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David McK (3245 KP) rated School of Rock (2003) in Movies
May 21, 2021
Early noughties (2003) Jack Black musical comedy, in which he plays a slacker guitarist who is kicked out of his band and then gets a job impersonating a substitute teacher at a local high class school in order to pay his rent.
Initially reluctant to do any work at all or to engage with his class, that changes when he hears them during a music class and then decides to form a band so that he can enter the local 'battle of the bands', with himself as the lead singer (which later changes). Cue life lessons in confidence, sticking up for yourself, etc etc...
Initially reluctant to do any work at all or to engage with his class, that changes when he hears them during a music class and then decides to form a band so that he can enter the local 'battle of the bands', with himself as the lead singer (which later changes). Cue life lessons in confidence, sticking up for yourself, etc etc...
Dean (6925 KP) rated You Again (2010) in Movies
Aug 28, 2017
Surprisingly good
Quite a good premise as Kristen Bell's character goes through hell at high school. Only to discover years later her Brother is set to marry the girl who made her life difficult.
I didn't expect much from this but was surprised at the cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver and even Betty White to name a few. Comedies around marriage seem popular in recent years and this reminded me of @The Proposal (2009) in many ways. It has similar humour based on the families clashing and settling old scores.
I didn't expect much from this but was surprised at the cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver and even Betty White to name a few. Comedies around marriage seem popular in recent years and this reminded me of @The Proposal (2009) in many ways. It has similar humour based on the families clashing and settling old scores.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Summer of '79 in Books
Mar 19, 2020
This is an excellent novella following up with the Foley/Levin gang ten years after the events of Summer of '69. Kate and her children, Blair, Kirby, Tiger, and Jessie, gather again on Nantucket after the death of Kate's mother, Exalta.
"Exalta is dead. She died in her sleep two days earlier in the house on Fair Street, while Mr. Crimmins, their former caretaker, slept beside her."
There are a few books in the world that end perfectly, and you don't need another word. But many books are so engaging--the characters so vivid--that you often wonder what has happened to them. Elin Hilderbrand is such an excellent author and so good at world-building for her characters. It only makes sense that she would allow us to check in on her characters at a later date. And, because she's so good at bringing them to life, the concept works perfectly.
This is a slim e-book (coming out later in book form as part of a tribute anthology to the late Dorothea Benton Frank). I read it easily in one setting and quite enjoyed catching up with Kate and the kids, particularly the youngest, Jessie, who was my favorite in '69 and remains so ten years later.
"She feels like a stranger in her own family, but there’s nothing new about that."
Despite the somber occasion for which the family has gathered, it's quite fun to check in on them ten years later. Hilderbrand switches POV from Kate to all four of the kids, allowing us to see what they've been doing and how they feel. We also find Kate adjusting to moving into the role of family matriarch with the passing of her mother.
Overall, if you enjoyed Summer of '69, this is a great novella to catch you up on some beloved characters. I kind of wish we could have novellas like this for other favorite books. 4 stars.
"Exalta is dead. She died in her sleep two days earlier in the house on Fair Street, while Mr. Crimmins, their former caretaker, slept beside her."
There are a few books in the world that end perfectly, and you don't need another word. But many books are so engaging--the characters so vivid--that you often wonder what has happened to them. Elin Hilderbrand is such an excellent author and so good at world-building for her characters. It only makes sense that she would allow us to check in on her characters at a later date. And, because she's so good at bringing them to life, the concept works perfectly.
This is a slim e-book (coming out later in book form as part of a tribute anthology to the late Dorothea Benton Frank). I read it easily in one setting and quite enjoyed catching up with Kate and the kids, particularly the youngest, Jessie, who was my favorite in '69 and remains so ten years later.
"She feels like a stranger in her own family, but there’s nothing new about that."
Despite the somber occasion for which the family has gathered, it's quite fun to check in on them ten years later. Hilderbrand switches POV from Kate to all four of the kids, allowing us to see what they've been doing and how they feel. We also find Kate adjusting to moving into the role of family matriarch with the passing of her mother.
Overall, if you enjoyed Summer of '69, this is a great novella to catch you up on some beloved characters. I kind of wish we could have novellas like this for other favorite books. 4 stars.
Domonique (0 KP) rated Sundays at Tiffany's in Books
May 12, 2018
I read this book before, and I just had an urge to read it again. And I loved it just as much as the first time. It's such a sweet story, a girl has an imaginary friend, he leaves her and then years later when she's an adult comes back into her life and brings joy, happiness and love into her world. How crazy is it that her perfect guy turns out be her imaginary childhood friend? Love really does come in many different forms.
Emily Long (18 KP) rated Skulduggery Pleasant in Books
Dec 22, 2018
Plot (2 more)
Character descriptions
Easy reading
Who doesn't want to have a literary adventure?!
The authors humorous character is revealed within this book. Following a teenage girl the book sets up for those to follow. I began reading this when i was 12 years old and 8 years later i purchased the latest book in the series. The easy to read plot line grasps its readers and draws them into another world within the one we know. It certainly brings adventure and excitement into real life.
