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I LOVED this. I actually don’t know how many times I’ve read it now.
My favourite character is Minny. I love that despite the fact that she has to be careful with what she says and does, she still has no filter between her brain and mouth and says exactly what she thinks. She acts out before thinking about the consequences but always serves up karma to the people who have wronged her in life.
Skeeter is brilliant. She doesn’t see the race division and just wants to help others around her. She wants to share the stories of maids after she had a close relationship with the maid who brought her up – Constantine. I find her character heartwarming and reassuring that not everyone back in that period was a racist.
This is my absolute favourite novel on race. It shows the struggles people have gone through in the past whilst not sugar-coating it and also not telling a story of a worst-case-scenario.
My favourite character is Minny. I love that despite the fact that she has to be careful with what she says and does, she still has no filter between her brain and mouth and says exactly what she thinks. She acts out before thinking about the consequences but always serves up karma to the people who have wronged her in life.
Skeeter is brilliant. She doesn’t see the race division and just wants to help others around her. She wants to share the stories of maids after she had a close relationship with the maid who brought her up – Constantine. I find her character heartwarming and reassuring that not everyone back in that period was a racist.
This is my absolute favourite novel on race. It shows the struggles people have gone through in the past whilst not sugar-coating it and also not telling a story of a worst-case-scenario.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Parker (2013) in Movies
Apr 4, 2019
Fun if slightly nondescript Jason Statham action thriller. Master criminal (J-Stat) is betrayed by associates, embarks on vengeance; this involves pretending to be Texan. Comely estate agent (J-Lo) is, somehow, completely taken in by the wholly ridiculous accent her co-star adopts. Much twisty-turny plotting and violent mayhem ensues.
Not much here to disappoint fans of the great man: plenty of faintly absurd moments are mixed in with him kicking people in, and there are some pleasingly tense and effective moments. That said, it is a bit overlong, and - like quite a few films from around this period in his career - you do get a sense of a star perhaps a bit too firmly lodged in his comfort zone, as there's not much to distinguish this from Safe, The Mechanic, and so on. On the other hand, I kind of miss the days when you could expect two or three Statham movies like this one every year. Hey ho.
Not much here to disappoint fans of the great man: plenty of faintly absurd moments are mixed in with him kicking people in, and there are some pleasingly tense and effective moments. That said, it is a bit overlong, and - like quite a few films from around this period in his career - you do get a sense of a star perhaps a bit too firmly lodged in his comfort zone, as there's not much to distinguish this from Safe, The Mechanic, and so on. On the other hand, I kind of miss the days when you could expect two or three Statham movies like this one every year. Hey ho.
Sasha (36 KP) rated Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) in Movies
Jan 19, 2018
Love Love Love it!
Okay so personally I am obsessed with Anne Boylyn and the Tudors period. I have numerous books on the subject and always look for more I can find out on the topic. So naturally this movie came as a treat. For a person who doesn’t watch many older movies it took me couple of minutes to get used to the quality but soon enough I got sucked in.
Both of the actors do an amazing job of portraying the characters and there are many turning points in the movie to keep the viewer entertained. For example my heart broke for Anne after she give birth to Elizabeth and Hendry acted like she just committed the worst crime in the worst. I suppose in his eyes she did, his drive for a son was obvious from the beginning and it’s not like she didn’t promise him one before she became queen.
The movie is definitely worth watching :)
Both of the actors do an amazing job of portraying the characters and there are many turning points in the movie to keep the viewer entertained. For example my heart broke for Anne after she give birth to Elizabeth and Hendry acted like she just committed the worst crime in the worst. I suppose in his eyes she did, his drive for a son was obvious from the beginning and it’s not like she didn’t promise him one before she became queen.
