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The Crash of 2016: the Plot to Destroy America--And What We Can Do to Stop it
Book
The United States is more vulnerable today than ever before - including during the Great Depression...
Kristie (106 KP) rated Darius the Great is Not Okay in Books
Sep 18, 2018
YA contemporary
For the most part I really enjoyed Darius the Great is Not Ok by Adib Khorram. This young adult contemporary novel was heart wrenching and at times heart breaking to read. At times I felt like the main character Darius was a little over the top with how sensitive he was but for the most part I was rooting for him to rise up. This was a great story showing the struggles of living with depression while trying to find yourself and dealing with the teenage awkwardness of growing up. I completely felt for Darius and could relate to a lot of his struggles throughout the book, especially with trying to see where he fit in with his culture and being the only one standing awkwardly to the side not understanding the language of his heritage. I really loved all of the characters and learning about this culture and I would definitely recommend.
Running: The Autobiography
Book
World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan's frank and honest account of his astonishingly dramatic...
The Suckers Kiss
8.0
Rate It
Book
Set against the first three decades of twentieth century American history, 'The Sucker's Kiss'...
Tobacco Road
Book
Unsentimentally realistic, this classic novel is a reflection of the effects of poverty on tenant...
I am finding it really difficult to review this book, as I am really not sure about it to be honest.. I think I saw one booktuber haul this a few months ago but havent seen much of this going around. I saw this at my local library and due to the striking red cover I remembered watching it being hauled. I didn't pick it up though for weeks, it was sitting in the same spot with no one reading it. So in the end i thought i would give it a go as it's quite short and I felt this book was calling out to me to be read. Plus I read it for #YASHOT which was hosted by fluttering butterflies but posting it way too late sorry!
It took me to the end of the book to realise that there is also a boy on the front cover aswell as a Panther.
Derrick is a very unhappy young man, since the sighting of a Panther in the area it seems everything has been going wrong for him, his older sister charlotte is suffering from depression and attempts to commit suicide, he has started eating to the extreme where he is literally eating out of a rubbish bin (this really made me cringe) and becomes severely overweight. To make matters worse his best friend dumps him and he becomes a target for bullies.
Derrick starts to become obsessed with catching this Panther. He believes that if he succeeds everything will return to normal, his sister will get better and attend university, he will lose the weight and his dad will return home and the fog that is looming of their household will clear.
Depression and Mental health issues can be a tricky subject to tackle and David Owen has done a great job. Depression is often termed as the black dog but I thought the way he used a panther/beast as the metaphor was perfect.
This book shows that it's not just the person with depression suffers, everyone around them also gets sucked in, home feels like a thick fog where everyone feels uneasy, conversations are being avoided and coping mechanisms are being exhibited, such as Derricks food obsession to remain in control and his mother's spending and buying stuff for Charlotte's move to University.
The panther/beast describes depression very well. At times this was difficult to read and Derrick wasnt the most likeable character but the book was interesting, well written and thought-provoking.
The only thing I wasn't sure about is that throughout the book, it's not really clear if the Panther is real or not and the ending just didn't satisfy me enough - I wanted more closure.
This is David Owens first Young Adult novel.
Overall I rate this 3.5 out 5 stars
It took me to the end of the book to realise that there is also a boy on the front cover aswell as a Panther.
Derrick is a very unhappy young man, since the sighting of a Panther in the area it seems everything has been going wrong for him, his older sister charlotte is suffering from depression and attempts to commit suicide, he has started eating to the extreme where he is literally eating out of a rubbish bin (this really made me cringe) and becomes severely overweight. To make matters worse his best friend dumps him and he becomes a target for bullies.
Derrick starts to become obsessed with catching this Panther. He believes that if he succeeds everything will return to normal, his sister will get better and attend university, he will lose the weight and his dad will return home and the fog that is looming of their household will clear.
Depression and Mental health issues can be a tricky subject to tackle and David Owen has done a great job. Depression is often termed as the black dog but I thought the way he used a panther/beast as the metaphor was perfect.
This book shows that it's not just the person with depression suffers, everyone around them also gets sucked in, home feels like a thick fog where everyone feels uneasy, conversations are being avoided and coping mechanisms are being exhibited, such as Derricks food obsession to remain in control and his mother's spending and buying stuff for Charlotte's move to University.
The panther/beast describes depression very well. At times this was difficult to read and Derrick wasnt the most likeable character but the book was interesting, well written and thought-provoking.
The only thing I wasn't sure about is that throughout the book, it's not really clear if the Panther is real or not and the ending just didn't satisfy me enough - I wanted more closure.
This is David Owens first Young Adult novel.
Overall I rate this 3.5 out 5 stars
The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World
Book
Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot. Call if what you like, it matters now more than ever. In The Ascent...
Kristina (502 KP) rated Letters Written in White in Books
Dec 7, 2020
I liked Kathryn's view on what Riah's afterlife was like. It was a different perspective and I enjoyed being introduced to a new idea on life after death. However, I think the hype made me feel a little let down. I won't say I didn't cry, watching Riah's kids and husband go through the grief after losing her sent me into a fit of tears - but the rest wasn't as nearly emotionally crippling as I had expected it to be. I was happy with the ending, that Riah was finally able to find some peace, but I was honestly kind of hoping we would discover the whole thing was a dream during a coma or something she'd endured after such blood loss (I know, I'm a hopeless romantic). I do believe the story sends a great message and reading the letters at the end only strengthened it; I also think this would be a great read for someone who's personally dealing with depression and feels like there's no way out.
Natasha Khan recommended Disintegration by The Cure in Music (curated)
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) in Movies
Aug 1, 2017
Incredible depiction of book (1 more)
Gregory Peck at his finest
Incredibly moving, beautiful film
Very rarely does a film do absolute justice to its original book, but To Kill A Mockingbird exceeds expectations. Gregory Peck was so brilliantly casted as Atticus Finch, the moral figure of society, that you can only envision him while reading the book. The film, set after the Great Depression, is shot in black and white and is beautifully crafted.
The characters of Scout, Jem and Dill are fundamental to the storyline, showing how innocence is lost after being exposed to the discrimination of adults - in this case, an innocent black man accused of raping a young white girl, and a man with mental health issues being stigmatised by his community. A true classic in every sense.
The characters of Scout, Jem and Dill are fundamental to the storyline, showing how innocence is lost after being exposed to the discrimination of adults - in this case, an innocent black man accused of raping a young white girl, and a man with mental health issues being stigmatised by his community. A true classic in every sense.