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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated An American Marriage in Books
Mar 2, 2018 (Updated Mar 2, 2018)
Read this without looking at what it's about
I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading this book, believing it would show a satirical version of marriage, however, This exceeded my expectations.
Following the story of Roy Jr and Celeste, after just a year and a half of marriage, Roy is falsely incarcerated for a rape and their bond begins to fall apart. It puts the lense on how the American justice system breaks down marriages in African American families, but it also looks at how conventional ties no longer apply.
Written in a letter format for the majority, it is a beautiful and harrowing drama of a husband and wife as they struggle to cope in these situations. Great read.
Following the story of Roy Jr and Celeste, after just a year and a half of marriage, Roy is falsely incarcerated for a rape and their bond begins to fall apart. It puts the lense on how the American justice system breaks down marriages in African American families, but it also looks at how conventional ties no longer apply.
Written in a letter format for the majority, it is a beautiful and harrowing drama of a husband and wife as they struggle to cope in these situations. Great read.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Tenth of December in Books
Nov 21, 2017
Dark, disturbing and satirical
This collection of short stories cannot be pigeon-holed. In this oddly disjointed, surreal collection, the underlying issues in modern American culture are loudly explored. George Saunders' breathless writing style floods over terrible realities and hard truths, leaving the reader gasping in its wake.
Tenth of December handles its running themes in a poignant, individual and certainly irreverent way. Narcissistic ideas of charity stems from trivial competition, while sheer denial is shown in the face of true poverty. Generations breed generations, passing on corrupted ideals and traumatic examples. Paedophilia, racism, poverty: nothing is safe from these chastising, powerful stories.
Saunders leaves an expunged, brutally telling view of the American dream. In his futuristic imaginings, he exaggerates the failings of Western consumerism, yet ultimately his message is clear: When one tries to have it all, they're left with nothing.
Tenth of December handles its running themes in a poignant, individual and certainly irreverent way. Narcissistic ideas of charity stems from trivial competition, while sheer denial is shown in the face of true poverty. Generations breed generations, passing on corrupted ideals and traumatic examples. Paedophilia, racism, poverty: nothing is safe from these chastising, powerful stories.
Saunders leaves an expunged, brutally telling view of the American dream. In his futuristic imaginings, he exaggerates the failings of Western consumerism, yet ultimately his message is clear: When one tries to have it all, they're left with nothing.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Home Fire in Books
Aug 7, 2017
Not quite Antigone, interesting take on modern Islamophobia
There are two very distinctive opinions on this book about how British Muslims are treated in a western society, split between being seen as subservient and loyal as well as dangerous and dogmatic. It is absolutely relevant to the current political climate hence it is an intriguing read. At times it borders on satirical because some of the elements appear very far fetched. From a Romeo and Juliet style love story played out in the media, to the extreme Islamophobic views of a Muslim politician. While there are definite elements of truths planted in this book, the extreme nature of the funeral scene just bordered on slightly ridiculous especially when there are real examples in the public eye. It is a gripping and engaging read with something lacking.