The movie is definitely worth watching :)
Kyera (8 KP) rated Mad About the Hatter in Books
Feb 1, 2018
I am torn between saying I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was completely put off. Alice in Wonderland is one of my favourite stories, so the fact that this was based off the novel was a huge plus. Unfortunately, it is set in the modern era so the main character Henry uses a lot of slang terms, curse words, and it kept pulling me out of the story. The author also had the characters from Wonderland use colloquialisms, slang, and saying that they would thoroughly be confused by as they do not come from our world. If I imagine that those aspects changed and the story was set in the time period it originated in - the plot is wonderful. I really enjoyed the characters, world building, and overall tale.
Overall I would recommend it if you don't expect it to be in the same era. As long as you're not put off by that fact, I think you will thoroughly enjoy the book.
Overall I would recommend it if you don't expect it to be in the same era. As long as you're not put off by that fact, I think you will thoroughly enjoy the book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated The Tuscan Child in Books
Mar 16, 2018
Can Joanna Solve the Mystery of Her Father’s Past?
When Hugo Langley dies, his daughter Joanna finds a letter in his possession addressed to someone named Sofia in Italy. It references “our beautiful boy.” Joanna knows her father was shot down in the Tuscany region during World War II, but does this letter mean she has a half-brother? Intrigued, Joanna sets out to learn about that time in her father’s life. What will she learn?
This book switches back and forth from Hugo’s story in 1944 and Joanna’s journey in 1973. The chapters are clearly labeled, so it is never hard to follow which time period we are in. While this is not a traditional mystery by any means, we do learn what happened back then and how it plays out in the more “modern” setting. This book is just as much about Joanna’s growth, and she lead a cast of very strong characters I quickly fell in love with as I read.
This book switches back and forth from Hugo’s story in 1944 and Joanna’s journey in 1973. The chapters are clearly labeled, so it is never hard to follow which time period we are in. While this is not a traditional mystery by any means, we do learn what happened back then and how it plays out in the more “modern” setting. This book is just as much about Joanna’s growth, and she lead a cast of very strong characters I quickly fell in love with as I read.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Lady Bird (2017) in Movies
Feb 26, 2018 (Updated Feb 27, 2018)
Warm and funny coming-of-age movie written and directed by Greta Gerwig. Seventeen-year-old girl Christine (aka Lady Bird) contends with the last year of school, troublesome romances, college applications, and her fraught relationship with her mother.
You could argue that there's nothing going on here we haven't seen in a dozen other movies, but surely the point of a coming-of-age movie (which is what this obviously is) is that it deals with universal experiences. This one feels fresh and sincere, anyway, even if it isn't actually autobiographical (or so we are assured). It's a bit dismaying to realise that people are now making films which are nostalgic about the 20th century, but the period detail is well-judged, along with everything else. Great performances and some lovely scenes, and very positive in a way that feels extremely of this moment, without seeming overly angry or political. A charming movie that deserves all the success it has achieved.
You could argue that there's nothing going on here we haven't seen in a dozen other movies, but surely the point of a coming-of-age movie (which is what this obviously is) is that it deals with universal experiences. This one feels fresh and sincere, anyway, even if it isn't actually autobiographical (or so we are assured). It's a bit dismaying to realise that people are now making films which are nostalgic about the 20th century, but the period detail is well-judged, along with everything else. Great performances and some lovely scenes, and very positive in a way that feels extremely of this moment, without seeming overly angry or political. A charming movie that deserves all the success it has achieved.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Legend (2015) in Movies
Jun 12, 2018 (Updated Jul 12, 2019)
Krays-y
Yet another movie glamourising the vicious real-life gangster siblings, with the principal gimmick of Tom Hardy playing both Krays through the wonders of something-or-other. Hardy is excellent as Reggie, the merely-psychotic brains of the outfit, but way over the top as Ronnie, who is portrayed as a slightly thick criminal maniac, and arguably played for laughs too. A friend of mine came out thinking this was intended to be a black comedy; she may not have been wrong.
There's a good supporting cast and it's quite well made, but the film seems much too keen to cut the Krays some slack, presenting them as roguish anti-heroes rather than the brutal thugs they actually were. The 1990 Peter Medak telling of the Krays' story was arguably more balanced - this is an uneasy combination of a 'those quaint old Brits' period drama and a modishly violent modern gangster film.
