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Deborah (162 KP) rated The May Bride in Books

Dec 21, 2018  
TM
The May Bride
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The May Bride is not, in fact, so much about Jane Seymour - although she is the first person narrator and was married in May (practically before her predecessor was cold.....) - as about her sister in law, Katherine Folliot, first wife of her eldest brother Edward (later Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector under Edward VI). Edward's second wife, Anne Stanhope, is probably better known to historians or lovers of historical fiction, but there remains something of a mystery around the fate of Katherine Folliot, which Dunn has chosen to take as the basis of this novel.

I realised I had read a couple of Dunn's previous works - The Queen of Subtleties and The Confession of Katherine Howard. Of the former, I remember thinking that Dunn must have done a lot of research into the history of confectionery, but I can't remember anything of the second book, other than it wasn't dreadful, but wasn't the best thing I'd ever read either. I feel a bit the same about this latest offering. There's a lot of detail in there about how a moderately wealthy Tudor family may have lived, but a couple of days after I finished reading it there is nothing that stands out for me. I think perhaps that Jane herself isn't very interesting and Dunn doesn't make her interesting. I think her point is that she's plain and dull and normal and gets on with things because it's just easier.... but it doesn't make for a very entertaining read somehow. Katherine herself, who is the focus of the novel also often doesn't seem very likeable, so it's difficult to like her story or to really feel sorry for her.

In summary, not a bad read and there are far worse out there, but someone it doesn't quite hit the mark for me - just a bit forgettably mediocre.
  
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Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated The Perks of Being a Wallflower in Books

Jan 6, 2020 (Updated Feb 10, 2020)  
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.2 (101 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am hopelessly in love with this novel. I remember reading it for the first time when I was in middle school at some point - I'm thinking 8th grade. I remember crying my eyes out at the end and then having to go downstairs for dinner and being unable to think about anything else other than Charlie and his story and everything that he'd been through and how I related and understood and just wanted to give him a hug. I have that same feeling now.

When I read this book initially, I was in a really bad place - probably one of the worst places I have ever been in my life and I remember how much I wanted to feel like Charlie did at the end of the novel. Now, almost 9 years later, I am working to get to that place, to heal and take care of myself and put pieces back together that I forgot about or pushed away or that just didn't really fit right in the first place. Coincidentally, my therapist told me that this is the perfect book for me to read right now with everything I have going on in my life and I couldn't agree more.

I love all of these characters, I love the plot, I love that Charlie's innocence just radiates off the page but it's not a boyish innocence that is underwhelming and sometimes frustrating like it is in other novels, but it's pure and he's just doing his best and he fiercely loves and protects those he cares about. It's like his innocence is his love and he loves so well.

I think this book will be one that I tell my kids about, urge them to read, and hope they tell their kids and they tell theirs. I love this book that much.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Empty Bed in Books

Mar 19, 2020  
The Empty Bed
The Empty Bed
Nina Sadowsky | 2020 | Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The second book in The Burial Society series finds its founder Catherine juggling a variety of "cases," so-to-speak. When Eva Lombard and her husband Peter take a trip to Hong Kong to celebrate their anniversary, Peter wakes in their hotel to find an empty bed. Eva has vanished without a trace. Eva thought she was being followed, and now Peter wonders if she was right. As he quickly becomes a suspect in her disappearance, he turns to his boss, Forrest "Holly" Holcomb, who recommends Catherine (his old lover) to assist. Catherine sends two of her associates to Hong Kong while she tends to other work--mainly, protecting a family in Mexico City whose father knows too much about a pharmaceutical company. Meanwhile, a determined FBI agent is working on tracking down a missing mother and child of a wealthy businessman and threatening Catherine's secret agency.

I enjoyed this book. It's told in short chapters from varying points of view--Eva, Catherine, and Jake and Stephanie (Catherine's associates), etc. The result is a story that moves at a brisk pace, with almost a cinematic-type feel. This is no surprise, considering Sadowsky's background in film and as a screenwriter. The three stories intertwine somewhat--with Catherine as the center--and while a lot of information flies at you, I never found the book confusing.

I really like Catherine, and I enjoyed learning even more about her crew in this one. It's fun seeing some of the proteges interact. The novel kept me guessing and putting together the pieces was quite enjoyable. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged.

Overall, this is an interesting thriller. The whole idea of the Burial Society fascinates me, and I liked the quick pace of this book, along with its twisty and engaging plot. 4 stars.
  
