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Gareth von Kallenbach (977 KP) rated Greenland (2020) in Movies
Dec 17, 2020
John Garrity (Gerard Butler) is a man trying to put his life in order. Despite being a successful structural engineer; he has recently moved back home with his wife Allison (Morena Baccarin), and their son Nathan (Roger Dale Floyd).
John and Allison are attempting to rebuild their marriage and despite some awkwardness at first they are moving ahead. In the new film “Greenland” life is about to become far more complicated for the Garrity family in the form of a comet that is set to pass very close to earth.
The authorities have told the public there is no cause for concern but John notices a large group of military aircraft in the skies shortly before he receives an automated call from Homeland Security telling him to come to an evacuation location with his wife and son.
Not sure what to make of the message; things become abundantly clear when a “harmless fragment” strikes and destroys a city on live television.
With panic setting in the Garrity family head to the evacuation site only to face complications which leave them separated and facing many dangers and obstacles as they attempt to reunite and get to safety before the big chunk hits in two days.
The film is very engaging and what really stood out for me was how the film relied on the cast versus an array of special effects and action sequences which are so common for films in the disaster genre.
Despite the circumstances the characters were very relatable and the tension of the pending impact helped shape their actions instead of being a countdown to an elaborate array of FX sequences showing cities being devastated. While there is footage of this sort; it is generally confined to news reports versus being the focal points.
Butler was very strong in a departure from his usual action oriented parts as a father trying to make things right in a world that is falling apart around him. It was also nice to hear him using his natural accent for a change as well.
While some may wonder about the timing of releasing a disaster film at the end of 2020 and during the Holiday Season the film is so engaging that it did not matter to me in the slightest.
“Greenland” is a film that came in under the radar in terms of hype and expectation but has delivered an enjoyable and memorable viewing experience that is not to be missed.
John and Allison are attempting to rebuild their marriage and despite some awkwardness at first they are moving ahead. In the new film “Greenland” life is about to become far more complicated for the Garrity family in the form of a comet that is set to pass very close to earth.
The authorities have told the public there is no cause for concern but John notices a large group of military aircraft in the skies shortly before he receives an automated call from Homeland Security telling him to come to an evacuation location with his wife and son.
Not sure what to make of the message; things become abundantly clear when a “harmless fragment” strikes and destroys a city on live television.
With panic setting in the Garrity family head to the evacuation site only to face complications which leave them separated and facing many dangers and obstacles as they attempt to reunite and get to safety before the big chunk hits in two days.
The film is very engaging and what really stood out for me was how the film relied on the cast versus an array of special effects and action sequences which are so common for films in the disaster genre.
Despite the circumstances the characters were very relatable and the tension of the pending impact helped shape their actions instead of being a countdown to an elaborate array of FX sequences showing cities being devastated. While there is footage of this sort; it is generally confined to news reports versus being the focal points.
Butler was very strong in a departure from his usual action oriented parts as a father trying to make things right in a world that is falling apart around him. It was also nice to hear him using his natural accent for a change as well.
While some may wonder about the timing of releasing a disaster film at the end of 2020 and during the Holiday Season the film is so engaging that it did not matter to me in the slightest.
“Greenland” is a film that came in under the radar in terms of hype and expectation but has delivered an enjoyable and memorable viewing experience that is not to be missed.
Becs (244 KP) rated One Day in December: A Christmas Love Story in Books
Oct 2, 2019
One Day in December follows Laurie’s journey of finding the boy she saw and fell in love with at the bus stop on December 21, 2008. But when Sarah gets a new boyfriend, things take a turn for the worst for Laurie.
Sarah decides to throw a party for her friends and to introduce her new BF to Laurie. When he shows up, Laurie instantly recognizes him as the bus boy. But she doesn’t say anything to Sarah because she doesn’t want to ruin something good for her best friend. Over the years, Sarah and Jack start drifting apart and it eventually leads to their separation. But Laurie and Jack couldn’t get together because Laurie was married to Oscar.
The story then follows Laurie while she struggles with her marriage with Oscar and Jack who struggles with trying to love anybody else but Laurie. Until the ending where finally Jack and Laurie get their chance.
Characters:
Laurie – the main character. She’s quiet and a lovely friend and she didn’t deserve all the pain that she went through
Jack – HE’S THE BUS BOY. Has his moments where he’s kind of a butt nugget, but it’s understandable in the moments that he acts like that.
Sarah – BFF to Laurie but the two of them act more like sisters. I didn’t agree with how she acted towards Laurie in the middle of the book. But I do understand why she did it.
Oscar – Laurie’s husband (later on). A complete and utter douche – but what do you expect from someone who come’s from wealth
Lucille – Oscar’s mom
Cressida – ex of Oscar
Luke – husband to Sarah (later on)
Reasons why I rated it 5 stars:
1. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t any grammar or spelling errors that needed to be fixed. Everything seemed very well written and was very informative.
