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On Writing
On Writing
Stephen King | 2012 | Biography
10
9.2 (23 Ratings)
Book Rating
King gets personal (0 more)
Nothing (0 more)
Want to be a writer? Read this.
If you are an aspiring writer, either wanting it as a career or just as a hobby for yourself, this is aust read.
The first half of the book King details his life, and what a life he has had. We follow his highs and lows of getting published and his personal ups and downs. From Carrie to being hit by a truck. This is a reality check, an understanding into the mind of a great and prolific writer. Overall, King is honest, even about Tommyknockers.
The second half of the book, King gets down to business. He lays it out, what it takes, what you need to know already (your toolbox) and how he does it. He covers that ever mysterious idea of where ideas come from, giving a good tip on how to find them. (What if a I was bitten by a vampire today? What if that girl in the wallpaper stepped out?). He really does help you, from getting the creative juices flowing to penning it down.
Love him (I do) or hate him, King is an epic author with a distinctive style. If you want to write, you wouldn't go far wrong emulating King. We all have to start somewhere.
  
Cells at Work Vol. 1
Cells at Work Vol. 1
Akane Shimizu | 2016 | Comics & Graphic Novels, Humor & Comedy, Young Adult (YA)
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Informative (2 more)
Interesting Storytelling
Creative Personification
Cliche at Times (0 more)
Ever wanted to learn about the human body in a fun and interesting way? Ever thought about personifying blood cells?

Probably not but Akane Shimizu did and wrote a cute, wholesome manga while doing it too!

Cells at Work Vol. 1 is the beginning of a short series that follows a new Red Blood Cell (RBC) as she tries to figure out how to do her job within a human body. While doing so, she meets other blood cells like a White Blood Cell and cute little Platelets while the human body get attacked by everyday things like the flu or a scrape on the knee.

This manga takes the human body and makes it very interesting. Each character, which represent a different cell within the body, comes with unique characteristics and traits that match what that cell does beautifully. You can tell that the writer took the time to look up what each cell did within the body and how to personify it and make it relatable without tarnishing the job that the cwll does.

I highly suggest this manga to anyone who is new to manga as it's a nice introduction into the genre especially since the series is so short. It's also light hearted (thus far, I only read the first volume!) And enjoyable to read.
  
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Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Swallows in Books

Jan 30, 2020 (Updated Jan 31, 2020)  
The Swallows
The Swallows
Lisa Lutz | 2019 | Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Lisa Lutz's latest, The Swallows, introduces Alex Witt, a teacher with a past. She is hired at Stonebridge Academy and asks her creative writing students to answer innocent questions so she can get to know them. "What do you love? What do you hate? What do you want?" The answers surprise Alex. They are not innocent and reveal much more about the students and the school's activities than she expects. The students reveal online bullying and a private message board. She encourages the female students to fight back and fight they do.

While I have not worked at a boarding school, I have worked at urban schools. The online bullying and message board are all too real. So is the school's attitude that "boys will be boys". Lutz uses her characters to show the dark side of technology and teenagers. This is not a young adult book. It is a book for adults which is set in a school.

The writing in The Swallows is witty while covering dark topics. Lutz's word choices and writing style keep the book from being too dark.

I added several of Lutz's books, including the Spellman Files series, to my "want to read" list.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/30/20.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Emma (2020) in Movies

Feb 21, 2020  
Emma (2020)
Emma (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Drama, Romance
It's customary for the makers of new Jane Austen adaptations to declare they've come up with a bold new approach to the material. This almost invariably turns out not to be the case (we end up with all the usual balls, carriages, and people swanking about in top hats and Empire-line dresses) and it would probably be a bad idea anyway: a large segment of the audience of Jane Austen movies turns up precisely because they know exactly what they're going to get (balls, carriages, etc) and would be upset if it wasn't there. This version of Emma should suit them very nicely.

The director is also a photographer which probably explains why the composition and look of the thing is so impeccable, but may also have something to do with why the story feels a little a bit flat and difficult to follow near the start (there are lots of characters to keep track of). Not what you'd actually call rip-snortingly funny or especially romantic, but the performances are decent. The most interesting creative choice is the use of traditional folk music at various points on the soundtrack (Johnny Flynn sings as well as acts), but its authenticity does feel rather at odds with the tone of the rest of the movie. Passes the time decently - people who like this sort of thing will probably like Emma, too.
  
The Holdout
The Holdout
Graham Moore | 2020 | Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Even after a few years, working with jurors is fascinating to me. Each jury uses the jury room differently. When I read the description of Graham Moore's The Holdout, I knew what I would read next. Having recently finished one of his earlier books, The Sherlockian, I was even more eager to read this. As with The Sherlockian, The Holdout does not disappoint.

Juror 272, aka Maya Seale, was the lone holdout. She does the near-impossible task of converting the other jurors to her way of thinking and the defendant is found not guilty. Unfortunately, the trial of the jury has just begun.

Moore is able to accurately capture jury service and the deliberation process. His writing style makes the story move quickly. Some of the actions of the characters require a suspension of disbelief but it does not take away from the story.

I do not want to give away anything so it is hard to say anything about specific parts of the book. I will say I thoroughly enjoyed chapter 23! It was creative and I was pleasantly surprised how the issue was handled.

Graham Moore is on my "authors to read as soon as they publish" list.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/25/20.
  
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