Queen of Hearts (2019)
Queen of Hearts (2019)
2019 | Drama
Very Enjoyable...And Cringy
I have to say, just when I thought I knew where things were going with Queen of Hearts, it totally threw me off the rails. I applaud the change in direction and is one of the numerous reasons I liked it. In this movie, a woman seduces her stepson and is faced with a tough decision as a result.

Acting: 10
Trine Dyrholm shines in a brilliant performance as mom Anne. I related to her conflict and the torment that followed. I was not only impressed with her but the entire cast of actors comprised in this movie.

Beginning: 10
The film doesn’t take a long time for the conflict to build. Even knowing what the movie is about, you’re still a bit at the edge of your seat waiting as the tension builds. After the first ten minutes, I knew what was coming and I was excited for it anyway.

Characters: 10

Conflict: 8

Entertainment Value: 9

Memorability: 7

Pace: 8

Plot: 10
Great story design from start to finish. Tension builds, it mounts, and just when you think things will settle, things get crazy again. I was entranced by this story and its reliance on deep characters to move the plot along.

Resolution: 5
I can’t speak for everyone, but the ending left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I felt it would happen, but it didn’t make it any easier of a pill to swallow when my fears were confirmed. No matter what, you have to understand with a story like this, it can’t end with sunshine and roses. Be prepared.

Overall: 87
Queen of Hearts is a rollercoaster of a story with intense conflict that steadily builds. I definitely didn’t see the twist coming which made me fully appreciate the value of the movie. Worth checking out!
  
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Frank Carter recommended Boy in da Corner by Dizzee Rascal in Music (curated)

 
Boy in da Corner by Dizzee Rascal
Boy in da Corner by Dizzee Rascal
2003 | Hip-hop
6.4 (5 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Lyrically Dizzee Rascal is phenomenal, and musically he's one of the most progressive, forward thinking grime artists and musicians of our time. He won the Mercury Prize over ten years [before Skepta], which says it all. This record was what I listened to when I was commuting to and from Slough, when I was just starting Gallows, I was listening to it nonstop. I've loved grime since I was young, I've always loved hip hop but grime was so quintessentially British, you couldn't have made it anywhere else. To me grime is punk, more now than ever. Punk to me was the sound of disenfranchised youth, and that's what grime is. You take everything away from young people and tell them what they can't do, at some point they're going to say 'yes we can', and that's what's happening now. They feel discriminated against and now they're making the right fucking decisions by showing that. I think it's a classic record. What's really nice to see is that back when this arrived on the scene it was still very much about beef in the grime scene, people were still writing diss tracks, whereas what's happened recently is that when he played those tenth anniversary shows you just see everybody celebrating it, celebrating the fact that here's an album that did so much over a decade ago, and now we've just had a second [grime Mercury Prize winner]. I love that, but my problem is that there haven't been more. I love that these are being used as bookmarkers, as milestones, but we need a lot more than that, more progressive, forward thinking, unique individuals. That's what the Mercury Prize is supposed to be for, though it misses more than it hits."

Source
  
Broken English by Marianne Faithfull
Broken English by Marianne Faithfull
1979 | Rock
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I just think that it's a perfect record. The cover is exquisite; it's still one of the most iconic record covers of all time, so beautiful, mysterious and alluring. Every song on that record is great; it's a brilliant record. 

 That sort of worn-out sound of her voice felt very different to me than a lot of the female voices that you hear, even to this day. She's got this very distinct gravelly, worn-out, fucked-up voice that sounds like she's done it all and of course, she has.

 I just think she's a really interesting artist and she continues to take risks and never does the obvious which is something I've always loved about her. 'Why'd Ya Do It' is still one of my all-time favourite songs and it thrills me – this sort of vengeful, raging expression of total disappointment in somebody. I just really identify with that song for some reason. Her version of 'Working Class Hero' is gorgeous as is 'The Ballad of Lucy Jordan' – both are just amazing songs. 

 She's not been born with the greatest of voices and in this climate where everybody's a stage-schooled kid and everybody can sign multiple octaves – they've not actually got any soul in their heart – she's all soul and all desire to communicate through this fucked up voice that's full of frailty. I just think she's so exciting as a result. 

 She was born so beautiful that she could've easily cultivated a very sort of alluring, very traditionally feminine voice and yet she didn't: I'm so grateful to her for that. There's a lot of androgyny that comes out in her sound, which I really identify with."

Source
  
    Spanish Translator Pro

    Spanish Translator Pro

    Travel and Education

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    Spanish Translator is an application that TRANSLATES ENGLISH WORDS AND PHRASES TO SPANISH,...