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Earthquake (1974)
6.8
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Movie Watch
Charlton Heston leads an all-star cast in an epic film about ordinary citizens who must come...
Fruits Basket: Collectors Edition Volume 4
10.0
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Book
Tohru Honda's cheerful optimism acts as a balm to many in the Sohma family, who are no strangers to...
The Chocolate Run
10.0
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Book
Amber Salpone doesn’t mean to keep ending up in bed with her friend Greg Walterson, but she...
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Runner's World Run Less, Run Faster: Become a Faster, Stronger Runner with the Revolutionary 3-Runs-A-Week Training Program
Amby Burfoot, Bill Pierce, Scott Murr and Ray Moss
Book
The Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training (known as FIRST) is dedicated to make...
This is the fourteenth book in my #atozchallenge! I'm challenging myself to read a book from my shelves that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Let's clear those shelves and delve into that backlist!
Driving home to Utah to see her dying mother, college student Darby Thorne gets stuck in a terrible snowstorm. It forces her to stop at a rest area in Colorado. There she finds four other strangers stranded as well. When going back out to her car to try to get a cell signal, Darby makes a horrible discovery: in the van next to her vehicle, there's a little girl locked in a crate. Darby has no cell signal, there's no phone at the rest stop, and no way of knowing which of the four strangers has abducted this child. She's trapped and must find a way to rescue the kid. But how?
When I first picked up this book, I found it a little slow. Honestly, I think it's just because it stressed me out completely. One young college student trapped in the snow, trying to save a kid. It's a lot. I will say that Darby Thorne is a total badass (much like my hero, Darby Shaw, of The Pelican Brief).
This book is basically just a horror show, filled with violence, terror, and suspense. You don't know who Darby can trust, or what on earth will happen next. Adams packs a lot of tension into a book set in a rest area, and into a story that spans over less than half a day. It's pretty impressive.
Overall, while I can't say I completely enjoyed this book, because I was constantly worried, it's very well-done and suspenseful. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 here.
Driving home to Utah to see her dying mother, college student Darby Thorne gets stuck in a terrible snowstorm. It forces her to stop at a rest area in Colorado. There she finds four other strangers stranded as well. When going back out to her car to try to get a cell signal, Darby makes a horrible discovery: in the van next to her vehicle, there's a little girl locked in a crate. Darby has no cell signal, there's no phone at the rest stop, and no way of knowing which of the four strangers has abducted this child. She's trapped and must find a way to rescue the kid. But how?
When I first picked up this book, I found it a little slow. Honestly, I think it's just because it stressed me out completely. One young college student trapped in the snow, trying to save a kid. It's a lot. I will say that Darby Thorne is a total badass (much like my hero, Darby Shaw, of The Pelican Brief).
This book is basically just a horror show, filled with violence, terror, and suspense. You don't know who Darby can trust, or what on earth will happen next. Adams packs a lot of tension into a book set in a rest area, and into a story that spans over less than half a day. It's pretty impressive.
Overall, while I can't say I completely enjoyed this book, because I was constantly worried, it's very well-done and suspenseful. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 here.
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Three Identical Strangers (2018) in Movies
Sep 28, 2021
A bizarre tale with a dark twist.
I finally got to see Tim Wardle‘s documentary “Three Identical Strangers” last week…. just a few days before it gets shown on Channel 4 in the UK (9pm, Thursday 28th Feb 2019)! This is a short post giving you a heads-up of an instruction: WATCH IT! IT’S AMAZING!
An extraordinary story.
We start with Robert Shafran as a freshman who spends his first day at a small and anonymous college on the outskirts of New York. It’s a strange experience: the friendliest college ever! The blokes hug him like an old friend; girls come up to him and kiss him on the lips! This triggers a series of encounters that will change his life and that of two other “Identical Strangers” forever.
You will be able to find more details in other reviews online. But this is a dish best served cold so I will leave it there.
So it’s a 20 minute film?
It’s all wrapped up after 20 minutes. Or so you think. For the documentary starts to peel back layers of intrigue that go to far darker places than you would ever think possible. Again, to say more would provide spoilers.
As a criticism though, there is a point where I felt the film overstretched itself; reaching for a conclusion that didn’t seem to be born out by the facts (however hard the filmmaker tried to concoct them). That’s a shame, since there is more than enough to fill 90 minutes.
But no Oscar nomination?
Given how powerful (and well-regarded) the documentary is it’s surprising the film didn’t make the Oscar nomination (it made the 15 film shortlist but no more).
