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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated In the Darkroom in Books
Jul 28, 2017
Deeply moving, powerful account of identity
Susan Faludi's autobiographical bestseller juxtaposes feminist theory with the transgender change of her father who seems to reinforce gender stereotypes while attempting to establish her own identity.
Her father's confusion over what she believed to be 'female', at the same time denying an abusive past and surviving the holocaust, highlights the troubles of adopting another identity as a form of escape.
Faludi's attempt to understand her father, however, is deeply moving - trying to process her previous actions with her past and her present is an account that many can relate to. Her passion to find out the enigma that is her father is commendable and there were many times I shed a tear listening to this tale of much sorrow.
It really is a masterpiece of writing and will go down as an important piece of literature for this decade.
Her father's confusion over what she believed to be 'female', at the same time denying an abusive past and surviving the holocaust, highlights the troubles of adopting another identity as a form of escape.
Faludi's attempt to understand her father, however, is deeply moving - trying to process her previous actions with her past and her present is an account that many can relate to. Her passion to find out the enigma that is her father is commendable and there were many times I shed a tear listening to this tale of much sorrow.
It really is a masterpiece of writing and will go down as an important piece of literature for this decade.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Their Finest (2017) in Movies
Aug 30, 2017
Not a comedy, but a beautiful drama
This is not a comedy. I repeat this is not a comedy. So if you read reviews saying that it is, they clearly have a very dark sense of humour. This is rather a tragically beautiful drama about writers attempting to make morale-boosting WWII movie which eventually ends up more pro-feminist than expected. The film is being made under perilous circumstances during the blitz, so there is a high casualty turnout. It is a romantic film, but not in the usual situation.
The cast includes some of finest British actors, with brilliant standout performances from Bill Nighy, a brief cameo from Jeremy Irons, Richard E Grant, Sam Clafin (Hunger Games, Me Before You), as well as better than usual performance from Gemma Arterton. I shed a few tears near the end. Hats off for showing women's role during the war effort.
The cast includes some of finest British actors, with brilliant standout performances from Bill Nighy, a brief cameo from Jeremy Irons, Richard E Grant, Sam Clafin (Hunger Games, Me Before You), as well as better than usual performance from Gemma Arterton. I shed a few tears near the end. Hats off for showing women's role during the war effort.
Erika (17789 KP) rated The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt in Books
Feb 22, 2018
This was a big DNF from me. I had many problems with this book. Yes, Cooney did disclaim that a lot of this book was conjecture, but it was worse than I was expecting. This book reminded me of James Patterson's book on King Tut that claimed to be non-fiction.
I quit 1/3rd into this book. I got tired of the maybe, likely, probably, it should have just been a fiction novel.
I'm also not a fan of the feminist theory of history, which was exactly what this was. Of that whole third of the book I got through, there was zero information presented that I didn't already know.
I think I'm so irritated by this book because I've been wanting to read it since it came out in 2015. I wait three years for this?!? Woof.
I quit 1/3rd into this book. I got tired of the maybe, likely, probably, it should have just been a fiction novel.
I'm also not a fan of the feminist theory of history, which was exactly what this was. Of that whole third of the book I got through, there was zero information presented that I didn't already know.
I think I'm so irritated by this book because I've been wanting to read it since it came out in 2015. I wait three years for this?!? Woof.
Sarah (126 KP) rated Wonder Woman (2017) in Movies
Jul 14, 2018
I'm In Love
I just wasn't expecting much from this film at all. We put it on for my little girl because she loves superheroes, and I honestly thought "here we go, some strong woman feminist statement, how cliched". Oh how wrong I was.
I was absolutely enthralled. The "wide-eyed innocence" of Gal Godot when she ventured out into the wider world could have been so overdone, but I thought she played it perfectly. Her character was one you could sympathise with and care for - so much so, I may have even shed a tear or two for her, which was something I certainly didn't expect (I kind of wanted to hate her because I expected the film to be so rubbish!).
It's definitely a film I'd happily watch again. I think I enjoyed it more than my daughter or husband!!
I was absolutely enthralled. The "wide-eyed innocence" of Gal Godot when she ventured out into the wider world could have been so overdone, but I thought she played it perfectly. Her character was one you could sympathise with and care for - so much so, I may have even shed a tear or two for her, which was something I certainly didn't expect (I kind of wanted to hate her because I expected the film to be so rubbish!).
It's definitely a film I'd happily watch again. I think I enjoyed it more than my daughter or husband!!
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Amélie (2001) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020 (Updated Mar 3, 2020)
The colour palette (2 more)
The humour
The romance
Where to start in one of the most perfect films ever realised? The photography and colours are an artwork enough to make this a classic. Then there is the music of Yann Tiersen, so French, so romantic, so tinged with sadness in just the right way. It is a love story. But a love story about fear and shyness; about moments of melting and regret. A film about people and their history and passion, and failures. A film about the heart beating against all odds. A nostalgic film, but a very modern one too (in 2001); a feminist film, with a powerful message against looking backward too much! We can’t help but feel every melancholy cry of Amélie’s wonderful soul as she looks for love and fears it may never appear. If your eyes are dry at the end, then you are broken.
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