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Morgan Sheppard (1029 KP) created a post
May 19, 2026
The Lovers (2017)
9.0
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Movie
The Lovers is a refreshingly funny look at love, fidelity, and family, starring Debra Winger and...
Charlotte (184 KP) rated Timeless (Less Than Zero #4) in Books
Oct 25, 2021
Oh.....my......goodness!
A fully rounded story that literally leads you from the very beginning. It's beautiful and heartbreaking. I laughed and cried, became frustrated with both Zane and Fiona and fell in love along the way.
I always say I like the character development and Timeless is no different, it's a brilliant journey that not only shows the growth of these two fab people but highlights how their core personalities stay the same.
Definitely an adult read with a fair bit of detailed naughtiness, done in a way that shows a deep and meaningful connection between two people who clearly belong together, even though life throws so many spanners in the works.
A fully rounded story that literally leads you from the very beginning. It's beautiful and heartbreaking. I laughed and cried, became frustrated with both Zane and Fiona and fell in love along the way.
I always say I like the character development and Timeless is no different, it's a brilliant journey that not only shows the growth of these two fab people but highlights how their core personalities stay the same.
Definitely an adult read with a fair bit of detailed naughtiness, done in a way that shows a deep and meaningful connection between two people who clearly belong together, even though life throws so many spanners in the works.
Becoming Ted
10.0
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Book
A charming, joyful and surprising story about love, friendship and learning to be true to yourself,...
Welcome to a Tyler: Crossrads
6.0
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Book
Something odd is going on at Worthington House. Several of the elderly have died-but is it of...
Polar Nights (Under an Arctic Sky #1.5)
8.0
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Book
Andreas has been in love with Christian for as long as he can remember, but he’s also always known...
Contemporary MM Romance Short Story
Jamie (131 KP) rated The Grave Tender in Books
Jul 30, 2017
A haunting southern gothic
The Grave Tender is a haunting and beautifully woven southern gothic about a broken family and the love that binds them together. The story starts slow as the story introduces Hadley, her friends, family, and their small town which on the surface seems idyllic. It’s the sort of town where everyone knows each other over generations, but the smiling town hides many secrets.
What I loved most about this book was how it dealt with matters of appearance. It’s easy to point fingers and blame those that look the most guilty, who are the most eccentric. It’s the folly of letting appearances dictate our perception of the people around us. Evil is committed every day by seemingly normal people, and true monsters masquerade under the guise of banality.
The book deals with some of the most horrible situations a person can go through with extreme delicacy. Not everyone has a happy ending, sometimes there are crimes that go unpunished, sometimes victims never receive justice, some wounds heal but many more never do. I cried so much while reading this book because of how close to home it hit for me, I was honestly touched.
I can’t say much more about the book because it’s really the sort of story that needs to be experienced without spoilers. I will however note that the content in this book is difficult to stomach. For a survivor of abuse it can be either cathartic or utterly horrifying, which is why I’ve added a trigger warning in the list of warnings below. I cautiously recommend this book for those ready for a poignant and unflinchingly honest exploration of domestic abuse.
What I loved most about this book was how it dealt with matters of appearance. It’s easy to point fingers and blame those that look the most guilty, who are the most eccentric. It’s the folly of letting appearances dictate our perception of the people around us. Evil is committed every day by seemingly normal people, and true monsters masquerade under the guise of banality.
The book deals with some of the most horrible situations a person can go through with extreme delicacy. Not everyone has a happy ending, sometimes there are crimes that go unpunished, sometimes victims never receive justice, some wounds heal but many more never do. I cried so much while reading this book because of how close to home it hit for me, I was honestly touched.
I can’t say much more about the book because it’s really the sort of story that needs to be experienced without spoilers. I will however note that the content in this book is difficult to stomach. For a survivor of abuse it can be either cathartic or utterly horrifying, which is why I’ve added a trigger warning in the list of warnings below. I cautiously recommend this book for those ready for a poignant and unflinchingly honest exploration of domestic abuse.
Ama (21 KP) rated A Monster Calls (2016) in Movies
Sep 11, 2017
A truly delicate book adaption
I went into A Monster Calls with big expectations from an absolutely brilliant and enchanting trailer and came out wondering why there aren't more people making films like this.
Before watching the film I had not read the book, and haven't still, in fact (although it is on my list and very close to the top).