There's a good supporting cast and it's quite well made, but the film seems much too keen to cut the Krays some slack, presenting them as roguish anti-heroes rather than the brutal thugs they actually were. The 1990 Peter Medak telling of the Krays' story was arguably more balanced - this is an uneasy combination of a 'those quaint old Brits' period drama and a modishly violent modern gangster film.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A rag-tag group of miscreants is brought together for the purpose of joining their talents to obtain a rare and mysterious book that could change the world as they know it. However, there's far more to the story than they realize, and they're soon dragged into an exciting web of adventure, intrigue, betrayal, and magic.
I'll start by saying this story is a long one, but it's SOOOOOOOO worth it! I never felt dragged down or bored at any point, and there were many times where I couldn't bear to put it down even when I had to. The characters are fantastic, and they each have their own personality which sparks the others. They're all great as individuals, but when they come together as a whole, the dialogue really soars! I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series, and more from this author period.
5 stars
A rag-tag group of miscreants is brought together for the purpose of joining their talents to obtain a rare and mysterious book that could change the world as they know it. However, there's far more to the story than they realize, and they're soon dragged into an exciting web of adventure, intrigue, betrayal, and magic.
I'll start by saying this story is a long one, but it's SOOOOOOOO worth it! I never felt dragged down or bored at any point, and there were many times where I couldn't bear to put it down even when I had to. The characters are fantastic, and they each have their own personality which sparks the others. They're all great as individuals, but when they come together as a whole, the dialogue really soars! I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series, and more from this author period.
5 stars
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Nice Guys (2016) in Movies
Sep 9, 2018
Great pairing makes this worth watching
What makes this film work is the brilliant pairing of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. They’re very much like the odd couple, but they’re absolutely hilarious together and along with a pretty funny script, this is what makes this film so good. Ryan Gosling’s cowardice and girly screaming had me in hysterics throughout. And although Russell Crowe is playing to type as the hard man, he’s the perfect foil to Gosling’s character.
The 70s LA setting, whilst reminiscent of other LA based period films, really works too and is much better than any modern day setting. The real issue with this film is the plot - it seems a little bit silly and far fetched, and also a little bit confusing. It needed a much stronger crime plot to support the rest of the film. But despite this, it’s really worth watching for Gosling and Crowe alone, just be wary of the plot!
The 70s LA setting, whilst reminiscent of other LA based period films, really works too and is much better than any modern day setting. The real issue with this film is the plot - it seems a little bit silly and far fetched, and also a little bit confusing. It needed a much stronger crime plot to support the rest of the film. But despite this, it’s really worth watching for Gosling and Crowe alone, just be wary of the plot!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017) in Movies
Oct 18, 2018
An interesting true story
Like many I know the stories of Winnie the Pooh, but until now I've never known the story behind the writing of the books and the real Christopher Robin.
This is a fascinating, if not slightly disturbing, tale of the creation of Winnie the Pooh and a large part of the life of A.A Milne. It's disturbing mainly for how badly Christopher Robin was treated and used by his parents, and I found this a little difficult to watch and at such a contrast with the happier scenes around the creation of the characters. Domnhall Gleeson is very good and convincing as the very prim and proper author, but I think my only issue is that this film takes the British stiff upper lip much too far. Whilst I don't doubt that this is how people were during this period of time, the stiff English accents really got on my nerves - especially Margot Robbie's, which was a little too proper and English.
This is a fascinating, if not slightly disturbing, tale of the creation of Winnie the Pooh and a large part of the life of A.A Milne. It's disturbing mainly for how badly Christopher Robin was treated and used by his parents, and I found this a little difficult to watch and at such a contrast with the happier scenes around the creation of the characters. Domnhall Gleeson is very good and convincing as the very prim and proper author, but I think my only issue is that this film takes the British stiff upper lip much too far. Whilst I don't doubt that this is how people were during this period of time, the stiff English accents really got on my nerves - especially Margot Robbie's, which was a little too proper and English.