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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017) in Movies
Nov 12, 2017 (Updated Nov 12, 2017)
Tremendous and hugely tragic
David France’s finely wrought documentary seeks justice for a pivotal figure in queer history from the beginning of Stonewall, whose death was said to have never been investigated properly.
Marsha P. Johnson was many things: outspoken LGBT activist, downtown superstar, model muse to Andy Warhol. In 1992, her body was found in the Hudson River, with police classifying her death as a suicide. The documentary is almost a resurrection of this transgender icon, but also a vivid portrayal of the immense suffering the community has faced over decades, even until this day.
The movie methodically explores who might have had cause to kill her - the local mafia, who were heavily involved in then-still-underground gay bar scene? A violent john or a passing group of straight men bent on hate crime? One of the most important characters in this film alongside Johnson was Sylvia Riviera, and her own tragic life just reflects the dire situation people are left to deal with.
Death is what leads the title and drives the movie. But it's her life - vibrant, pioneering, and much too short - that gives Marsha her flamboyant, beautiful heart. A truly moving portrayal.
Marsha P. Johnson was many things: outspoken LGBT activist, downtown superstar, model muse to Andy Warhol. In 1992, her body was found in the Hudson River, with police classifying her death as a suicide. The documentary is almost a resurrection of this transgender icon, but also a vivid portrayal of the immense suffering the community has faced over decades, even until this day.
The movie methodically explores who might have had cause to kill her - the local mafia, who were heavily involved in then-still-underground gay bar scene? A violent john or a passing group of straight men bent on hate crime? One of the most important characters in this film alongside Johnson was Sylvia Riviera, and her own tragic life just reflects the dire situation people are left to deal with.
Death is what leads the title and drives the movie. But it's her life - vibrant, pioneering, and much too short - that gives Marsha her flamboyant, beautiful heart. A truly moving portrayal.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated The Blemished (Blemished, #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
I received this book as a give away as part of a compilation [Shattered Worlds]. I have decided to give each book it's own review as I finish them to give the authors their due.
The Ministry had genetically created the perfect person. The are called GEMs and the rule society. Those who were not created perfect are called "Blemished" and are used as slaves for the upper class. Not all blemished are happy with this situation. Mina has a special gift that could help her but also be very dangerous to herself and those she loves. She will do anything to protect them and herself, as well as avoid the "operation" that all blemished girls get so they can not have children but often drives them mad as well. Secrets are kept, laws broken, lives risked and saved all fro freedom.
This was a well written novel. I could have done without the love triangle aspect because I thing that has been over done especially in YA literature and the characters were a little predictable. Overall the story flowed well and the action kept the plot moving along.
The Ministry had genetically created the perfect person. The are called GEMs and the rule society. Those who were not created perfect are called "Blemished" and are used as slaves for the upper class. Not all blemished are happy with this situation. Mina has a special gift that could help her but also be very dangerous to herself and those she loves. She will do anything to protect them and herself, as well as avoid the "operation" that all blemished girls get so they can not have children but often drives them mad as well. Secrets are kept, laws broken, lives risked and saved all fro freedom.
This was a well written novel. I could have done without the love triangle aspect because I thing that has been over done especially in YA literature and the characters were a little predictable. Overall the story flowed well and the action kept the plot moving along.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Housekeeping: Faber Modern Classics in Books
Sep 7, 2017
Haunting imagery, tremendous classic American literature
There was something deeply unsettling yet moving about this book exploring abandonment, solitude and loss over the span of three generations of women in a family.
Ruth, who is our main narrator, is speaking about her childhood in which her sister Lucille and her were continually abandoned by one family or another. Eventually they end up with their deeply eccentric aunt Sylvie, and she seems completely incapable in many ways of being a responsible parent, but rather a sister instead. She leads a transcient life, having deserted her husband, jumping on trains to get from place to place. She's a spirited wanderer, and sees Ruth as an ally and her own sister, Helen, who killed herself at the start of the book.
Their solitary life of never mixing, but staying in the great outdoors both seems idyllic and claustrophobic. There are images of the lake where the children's mother committed suicide, that seem to draw the women to this area. The metaphors are cold and quiet hence it feels unnerving.
It's a classic American tale about real women, which makes this different to the old books talking only about marriage and fidelity.
Ruth, who is our main narrator, is speaking about her childhood in which her sister Lucille and her were continually abandoned by one family or another. Eventually they end up with their deeply eccentric aunt Sylvie, and she seems completely incapable in many ways of being a responsible parent, but rather a sister instead. She leads a transcient life, having deserted her husband, jumping on trains to get from place to place. She's a spirited wanderer, and sees Ruth as an ally and her own sister, Helen, who killed herself at the start of the book.
Their solitary life of never mixing, but staying in the great outdoors both seems idyllic and claustrophobic. There are images of the lake where the children's mother committed suicide, that seem to draw the women to this area. The metaphors are cold and quiet hence it feels unnerving.
