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Keeping a Warrior (Loving a Warrior #2)
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Devon Lowe is a survivor. A survivor of war. Of combat. And of a betrayal by men she considered...
Military Contemporary Romance
ClareR (5906 KP) rated The Galaxy and the Ground Within in Books
Feb 1, 2022
I’ve held off reading this book, even though I’ve had it since the release date, purely because I just really didn’t want the series to end. I love The Wayfarers series, and this last instalment is no different in that respect.
The Galaxy and the Ground Within is another look into the lives of a diverse group of people. Apart from a technological failure that strands the Five-Hops guests, nothing much actually happens in this novel (ok, something does happen about 3/4 of the way through, but I’m not saying what it is!), but what I really love about these books are the characters and how they’re explored and developed. The fact that they’re aliens is by-the-by. They have their own hopes and fears, cultural expectations and taboos.
Oh how i adore these books - it’s everything that I love in literature, be it science fiction, literary fiction or ANYTHING!
If you haven’t read The Wayfarers series (lucky you!), I’d say that you need to. And if you have and like me, you’ve been putting off reading the final book, it won’t disappoint you.
The Galaxy and the Ground Within is another look into the lives of a diverse group of people. Apart from a technological failure that strands the Five-Hops guests, nothing much actually happens in this novel (ok, something does happen about 3/4 of the way through, but I’m not saying what it is!), but what I really love about these books are the characters and how they’re explored and developed. The fact that they’re aliens is by-the-by. They have their own hopes and fears, cultural expectations and taboos.
Oh how i adore these books - it’s everything that I love in literature, be it science fiction, literary fiction or ANYTHING!
If you haven’t read The Wayfarers series (lucky you!), I’d say that you need to. And if you have and like me, you’ve been putting off reading the final book, it won’t disappoint you.
ClareR (5906 KP) rated Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? in Books
Dec 17, 2022
I’m not quite sure what I was expecting from Yinka, but I really enjoyed reading about her quest (or rather, her family’s quest) for a husband. And it’s probably because it’s not just about that. As Yinka’s family become more pushy about her lack of a life partner, she becomes more unsure about the direction her life is taking. Probably triggered by her losing her boyfriend and then her job, and feeling the need to keep that last piece of news from her family, causes her untold problems.
I loved all the Nigerian culture, and I feel as though I’ve learnt a lot.
The relationship between Yinka and her friends was a bit puzzling at times, and she seemed to struggle to relate to them - and I think that may have been because she was struggling with her mental health, as well as the cultural expectations. Hence Yinka’s pressing need to find a date for her friends wedding (which sounds spectacular, by the way!).
I loved how Yinka grew up as a person as this book went on, and how the ending showed that this was a long term process.
Recommended!
I loved all the Nigerian culture, and I feel as though I’ve learnt a lot.
The relationship between Yinka and her friends was a bit puzzling at times, and she seemed to struggle to relate to them - and I think that may have been because she was struggling with her mental health, as well as the cultural expectations. Hence Yinka’s pressing need to find a date for her friends wedding (which sounds spectacular, by the way!).
I loved how Yinka grew up as a person as this book went on, and how the ending showed that this was a long term process.
Recommended!
ClareR (5906 KP) rated Friedrichstrasse 19 in Books
Jun 11, 2023
Friedrichstrasse 19 is 6 stories set in the same building over its lifetime. We see Berlin through the eyes of those that lived in the building between 1906 and 2019, and there are some serious historical moments as well as cultural highlights: a woman in the RAF (Rote Armee Fraktion) in 1986; a photographers apprentice in 1906; an unhappily married Jewish woman who meets an actress pre-WW2; the Berlin Airlift post WW2 era, when the actress is trying to find her Jewish lover (she knows there’s little chance); 1969 and a photographer finds a young GDR escapee and decides to help her; 2019, a divorcee originally from the East, who met her ex-husband on the night that the Wall fell.
All intriguing characters and stories that give a glimpse into urban life in Berlin, as well as its history. It probably helped that I was familiar with the history of Germany generally (thanks to a German degree many years ago!), and I make a point of reading fiction set in Germany when/ if I come across it. And this is a pleasure when I come across books like Friedrichstrasse 19!
All intriguing characters and stories that give a glimpse into urban life in Berlin, as well as its history. It probably helped that I was familiar with the history of Germany generally (thanks to a German degree many years ago!), and I make a point of reading fiction set in Germany when/ if I come across it. And this is a pleasure when I come across books like Friedrichstrasse 19!
