When Friday Comes: Football, War and Revolution in the Middle East
Book
In January 2011 millions of Egyptians took part in mass protests that ended the iron rule of its...
PSYC 101: General Psychology (DSM-IV-TR Edition)
Podcast
UPDATE: This General Psychology course has been updated and the new series will be available Spring...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre in Books
Jun 10, 2021
"Our theater's cursed. That's the rumor, anyway. Strange things have been happening here for years. Unexplainable things."
This book wins the award for one of the most stressful openings ever, as Mel's love life falls apart during an actual show. I was sweating bullets on her behalf. It's a very theater-oriented book and if you like drama or Les Mis, you will adore reading it. Robin Talley writes in her very sweet author's note that she took inspiration for the plot from her wife, who is involved in the theater--totally adorable.
"All right. So be it. If I fall in love, the musical's doomed."
As with nearly any Talley YA read, LOVE CURSE is filled with wonderful diverse representation, cute high school kids, and a sweet love story. There's some high school drama, of course. Here there's much ado about a curse--sometimes too much for this adult--but I could completely see my theater friends in high school being completely into something like this in high school.
As for Melody and Odile, I adored them. Mel put theater first above all and Odile felt pressured as her acting career took off. I would have liked a little more buildup to their love story, but their romance was really touching. I love how Talley always makes it okay to be queer, especially for teens, in her books and works through coming of age and/or coming out in approachable and realistic ways.
Overall this is a cute theater-themed read filled with diverse characters and a touching love story. 3.75 stars, rounded up.
Midge (525 KP) rated Birds of a Feather in Books
Feb 25, 2019
The meaning of the idiom, along with an example of its usage in a sentence, is written at the bottom of each page, inverted, and in minute lettering, so that it can be referred to only when you really try to read it. Unfortunately, the writing was so small that I had problems reading it at all.
“Birds Of A Feather” concludes with an explanation of how a particular idiom originated, and encourages readers to find the origins of other idioms, as the words that are used in an idiom are generally not meant literally, however, neither are they a random group of words thrown together.
{Thank you to NetGalley, VanitaBooks LLC and the author, for a free copy and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.}
CHILLFILTR (46 KP) rated Electric Light by James Bay in Music
Jun 5, 2019 (Updated Jun 5, 2019)
Bad is the latest single from Electric Light, which is the latest studio album by British singer-songwriter James Bay. He took the world by storm in 2014 when his EP Let It Go debuted on the iTunes album top 10.
Since then, he has shared the stage with Ed Sheeran, performed on the Burberry runway, and toured with Hozier: his star is certainly on the rise, while his classic combination of angelic falsetto and crush-worthy good looks will continue to bring adoring new fans to his side. Produced by Dan Wilson, Bad quickly became a fan favorite after a recent US headline tour this spring. It features the melancholic soul of his powerful tenor voice, as well as a stripped-down roots vibe from the rhythm section that leaves the vulnerability intact - we are left with the painful residue of a tough situation.
Bay says of the track:
'I wanted to be honest about some of my own stories and other stories I was being pulled into. Bad is a break up song, it’s just not my break up.'
Alicia S (193 KP) rated Under the Northern Lights in Books
Dec 21, 2018
After spending years alone, having given up on society and life in general, Michael can't help but find himself growing more and more appreciative of Mallory's presence as they face the harsh realities of living in remote Alaska together. Stuck until Spring when he can finally fly them out and to safety, they must learn to live together, relying on each other in this remote land.
SC Stephens has an incredible way of writing that completely rips your heart out, yet you just can't turn away. She hooked me years ago with her Thoughtless series (still my all-time favorite) and she has once again created a beautiful story about survival, faith, and love. Highly, highly recommended!
The Unreturning Army
Book
In the centenary year of the Great War, names such as Ypres, the Marne, the Somme, Passchendaele are...
Thomas Quick: The Making of a Serial Killer
Hannes Rastam, Henning Koch and Elizabeth Day
Book
'I wonder what you'd think of me if you found out that I've done something really serious ...' So...
Wilson: Confusions and Crises, 1915-1916: Volume IV
Book
The fourth volume of Mr. Link's biography of Woodrow Wilson and the history of his times covers the...
Smell of Summer Grass: Pursuing Happiness at Perch Hill
Book
The Smell of Summer Grass is the story of the years spent in finding and building a personal idyll,...