It's a classic American tale about real women, which makes this different to the old books talking only about marriage and fidelity.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Talk Show in Books
May 10, 2018
After reading this book for a week and only making it to 25% of the way through, I have decided to give it a rest for now. Reasons I could not finish this book:
1. The Language--While I am not offended by foul language, dropping the 'F' bomb 10+ times in the first 2% of the book is a bit extreme. I did a search for the word on the Kindle and found out it appears over 100 times throughout.
2. The story is moving way too slowly for me. At 12% there is a shooting and at this point I still don't know what happened to the victims. But, we've met a few strippers and a transgender priest who also babysits, and a crazy copy named Germany(at least I think he's a cop, I was quite confused when he entered the story).
3. Finally, it's not holding my interest. Every time I start reading, I start to fall asleep.
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was excited about it, but it fell short of my expectations.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**
1. The Language--While I am not offended by foul language, dropping the 'F' bomb 10+ times in the first 2% of the book is a bit extreme. I did a search for the word on the Kindle and found out it appears over 100 times throughout.
2. The story is moving way too slowly for me. At 12% there is a shooting and at this point I still don't know what happened to the victims. But, we've met a few strippers and a transgender priest who also babysits, and a crazy copy named Germany(at least I think he's a cop, I was quite confused when he entered the story).
3. Finally, it's not holding my interest. Every time I start reading, I start to fall asleep.
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was excited about it, but it fell short of my expectations.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Dead Man's Shoes (2006) in Movies
Feb 3, 2019
Brilliantly savage
Finally managed to get a hold of this after borrowing it on DVD from my brother, I’ve been wanting to watch it again for a long time and it’s still a fantastic hard hitting film.
This is a darkly savage and fairly brutal story of revenge that makes for a powerful watch. The plot is straight forward and simple, but it just goes to show that you don’t need a massive budget or fancy Hollywood effects to make an outstanding film. From the effective story telling (colour current day scenes vs black and white flashbacks), to a clever script, bleak, creepy and almost gruesome scenes and some great performances. Paddy Considine is a fantastic actor, and probably deserves a lot more accolades, and Toby Kebbell has an outstanding yet fairly small and moving breakthrough performance as Anthony. The final twist at the end too is one of the few film endings that has always stuck with me. And I will admit to having a bit of a soft spot for films that are set in or around my local area, and Derbyshire isn’t too far away....
This is a darkly savage and fairly brutal story of revenge that makes for a powerful watch. The plot is straight forward and simple, but it just goes to show that you don’t need a massive budget or fancy Hollywood effects to make an outstanding film. From the effective story telling (colour current day scenes vs black and white flashbacks), to a clever script, bleak, creepy and almost gruesome scenes and some great performances. Paddy Considine is a fantastic actor, and probably deserves a lot more accolades, and Toby Kebbell has an outstanding yet fairly small and moving breakthrough performance as Anthony. The final twist at the end too is one of the few film endings that has always stuck with me. And I will admit to having a bit of a soft spot for films that are set in or around my local area, and Derbyshire isn’t too far away....
David McK (3425 KP) rated Sharpe's Revenge in Books
Feb 18, 2019
For the last couple of years or so, I've been (slowly) making my way through the Sharpe books, in chronological order by setting and in between my various other reading activities i.e. maybe one Richard Sharpe book every couple of months or so
I'm approaching the end of that project, with (currently) only two more novels to go: [book:Sharpe's Waterloo|328986], and [book:Sharpe's Devil|615225].
This particular entry is set during the latter days of the Napoleonic Wars: during the Peace of Amiens in 1814, to be precise, with Sharpe's personal and professional life falling apart after he is framed by wily French spymaster Pierre Ducos. This novel also sees the fall-out from certain events in the previous entries ([book:Sharpe's Siege|564536]), starting with an - illegal - duel between Sharpe and the naval commander who was responsible for abandoning him and his men behind enemy lines, moving on to his cuckolding by his wife Jane by a former friend, and even expanding on the family of the commander of that French fort with one family member, in particular, playing a very important role in Sharpe's future life!
I'm approaching the end of that project, with (currently) only two more novels to go: [book:Sharpe's Waterloo|328986], and [book:Sharpe's Devil|615225].
This particular entry is set during the latter days of the Napoleonic Wars: during the Peace of Amiens in 1814, to be precise, with Sharpe's personal and professional life falling apart after he is framed by wily French spymaster Pierre Ducos. This novel also sees the fall-out from certain events in the previous entries ([book:Sharpe's Siege|564536]), starting with an - illegal - duel between Sharpe and the naval commander who was responsible for abandoning him and his men behind enemy lines, moving on to his cuckolding by his wife Jane by a former friend, and even expanding on the family of the commander of that French fort with one family member, in particular, playing a very important role in Sharpe's future life!
JSG87 (8 KP) rated Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (2018) in Movies
Feb 22, 2019
Great animation. (1 more)
Great acting.
Long runtime. (1 more)
Not as funny as the first movie.
Ralph doesn't quite strike gold for the second time.
