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ClareR (5885 KP) rated If I Can’t Have You in Books
Dec 5, 2020
If I Can’t Have You is a story about obsession. It’s funny, serious, disturbing and at times, outrageous. Constance could be a character that would be easy to dislike, but I liked her vulnerability. She is a sad character who has had a troubled upbringing. When she believes that she has found the love of her life, and is then almost immediately let down by the frankly despicable Dr. Samuel Stevens, I felt so sorry for her. And continued to feel for her as he repeatedly uses her. He clearly neither knows or cares about Constance’s depth of feeling for him. She seems desperate as she lets him use her, and even more so as she looks for affection with her housemate, Dale. He certainly seems to have the potential to be a male version of Constance, and it’s clear that she actually feels revulsion with regards to him. But at the same time, she doesn’t want to be on her own.
I think the character of Edward, an elderly man who lives over the road from Samuel, is in part the father figure that she needs and never had. He needs her too. I think things could have been far worse for Constance if she hadn’t have had Edward to consider. Edward is the device that shows Constance is a caring person underneath the obsession. She makes time in her day to care for and visit him. Like the other two men, he is a broken soul - but his obsessive behaviour doesn’t translate in to being careless with people. Instead he is a hoarder of strange knick-knacks. Edward adds an element of humour as well - his relationship with Constance is lovely.
I found it hard NOT to put myself in Constance’s shoes. After all, isn’t that what we as readers do with the characters we read about? How easy would i be to slip from loneliness in to obsession? I hope I never find out, but it’s so well portrayed in this book. This is a supremely uncomfortable book in parts - Constance is used and abused, and she in turn can have some pretty unpleasant thoughts. But perhaps that’s because she doesn’t have someone to really confide in?
I can’t actually believe that this is a debut, and I will definitely be looking out for whatever comes next from Charlotte Levin.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this and to Charlotte for joining in with the chat in the margins!
I think the character of Edward, an elderly man who lives over the road from Samuel, is in part the father figure that she needs and never had. He needs her too. I think things could have been far worse for Constance if she hadn’t have had Edward to consider. Edward is the device that shows Constance is a caring person underneath the obsession. She makes time in her day to care for and visit him. Like the other two men, he is a broken soul - but his obsessive behaviour doesn’t translate in to being careless with people. Instead he is a hoarder of strange knick-knacks. Edward adds an element of humour as well - his relationship with Constance is lovely.
I found it hard NOT to put myself in Constance’s shoes. After all, isn’t that what we as readers do with the characters we read about? How easy would i be to slip from loneliness in to obsession? I hope I never find out, but it’s so well portrayed in this book. This is a supremely uncomfortable book in parts - Constance is used and abused, and she in turn can have some pretty unpleasant thoughts. But perhaps that’s because she doesn’t have someone to really confide in?
I can’t actually believe that this is a debut, and I will definitely be looking out for whatever comes next from Charlotte Levin.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this and to Charlotte for joining in with the chat in the margins!
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Hopefuls in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Beth is less than thrilled when her husband, Matt, announces they are moving to Washington, DC. Beth loves New York City and all that comes with it, and DC is an intense culture shock. Matt is involved with President Obama's campaign and the couple's life revolves completely around politics. Beth, a writer, tires easily of the endless business talk and her husband's obsession with politics and the DC scene. Soon Matt and Beth meet Jimmy and Ashleigh. Jimmy works at the White House as well. The couples become fast friends, sharing meals, parties, and vacations. But as Jimmy raises in the ranks in politics, the friendship becomes quickly threatened by jealousy.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book--a relationship set to the backdrop of the Obama campaign and administration. Living close to the DC area, I can say that Close's description of many DC citizens is spot on: the Blackberrys, the obsession with security clearance and work standing, the fashion. She's excellent at weaving a story in the details.
The problem, however, is that Beth--the novel's narrator--is just so dull. She's beyond passive, willing to watch life unravel as she watches. It doesn't seem as if Beth is interested in anything, beyond whining. After a while, I just became so frustrated with her, I wanted to scream. It doesn't help that her husband, Matt, is similarly self-absorbed, and Jimmy and Ashleigh aren't any more likable. The book sort of bumps along, with no real movement to swing it along, or a character with any redeeming quality of any sort (good or bad). Even the DC details can't save this often frustrating novel from its own irksome and passive characters. 2.5 stars.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book--a relationship set to the backdrop of the Obama campaign and administration. Living close to the DC area, I can say that Close's description of many DC citizens is spot on: the Blackberrys, the obsession with security clearance and work standing, the fashion. She's excellent at weaving a story in the details.
The problem, however, is that Beth--the novel's narrator--is just so dull. She's beyond passive, willing to watch life unravel as she watches. It doesn't seem as if Beth is interested in anything, beyond whining. After a while, I just became so frustrated with her, I wanted to scream. It doesn't help that her husband, Matt, is similarly self-absorbed, and Jimmy and Ashleigh aren't any more likable. The book sort of bumps along, with no real movement to swing it along, or a character with any redeeming quality of any sort (good or bad). Even the DC details can't save this often frustrating novel from its own irksome and passive characters. 2.5 stars.
