhibit a host of age-inappropriate behaviors and diction -- no matter what happens to them!
Finally, the storyline is so inane that I found myself wondering what sort of parents would actually do this to their children? If Mandy's parents were so supposedly boring and placid, the behavior seemed awfully odd. It was all just a little unbelievable and again, left you a tad jarred.
Overall, about 2.5 stars. A lot of promise, really, but just didn't get fulfilled.
(Note: I received an advance ebook copy of this novel from Netgally in return for a honest review.)
The novel follows 15-year-old Miranda (Mandy), who thinks she has a rather boring life and family, until her mother reveals a shocking secret that turns the family upside down. It involves Mandy's aunt, Iris, whom she adores, and encompasses the entire family - her father, Roy; her 17-year-old brother Adam; her best friend, Barley (seriously, Barley); and a whole cast of other characters.
I'll hand it to Campbell - she creates a cast of rich characters and it's a plot worthy of a soap opera. The problem is that everything just seems a little off. Mandy is so adamant about her life previously being so boring and her startling "realizations" that adults, too, have depth and problems, that you feel like you're being hit over the head with it. The author bashes you over and over with Mandy's coming of age thoughts, rather than simply letting them unfold from the plot.
Further, while Mandy is supposed to be a naive 15-year-old, at times she sounds like a kid. Other times, she's drinking beer and ruminating on sex. It's really disconcerting. Her narration is jumbled and I was left wondering if the author actually knew any teens at all. Both Mandy and Adam exhibit a host of age-inappropriate behaviors and diction -- no matter what happens to them!
Finally, the storyline is so inane that I found myself wondering what sort of parents would actually do this to their children? If Mandy's parents were so supposedly boring and placid, the behavior seemed awfully odd. It was all just a little unbelievable and again, left you a tad jarred.
Overall, about 2.5 stars. A lot of promise, really, but just didn't get fulfilled.
(Note: I received an advance ebook copy of this novel from Netgally in return for a honest review.)
Falling Short: The Coming Retirement Crisis and What to Do About it
Charles D. Ellis, Alicia H. Munnell and Andrew D. Eschtruth
Book
The United States faces a serious retirement challenge. Many of today's workers will lack the...
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Infinite Sky (Infinite Sky, #1) in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(This review can also be found on my blog (<a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.co.uk">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).
When I first heard of Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood, I knew it was a book that I was going to have to read as soon as possible. Firstly, because I have a thing for Irish travellers. I find them fascinating. Secondly, it sounded like a really good read. I must say that I fell in love with this story.
Infinite Sky is a coming of age story told by thirteen year old Iris. Iris' mother has left her, her brother, and her dad behind so she can go to traveling. Iris' brother, Sam, takes this extremely hard and starts to become a moody, violent person. To top it off, travellers, or gypsies as Iris's dad and brother call them, have moved into their field. Sam and Iris' dad are enraged about this, but Iris in intrigued especially when she catches a glimpse of fourteen year old Trick. Day by day, Trick and Iris spend time together and just talking about life. Irish begins to fall in love with Trick. However, Sam and Iris' dad aren't going to make it easy for the two love birds to spend time together. Due to prejudices, someone close to Iris ends up dead.
I love the title of this book. Infinite Sky sounds so innocent and makes me think of a world of possibilities. For a middle grade/young adult book, I don't think the title could've been any better.
I do like the cover of Infinite Sky. It has a sort of classic look about it. It looks like it'd be a happy book, but after reading the synopsis, we know it's not all full of sunshine and rainbows, or in this case, cornfields and birds. I really do hope the author sticks to this cover as I think adding or taking anything away from it would ruin it.
The world building/setting of Infinite Sky was done very well. The story mostly takes place in a cornfield and around it. C.J. Flood makes the world of Infinite Sky come alive with her writing. I was able to clearly picture every bit of the story in my mind quite easily.
Pacing wise, the story starts out just a bit slow but quickly, the pacing picks up, and the story is very easy to follow. It's not too fast and not too slow, but stays at a steady pace throughout. Sometimes I did feel as if the chapters ended rather abruptly though.
The dialogue/wording in this story is beautiful. C.J. Flood has a fine gift when it comes to her writing. I was really happy that Irish spoke like a thirteen year old girl as well as the other characters speaking like their age instead of sounding older. I loved how the dialogue between Trick and Iris didn't come across as being forced. It sounded just like two young teens having a conversation.
The characters felt very real to me. Iris speaks and acts like a thirteen year old girl. She has a somewhat innocent quality about her that is quite subtle in the book but still apparent. Trick is more street-wise and cares a lot about Iris. Sam is a chav (someone who dresses a certain way and is usually just a menace to society), but there is back story about why he became one that is quite heart wrenching.
The ending of the story is quite an emotional one, and C.J. Flood does a fantastic job in her writing to pull at the reader's heart strings. I felt like crying after reading how Iris is feeling.
Over all, Infinite Sky is a sweet coming of age story that is beautifully written and tugs at your heartstrings. This is one of those books that is destined and should be a classic.
I'd recommend this book to everyone aged 12+ as it's a really little gem of a book.
Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood gets a 4.5 out of 5 from me.
When I first heard of Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood, I knew it was a book that I was going to have to read as soon as possible. Firstly, because I have a thing for Irish travellers. I find them fascinating. Secondly, it sounded like a really good read. I must say that I fell in love with this story.
Infinite Sky is a coming of age story told by thirteen year old Iris. Iris' mother has left her, her brother, and her dad behind so she can go to traveling. Iris' brother, Sam, takes this extremely hard and starts to become a moody, violent person. To top it off, travellers, or gypsies as Iris's dad and brother call them, have moved into their field. Sam and Iris' dad are enraged about this, but Iris in intrigued especially when she catches a glimpse of fourteen year old Trick. Day by day, Trick and Iris spend time together and just talking about life. Irish begins to fall in love with Trick. However, Sam and Iris' dad aren't going to make it easy for the two love birds to spend time together. Due to prejudices, someone close to Iris ends up dead.
I love the title of this book. Infinite Sky sounds so innocent and makes me think of a world of possibilities. For a middle grade/young adult book, I don't think the title could've been any better.
I do like the cover of Infinite Sky. It has a sort of classic look about it. It looks like it'd be a happy book, but after reading the synopsis, we know it's not all full of sunshine and rainbows, or in this case, cornfields and birds. I really do hope the author sticks to this cover as I think adding or taking anything away from it would ruin it.
The world building/setting of Infinite Sky was done very well. The story mostly takes place in a cornfield and around it. C.J. Flood makes the world of Infinite Sky come alive with her writing. I was able to clearly picture every bit of the story in my mind quite easily.
Pacing wise, the story starts out just a bit slow but quickly, the pacing picks up, and the story is very easy to follow. It's not too fast and not too slow, but stays at a steady pace throughout. Sometimes I did feel as if the chapters ended rather abruptly though.
The dialogue/wording in this story is beautiful. C.J. Flood has a fine gift when it comes to her writing. I was really happy that Irish spoke like a thirteen year old girl as well as the other characters speaking like their age instead of sounding older. I loved how the dialogue between Trick and Iris didn't come across as being forced. It sounded just like two young teens having a conversation.
The characters felt very real to me. Iris speaks and acts like a thirteen year old girl. She has a somewhat innocent quality about her that is quite subtle in the book but still apparent. Trick is more street-wise and cares a lot about Iris. Sam is a chav (someone who dresses a certain way and is usually just a menace to society), but there is back story about why he became one that is quite heart wrenching.
The ending of the story is quite an emotional one, and C.J. Flood does a fantastic job in her writing to pull at the reader's heart strings. I felt like crying after reading how Iris is feeling.
Over all, Infinite Sky is a sweet coming of age story that is beautifully written and tugs at your heartstrings. This is one of those books that is destined and should be a classic.
I'd recommend this book to everyone aged 12+ as it's a really little gem of a book.
Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood gets a 4.5 out of 5 from me.
Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated Art Something in Books
Jun 6, 2019
Art Something (Strange Art #1) by Devon Layne is the first instalment of the Strange Art series, in which the main protagonist, a teenager called Arthur Étrange, lives in his own world where he expresses himself through his art. This causes most of his school mates to think him a little odd, hence his need to escape from the social side of life and immerse himself in his art.
His older sister, Morgan, not only loves and truly understands Art, but guides and protects him through the teenage trial and tribulations of life. So when she is due to go back to college Morgan worries how he’ll cope without her. Her answer? She decides to introduce Art to her friend, Annette, in the hope they’ll hit it off together. They do!
Although it’s not high on action, there is conflict in the form of issues teenagers can relate to. For example, Art’s lack of self-confidence and insecurities are exposed to the reader via his innermost thoughts and feelings. The threesome also provides that key support system to help Art overcome these obstacles with the love and understanding of two girls who have his best interests at heart.
This coming of age story is also my first ‘taboo’ book which explores a very loving and highly erotic, consensual polyamory relationship between brother, sister and their friend. Admittedly, this is not something I’d usually read, having said that, Devon Layne is a talented writer and this is a beautiful and sensual story encompassing a controversial subject. I’m looking forward to seeing how this series develops.
His older sister, Morgan, not only loves and truly understands Art, but guides and protects him through the teenage trial and tribulations of life. So when she is due to go back to college Morgan worries how he’ll cope without her. Her answer? She decides to introduce Art to her friend, Annette, in the hope they’ll hit it off together. They do!
Although it’s not high on action, there is conflict in the form of issues teenagers can relate to. For example, Art’s lack of self-confidence and insecurities are exposed to the reader via his innermost thoughts and feelings. The threesome also provides that key support system to help Art overcome these obstacles with the love and understanding of two girls who have his best interests at heart.
This coming of age story is also my first ‘taboo’ book which explores a very loving and highly erotic, consensual polyamory relationship between brother, sister and their friend. Admittedly, this is not something I’d usually read, having said that, Devon Layne is a talented writer and this is a beautiful and sensual story encompassing a controversial subject. I’m looking forward to seeing how this series develops.