Richard Linklater recommended Nashville (1975) in Movies (curated)
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated A Dog's Heart in Books
Sep 2, 2017
Fabulous Russian tale about human ethics
What a fantastic satirical book. Think about crossing Frankenstein with My Fair Lady, and then setting it in Soviet Russia. This book is about how human beings are essentially more enslaved to systems than a dog is. A doctor decides to do a science experiment, putting the pituitary gland and testicles of a man into a stray dog to see the results. Instead they end up with a man wolf, who is rude and obnoxious, and demands the same rights as a human being. No sooner is he a man, he is forced to be registered and take part in rebuilding the nation after tsarist Russia. However, as a man he's still treated as a lowly pauper or a dog by the doctor. So who is more free - the dog having to raid bins to search for scraps or the one owned by the doctor and the government? Fabulous little tale.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated How to Twist a Dragon's Tale in Books
Apr 27, 2018
I am a huge fan of Cressida Cowell. She's on my Author Watch list! I think she's brilliant. This is the fifth book in the How To Train Your Dragon series, and it was just as clever and hilarious as the other ones. The writing is an interesting combination of poetic and satirical, with just a twinge of sarcasm. The characters are so full of life that I feel like they're my friends. The funny parts are hilarious, and the dramatic parts literally sent shivers down my spine. Only Cressida Cowell can make a fart joke and then make you want to cry two seconds later. Also. The audiobooks are narrated by David Tennant. So there's that. If you haven't listened or read them yet, do so immediately. I guarantee you'll want to be a viking within the first chapter. Appropriate for all ages - See more at: http://www.thelifeandlies.com/2016/07/book-review-how-to-twist-dragons-tail.html#sthash.sjH1e1ur.dpuf
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Death Of Stalin (2017) in Movies
Feb 10, 2019
Needs more Jason Isaacs
This film has one of the best ensemble casts I've seen in a long time. There are some fantastic actors in this from both sides of the pond, and there isn't a single one that I'd criticise. The film itself isn't hilarious, but it is pretty funny and raises quite a few laughs. Its an ingeniously satirical take on the death of Stalin, and I'd love to see similar historical events re-enacted in the same manner, as it'd make them a lot more entertaining. It flits from scene to scene very quickly & it can be a little difficult to follow what's going on, but I don't think that really matters. For me though, the best thing about this film was Jason Isaacs. His general with a Yorkshire accent was absolutely hilarious, and I just wish he'd been in this film a lot more, as I probably would've rated it higher if he was.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Network (1976) in Movies
Feb 16, 2018 (Updated Feb 16, 2018)
Acclaimed satirical comedy-drama; impressively prescient look at American media. Long-serving newscaster is victim of falling ratings, has breakdown and threatens to commit suicide on live TV: network execs are appalled until it transpires this has caused a spike in viewing figures, so they give him a job as a ranting news gimp.
Smartly written and well-performed; slight tendency towards speechifying rather than actual dialogue in the closing stages, but at least the speeches are good. Movie predicts rise of reality TV and collapse in news values with eerie accuracy, also the potential power of rabble-rousing TV demagogues (chief rabble-rouser does not complain about fake news, but it's a near thing). On another level, film is basically just cinema being snotty about how television is a more juvenile and morally bankrupt medium - 1976 was one of the very last years they could do this without it seeming like massive hypocrisy.
Smartly written and well-performed; slight tendency towards speechifying rather than actual dialogue in the closing stages, but at least the speeches are good. Movie predicts rise of reality TV and collapse in news values with eerie accuracy, also the potential power of rabble-rousing TV demagogues (chief rabble-rouser does not complain about fake news, but it's a near thing). On another level, film is basically just cinema being snotty about how television is a more juvenile and morally bankrupt medium - 1976 was one of the very last years they could do this without it seeming like massive hypocrisy.
Dean (6921 KP) rated Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) in Movies
Jan 12, 2020
Strange
After hearing that this involved the key players in @Nightcrawler (2014) ,which is excellent so check that out, I had to check this out. A very satirical take on the Modern Art world and the greed of Art agents, gallery owners. After a bunch of paintings are found after the death of an artist everyone wants to get their share of the profits to make a fortune.
Quite an odd film although not as odd or surreal as say @The Neon Demon (2016) but hard to describe as a horror. An interesting take on the art world and the manipulation of critics, owners, advisors to have a piece of the latest trend. Sadly it turns out to be quite average overall and would have benefitted from being a bit more unusual. A lot of the cast are wasted in small roles and unnecessary scenes.
Quite an odd film although not as odd or surreal as say @The Neon Demon (2016) but hard to describe as a horror. An interesting take on the art world and the manipulation of critics, owners, advisors to have a piece of the latest trend. Sadly it turns out to be quite average overall and would have benefitted from being a bit more unusual. A lot of the cast are wasted in small roles and unnecessary scenes.
