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Chris Carr (78 KP) rated A Quiet Place (2018) in Movies
Jan 28, 2019
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated A Party with Socialists in It: A History of the Labour Left in Books
Sep 11, 2018
Great and detailed history of the Labour Party and its origins (1 more)
Helps identify trends and patterns to the Labour Party Culture
The History, and Lessons of the Labour Party
After reading 'The Candidate', my lovely girlfriend got me this as a follow-up to allow me to learn more about the history of the left in the UK from the start of the 20th Century.
This book is very much a left-wing view of Labour's history, and does a good job of describing the main flag bearers and saboteurs of the worker focused socialist movements.
It helps trace the current Labour makeup back through the ages, via Benn, Bevan etc and gives a very good account of the many internal battles and compromises that took place through the 20th Century as the various power plays and world events echo Game Of Thrones at times.
Its also an important indicator of where power has corrupted idealogues of the past, and how it is often the working people that are the ones that pay the price for hubris (I am looking at you Kinnock!).
One for politico's only, not a casual read, but if you have an interest, do please check it out, there is a lot here to gain!
This book is very much a left-wing view of Labour's history, and does a good job of describing the main flag bearers and saboteurs of the worker focused socialist movements.
It helps trace the current Labour makeup back through the ages, via Benn, Bevan etc and gives a very good account of the many internal battles and compromises that took place through the 20th Century as the various power plays and world events echo Game Of Thrones at times.
Its also an important indicator of where power has corrupted idealogues of the past, and how it is often the working people that are the ones that pay the price for hubris (I am looking at you Kinnock!).
One for politico's only, not a casual read, but if you have an interest, do please check it out, there is a lot here to gain!
Honestly, I would have been happy if this short story had been a full novel. It’s full of Adichie’s view of the world and how women live their lives in it.
When Zikora finds out that she is pregnant, she excitedly tells her boyfriend thinking that he’ll be just as excited. He isn’t. He wants nothing to do with the responsibilities of being a father, and shuts Zikora out completely, even threatening her with legal action when she continues to phone him about the progress of her pregnancy.
This story mainly takes place during Zikora’s labour, as it looks back on all the things that happened before. Her mother is a constant presence during her labour, and Zikora is able to look back on their relationship.
I shouldn’t really say any more, because this is only a 35 page short story. I will say that I listened to this on Audible at the same time as reading it, and the narrator, Adepero Oduye, really brought the story to life for me. Adichie’s storytelling is at its usual high standard, and it was a joy to both read and listen to.
When Zikora finds out that she is pregnant, she excitedly tells her boyfriend thinking that he’ll be just as excited. He isn’t. He wants nothing to do with the responsibilities of being a father, and shuts Zikora out completely, even threatening her with legal action when she continues to phone him about the progress of her pregnancy.
This story mainly takes place during Zikora’s labour, as it looks back on all the things that happened before. Her mother is a constant presence during her labour, and Zikora is able to look back on their relationship.
I shouldn’t really say any more, because this is only a 35 page short story. I will say that I listened to this on Audible at the same time as reading it, and the narrator, Adepero Oduye, really brought the story to life for me. Adichie’s storytelling is at its usual high standard, and it was a joy to both read and listen to.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated A Cajun Werewolf Christmas (Stormy Weather, #6) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
3.5 stars.
This was a nice kind of extended epilogue to book 5, after all the gang appears at the cabin and they decide to spend Christmas there.
It was nice to see more of the interaction between the brothers and cousins and there mates, especially after reading their individual books and growing to like them all. I liked that they're all so close they can tease and taunt each other.
Amanda going into labour (finally) and how everyone reacted made me smile and how they were all trying to outdo each other for a present for the baby.
It was a nice round-up to the series.
This was a nice kind of extended epilogue to book 5, after all the gang appears at the cabin and they decide to spend Christmas there.
It was nice to see more of the interaction between the brothers and cousins and there mates, especially after reading their individual books and growing to like them all. I liked that they're all so close they can tease and taunt each other.
Amanda going into labour (finally) and how everyone reacted made me smile and how they were all trying to outdo each other for a present for the baby.
It was a nice round-up to the series.
ClareR (5561 KP) rated The Pull of the Stars in Books
Nov 8, 2020
This book, and in particular the Audible version that I listened to, really pulled me into the world of 1918 Dublin. This isn’t a story for the faint-hearted. It’s really graphic and gory in a lot of places, and it portrayed just what life was like for women in Ireland at this time. Childbirth was portrayed as a punishment, babies being still born equally so. This was a time where it was normal for women in Ireland to birth baby after baby: on average ten.
Nurse Julia Power is unmarried at 30 and seems to be happy with that, as she sees women whose bodies are worn out from giving birth so many times and so closely together, women who have been abused by their fathers and forced to bear their children, women who have conceived their babies outside of marriage and will be forced to give them up - as well as young women who have been institutionalised from birth and forced to give up their lives to repay the nuns who raised them through free labour (Magdalene laundries). Like I said, this was no time to be a woman. The abuse and poor treatment of the women on the ward is alluded to, but never explicit.
Whilst most of the story takes place on the quarantined labour ward, we do get a glimpse in to the home life of Nurse Power, and it was interesting to see how the war had impacted on and affected her brother.