2. Josie Silver does a great job about giving a ton of background on not only the story and plot, but also each of the characters.
3. Speaking of the plot, it was absolutely amazing!
4. I would definitely reread One Day in December because I truly enjoyed this little story so much.
5. The overall story was very well-written and contained enough background to keep the reader going. I rather enjoyed this little novel!
“That is the thing about flowers, isn’t it? They’re lush and extravagant and demand your attention, and you think they’re the most exquisite thing, but then in the shortest time they’re not very lovely at all. They wilt and they turn the water brown, and soon you can’t hold onto them any longer.”
Sarah decides to throw a party for her friends and to introduce her new BF to Laurie. When he shows up, Laurie instantly recognizes him as the bus boy. But she doesn’t say anything to Sarah because she doesn’t want to ruin something good for her best friend. Over the years, Sarah and Jack start drifting apart and it eventually leads to their separation. But Laurie and Jack couldn’t get together because Laurie was married to Oscar.
The story then follows Laurie while she struggles with her marriage with Oscar and Jack who struggles with trying to love anybody else but Laurie. Until the ending where finally Jack and Laurie get their chance.
Characters:
Laurie – the main character. She’s quiet and a lovely friend and she didn’t deserve all the pain that she went through
Jack – HE’S THE BUS BOY. Has his moments where he’s kind of a butt nugget, but it’s understandable in the moments that he acts like that.
Sarah – BFF to Laurie but the two of them act more like sisters. I didn’t agree with how she acted towards Laurie in the middle of the book. But I do understand why she did it.
Oscar – Laurie’s husband (later on). A complete and utter douche – but what do you expect from someone who come’s from wealth
Lucille – Oscar’s mom
Cressida – ex of Oscar
Luke – husband to Sarah (later on)
Reasons why I rated it 5 stars:
1. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t any grammar or spelling errors that needed to be fixed. Everything seemed very well written and was very informative.
2. Josie Silver does a great job about giving a ton of background on not only the story and plot, but also each of the characters.
3. Speaking of the plot, it was absolutely amazing!
4. I would definitely reread One Day in December because I truly enjoyed this little story so much.
5. The overall story was very well-written and contained enough background to keep the reader going. I rather enjoyed this little novel!
“That is the thing about flowers, isn’t it? They’re lush and extravagant and demand your attention, and you think they’re the most exquisite thing, but then in the shortest time they’re not very lovely at all. They wilt and they turn the water brown, and soon you can’t hold onto them any longer.”
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Ace is saving lives and mending hearts....... Anthony “Ace” Bailey I’m not a rules...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Then She Was Gone in Books
Apr 24, 2018 (Updated Apr 24, 2018)
Excellent psychological thriller - hard to put down!
It's been ten years since Laurel Mack's beloved youngest daughter, Ellie, disappeared. She was fifteen and adored by her parents and boyfriend. Intelligent, bright, and excited about her future, Ellie was just about to sit for her exams when she vanished. In the years since her daughter's disappearance, Laurel's marriage has fallen apart, and her relationship with her two remaining children is strained. She is resigned to her lonely life until she randomly meets Floyd one day in a coffee shop. The two begin to date, bringing some joy and excitement back into Laurel's solitary life. She also meets Floyd's daughters; the youngest, Poppy, reminds Laurel so much of Ellie sometimes that she can barely stand it. As Laurel tentatively allows herself to feel happy again, she also cannot help but to again question Ellie's disappearance. What really happened to her daughter? And why does she feel so strangely drawn to this young girl who looks so very much like her long-lost daughter?
This was a great one. It drew me in immediately and then just kept going. Jewell slowly doles out these tantalizing, fun snippets and clues that you have to carefully piece together. The novel is composed of interesting, suspicious, and strange pieces of information; as it progresses, it's wonderfully creepy and menacing. The result is an incredibly well-done novel that has you frantically turning the pages. In fact, I had worked some of the plot out and still found myself willing the book forward, wanting Laurel to do the same. It was compulsively readable, and I read the entire second half in one sitting, staying up late to finish it (and this is saying a lot, because sleep is a precious commodity in my life).
The book is divided into three parts, each with some varying narrators, with Laurel as the thread that ties it all together. This works really well at building suspense. It's also heartbreaking at times. It's so awful and terrifying to think of your child going missing, and there are parts that made me cry. And, in turn, the book is realistic. For instance, Laurel comes across as a very true-to-form. She is truly a grieving mom and Jewell also captures the complexities of being a mother quite well too.
