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Spiders from Mars

Diane Vallere

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

She wants to free her mentor from jail. A frame-up keeps him trapped in the system. Can she discover...

The Kill of It All

Diane Vallere

9.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

A diva found dead on a commercial set. A decorator tasked to take her place. Can she remember her...

Christine A. (965 KP) rated Big Lies in a Small Town in Books

Jan 16, 2020

Big Lies in a Small Town

Diane Chamberlain | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery

8.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Diane Chamberlain is a prolific writer who has been on my "want to read" list for years. When given the opportunity to review her latest book, Big Lies in a Small Town, I jumped at the chance. Having finished it, I am glad I did.

Morgan Christopher and Anna Dale are both strong, artistic women whose stories are told in alternating chapters. In 2018, Morgan is hired to restore a mural Anna painted in 1940. Beyond the mural, they both must deal with issues that are daunting and will test their character and resolve.

The story flowed well and the writing style made it hard to put it down. I ended up reading it in 2 sittings. There is one "surprise" that seems extremely obvious but the story is definitely worth reading.

It is marketed as women's fiction. To me, it seems to be a mystery too. Morgan makes it her mission to figure out secrets hidden in the mural. I do not want to say more than that and give anything away.

Many of her books are labeled as women's fiction. Some as mystery. I frequently skip books labeled women's fiction. After reading this, I probably will read more.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/15/20.

Kudos

David McK (3248 KP) rated Troy (2004) in Movies

Apr 28, 2020

Troy (2004)

2004 | Action, Drama, History

7.0

(23 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Following the success of "Gladiator" in 2000, I was expecting Hollywood to resurrect the old sword and sandals movies of yore, and for their to be a glut of the same.

At the time of writing this review (2020), there was actually surprisingly few such films: of the top of my head, I can only really think of "Robin Hood", "Kingdom of Heaven", and this.

With quite a few big names in its cast - Brad Pitt, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom, Peter O'Toole and Eric Bana to name a few - this retells the story of the siege of Troy (although said siege doesn't seem to last as long as originally told), following Paris (Orlando Bloom) elopement with the wife of Menelaus of Troy (Brendan Gleeson) Helen (Diane Kruger), giving an excuse for Agememnon (a scenery chewing Brian Cox) to go to war against that city.

While this does have some bruising action scenes - the beach landing, and Achilles Vs Hector are my personal favourite - unfortunately large swathes of the film are bogged down by necessary exposition, and I have to say that this version of Helen of Sparta (or Troy) face may be able to launch a dinghy or two, but not the fleet of a thousand ships that she is described as in the original texts (where she is said to be the most beautiful woman in the world).