A Gift of Poison (The Kingmakers' War #1)
10.0
Rate It
Book
Steampunk. Romance. Dragons. A new novel by bestselling author Kate Avery Ellison. As the...
Steampunk Fantasy Romance Young Adult
JULIA PRIMA (Roma Nova #8)
Book
“You should have trusted me. You should have given me a choice.” AD 370, Roman frontier...
Historical Fiction
David McK (3425 KP) rated Gladiator (2000) in Movies
Nov 20, 2024
The slave who became an Gladiator.
The Gladiator who defied an Emperor.
A gripping tale, is it not ..."
So says Joaquin Phoenix's Emperor Commodus towards the end of this movie, talking to his erstwhile friend Maximus (Russel Crowe), after seizing power in the early parts of the film and believing the General to be dead in Germania (as per his command) and after also killing Maximus's wife and son.
The plot, then, basically, is a straight A to B revenge.
This, I believe, is also the film that launched Russel Crowe and Phoenix both to stardom - I struggle, personally, to think of any other since where either have been as electric as they are in this movie.
It may also help that they have a stacked supporting cast, including the likes of Oliver Reed (in his last onscreen role), Connie Nielsen, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi and Djimon Hounsou and some spectacular action scenes of the Roman games ...
Warzone: Clash of Generals
Games and Stickers
App
When city states fight each other over precious resources, they need war heroes to lead their armies...
NK3
Book
With The Player and The Return of the Player, Michael Tolkin established himself as the master...
Science fiction fiction
All the Names They Used for God: Stories
Book
Spanning centuries, continents, and a diverse set of characters, these alluringly strange stories...
The Ottoman Age of Exploration
Book
In 1517, the Ottoman Sultan Selim "the Grim" conquered Egypt and brought his empire for the first...
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated The Subway Girls in Books
Jul 9, 2018
The Subway Girls had me roped in from the second I heard about the story. Being in advertising, having lived in Brooklyn, and ALL about being a strong, independent and confident chick - I soared through this book and cannot believe I didn't know about this campaign before! Now, I'm gobbling up every book and article across the internet about it!
The Miss Subways campaign was basically a beauty/modeling contest, which translated into posters of beautiful women splashed across subway as advertising to encourage New Yorkers to ride. But it was also so much more than that. It opened doors for these women, when there weren't many available. Some went on to modeling careers, while others went back to their quiet lives at home with their family - thrilled to have such an exciting experience, even if just once in their lives. One contestant even received 278 marriage proposals!
The book is told by two women: one in the past, one present day. Both strong and ambitious, trying to find and make their way in the world. A world as we know - basically ruled by men.
Charlotte, dreams of a career in advertising - not an easy feat in the 1940's for a woman. Her boyfriend Sam supports her ambitions, while her family, for the most part - does not. She strives to get into any position at these prestigious firms, but when her efforts fail, she aims for a new way of achieving opportunity - the Miss Subways contest. Swept up in the whirlwind of beauty contests, meeting glamorous new friends, all the while fighting with her father - her struggle between doing what's expected of her and what is in her heart threatens to upend all her dreams.
Fast forward 70 years to Olivia, an advertising exec workaholic, desperate for a normal family and steady, loving relationship. While just like Charlotte - she has lofty ambitions to make her mark in the world - but struggles to make herself shine in a (still, of course!) man's world. When Olivia's firm gets a chance to land the NYC subways account - she dives into researching the history of the Miss Subways campaign. The juxtaposition of these two amazing women's lives is so clever and interesting!
I totally understand the personal and professional juggle struggle! And also the strength it takes to accomplish some things that come WAY easier in this world to men. The power of the story in this book is pleasantly overwhelming and so creatively done. I fell in love with Charlotte, her spunk and determination. And Olivia's history is a bit painful, but she never gives up. The girl power is real here, and I loved the story from beginning to end!
The Metamorphosis and Other Stories
Book
'When Gregor Samsa woke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed into some kind...
The Payoff: Why Wall Street Always Wins
Book
Lobbyist, White House Lawyer, and Senate Aide on the Power of America's Plutocracy to Avoid...