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Secretary (2002)
Secretary (2002)
2002 | Comedy, Drama, International
Flubs the ending, but otherwise faultless. I think this is less about portraying kink as a symptom like every damn movie about kinks/fetishes seems to think they mean; and more about two people who probably weren't very healthy to begin with - and finding outlets for their other unconventional desires outside of their traumas/predispositions. In layman's terms, they can be atypical *and* kinky while the film is able to mostly divorce the two - and intersect them only as needed. Unlike the (rightfully) unfavorably compared 𝘍𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 films, this has the awareness to recognize that there can be a link between abuse and kink - but it isn't always the case, and when it is it doesn't always have to sum up the whole. And even then I'm not sure this movie is all that interested in fully glamorizing these people or its relationship anyhow. Spader and Gyllenhaal are otherworldy, I'd be willing to say this might be each of their finest performances respectively. Strings you along scene by scene through an unrelenting mix of sexual tension and scandalous agitation that escalates from the first nanosecond until its perfection sadly unravels in the final fifteen minutes - which aren't exactly awful, just inferior and pretty much kill the momentum/direction this was leaning towards beforehand. Apart from that, downright electric.
  
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Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Hook in Books

Nov 11, 2019  
Hook
Hook
Gina L. Maxwell | 2019 | Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Characters (1 more)
Action Packed
Heartbreaking & beautiful.
Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Murder, Abuse, Angst, Drug Use

As many of you know, I've been waiting anxiously for Hook to come out! I was one of the lucky bloggers that Gina gave a copy to in exchange for an honest review. I read Pan earlier this year and fell completely head over heels for Gina's writing, and I've been shoving Pan down everyone's throats because it is that amazing! Now, full disclosure, I have only read one other M/M romance, so I wasn't sure what to expect. All I knew was that I couldn't wait to fly into Neverland again.

I built Hook up in my head so much that at times I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype. Luckily, Hook was everything I wanted and more. This book follows Hook & John's story. The chemistry between them was out of this world. It was fun to see the anger, the angst, and the fire between the two of them. The characters as always were well written and thoroughly entertaining. I laughed, I cried, and I had to put my book down a few times, so I didn't throw my kindle.

The plotline was one of the shining stars of this book. It was action-packed, intense, and extremely engaging. I never wanted to put the book down, yet I enjoyed it so much I never wanted it to end. I loved the undercover aspect of the book, and it makes me want to reread some of my favorite romantic suspense. I was always on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to see how everything unfolded.

All in all, I LOVED this book. It lived up to the hype that I had in my head, and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series when it comes out. If you enjoy angst-filled bad boys with a heart of gold, this is the book for you. Gina truly knows how to write angst in a way that everyone can enjoy.
  
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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Aaru in Books

Nov 8, 2019  
Aaru
Aaru
David Meredith | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Rose is only 16 but her life is over. She has terminal cancer but a mysterious strangers offers her and her family the option of taking part in a trial. When she dies they assume the trail failed and mourn her passing, her sister being hit particularly hard. Then the message comes... Rose lives on.

This books takes one fascinating idea - what if people's personalities and memories could be copied at the point of death and then recreated inside a computer? - and looks at it from a lot of different angles. It is certainly thought provoking, and occasionally disturbing.

The first half of the book deals with Rose's death, the grief of her family and then the emotional trauma, denial and final acceptance that in some ways she is still alive. It also follows Rose's journey as she discovers her new virtual world and its other inhabitants.

The second half is darker and moves into thriller territory as Rose's new paradise shows that it may not be perfect and both her and her sister are exposed to danger. Some of the themes here - obsession, violence, sexual abuse, suicide - are made all the worse by their premeditated nature.

This book will make you think about a potential life after death but it doesn't flinch from showing the emotional, physical and moral implications that might arise both for those saved and those they leave behind.