A Monster Calls has so much clever story telling that it's hard to believe it wasn't made for film. Adaptions (especially from books) usually struggle to make a storyline out of an already existing one. This film however managed to evoke a feeling, rather than strain to tell a story. The narrative is so effortless that as an audience I could simply focus on being swept away by the characters. In fact, I want to go so far to say that watching this film was almost like reading a book. It kept me hungry for more every second of it, gave just enough away to evoke a feeling of understanding but kept enough secret to make me believe that this is a story just for me that only I understand.
The characters are so deliberate that none feel out of place and their interaction with each other felt very natural.
The cinematography was absolutely stunning. There was a feeling of fantasy, mixed with something very familiar that works very well for the topic at hand.
All that being said, I think it's clear that I am absolutely in love with this film (even though it did make me cry more than once).
However, I have not seen this film in some time and therefore will stay a bit vague with this review as to not make assumptions. I will update/write another review once I've rewatched the film and actually read the book.
Before watching the film I had not read the book, and haven't still, in fact (although it is on my list and very close to the top).
A Monster Calls has so much clever story telling that it's hard to believe it wasn't made for film. Adaptions (especially from books) usually struggle to make a storyline out of an already existing one. This film however managed to evoke a feeling, rather than strain to tell a story. The narrative is so effortless that as an audience I could simply focus on being swept away by the characters. In fact, I want to go so far to say that watching this film was almost like reading a book. It kept me hungry for more every second of it, gave just enough away to evoke a feeling of understanding but kept enough secret to make me believe that this is a story just for me that only I understand.
The characters are so deliberate that none feel out of place and their interaction with each other felt very natural.
The cinematography was absolutely stunning. There was a feeling of fantasy, mixed with something very familiar that works very well for the topic at hand.
All that being said, I think it's clear that I am absolutely in love with this film (even though it did make me cry more than once).
However, I have not seen this film in some time and therefore will stay a bit vague with this review as to not make assumptions. I will update/write another review once I've rewatched the film and actually read the book.
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated An American Marriage in Books
May 25, 2018
I'm not even sure where to start with this book. The entire time I was reading, I had to keep going back and re-reading sentences because the words were so beautiful. I wanted to savor Tayari Jones' writing and not forget one word. I found myself reading out loud so I could hear her words.
If this book was found in the poetry section of my local bookstore, I would believe it.
“Marriage is like grafting a limb onto a tree trunk,” Celestial reflects. “You have the limb, freshly sliced, dripping sap, and smelling of springtime, and then you have the mother tree stripped of her protective bark, gouged and ready to receive this new addition. ... In my marriage, I never determined which of us was rootstock and which the grafted branch.”
And the story is just the cherry on top of the words. Celestial and Roy, barely out of the newlywed phase when Roy is sent to prison. It's a heartbreaking story, of separation, as well as togetherness, between this married couple, but in a grander scheme a critique on America and unequal treatment of its citizens. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but I felt for them, probably more than I've ever felt for any character in a novel. I felt for them in my soul.
It's not a activism story. It's a love story. About the American dream and how just like a spouse, your country can fail you - no matter how hard you work for your dreams.
It's poignant, and thoughtful, and written like a painting. I am so glad I read this book. For several different reasons. And I'm excited to read what Tayari Jones paints next.
If this book was found in the poetry section of my local bookstore, I would believe it.
“Marriage is like grafting a limb onto a tree trunk,” Celestial reflects. “You have the limb, freshly sliced, dripping sap, and smelling of springtime, and then you have the mother tree stripped of her protective bark, gouged and ready to receive this new addition. ... In my marriage, I never determined which of us was rootstock and which the grafted branch.”
And the story is just the cherry on top of the words. Celestial and Roy, barely out of the newlywed phase when Roy is sent to prison. It's a heartbreaking story, of separation, as well as togetherness, between this married couple, but in a grander scheme a critique on America and unequal treatment of its citizens. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but I felt for them, probably more than I've ever felt for any character in a novel. I felt for them in my soul.
It's not a activism story. It's a love story. About the American dream and how just like a spouse, your country can fail you - no matter how hard you work for your dreams.
It's poignant, and thoughtful, and written like a painting. I am so glad I read this book. For several different reasons. And I'm excited to read what Tayari Jones paints next.