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Deborah (162 KP) rated The Day Parliament Burned Down in Books
Dec 21, 2018
Now somewhere in the back of my mind I did know that the current Houses of Parliament weren't quite the same thing as the ancient Palace of Westminster, I just really didn't know what happened and when. Caroline Shenton's first book gives us a blow by blow account of that October day in 1834 when fire managed to take hold of the building and reduce much of it to ashes.
I admit that I actually found it more interesting than I had expected. It's quite unusual have have a whole book on a single, short event (the sinking of the Titanic would be one example I have seen) where events are laid out hour by hour. The quote on the cover from Mary Beard says that it is "Micro-history at its absolute best" and I have to agree. I'm only surprised that such a major event - the burning of both houses of Parliament and the destruction of many public records - isn't more well known!
Shenton has obviously done her homework and uncovered a wealth of detail about the events and the people involved. It's a story of what happened to a majorly important building, but it's also the story of the people involved, some of them very ordinary - right down to Chance, the mascot dog of the London firemen!
I admit that I actually found it more interesting than I had expected. It's quite unusual have have a whole book on a single, short event (the sinking of the Titanic would be one example I have seen) where events are laid out hour by hour. The quote on the cover from Mary Beard says that it is "Micro-history at its absolute best" and I have to agree. I'm only surprised that such a major event - the burning of both houses of Parliament and the destruction of many public records - isn't more well known!
Shenton has obviously done her homework and uncovered a wealth of detail about the events and the people involved. It's a story of what happened to a majorly important building, but it's also the story of the people involved, some of them very ordinary - right down to Chance, the mascot dog of the London firemen!
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated In Shadows Waiting in Books
Nov 15, 2019
When Simon Reynolds thinks he sees a shadow flit outside the window of the house he shares with his family, he doesn't think much of it. But when there are more ocurrences and other members of the family (including the dog) become unsettled by things not quite seen, it is clear that there is something not quite normal at work.
As the days go by the menace becomes clearer. What is going on and why?
This is very much a traditional ghost story told very effectively by Bint from Simon's point of view. The whole story is also told by Simon as a flashback so we are aware that there are tragic consequences.
The air of menace in the first half of the book is palpable. The ghost is only glimpsed and can be explained away in the cold light of day. As the plot progresses and the threat becomes more real I felt that this sense was lost - but perhaps this is inevitable. Things half-seen out of the window at dusk mean nervous glances out of the windows when reading, but more substantial manifestations don't invoke quite the same sense.
By that time however the reader will be very keen to see what happens to Simon and his family. The past is demanding a price from the present, but who is going to pay it?
As the days go by the menace becomes clearer. What is going on and why?
This is very much a traditional ghost story told very effectively by Bint from Simon's point of view. The whole story is also told by Simon as a flashback so we are aware that there are tragic consequences.
The air of menace in the first half of the book is palpable. The ghost is only glimpsed and can be explained away in the cold light of day. As the plot progresses and the threat becomes more real I felt that this sense was lost - but perhaps this is inevitable. Things half-seen out of the window at dusk mean nervous glances out of the windows when reading, but more substantial manifestations don't invoke quite the same sense.
By that time however the reader will be very keen to see what happens to Simon and his family. The past is demanding a price from the present, but who is going to pay it?
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated Under the Silver Lake (2018) in Movies
Apr 20, 2020
Trippy
417. Under the Silver Lake. A pretty wild mind bender, head scratcher, what the fuck just happened good time! A great recommendation from the Movie Ninja, thank you. We meet Sam, he's kind of a slacker, and about to be evicted from his pad, but he is dating a very nice prostitute. One day hanging out on his patio, he spies a beauty, Sarah, chilling by the pool, and meets her later on while hanging around her dog. And after fun night of chilling, poof, she disappears. And Sam apparently really felt a connection with Sarah over those 2 or 3 hours because this dude goes on a hunt for this girl. Through a crazy couple of dreamlike days we follow Sam through some insane conspiracy theories that lead him through a hobo underground, complete with its own king (Fisher King?) secret sex drug parties, getting crazy to a Brimful of Asha (Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow) and of course the billionaire cults preparing for the afterlife. Think Alfred Hitchcock, Brian DePalma and Stanley Kubrick got together for a movie, and it turned out pretty sweet! Starring a former Spider-Man and a former Venom (didn't recognize him at first, Foreskin is all grown up) But yea, I really liked it, gets pretty crazy!! Check it out! Filmbufftim on FB!
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated The Call of the Wild in Books
Feb 15, 2020
The first time I read this book, I was in 6th grade and it was for English class. I'm almost positive I didn't even finish it, I'm sure I only read a couple of pages. I don't really remember what I thought other than that it was really boring. I can't say much has changed.
I like the general idea of the book, the story seems somewhat coherent, I just couldn't bring myself to love it. I feel like Buck's story takes so long to reach its climax and then when it does, there's something like 10 pages left in the book and it's supposed to feel wrapped up. It doesn't. As a character, I like Buck and his stubbornness. He's headstrong and knows when to fight and when to just listen. I like the various owners he goes through as he goes on this journey to finally meeting John Thorton. I almost wish there wasn't as deep of a description at the beginning of the book of his life with Judge, but I also feel that adds to the juxtaposition of his life in the North as a sled dog - I'm torn.
I can't say I'll ever pick up this book again and I doubt it'll ever be one that is anywhere near the top of my recommendations list, but I'm glad I read it.
I like the general idea of the book, the story seems somewhat coherent, I just couldn't bring myself to love it. I feel like Buck's story takes so long to reach its climax and then when it does, there's something like 10 pages left in the book and it's supposed to feel wrapped up. It doesn't. As a character, I like Buck and his stubbornness. He's headstrong and knows when to fight and when to just listen. I like the various owners he goes through as he goes on this journey to finally meeting John Thorton. I almost wish there wasn't as deep of a description at the beginning of the book of his life with Judge, but I also feel that adds to the juxtaposition of his life in the North as a sled dog - I'm torn.
I can't say I'll ever pick up this book again and I doubt it'll ever be one that is anywhere near the top of my recommendations list, but I'm glad I read it.
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