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Orange is the New Black: My Time in a Women's Prison
Orange is the New Black: My Time in a Women's Prison
Piper Kerman | 2016 | Biography
8
7.4 (18 Ratings)
Book Rating
Brutally honest and well structured (0 more)
Could be slow at times (0 more)
Better that the netflix series
When I lifted this book from the shelve I thought it had been put in the wrong section as I was looking for memoir. I was delighted however, when I turned the book over and the blurb revealed that is was in fact a memoir. I had just finished watching all three series of 'Orange is the New Black' on Netflex and had quickly become a fan. The TV program is very thinly based on Kerman's actual experience and because of this I cannot make comparisons. The novel stands alone as an intelligent and well structured memoir that reads like fiction. The author portrays her time in prison through her connection with the other female prisoners and the way in which they were/are forced to endure prison life. The book is emotional, funny and heartbreaking. Kerman has captured a time in her life with precision that only a true writer can. I feel like I could have been there with her. Well done.
  
Lake Mungo (2009)
Lake Mungo (2009)
2009 | Horror, Mystery
7
6.6 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Nice Documentary style (1 more)
Good performances in the main
Wonky Twists (1 more)
Slightly disappointing ending
Lake Mungo delivers some eerieness but outstays its welcome
Contains spoilers, click to show
Lake Mungo is a found footage/documentary style hybrid horror movie that tells the story of a family whose 16 year old daughter drowns, but then continues to appear to her family and in footage and photographs in the local area.

Without wanting to spoiler anything, I will just say that the director manages to create a quite unsettling atmosphere, almost akin to that created in the first 3 paranormal activity movies, using CCTV footage and phone camera footage to add to the eye witness statements and interviews with the family.

The film is a little longer than it needs to be, the last section felt like it began detracting from the earlier scenes as they add a few last twists, but overall it is a well made film, with a strong sense of unease throughout.

Well worth a look if you like Paranormal Activity, and that style of film.
  
My Spy (2019)
My Spy (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Family
I like Dave Batista. This role served him and his strengths reasonably well.

Plot was SUPER predictable (which is fine, there's only so much you can do with this type of trope). Acting was better than average.

Here's my issue with this movie...it's allegedly a family movie. I'm no prude by any means. With that being said, when I want to watch a movie with my younger children I don't want there to be several references of "Jesus Christ" and "Bitch" (especially being spoken by a nine year old) throughout the entire movie. ESPECIALLY when they are adding NOTHING to the story or the context. I personally feel that if you are going to gear and market a movie as a family friendly adventure then that is what you should provide. I have nothing against people who do things however they do with their own children. I'm not that guy. But know the audience you are allegedly marketing to. That's only reasonable.

Again, I'm not a prude, I just felt like it rubbed me the wrong way.
  
Our Little Cruelties
Our Little Cruelties
Liz Nugent | 2020 | Thriller
8
6.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Interesting (2 more)
Great characters
Creates emotion
Not a thriller (0 more)
Does a lot with little
This was not exactly as I perceived it, I thought it would be a thriller/crime fiction type story but it is not. However, that doesn't detract from how good it is.

The story is full of twists and turns, that slowly unwind the characters and explain why they are how they are, sort of. I think the characters are brilliant and the way they are described/actions they take just makes you hate them.

Overall its sad to think that families are like this and it was interesting to see the same events from different viewpoints. I liked that the time frames shifted but were still easy to follow, when I first realised this I was apprehensive as I often forget to read the chapter name as I'm too excited to crack on.

There could have been more delving into the many mental health issues in the book. I also didn't like the hinting towards mental health being hereditary.
  
DNF @ 25%. 1 star seems a little mean but I didn't like it.

Admittedly, I'm in a bit of a slump where paranormal books are concerned and I'm struggling to get into favourite series' such as Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 12! It's almost blasphemy to myself.

That being said the plot sounded right up my street for this. I think it was just the way it was written that made me give it up. I like my characters to be monogamous--if that's the right term. I'm guessing something's going to happen with Kade so why do I have to read about her having sex with her "loupe"? I'm not a fan of that. And then as I mentioned above the style didn't sit right with me, it wasn't gripping me and pulling me into the story. I found it awkward and considering it isn't the longest book, to see that I was only a quarter way in after three full days when, if it had grabbed my attention, I'd have finished it by now.

