Singularity
Podcast
What if the cataclysmic Tunguska explosion of 1908 was caused, not by a meteor or a comet, but by a...
Luncheon of the Boating Party
Book
Bestselling author Susan Vreeland returns with a vivid exploration of one of the most beloved Renoir...
The Disappeared
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Winner of a Northern Writers’ Award Longlisted in The Bath Novel Award * What if reading...
Quantum Reaction
Book
Life-altering tech is on the horizon, and someone wants it stopped—permanently. Can a murder...
Science Fiction Mystery
I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes With Death
Book
I Am, I Am, I Am is Sunday Times bestseller and Costa Novel-Award winner Maggie O'Farrell's electric...
Biography memoir
The Second Machine Age
Book
"The fear that robots will take over is, of course, as old as dystopian literature. The new and...
Papa John's Pizza
Food & Drink and Lifestyle
App
Download the Papa John's App and order your favorite pizza and sides in a flash! It's easy to locate...
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated IA: The Origin Novels (Books 1-3) in Books
Nov 15, 2019
The origin story involves Naz, a teenage boy who lives with his sister and aunt in the Exclave, a ghetto suburb of a large city. Naz is unusual in two ways - he can't remember anything before two years ago and he sometimes hears voices in his head. He doesn't like to draw attention though so keeps his head down and looks after his sister.
After an incident on the way to school, things start to change. He grows as a person and also begins to discover his past, and his potential for the future. Just perhaps one person can make a difference. As he continues on his journey it becomes clear that he may not be entirely on his own.
The stories are set in a near future, with the Exclave being a rather grim backdrop for a tale that concentrates on character. There are light touches of what could be termed science fiction throughout, both with Naz's backstory and in the world around him. The hero shows very real weaknesses and flaws as well as strengths as he battles through bullying, fitting in to new environments, love and loss.
Winston is an extremely talented author and these stories demonstrate why novels termed 'young adult' are frequently worthy of being read by an older audience. The character development shows a strong arc for all the main players - and even the bit parts are memorable.
If you are looking for a strong series of books that will keep you thinking and entertained long after you have finished the last page, this fits the bill to a tee.
Versusyours (757 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies
Dec 14, 2019
It is no secret that this film takes a different approach to the comic book genre with no superpowers being gained and focuses more on loss and the power that grows from becoming mentally unstable and damaged by an unforgiving society. It also focused on the ability to become involved in the fame game not for being talented but as a source of ridicule and fun for others, thso is reflected in wider society and is a stark warning about encouraging those that are not near the level of the talented. Take note the Xfactor and other programmes that have advertising funded freak shows and gather round televisions to judge and mock. There are many factors that contribute to the descent into chaos and they are the socioeconomic factors of heriditary mental health, illegitimacy, funding cuts, street violence and the fear of the future.
The climax scenes are hard hitting but not unexpected, the impact at the time was shocking and left a lasting sense of my own unease at the future. My only thoughts on the negative side where the ability for this ending to have the lasting impact on repeat viewings and it's place in film history will be won or lost on how its seen in the upcoming years. Phoenix inhabited the role as Joker and his overall attention to detail allowed the character to form on deeper and emotion levels.
If there are others out there still waiting to see this do it before Xmas as it might be too much to take during the January blues
An Excess Male: A Novel
5.0
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From debut author Maggie Shen King, An Excess Male is the chilling dystopian tale of politics,...