Keegan McHargue recommended Simon of the Desert (1965) in Movies (curated)
MaryAnn (14 KP) rated The Wonder Years: 40 Women Over 40 on Aging, Faith, Beauty, and Strength in Books
Mar 5, 2019
It seems that when women reach a certain age in their life, they start to feel like their value is decreasing; they are facing the empty nest, (the children are leaving home), they tend to feel like they are limited in what they can do, and there is the fear of aging.
Well, it's time to start looking at life after 40 in a different light! In this book, well-known Christian women from ages 40 to 85 give their wisdom on how to face these worries. With Spiritual wisdom, a sense of humor, these women give some incredible insight into life after 40.
You will read the writings of Lauren F. Winner, Joni Eareckson Tada, Elisa Morgan, Madeleine Engle and kay Warren.
These women will provide ideas and thoughts about aging and to look at aging with your eyes open to new possibilities and most of all to grow closer to God. Each essay provides a look into God's perspective on the later years of life, reminding us that it's always possible to serve Him with the life experiences we have.
The book is comprised of short essays, that makes it quick to read, you can put it down and pick it back up at without interruption of the book.
It was interesting and it made me chuckle a couple of times. This is a good book for those who are in the 40 and over age, or those who are approaching it. It might even be a good book to do in a group setting with women of this age group.
Well, it's time to start looking at life after 40 in a different light! In this book, well-known Christian women from ages 40 to 85 give their wisdom on how to face these worries. With Spiritual wisdom, a sense of humor, these women give some incredible insight into life after 40.
You will read the writings of Lauren F. Winner, Joni Eareckson Tada, Elisa Morgan, Madeleine Engle and kay Warren.
These women will provide ideas and thoughts about aging and to look at aging with your eyes open to new possibilities and most of all to grow closer to God. Each essay provides a look into God's perspective on the later years of life, reminding us that it's always possible to serve Him with the life experiences we have.
The book is comprised of short essays, that makes it quick to read, you can put it down and pick it back up at without interruption of the book.
It was interesting and it made me chuckle a couple of times. This is a good book for those who are in the 40 and over age, or those who are approaching it. It might even be a good book to do in a group setting with women of this age group.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Cut: One Woman's Fight Against FGM in Britain Today in Books
Oct 10, 2017
The need for globalwide FGM education
Female Genital Mutilation is an important and sombre topic to explore, so hats off to Hibo Wardere for covering this by speaking about her own experiences. It is harrowing when she explains her situation as a six year old in Somalia, watching bits of her flesh being cut off while almost passing out in between her screams. It is mutilation in every sense of the word.
Hence her story of becoming an anti-FGM activist in Britain years later is incredible, turning a life-changing trauma into an instigator for good for other young girls. I completely agree with her viewpoint, but she may have to revisit her sources given recent news stories. An essential read.
Hence her story of becoming an anti-FGM activist in Britain years later is incredible, turning a life-changing trauma into an instigator for good for other young girls. I completely agree with her viewpoint, but she may have to revisit her sources given recent news stories. An essential read.
Amanda Palmer recommended Steppenwolf in Books (curated)
David McK (3245 KP) rated Lion of Macedon (Greek series #1) in Books
Jul 7, 2020
The first of David Gemmell's forays into ancient Greece, followed up by Dark Prince, with Gemmell returning to the setting (if not the characters) towards the end of his life with his Troy series (Lord of the Silver Bow, Shield of Thunder and Fall of Kings - the latter being completed by his wife following his death in 2006).
Unlike the Troy books, however, this is set (much) later in the ancient Greek world, even well after the battle of Thermopylae, and follows the life and times of the half-Spartan/half Macedonian Parmenion - the actual Lion of Macedon of the title - of whom little is apparently known, other than that he was an actual Macedonian general in the service of Philip II of Macedon (who doesn't even appear in this until about 2/3rd of the way through the book): the father (or was he?) of the most famous Macedonian of all: Alexander. As in Alexander the Great.
I add the 'or was he' question to the above as this novel provides an alternative patronage. It also, unlike his later Troy series, mixes on some of Gemmell's more 'fantastical' elements (I hesitate to even use that word), with the philosopher Aristotle reimagined and the inclusion of the Stones of Power (aka the Siptrassi Stones - as an aside, I'm not sure where these novels were written in relation to those?), albeit not to the extent of Dark Prince. The themes of redemption, honour, courage and Good (the Source) Vs Evil are as strong as any other in his oeuvre!
Unlike the Troy books, however, this is set (much) later in the ancient Greek world, even well after the battle of Thermopylae, and follows the life and times of the half-Spartan/half Macedonian Parmenion - the actual Lion of Macedon of the title - of whom little is apparently known, other than that he was an actual Macedonian general in the service of Philip II of Macedon (who doesn't even appear in this until about 2/3rd of the way through the book): the father (or was he?) of the most famous Macedonian of all: Alexander. As in Alexander the Great.
I add the 'or was he' question to the above as this novel provides an alternative patronage. It also, unlike his later Troy series, mixes on some of Gemmell's more 'fantastical' elements (I hesitate to even use that word), with the philosopher Aristotle reimagined and the inclusion of the Stones of Power (aka the Siptrassi Stones - as an aside, I'm not sure where these novels were written in relation to those?), albeit not to the extent of Dark Prince. The themes of redemption, honour, courage and Good (the Source) Vs Evil are as strong as any other in his oeuvre!