Not really my sort of thing.<br/>
  
Grand Don&#039;t Come For Free by The Streets
Grand Don't Come For Free by The Streets
2004 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"My old man got me into The Streets. I was quite young when they first came out and I remember him having them on in the car constantly. Original Pirate Material was a complete game-changer for me, I can recite that whole album word for word. ‘Blinded by the Lights’ was on the second album, A Grand Don't Come for Free, and I could probably recite that whole album as well, I think it’s one of the greatest concept albums ever written. “With ‘Blinded by the Lights’ I just love the tune, it really catches a theme and I can really relate to how he’s feeling in it. It’s that feeling of being pilled-up in a club, of losing control and not really knowing what’s going on, it’s a big tune. “I really like the storytelling element of it and that was an inspiration to me. Storytelling in a song is a complete art and I definitely don’t feel like I’ve managed to do it as good as this does, I don’t know if anyone ever will."

Source
  
40x40

Nicholas Sparks recommended Toy Story (1995) in Movies (curated)

 
Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story (1995)
1995 | Animation, Comedy, Family

"We’re going to go with number four, Toy Story. Of course, the first computer animated film. Wildly original in concept, in creation, in everything about it. And it is a kids movie that resonated with adults because you cover things like betrayal or jealousy, all set within this small, childlike world. It had me in stitches toward the end as they’re trying to catch the moving van and faces are blowing, and it all goes bad, and they light the rocket with Buzz’s helmet. They worked together to get back to Andy, get back to the box. And there was just something magical about that as a kids movie that felt entirely fresh at the time. And of course Pixar is… Have they ever done anything that’s not exceptional? Not that I know of, but this was the first. and we like to talk about computer animation, which was incredible and groundbreaking at the time, but if you look at the dialogue and the performances… Again, it’s Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, and all of the other characters. It was magical."

Source
  
Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
1973 | Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"I’ve been going through Scenes from a Marriage, the Bergman miniseries, and getting very invested. I think it’s the truest-to-humanity thing I’ve ever seen. I mean, every single person you’d like, or care about as a filmmaker in the past 50 years is influenced by Bergman. He is the ultimate genius when you watch those movies. Nothing’s better than the performances in (these) movies. I feel like Bergman’s movies can come across as being cold and hopeless, but it’s Liv (Ullmann) and all the women stars he made films about that took his sensibility and turned it on his head, making it more nuanced, lush, and beautiful. It’s (the women) being thoughtful and kind, and open, that makes the difference. Everyone reading should go to the Criterion Channel to watch the Bergman collection. I mean, the movies are short, and I am sure that just watching those short movies they’ll get really inspired, without a doubt. You know, think of Persona... nothing comes close to that!"

Source
  
Angelfall (Penryn &amp; the End of Days #1)
Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1)
Susan Ee | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.6 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
I got really into this but I have to say that for me that last 10% was the best bit.

That Raffe finally showed some emotion about how he felt about Penryn after telling her quite a few pages before that he didn't even like her, which hurt both her and me. Iunderstand why he said it but it was just cruel.

I feel I have to mention Penryn's mum. She's CRAZY! Quite literally crazy, but she made me laugh with some of the things she did, like with the cattle prod at the Aerie.

As for Paige...well I'm torn about the poor kid now. I initially felt sorry for her, with her being taken and then when we, as readers, and Penryn finally find her again and we learn what they've been doing to the missing children, I felt even worse. But at the same time, she's no longer the little girl she was and in a way, she scares me.

I cant wait to read the next one now, to see how everything works out! Hopefully all will be well.
  
The Witches Prophecy (The Blue Flamed Witch #1)
The Witches Prophecy (The Blue Flamed Witch #1)
Janae | 2023 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
maybe not one for me!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

My review for this book will be short, because, to be honest, I'm really not sure what I just read!

I'll summarise as best as I can though.

I liked that multiple people have a say. So we get to hear from all the important people.

I LOVED the sarcasm from everyone! Trouble, especially.

I did not like, and I think this was my biggest issue, that multiple names were used for the same person. I got a bit confused right at the prologue and I think that set the screen for the rest of the book.

Lots of paranormal themes: prophecies, soul mates, demons, witches and gods, and a rare one: reincarnations. I liked that.

But, like I said, the multiple names thing kinda threw for the whole book, and I'm still a little confused by it all!

Maybe not one for me, but I did finish it, so

3 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere