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Books Editor (673 KP) shared own list
Sep 28, 2017
Established in 1919, The James Tait Black Prizes are Britain's oldest literary awards. There are two book prizes, one for fiction and one for biography.
Rasputin: The Biography
Book
A hundred years after his murder, Rasputin continues to excite the popular imagination as the...
A Stain in the Blood: The Remarkable Voyage of Sir Kenelm Digby
Book
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY and THE ELIZABETH LONGFORD PRIZE FOR...
History
A Life Discarded: 148 Diaries Found in a Skip
Book
Unique, transgressive and as funny as its subject, A Life Discarded has all the suspense of a murder...
The Vanishing Man: In Pursuit of Velazquez
Book
BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. "The Vanishing Man is a riveting detective story and a brilliant...
The Sport of Kings
Book
Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction...
and 3 other items
Erika (17789 KP) rated My Lady Jane in Books
Nov 19, 2017
I wasn't expecting to like this book at all. I chose it on the fly to listen to as an audiobook. I was not disappointed. It was completely humorous. The novel rotated through three points of view, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, and Gifford Dudley. It definitely borrowed from the likes of the Princess Bride, Shakespeare, and Monty Python. There were some irritating parts, like when it quoted too much from those sources. In the end, I did really like it.
I found this book to be full of relatable characters. Some I liked, some I disliked. I really did not like Valerie's father but enjoyed Valerie's psychiatrist. Valerie is living through the aftermath of her boyfriend planning and enacting a school shooting. I normally dislike the topic of the novel (the seriousness of a school shooting) but I thought the book was pretty well written. There were parts of "before" mixed in the timeline of the rest of the book.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) in Movies
Jan 2, 2018
Great movie
What an great idea and cast. The idea of making movie like a graphic novel brilliant. The characters are done right and introduced perfectly. UMA can kick some major ass and this has one of the BEST openings of a movie I have ever scene. I love it when we have little to go on and you get surprised like that. I don't think there is a part of this movie that I didn't enjoy
Rachel (48 KP) rated After She's Gone in Books
May 27, 2017
Tense and Surprising
This was a gripping book. The characters were all perfectly rounded and sympathetic and it really sucks you in.
There are a number of story threads running simultaneously and, whilst complex enough to be interesting, they never get confusing.
The 'whodunit' part of the novel is gripping yet it is so much more than that - ultimately it is a story of secrets and the far reaching consequences of them.
I really look forward to seeing much more of Maggie James!
There are a number of story threads running simultaneously and, whilst complex enough to be interesting, they never get confusing.
The 'whodunit' part of the novel is gripping yet it is so much more than that - ultimately it is a story of secrets and the far reaching consequences of them.
I really look forward to seeing much more of Maggie James!
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Men Without Women: Stories in Books
Jul 24, 2017
Modern day Hemingway without the tangential narratives
Taking the title from the original Ernest Hemingway novel, Haruki Murakami has updated it for a modern audience in different parts of the world, primarily Japan.
It is a series of portraits of men who have chosen the path of loneliness away from women and the void that it creates when running away from intimacy. Beautiful, simplistic with a wonderful flow, Murakami has a spectacular way of building characters and their anecdotal narratives.
It is a series of portraits of men who have chosen the path of loneliness away from women and the void that it creates when running away from intimacy. Beautiful, simplistic with a wonderful flow, Murakami has a spectacular way of building characters and their anecdotal narratives.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Lie Tree in Books
Jul 24, 2017
Deceptively fabulous feminist book
This quaint, quirky mystery novel has so many themes intertwined in a logical fashion that I'm considering it to be near perfect.
With magical realism as a major part of this tale, I was initially apprehensive to what conclusion could be achieved without drifting off on a tangent. However, it came together revealing its true purpose, that of the women who at the beginning seemed meek and mild, but actually were at the heart of the plot. Well written.
With magical realism as a major part of this tale, I was initially apprehensive to what conclusion could be achieved without drifting off on a tangent. However, it came together revealing its true purpose, that of the women who at the beginning seemed meek and mild, but actually were at the heart of the plot. Well written.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Into the Water in Books
Jul 26, 2017
Unusual, not as good as first but intriguing twist
Very unusual story, with Paula Hawkins using a similar back and forth narrative with several narrators as in Girl On A Train. The difference being there are more than one primary characters and the neurotic protagonist is played down far more than in her previous novel. And there are numerous subplots which actually confused the entire story and does not seem to thread together very well. It would have been better with less complications.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Fact of A Body in Books
Aug 7, 2017
A modern day 'In Cold Blood'
This is a pretty incredibly written book about a real life murder investigation coinciding with the author's own harrowing experiences. While true crime is now a hot genre, Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich has weaved together a humane story, a backdrop of how this horrifying crime occurred not dissimilar to how Truman Capote wrote In Cold Blood. However, her own horrific story parallels the investigation giving the entire novel a whole new dimension. Recommended read indeed.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Wanted (2008) in Movies
May 11, 2018
I really like this film. It's based off of a graphic novel, that I honestly hated. So, this is one of those situations where the movie surpasses the book. The story created for the film was much better.
The action is shot well, and it was very of the times back in 2008. The visual effects for all of the shooting was really cool looking.
I love James McAvoy, but his American accent was whack in the first action scene with Angelina Jolie.
The action is shot well, and it was very of the times back in 2008. The visual effects for all of the shooting was really cool looking.
I love James McAvoy, but his American accent was whack in the first action scene with Angelina Jolie.