But it’s well worth catching: a tale that almost defies belief.
An extraordinary story.
We start with Robert Shafran as a freshman who spends his first day at a small and anonymous college on the outskirts of New York. It’s a strange experience: the friendliest college ever! The blokes hug him like an old friend; girls come up to him and kiss him on the lips! This triggers a series of encounters that will change his life and that of two other “Identical Strangers” forever.
You will be able to find more details in other reviews online. But this is a dish best served cold so I will leave it there.
So it’s a 20 minute film?
It’s all wrapped up after 20 minutes. Or so you think. For the documentary starts to peel back layers of intrigue that go to far darker places than you would ever think possible. Again, to say more would provide spoilers.
As a criticism though, there is a point where I felt the film overstretched itself; reaching for a conclusion that didn’t seem to be born out by the facts (however hard the filmmaker tried to concoct them). That’s a shame, since there is more than enough to fill 90 minutes.
But no Oscar nomination?
Given how powerful (and well-regarded) the documentary is it’s surprising the film didn’t make the Oscar nomination (it made the 15 film shortlist but no more).
But it’s well worth catching: a tale that almost defies belief.
Jennifer Daniell (108 KP) rated Mistress of the Ritz in Books
Jun 9, 2019
After marrying Claude, Blanche quickly settled into her role as Mistress of the Ritz, dressing in only the
most fashionable clothing, befriending the elite and living in a beautiful suite at the hotel. But now the Nazis have taken over Paris and the Ritz has become their headquarters. Claude and Blanche now spend their days catering to and rubbing elbows with their conquerors, and their nights doing their part for the resistance. Living in such close quarters with the enemy Blanche finds a false sense of security, and grows more reckless as she becomes more restless.
A story of switching perspectives, this one is different in that it stays in a tight timeline, between a married couple instead of strangers. I really enjoyed this book and was delighted to find that Claude and Blanche were real people.
most fashionable clothing, befriending the elite and living in a beautiful suite at the hotel. But now the Nazis have taken over Paris and the Ritz has become their headquarters. Claude and Blanche now spend their days catering to and rubbing elbows with their conquerors, and their nights doing their part for the resistance. Living in such close quarters with the enemy Blanche finds a false sense of security, and grows more reckless as she becomes more restless.
A story of switching perspectives, this one is different in that it stays in a tight timeline, between a married couple instead of strangers. I really enjoyed this book and was delighted to find that Claude and Blanche were real people.
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Thursday (1998) in Movies
Jun 15, 2019
I had a phone, i broke it....in anger
Former big time drug dealer casey wells (Tom Jane) is now an architect, wanting nothing to do with his past, living the quiet life with his beautiful wife.
When former partner Nick shows up out of the blue - on a Thursday, looking to stay for a few day's, casey Reluctantly agrees but quickly becomes increasingly concerned about Nicks "Luggage", so to calm his nerves casey breaks into the briefcase discovering a large amount of heroin.
This is followed by visits from multiple strangers looking for the drug's....which casey flushed down the sink...its gonna be a long day.
This movie is skip woods directional debut film, starring Tom Jane, paula Marshall, Aaron Eckhart, paulina porizkova, James le gros and Glenn plummer as the brilliant Rasta Man.
When former partner Nick shows up out of the blue - on a Thursday, looking to stay for a few day's, casey Reluctantly agrees but quickly becomes increasingly concerned about Nicks "Luggage", so to calm his nerves casey breaks into the briefcase discovering a large amount of heroin.
This is followed by visits from multiple strangers looking for the drug's....which casey flushed down the sink...its gonna be a long day.
This movie is skip woods directional debut film, starring Tom Jane, paula Marshall, Aaron Eckhart, paulina porizkova, James le gros and Glenn plummer as the brilliant Rasta Man.
Christy Lewis (2 KP) rated Wonder (2017) in Movies
Feb 28, 2018
Amazing Family Movie
Beautifully written story about a family dealing with the ugly of the world. A son who's born with a disfigured face has to deal with criticism from his peers while trying to maintain as much normalcy as possible, which isn't easy when strangers (and "friends") only want to stare and talk about him. Love and bravery overcome the trials in what is all too familiar in America today - it may not always be a noticeable disfigurement, but just being "different" from your neighbor can create hatred and ugliness that isn't necessary. This movie is about seeing with your heart instead of your eyes. I would recommend that EVERY parent with children who wants to raise them to love and respect others watch this together. This will forever be one of my all-item favorites.