Merissa (12971 KP) rated How To Train Your Human Omega (Coveted Bonds #1) in Books
Mar 20, 2024
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR HUMAN OMEGA is the first book in the Coveted Bonds series. We start with Clay in space. He's a pilot and is currently helping a group of scientists investigate a wormhole. Arcay is an Aldar - a seven-foot-tall purple alien. As soon as Arcay sees Clay, he knows he is an omega and wants to claim him. He kidnaps Clay and takes him back to the Aldar ship. And then the fun starts...
This was a great read, easy to follow, and with a reenactment of one of my favourite scenes from Beauty and the Beast! The cultural and language misunderstandings are amusing, as well as the inner monologues. There are also some darker topics mentioned, so be warned.
There were some parts left loose, so I'm hoping there will be an ongoing arc throughout the series. A great start to a new series that I thoroughly enjoyed. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 20, 2024
This was a great read, easy to follow, and with a reenactment of one of my favourite scenes from Beauty and the Beast! The cultural and language misunderstandings are amusing, as well as the inner monologues. There are also some darker topics mentioned, so be warned.
There were some parts left loose, so I'm hoping there will be an ongoing arc throughout the series. A great start to a new series that I thoroughly enjoyed. Definitely recommended by me.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 20, 2024
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Rock the Kasbah (2016) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
Music is a language that transcends race, gender, age, and nationality. It is timeless. It is transformative. Music has the power to shape and redefine culture. In Rock the Kasbah, Bill Murray plays Richie Lanz, a washed up Rock manager who seeks to bring one of his acts to Afghanistan as part of the USO tour. Within the first day of arrival, his plans are unraveled as his singer (Zooey Deschanel) panics and runs off with his money and passport in order to return back to America.
After meeting a myriad of characters (Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson. Danny McBride) in Kabul, he is presented with a new opportunity to introduce the world to a true talent. He discovers a young Pashtun girl with an amazing voice who dreams of being able to compete on “Afghan Star,” a musical competition show similar to “American Idol.” Cultural norms forbid her from singing and participating in the competition which demonstrate the complexity of Afghan culture, history, and politics. Understanding the threat to himself and Salima (Leem Lubany), Richie arranges for her to appear on the show, defying traditions and customs.
The film itself is a decent adaptation of the real story captured in the documentary Afghan Star which examines the life of Setara who must go into hiding because of her appearance in the competition. Rock the Kasbah has moments of genuine humor which fully utilizes Bill Murray’s true talents. Unfortunately, there are points where the plot and the storyline does not seem to fit together seamlessly. One great aspect of the film is its use of music to demonstrate the reach that it has across cultural lines. The love of music and artistic expression which had been severely restricted during the years of Taliban rule and Mujahedeen influence survived and is emblematic of how the people and the culture is much more complex and relatable than many would assume. This film goes beyond a story of a young singer trying to express herself and a manager trying to reclaim the glory of years ago. It is about the culture, history, and political framework of Afghanistan and the Afghan people.
It promotes them in a more positive light without relegating them to being a monolithic culture and people. It provides more insight into the circumstances that many of the people both in the cities and the tribal regions deal with. Audiences will be satisfied Rock the Kasbah as it is a musical and comedic showcase. They may even find themselves singing “Wild World” long after the credits roll.
After meeting a myriad of characters (Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson. Danny McBride) in Kabul, he is presented with a new opportunity to introduce the world to a true talent. He discovers a young Pashtun girl with an amazing voice who dreams of being able to compete on “Afghan Star,” a musical competition show similar to “American Idol.” Cultural norms forbid her from singing and participating in the competition which demonstrate the complexity of Afghan culture, history, and politics. Understanding the threat to himself and Salima (Leem Lubany), Richie arranges for her to appear on the show, defying traditions and customs.
The film itself is a decent adaptation of the real story captured in the documentary Afghan Star which examines the life of Setara who must go into hiding because of her appearance in the competition. Rock the Kasbah has moments of genuine humor which fully utilizes Bill Murray’s true talents. Unfortunately, there are points where the plot and the storyline does not seem to fit together seamlessly. One great aspect of the film is its use of music to demonstrate the reach that it has across cultural lines. The love of music and artistic expression which had been severely restricted during the years of Taliban rule and Mujahedeen influence survived and is emblematic of how the people and the culture is much more complex and relatable than many would assume. This film goes beyond a story of a young singer trying to express herself and a manager trying to reclaim the glory of years ago. It is about the culture, history, and political framework of Afghanistan and the Afghan people.
It promotes them in a more positive light without relegating them to being a monolithic culture and people. It provides more insight into the circumstances that many of the people both in the cities and the tribal regions deal with. Audiences will be satisfied Rock the Kasbah as it is a musical and comedic showcase. They may even find themselves singing “Wild World” long after the credits roll.
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