Overall, this is an excellent psychological thriller. It's incredibly easy to get absorbed into its well-written plot and strong characters. It also has a tender side, as well. Even when you might see where (some) things are going, it's completely impossible to put down, as it rushes toward a crazy and exciting conclusion. Definitely a great read!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
This was a great one. It drew me in immediately and then just kept going. Jewell slowly doles out these tantalizing, fun snippets and clues that you have to carefully piece together. The novel is composed of interesting, suspicious, and strange pieces of information; as it progresses, it's wonderfully creepy and menacing. The result is an incredibly well-done novel that has you frantically turning the pages. In fact, I had worked some of the plot out and still found myself willing the book forward, wanting Laurel to do the same. It was compulsively readable, and I read the entire second half in one sitting, staying up late to finish it (and this is saying a lot, because sleep is a precious commodity in my life).
The book is divided into three parts, each with some varying narrators, with Laurel as the thread that ties it all together. This works really well at building suspense. It's also heartbreaking at times. It's so awful and terrifying to think of your child going missing, and there are parts that made me cry. And, in turn, the book is realistic. For instance, Laurel comes across as a very true-to-form. She is truly a grieving mom and Jewell also captures the complexities of being a mother quite well too.
Overall, this is an excellent psychological thriller. It's incredibly easy to get absorbed into its well-written plot and strong characters. It also has a tender side, as well. Even when you might see where (some) things are going, it's completely impossible to put down, as it rushes toward a crazy and exciting conclusion. Definitely a great read!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Rachel King (13 KP) rated The Sandalwood Tree in Books
Feb 11, 2019
he book is like a story within a story. The book begins with the framing story of a woman, Evie, in 1947, who accompanies her husband and young son to India with the dual purpose of seeking adventure and hoping to mend her failing marriage with a man just returned from World War II, broken. When she discovers a bundle of 90-year-old letters hidden in the wall during a cleaning frenzy, the second story of the friendship between Felicity and Adela is revealed. From there, Evie's story diverges from that of Felicity and Adela's as Evie struggles to find more evidence of the two other women's existence and uses her fascination as a distraction from the political turmoil occurring around her.
The British are pulling out of India and separating the religious factions of Muslims and Hindus into the two countries of India and Pakistan, causing chaos and mayhem all over the country of India. The imagery and descriptions that Newmark fills the pages with are mesmerizing in their intensity and splendor. The colors, smells, and sounds have me half-falling in love with India to the point that I search for images online to match what I am reading to get a clearer picture of what the characters experience. Even though I struggled to stay interested in the plot for the first third of the book, the descriptions kept me reading and reading.
Felicity and Adela's story begins from childhood, describing how Felicity was born in India, but fostered with Adela's family. The infamous husband hunt brought them both back to India through different means, though neither had any interest in a husband, for different scandalous reasons. Residing in the same home that Evie now occupies, Felicity and Adela shun the conventional life of an Englishwoman in India, instead adopting an independent lifestyle and embracing India in all its diverse beauty.
Evie herself also seeks to shun what is expected of her, desiring to fully experience the culture of India all around her and use it to heal the problems in her own life. Eventually, she reconnects with the story of the two other women, even as major obstacles present themselves in both her private life and in the immediate villages. Letters take over the narration of Felicity and Adela's tale as Evie finds more to continue the story, instead of the author simply narrating what Evie can't find.
On the whole, the novel was beautifully written and contained a worthwhile plot, though I struggled to stay interested at the beginning. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery and craves the beauty of India.
The British are pulling out of India and separating the religious factions of Muslims and Hindus into the two countries of India and Pakistan, causing chaos and mayhem all over the country of India. The imagery and descriptions that Newmark fills the pages with are mesmerizing in their intensity and splendor. The colors, smells, and sounds have me half-falling in love with India to the point that I search for images online to match what I am reading to get a clearer picture of what the characters experience. Even though I struggled to stay interested in the plot for the first third of the book, the descriptions kept me reading and reading.
Felicity and Adela's story begins from childhood, describing how Felicity was born in India, but fostered with Adela's family. The infamous husband hunt brought them both back to India through different means, though neither had any interest in a husband, for different scandalous reasons. Residing in the same home that Evie now occupies, Felicity and Adela shun the conventional life of an Englishwoman in India, instead adopting an independent lifestyle and embracing India in all its diverse beauty.
Evie herself also seeks to shun what is expected of her, desiring to fully experience the culture of India all around her and use it to heal the problems in her own life. Eventually, she reconnects with the story of the two other women, even as major obstacles present themselves in both her private life and in the immediate villages. Letters take over the narration of Felicity and Adela's tale as Evie finds more to continue the story, instead of the author simply narrating what Evie can't find.
On the whole, the novel was beautifully written and contained a worthwhile plot, though I struggled to stay interested at the beginning. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery and craves the beauty of India.