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Blair Mackay (5 KP) rated Franklyn (2008) in Movies
Aug 1, 2018
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Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated Lessons From Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I've been a fan of Dave Barry for most of my life and have turned to his works in times of trouble. When I saw this book on Netgalley I was thrilled. This book is fantastic.
Dave Barry has a great way of writing to you not at you. It's oddly personal considering the whole syndicated column thing.
The last part about Sophie's illness is a real tear-jerker.
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NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories
X. Nof, Jeff Alulis and Billy Joe Armstrong
Book
NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories is the first tell-all autobiography from one of the...
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Only Human
Podcast
Only Human is a podcast about making the most of our health, whether we’re training for a...
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Nothing Lasts Forever
Book
Cartoonist SINA GRACE returns with another chapter in his growing library of reflective memoirs,...
Graphic novel
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Night Swim (2024)
Movie
Forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, former baseball player Ray Waller moves into...
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Life's Too Short in Books
Jun 24, 2021
I loved the first two books in this loosely tied series. This was probably my least favorite of the three, but I still enjoyed it. Jimenez writes excellent slow burn romances, and this one was no exception. Plus, it offers excellent escapism while delving into serious subjects, which I always love about her work.
Adrian was my favorite here--dependable, sweet Adrian. Both characters have a lot baggage in this book, so be prepared. Beyond her genetic illness woes, there's a lot going on with Vanessa's family. Some of the way the book deals with mental illness is excellent; sometimes, I'm not so sure. And Adrian has his own issues with his family as well. As for Vanessa, her attitude and approach toward her potential genetic illness was a little hard for me to handle. It's one of those things where you just want to take the character and try to shake some sense into them. Yes, Jimenez provides some backstory and reasoning for Vanessa's attitude, but... this was the one part of the book that was hard for me to swallow. (And it was, um, key to the plot.)
If I overlooked that piece, Vanessa and Adrian were cute together. There's lots of the patented Jimenez banter, romance, and cuteness. Someone needs to learn to trust again, someone needs to come out of their shell. But, because it's Jimenez, it's done in this adorable, funny way tinged with a heartfelt touch. And this time there's a baby! (Who is amazingly portable and never causes any trouble--wish my kids were like that, ha.) The book can be heartbreaking at times. I honestly adored Adrian, his outlook on the world, and how supportive he was of Vanessa. We could all use an Adrian to take care of us.
If you like romances, you'll enjoy this one. It's cute and sweet, without being sickeningly so, and there are lots of moments that make you laugh. It's also serious in places, covering illness and family. It's not the best of the series, but it's worth a read. Just be prepared for some frustration with some of the characters! 3.5 stars, rounded up.
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Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Love you to death (2019) in Movies
Jun 2, 2022
Rewind to a few months before the death, it's Esmes 16th birthday and then her routine appointment, but sadly she is showing no signs of improving. During a shopping trip they bump into Esmes estranged dad, and it's clear there is hostility between him and Esmes mum. We soon discover that Esme has had the illness since she was 4 years old and also has a learning disability which just adds to the sadness of her illness.
It soon becomes evident how controlling her mother is though, she refuses to let anyone take Esme anywhere, controls what she eats as well as which doctors are allowed to treat her. After Esme is attacked at a gaming convention, the mother purchases a gun for protection and it isn't long before she's using it against an intruder.
About half an hour into the movie, we are thrown back to 2005, and we see Esmes side of the story. Esmes mum has a conversation with a nurse who confirms that Esme was misdiagnosed and she was fine, I won't go into that too much incase you want to watch it, but basically Esmes mum continues to fake Esmes illness. You will have to watch the movie to see how she achieves this, by tricking everyone including medical staff.
I enjoyed the movie but I was so shocked to find out it was based on a true story, I immediately went on to watch the documentary to compare and I felt they did do the true story justice, they included Esmes mum always holding her hand and hitting her if she didn't do as she was expected to do. The way Esme (gypsy rose) meets her boyfriend was different in real life, I felt the movie made him out to be this sweet guy trying to save Esme but in real life he was very disturbed, but then again it was told through Esmes eyes, so it was probably to show what she saw at the time.
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Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story
Book
An intimate, poetic and accessible graphic memoir very much in the tradition of works by Marjane...
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Enchanted Kingdom: A Dark Seed
Games and Entertainment
App
The Tar Empire is in serious danger, as a deadly illness known as the Dark Seed has begun to take...