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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated A Thousand Years of Good Prayers in Books

Sep 21, 2017  
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
Yiyun Li | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Impressive collection of short stories about pre- and post-revolution China
This collection of short stories by Yiyun Li is both charming and a little disconcerting, showing how Chinese citizens attempt to live in a changed consumer communist society. From a gay man attempting to eke out a space for himself after returning from America to China, to those with mental health issues and parents with more than one child, Li showcases a plethora of characters and voices, many reflective of her own experiences.

The first story about an elderly woman trying to work and survive, and feeling love for a young boy after many years of loneliness is poignant and sombre. While the final story is similar to Li's experience of living in America - she is in reality a dissident and at one point couldn't leave the country to collect an award for this book, hence the book is remarkable in the fact that it feels completely plausible. Even more laudable is the fact that she had only learnt English for six years when she wrote the book. It is a wonderful collection of stories.
  
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David McK (3425 KP) rated Star Trek Beyond (2016) in Movies

Mar 6, 2021  
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
2016 | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
7
7.4 (66 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Space ... the Final frontier ...
The latest (at the time of reviewing) Star Trek film - from 5 years ago, so 2016 - this is the third film to be set in the so-called Kelvin Universe (after 'Star Trek' and 'Star Trek: Into Darkness'), still starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho and (the late) Anton Yelchin as Kirk, Spock, 'Bones' McCoy, Lt Uhura, Scotty, Sulu and Chekov respectively.

This time around, Idris Elba plays the baddie role as a character who later proves to have a surprising link with The Federation, with the film also apparently including 50 new alien species as it was released in the year of the 50th anniversary of the TV series.

And therein lies part of the problem: that was hardly broadcast at all - indeed, I feel that they missed a major trick in not broadcasting that fact at all!

While the loose outline of the plot deals with ageing, and with a farewell given to Ambassador Spock, this is perfectly serviceable but not as good as the original film in the Kelvin trilogy (IMO).
  
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David McK (3425 KP) rated Resolute (The Lost Fleet Outlands #2) in Books

Jun 30, 2024  
Resolute (The Lost Fleet Outlands #2)
Resolute (The Lost Fleet Outlands #2)
Jack Campbell | 2022
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Entry number 2 (of 3) in Jack Campbell's 'The Lost Fleet: Outlands' series, which itself is a follow-up to both 'The Lost Fleet' series (consisting of 6 entries) and 'The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier2 (a further five) and even 'The Lost Stars' series (a further 4).

So maybe not the best jumping-on point for any newcomers.

Although, having said that, I do feel that enough background was given.

Anyway, this still follows (as did both 'The Lost Fleet' and 'The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier') 'Black Jack' Geary, rescued and awoken from hypersleep a century after the outbreak of war between The Alliance and The Syndicate Worlds and now, having brought about an end to that war and the fall of The Syndicate Worlds (some of which are in 'The Lost Stars' series) is heading a diplomatic mission into deep space and (uninvited) into the realm of the mysterious Dancers, but who has to contend with both political and military attempts at sabotage along the way.

As before, I did enjoy the read, and am looking forward to the next - and, I believe, final - entry in the series.