Sign up
Search
Advanced search settings

Search only in certain items:

Search results
All (1147)
Content
People
Apps
Books
Orbs
Movies
Music
Podcasts
Shows
Tabletop Games
Tech
TV
Video Games
YouTube Channels
Videos
40x40

Andy K (10823 KP) rated Hard Times (1975) in Movies

Aug 11, 2018  
Hard Times (1975)
Hard Times (1975)
1975 | Crime, Drama, Sport
7
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
A simple period drama that works
Street brawler Charles Bronson teams up with hustler James Coburn in this very good drama. Depression era New Orleans is the setting for this interesting drama following two men's unlikely partnership. They have opposed personalities, but makes things work for the purposes of their business relationship. When Coburn gets in some trouble, it is unknown whether Bronson will end up helping him out.

Strong acting throughout kept me very well entertained by this one.
  
40x40

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Teach Me to Forget in Books

Feb 13, 2018  
TM
Teach Me to Forget
Erica M. Chapman | 2016
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ellery, a high school student, has a plan. Not a plan for after graduation, or for prom, or even how to pass her next exam. Ellery's plan is how she's going to kill herself. But when Ellery's plan fails, she finds herself at the local Kmart, trying to return the gun that foiled her suicide attempt. There she is confronted by the store security guard, a student in her English class. Colter Sawyer appears to be everything Ellery is not: namely, happy. But Colter has some skeletons in his past, as well, and he quickly deduces Ellery's plans. He gives Ellery an ultimatum: if she can hang on until Halloween, he won't reveal her intentions to anyone else. As Ellery tries to hide her depression from Colter, she also finds herself surprised to have a friend--and discovers herself potentially falling in love with Colter. But is love enough to save her from herself?

This novel starts with a line that immediately grabs your attention and it does a pretty good job of keeping it throughout. It's a quick read, but a heartbreaking one. The pain these teenagers are in is horrific, but overall Chapman does a fairly good job of capturing their real emotion. Your heart will hurt that these teens are dealing with such burdens in their lives.

Overall, I was mostly impressed with the realism in this novel; it truly captures why Ellery would want to kill herself, as well as her friend Dean, another mentally ill kid she meets at school. It is a pretty accurate portrayal overall of depression, and this comes from someone who has lost someone they loved to suicide and who suffers from depression. This book is certainly a good learning experience for those dealing with depression (and especially for those who love them), but it could be a trigger to those dealing with suicidal thoughts. Please keep that in mind.

While reading, I was initially annoyed because I thought this would be a "love can triumph over true depression" but the novel becomes more realistic as time passes. I also almost didn't give the book 4 stars as it seemed a bit of a "straw book": the characters and emotions are there, but I felt it lacked a bit of the depth of a [a:Rowell|15897936|Rowell Rainbow|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] or [a:Jennifer Niven|45592|Jennifer Niven|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1332194516p2/45592.jpg]'s latest. Still, it contains such an important message, and I felt so strongly for Ellery and Colter by the end, that 4 stars seemed warranted. There's a depth in feeling in dear Ellery that cannot be ignored. (Also, there should be more Colters in the world.)

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 12/2/2016.
  
40x40

Debbiereadsbook (1675 KP) rated Jordan's Breakthrough (Unexpected Love #3) in Books

Feb 26, 2026  
Jordan's Breakthrough (Unexpected Love #3)
Jordan's Breakthrough (Unexpected Love #3)
Kim Breyon | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
heavy on the emotions!
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Unexpected Love series, and I have not read books one or two. I want to, but you don't need to read them.

Jordan and Miles connect via an online group for plant dads. Their connection quickly grows but Jordan suffers from clinical depression and Miles is a ten hour drive away. When Jordan needs him, Miles jumps on a plane. But what will Jordan do when Miles needs him??

I liked this, I liked it a LOT. I did struggle though, at points and let me tell you why. Someone very VERY close to me suffers from depression, almost as bad as Jordan. And when he was spiraling, and we get it all? I could see them, and how they suffered. It's clear the author has either first hand experience, or has done a massive amount of research to get all the intricacies of clinicla depression and how it manifests itself for different people.

I loved that Miles made Jordan see how much his group of friends cares about him. He didn't see it, not really. And they do care, deeply for Jordan and indeed Miles, once Miles is in that group.

For me, the steam and smex play second fiddle to the emotion that comes out this book. Given Jordan's diagnosis and Miles' struggling, it's heavy, HEAVY on the emotion and I really did love that.

I liked finding out about the guys from books one and two, they play a part here. And just what is going on with Vince, the bouncer at the bar where Jordan works?? His book is next and I'm jumping straight in!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere