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Gaz Coombes recommended On The Beach by Neil Young in Music (curated)

On The Beach by Neil Young

1974 | Rock

8.5

(2 Ratings)

Album Favorite

"This is such a glorious and beautiful album. There are not many albums that make me want to cry but I think this is stunningly beautiful and raw and emotive and it contains some of the best and favourite Neil Young lyrics. You know: 'I need a crowd of people/ But I can't face them day to day' - I feel that. I'm interpreting that in a certain way but I'm with him on that. There are so many times that you listen to stuff that you really feel. It feels so real; more than real even. It's a beautiful album. 'Revolution Blues' has got everything; it's got a great sounding band working really well and nailing it and it's got an energy. Nothing's too internal either. I was talking to someone earlier about the lyrics to Matador and I know that there are some really personal lyrics on there but they still have to have a hook; they can't be too internal. I can't internalise too much or else I close myself off to whoever is listening. I don't want to push anyone away by being so morose or depressing. But Neil Young does it so well. Lyrically he's a great inspiration to me. They sometimes feel like throwaway lyrics or he has quite simple couplets that feel very day-to-day, but then equally he can be a lot more abstract and using metaphors as well. I've looked at that quite a lot in terms of creating that balance of metaphors and real day-to-day life. But why not have some anger in there? I hear that a lot in 'Revolution Blues' where he talks about 'killing stars in their cars' and that's great. It's angry; it's like the first line of 'To The Wire'. The first line of the song is, 'I want to cut myself' but the second line is: 'I want to cut myself down.' You know, it's where I want to cut myself free of all the pressures. I remember when I played it to people and they were like, 'Gaz! What was that?' and I was like, 'No, no, no, it's part of a couplet. The pay-off is line two.' You know, I'm not into self-harm or anything but I like the fact that some days I might feel like I'm really completely fucked and that I might hate myself and do some damage but I won't. I question it. And like I say, Neil Young does that really well."

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Kudos

Imperial Struggle

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Tabletop Game

In 1697 the Sun King, Louis XIV, emerged from a decade of war with his Continental ambitions still...

Caitlin Ann Cherniak (85 KP) rated The Dragon Queen in Books

Oct 20, 2018

The Dragon Queen

William Andrews | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

A very strong and intelligent female protagonist (2 more)

The Korean history

Rich detail

Mr. Simon bits (1 more)

The king is so weak!

Taken from my review on Goodreads: I won this book during a Kindle giveaway, and I'm very happy I was one of the lucky winners of this book. For a book that almost has five stars on this forum, it definitely deserves its ranking. This book not only tells a legend to an ignorant American government official, it tells the story of how a shy girl became a queen that sparked a revolution between the Koreans and the Japanese in the late 1800's. Honestly, the present day parts didn't add much except for why Anna is telling the story in the first place, which I guess adds some relevance, but the core of the story is the story of Ja-young, who should count as a princess Disney will never write about considering how sexist and violent her situation got throughout the entire novel. My greatest advice for encountering this book is skip the beginning and go straight to Ja-young's story. Waaaaaaaaaaay more influential than listening to a white man ramble about North and South Korean issues any day of the week.

Kudos

BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated A Refuge Assured in Books

Jan 2, 2019

First...WHY has it taken me so long to read one of Jocelyn's books? Incredible...Simply incredible.

The choice of setting for this story is one that I am not very familiar with at all. It was refreshing and captivating to learn about the time in America during the French Revolution. SO.MUCH.HISTORY. is packed into this book. It totally satisfied my nerd girl heart. But packed snugly in between all the history, you will find a story of identity, love, acceptance...

Vivienne has fled everything she had ever known for her safety. Her life is in shambles, but she is determined to move forward and succeed in life. Liam is torn in multiple directions. But his heart for truth, justice, and Vivienne and Henri will make your heart melt instantaneously.

I encourage everyone to get their hands on this book! You will be swept into the story and learn so much. You will also get to see a very practical application of our Father's love for us and finding our identity in Him.

I received a complimentary copy of A Refuge Assured from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Kudos

David McK (3372 KP) rated Imperfect Sword (The Lost Stars #3) in Books

Jan 30, 2019

The third book in [a:Jack Campbell|55547|Jack Campbell|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1302415236p2/55547.jpg]'s (aka John Hemry) 'The Lost Stars', this continues the story of Gwen Iceni and Arrur Drakon from the star system Midway in the wake of their revolution against their former Syndicate rulers.

This also takes place mostly alongside the events of [b:Steadfast|576565|The Steadfast Tin Soldier|Hans Christian Andersen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348002883s/576565.jpg|2146970], with 'Balck Jack' Geary making a brief cameo about two-thirds of the way through, for reason explained in that other book.

The bulk of this novel concerns a preemptive attack on a neighbouring star system in which a former Syndic CEO has set up his own little Empire: an Empire that will, in time, threaten the security of Midway itself. As is usual, however, things are not as they seem ...

If you've read any of the other novels in this series, you will know pretty much what to expect: internal politicking, massive space battles (following Newtonian laws rather than the Space Opera of, say, Star Wars), and - especially in this book - ground battles,with Iceni and Drakon still just as unable as ever to admit their feelings to each other!

Kudos

David McK (3372 KP) rated Blood's Campaign in Books

Mar 5, 2020

Blood's Campaign

Angus Donald | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Third entry in Angus Donald's Holcroft Blood series (after Blood's Game and Blood's Revolution), with this one set in Ireland.

Which is where I live (well, in Northern Ireland).

Living, as I do, not that far from Carrickfergus in Belfast I was aware of the siege of Carrickfergus, and (of course) of the Battle of the Boyne - it's impossible not to be, living here! With William's victory celebrated by a section of the community every 12th of July - although the subjects were never really taught at all in my school days; seemingly more concerned with the Norman conquest or with the English Civil War or World War 2 than with 'local' history. In retrospect, I think that might be because local history is (still) a touchy subject: what is one man's hero, for example, is another man's villain in this country!

Anyway, I've gone off topic: Blood's Campaign.

An interesting read, with Holcroft Blood still an unusual protagonist (hinted as being on the autistic spectrum?), with - even for someone born and raised in Northern Ireland - some fascinating history thrown in, although (I have to say), that this one didn't quite grip me as much as Angus Donald's 'Outlaw' (Robin Hood) series.