This is a beautifully told story packed full of heart. It may not have been my best move to read it during a pandemic, but nevertheless, I absolutely loved it.
Nurse Julia Power is unmarried at 30 and seems to be happy with that, as she sees women whose bodies are worn out from giving birth so many times and so closely together, women who have been abused by their fathers and forced to bear their children, women who have conceived their babies outside of marriage and will be forced to give them up - as well as young women who have been institutionalised from birth and forced to give up their lives to repay the nuns who raised them through free labour (Magdalene laundries). Like I said, this was no time to be a woman. The abuse and poor treatment of the women on the ward is alluded to, but never explicit.
Whilst most of the story takes place on the quarantined labour ward, we do get a glimpse in to the home life of Nurse Power, and it was interesting to see how the war had impacted on and affected her brother.
This is a beautifully told story packed full of heart. It may not have been my best move to read it during a pandemic, but nevertheless, I absolutely loved it.
Awix (3310 KP) rated King Kong (2005) in Movies
Feb 26, 2018 (Updated Feb 26, 2018)
Peter Jackson's labour of love takes itself awfully seriously for a film about a giant gorilla living on an island full of dinosaurs. Proof that even hugely successful, talented people occasionally need someone to tap them on the shoulder and say 'You need to think again about this.'
I mean, I love monster movies as much as the next person, but not when they last three hours and are stuffed with dead-wood character subplots like this one (what exactly is going on with Jamie Bell's character?). Attempting to make Kong wholly sympathetic throughout is also arguably a mistake. Movie looks great and has brilliant creature designs, but overall loses the sense of pulpy fun and excitement which the best Kong movies have; ends up feeling just a bit pompous.
I mean, I love monster movies as much as the next person, but not when they last three hours and are stuffed with dead-wood character subplots like this one (what exactly is going on with Jamie Bell's character?). Attempting to make Kong wholly sympathetic throughout is also arguably a mistake. Movie looks great and has brilliant creature designs, but overall loses the sense of pulpy fun and excitement which the best Kong movies have; ends up feeling just a bit pompous.
MissCagey (2652 KP) rated Locke (2014) in Movies
Dec 7, 2017 (Updated Dec 7, 2017)
Watching paint dry is a better use of your time than watching this film
Contains spoilers, click to show
Even the delectable and normally highly watchable Tom Hardy cannot salvage this film. It beggars belief that both he and Olivia Colman signed up for this drivel. The whole film is Tom Hardy driving his car and making and receiving a series of phone calls whilst doing so. That is it. To his wife, his kids, the female he had a one night stand with who is currently in labour with his baby, his workmate and his boss. I persevered to the end expecting Hardy to be involved in a crash and die which would have livened up the film a teensy bit but no, he has these conversations and then the film finishes with no climax whatsoever. Dull and boring from start to finish.
Fruit Bat (42 KP) rated The Strange Case of Caroline Maxwell in Books
Mar 1, 2018
Recommended reading "The Strange Case of Caroline Maxwell "Paperback – 12 Sep 2014 by Amanda Harvey Purse.
This book has all the ingredients that makes a great mystery novel. The question is what is there not to love history mixed with fiction, Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper with a great references to Agatha Christie and a famous little Belgian detective.
Amanda's book deserves so much more then the twos reviews it has on Amazon .
The book is truly well researched and comes across as a great labour of love , I loved spotting the historical cases that where mixed among the fiction. If you have the opportunity to read this book I recommend you do it's not to be missed.
Amanda I loved this book from start to finish thank you for the opportunity to read it I hope to see more of this wonderful character
This book has all the ingredients that makes a great mystery novel. The question is what is there not to love history mixed with fiction, Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper with a great references to Agatha Christie and a famous little Belgian detective.
Amanda's book deserves so much more then the twos reviews it has on Amazon .
The book is truly well researched and comes across as a great labour of love , I loved spotting the historical cases that where mixed among the fiction. If you have the opportunity to read this book I recommend you do it's not to be missed.
Amanda I loved this book from start to finish thank you for the opportunity to read it I hope to see more of this wonderful character
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Friends in TV
Jan 5, 2020 (Updated Jan 28, 2020)
I feel so O.L.D.!
I loved this show growing up, never spotted the sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia all in there. However, it was a different generation, so we should give it a pass, even by today's easily offended world, it is minor, and must be judged by its time, not how it would be received today. That said, for a show with a laughter track, it is pretty good.
It does give the characters some unconventional story arcs, and has interesting situations, such as Pheopbe having her brothers triplets (Though I will not lie, now I have had a baby, the way they gloss over labour now inrages me, so I skip those episodes).
To me fair, until very recently, it was keeping its age well, showing the passage of time clearly over the 10 years with changes in styles.
Though, even at 15, I wondered how any of them kept their jobs, while off so much. Time must move differently in New York...
It does give the characters some unconventional story arcs, and has interesting situations, such as Pheopbe having her brothers triplets (Though I will not lie, now I have had a baby, the way they gloss over labour now inrages me, so I skip those episodes).
To me fair, until very recently, it was keeping its age well, showing the passage of time clearly over the 10 years with changes in styles.
Though, even at 15, I wondered how any of them kept their jobs, while off so much. Time must move differently in New York...