Harsh Times (2005)
6.8
Rate It
Movie Watch
Davis (Bale) is an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime...
Man On Wire (2008)
8.0
Rate It
Movie Watch
MAN ON WIRE On August 7th, 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire...
Macbeth
William Shakespeare and Robert S. Miola
8.2
Rate It
Book
The Norton Critical Edition is again based on the First Folio (1623), the only authoritative text of...
Hazel (1853 KP) rated My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Winter Romances in Books
Dec 7, 2018
With 25th December fast approaching, what better book to read than one full of Christmas stories? <i>My True Love Gave To Me </i>is a selection of twelve winter romances (twelve stories, twelve days of Christmas…) by a handful of well-known authors of young adult literature. Stephanie Perkins, author of <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i>, is the editor of this festive volume and also includes her own short story along with Holly Black, Ally Carter, Gayle Forman and Rainbow Rowell, to name a few.
Aimed at teenaged girls or young adults, the stories focus on characters between the ages of 15 and 19, usually in a contemporary setting. Some are written as romances that just so happen to occur at Christmas time, whereas others use Christmas as a main focal point. Naturally there are a couple of tales that are pure fantasy with magic, Santa and elves, but they all involve romance.
What is great about incorporating twelve authors into one book is the various ideas about what Christmas means to different people. For some it is about family whereas other’s it is about the birth of Jesus. Authors also explore the difficulties some people face as well as what people who do not celebrate do. The stories are diverse including characters from all types of background – race, religion and sexuality.
My favourite story from this selection was by David Levithan. Unlike most of the others, it was not a story about falling in love. The main character already had a boyfriend who he (yes, HE) loved. The tale focused on what people do for love as well as keeping the magic of Christmas alive for others.
For those wanting to read something festive, this is the book for you. Its short stories let you dip in and out during this busy period meaning you can enjoy both reading and celebrating at the same time.
Unmasked: A Memoir
Book
“You have the luck of Croesus on stilts (as my Auntie Vi would have said) if you’ve had the sort...