RəX Regent (349 KP) rated The Prestige (2006) in Movies
Mar 7, 2019
Are you watching closely?
Contains spoilers, click to show
Are you watching closely? Christopher Nolan is shaping up to be one of this century's most successful directors, delivering hit after hit, quality upon quality. The only exception to that would be the tedious "Insomnia", but at his best he is a movie making genius, at his worst, an efficient director.
"The Prestige" was produced between projects, those being numbers three and four in my all time top ten, "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight". He claimed that he was making a small movie to tide him over but ended up with an all start blockbuster, and whist touching of a subject which had been dealt with before, I don't recall it ever having being done quite like this.
And that is the magic of a top director; That is to give the audience what they want but not on their terms, not quite what they are expecting. This film follows the obsession of two 19th century magicians, one of whom, Christian Bale, arrives at the conclusion that it takes total commitment to achieve the perfect trick, whilst Hugh Jackman takes a little longer to see that obsession will lead him down the same path.
This is a dark, Gothic thriller, lifting the lid of the magic of the day, whilst in true Nolan fashion delving deeper into the psyche of the protagonists, and the destructive nature of their respective obsessive battles, and those it hurts and destroys along the way.
But more than this, the film its self is effectively a mirror of the plot, told and presented as one long trick, with deception, red herrings and ultimately, eponymous the prestige. The only real problem I have with this film is that it thinks that it has everything so well wrapped up, that we, the audience, can't see the twists coming, which I felt a little insulted by as they were almost telegraphed.
But, this was a methodically well presented film, with a clear time and excellent performances throughout. Highly recommended.
"The Prestige" was produced between projects, those being numbers three and four in my all time top ten, "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight". He claimed that he was making a small movie to tide him over but ended up with an all start blockbuster, and whist touching of a subject which had been dealt with before, I don't recall it ever having being done quite like this.
And that is the magic of a top director; That is to give the audience what they want but not on their terms, not quite what they are expecting. This film follows the obsession of two 19th century magicians, one of whom, Christian Bale, arrives at the conclusion that it takes total commitment to achieve the perfect trick, whilst Hugh Jackman takes a little longer to see that obsession will lead him down the same path.
This is a dark, Gothic thriller, lifting the lid of the magic of the day, whilst in true Nolan fashion delving deeper into the psyche of the protagonists, and the destructive nature of their respective obsessive battles, and those it hurts and destroys along the way.
But more than this, the film its self is effectively a mirror of the plot, told and presented as one long trick, with deception, red herrings and ultimately, eponymous the prestige. The only real problem I have with this film is that it thinks that it has everything so well wrapped up, that we, the audience, can't see the twists coming, which I felt a little insulted by as they were almost telegraphed.
But, this was a methodically well presented film, with a clear time and excellent performances throughout. Highly recommended.
Frecklesxoxo (6 KP) rated A Place Called Here in Books
Feb 27, 2019
Wow, I really enjoyed this, With Cecelia Ahern you really can't go wrong.
I am in aww I think her imagination is off the charts, who else would have come with writing about a place where missing things go, makes me wonder where all my socks go.
I love the story of Sandy finding herself in this missing place and actually finding out who she is realising she has lost a lot of her life to her obsession with finding missing things and as well as the story of Jack on a similar journey but wasting his life away obsessively searching for his brother.
I love how it all comes together.
My favourite quote is...
"I can only assume that there's only one thing more frustrating than not being able to find someone, and that's not being found. I would want someone to find me, more than anything."
A truly brilliant read.
I am in aww I think her imagination is off the charts, who else would have come with writing about a place where missing things go, makes me wonder where all my socks go.
I love the story of Sandy finding herself in this missing place and actually finding out who she is realising she has lost a lot of her life to her obsession with finding missing things and as well as the story of Jack on a similar journey but wasting his life away obsessively searching for his brother.
I love how it all comes together.
My favourite quote is...
"I can only assume that there's only one thing more frustrating than not being able to find someone, and that's not being found. I would want someone to find me, more than anything."
A truly brilliant read.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Eddie The Eagle (2016) in Movies
Feb 17, 2018 (Updated Feb 17, 2018)
Rather baffling sports comedy bio-pic from the producers of the Kingsman series; shares several key personnel and obsession with reverse snobbery. Working class lad dreams of becoming Olympian, is cruelly rejected by posh sports authorities, battles adversity to come a heroic last at the Olympics.
Theoretically based on a true story, but the actual facts of Michael Edwards' life are almost entirely discarded: the most interesting character in the film is his trainer (Jackman), who isn't even a real person. The film seems more concerned with endlessly banging on about how awful the upper classes are and presenting Edwards as a loveable clown; it's not as if this actually helps the film, because it's not really very funny. Deploys various sports movie clichés reasonably effectively; the fact that the climax is presented not as 'can he win?' but 'can he avoid killing himself?' is implicitly amusing, I suppose. Potentially an interesting topic for a film; not in this version, though.
Theoretically based on a true story, but the actual facts of Michael Edwards' life are almost entirely discarded: the most interesting character in the film is his trainer (Jackman), who isn't even a real person. The film seems more concerned with endlessly banging on about how awful the upper classes are and presenting Edwards as a loveable clown; it's not as if this actually helps the film, because it's not really very funny. Deploys various sports movie clichés reasonably effectively; the fact that the climax is presented not as 'can he win?' but 'can he avoid killing himself?' is implicitly amusing, I suppose. Potentially an interesting topic for a film; not in this version, though.
I am 16% through this book and I am going to have to dnf (did not finish) it. I had very high hopes for this book. When I read the description I knew I needed to read it. Charles Manson has always fascinated me. I've always had a morbid obsession with true crime so I was ecstatic when I was approved for this book. Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I found the timeline in the book to be weird and a little hard to follow. I've only read Helter Skelter so maybe I needed to have more of a background on Charles Manson to be able to fully follow the story. The other thing that I didn't like was how graphic the details were. Lis Wiehl & Caitlin Rother have a way with putting you in the story. Unfortunately with how graphic this book was, I had to put it down.
ClareR (5885 KP) rated Melmoth: A Novel in Books
Nov 2, 2018
A gothic, spellbinding novel.
A dark, gothic story, of a woman living an austere life in Prague, set in winter - which makes it all the more foreboding!
Melmoth is omnipresent throughout the novel. Helen, the main character, seems to have something in her past that she is punishing herself for. She makes sure that she has no enjoyment in her life: from food to clothes, to friendships. She does have some friends, though: Thea and Karel.
Karel finds some documents about Melmoth the Wanderer, and so an obsession begins.
For a dark, depressing novel, there is a lot of hope in it too. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It got to the stage where I was sure I could see a dark shadow in my peripheral vision - could it be Melmoth looking for company in her lonely wanderings?
This is a compelling read - once started, I really didn't want to stop. I enjoyed the historical detail in Karel's documents too.
Another great story from Sarah Perry.
Melmoth is omnipresent throughout the novel. Helen, the main character, seems to have something in her past that she is punishing herself for. She makes sure that she has no enjoyment in her life: from food to clothes, to friendships. She does have some friends, though: Thea and Karel.
Karel finds some documents about Melmoth the Wanderer, and so an obsession begins.
For a dark, depressing novel, there is a lot of hope in it too. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It got to the stage where I was sure I could see a dark shadow in my peripheral vision - could it be Melmoth looking for company in her lonely wanderings?
This is a compelling read - once started, I really didn't want to stop. I enjoyed the historical detail in Karel's documents too.
Another great story from Sarah Perry.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated The Night Voyage: A Magical Adventure and Coloring Book in Books
Jan 2, 2019
From the creative story to the detailed artwork, Daria Song has brought us another fantastic coloring book. Continuing with the dream style story and beautiful pages, this book is sure to keep me occupied for hours. Coloring has becoming a peaceful and quiet outlet for me over the past year or so. Expressing creativity on paper through color is one of my favorite things to do. If you have not experienced the joy of putting your pencil to page, Daria's series is an excellent place to start. I enjoy the intricate detail of her work. I have always had an obsession with stars and Daria's stars have a very unique personality which I love. Purchase your copy today and be whisked into a magical world of dreams and color.
I received a free copy of The Night Voyage from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
I received a free copy of The Night Voyage from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Joe Swanberg recommended Hoop Dreams (1994) in Movies (curated)
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Price of a Kiss (Forbidden Men, #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
This is my first NA book in about a year, after growing disenchanted with the genre, and I have to admit I loved it!
4.5 stars!
I think it's my recent obsession with escort/sex-worker stories with tons of romance in them.
It was a perfect mood to be in when I read this story of Mason and Reese. She was quirky and within the first chapter had won me over with her thoughts of Mason. Mason sounded hot and grew on me quickly the more I read of him. He also broke mine and Reese's heart several times in the story.
He more or less despised himself for what he was doing and it was that that hurt to read. There were some powerful scenes between these two and when they finally, FINALLY!, got together I was so happy for them.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
4.5 stars!
I think it's my recent obsession with escort/sex-worker stories with tons of romance in them.
It was a perfect mood to be in when I read this story of Mason and Reese. She was quirky and within the first chapter had won me over with her thoughts of Mason. Mason sounded hot and grew on me quickly the more I read of him. He also broke mine and Reese's heart several times in the story.
He more or less despised himself for what he was doing and it was that that hurt to read. There were some powerful scenes between these two and when they finally, FINALLY!, got together I was so happy for them.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.