Thinking of Wreck it Ralph you'll usually think of the first movie and unfortunately for the sequel you'll probably still think of the first one. That's not to say that the second one is bad, it just can't quite leave the shadow of greatness that was the first movie.
The jokes fall a little flatter, and the friendship between the main duo is kinda creepy in a sense, at least when it comes to how much Ralph can't let Vanellope go. It also feels exceptionally long for an animated movie.
Moving to the good... It is at least still funny albeit not as funny as the first. Vanellope is still the main draw even though the film has the name Ralph in it. He just can't compare to Vanellope who steals all the scenes she's in.
If you like Kids movies I'd recommend this anyway and if you like Animated movies it's as good as the majority of them. Just don't go into it thinking it's gonna be as amazing as the first movie.
The jokes fall a little flatter, and the friendship between the main duo is kinda creepy in a sense, at least when it comes to how much Ralph can't let Vanellope go. It also feels exceptionally long for an animated movie.
Moving to the good... It is at least still funny albeit not as funny as the first. Vanellope is still the main draw even though the film has the name Ralph in it. He just can't compare to Vanellope who steals all the scenes she's in.
If you like Kids movies I'd recommend this anyway and if you like Animated movies it's as good as the majority of them. Just don't go into it thinking it's gonna be as amazing as the first movie.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated The Christmas Blessing in Books
Feb 25, 2019
Ms. Carlson is back with another emotionally moving Christmas novella. I love her Christmas novellas and will forever read them. She brings wonderful messages from God and mixes them into a captivating story line, and blends it all with characters that steal your heart and become your family til the end.
This Christmas story is set during one of my favorite time periods to read about: WWII, and follows Amelia and her son. I loved how Ms. Carlson transported me back in time. I loved following Amelia on her journey of pain and hope, and longing. The way I felt reading this book, seeing Amelia come to terms with her situation, seeing God work on her heart, really refreshed my own.
If you love stories filled with hope, longing and an ending that will leave you wanting more from a superbly talented author, then this 5 star book is for you. Ms. Carlson delivers her readers a novella that you won't soon forget! Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
This Christmas story is set during one of my favorite time periods to read about: WWII, and follows Amelia and her son. I loved how Ms. Carlson transported me back in time. I loved following Amelia on her journey of pain and hope, and longing. The way I felt reading this book, seeing Amelia come to terms with her situation, seeing God work on her heart, really refreshed my own.
If you love stories filled with hope, longing and an ending that will leave you wanting more from a superbly talented author, then this 5 star book is for you. Ms. Carlson delivers her readers a novella that you won't soon forget! Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Martian in Books
Mar 15, 2018
The idea of being stranded alone somewhere is certainly a terrifying one, and as such has been used countless times in literature (and film). Moving the location 140,000,000 miles from Earth adds a new twist to the tale though, and adds an increased sense of desperation. When astronaut Mark Watney finds himself trapped on Mars after an accident, he turns out to be more resilient and resourceful than many of us would, and goes about doing everything he can to ensure his survival and up his odds of rescue. Given that rescue is so far away, and the harsh Martian environment is so unforgiving, things don't always go his way. The series of setbacks he experiences keeps readers in suspense throughout the entire book. The story is told largely from the perspective of Mark dictating to his log, which gives it a casual tone, making Mark very likable, and keeping the technical bits easy to understand. As such, this is a fun read, that kept me on the edge of my seat. If the movie is anywhere near as good as the book, it should be one of the best of the year.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Isolation (Faye Longchamp, #9) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***NOTE: I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Faye Longchamp lives on a small island with her family. Going to the mainland for breakfast one morning, her husband and recently-released-from-jail father-in-law find a local woman dead in the water off her restaurants pier. Fearing that her father-in-law might make an easy scapegoat, Faye starts looking into the murder
This book started out slow, and I wasnt sure I was going to like it. In the beginning of the story, we learn that Faye has recently suffered a miscarriage, and shes having trouble coming to terms with the loss. Faye muddles around in a haze for several chapters, but as she starts to come back to herself, the book picks up pace as well. Once it gets going and you look back on the slow beginning, you can see that it is fitting considering Fayes state of mind. Im glad I didnt give up during the slow part, because it finished up as a quick-moving, cant-stop-until-I-know-who-did-it mystery.
Faye Longchamp lives on a small island with her family. Going to the mainland for breakfast one morning, her husband and recently-released-from-jail father-in-law find a local woman dead in the water off her restaurants pier. Fearing that her father-in-law might make an easy scapegoat, Faye starts looking into the murder
This book started out slow, and I wasnt sure I was going to like it. In the beginning of the story, we learn that Faye has recently suffered a miscarriage, and shes having trouble coming to terms with the loss. Faye muddles around in a haze for several chapters, but as she starts to come back to herself, the book picks up pace as well. Once it gets going and you look back on the slow beginning, you can see that it is fitting considering Fayes state of mind. Im glad I didnt give up during the slow part, because it finished up as a quick-moving, cant-stop-until-I-know-who-did-it mystery.