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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Malcolm X, Alex Haley, Paul Gilroy | 2001 | Biography
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"Found my Dad’s old copy in the basement when I was in seventh grade. I’ve read it many times since. It’s always a pleasure spending a few days learning from brother Malcolm. You can feel the depth of his care and his sincere hope for your survival in every page. If he wasn’t a friend and a hero before you started reading, you’ll have to make some room for him."

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    Housecraft

    Housecraft

    Lifestyle and Shopping

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    Perfectly plan your future home with your phone! Housecraft uses your device’s camera and the...

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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Liar's Room in Books

Aug 10, 2018  
The Liar's Room
The Liar's Room
Simon Lelic | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
7.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
A one-sitting read!
Set in one room (pretty much!), this tells the story of a counsellor, Susannah, and a patient, Adam. What begins as an innocent counselling session, ends up revealing a series of lies that have been hidden for many years.
This was such an exciting - when I read the synopsis that explained that almost all of the book took place in one room, I had flashbacks to my A level French lessons and 'Huis Clos' (a play by Jean-Paul Sartre). Whether that's a good thing or not, I'm not altogether sure. Reading that play was a slog! Luckily, it wasn't the same (huge sigh of relief here!), and if I had been reading the actual book instead of the daily 'stave' from The Pigeonhole, I think I would have charged through this book in an afternoon.
We were taken out of the room via some peripheral characters (Ruth, the dentist who works in the same offices as Susannah and Emily, Susannah's daughter) and some necessary flashback scenes. These flashbacks are a really important device, and they added some real tension to the story.
Adam, the character who has (supposedly) come for counselling, is a really menacing character, although there were times that I felt sorry for him - he seemed very much like a lost little boy.
Ultimately, I felt that this was a story that told of how it wasn't such a good idea to keep secrets: they can build up and become increasingly damaging. Susannah didn't have much of a choice in what she did though, as she wanted to protect her daughter.
A really good thriller, and many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author and the publisher.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2619 KP) rated The Glass Thief in Books

Jul 29, 2026 (Updated Jul 29, 2026)  
The Glass Thief
The Glass Thief
Gigi Pandian | 2019 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Treasure, a Ghost Story, and a Locked Room Murder
Jaya Jones is thrilled when her favorite author, Rick Coronado, asks her to look at his new manuscript. The chapters she receives are about a murder in a locked room in a haunted mansion and a missing statue. Her instincts that there is more to the story prove accurate when she starts making connections to a murder that happened seven years ago. But another death ups the stakes. Can Jaya separate fact from fiction and find the killer and the missing statue?

If that description seems a bit complicated, don’t worry, the book lays everything out very easily. There are multiple twists that up the stakes along the way. It takes some concentration, but things do make sense at the end. While I do wish we saw more of one of the supporting characters, I really liked a subplot involving Jaya’s personal life. While the book is set at Christmas, the holiday vibes are minimal. The new characters are good for their roles in the book. I felt like I was traveling along with Jaya as we visit Paris and Cambodia before the story is over. This is another page turning novel that is hard to put down.
  
The Disaster Artist (2017)
The Disaster Artist (2017)
2017 | Comedy
“Ha ha ha! What a film, Mark!”
I was first introduced to The Room during a college Film Studies lecture as a perfect example of how not to make a film. Everything about it was atrocious, but I also found it weirdly compelling. Since then, I’ve made a real effort to follow everything relating to Tommy Wiseau and this bizarre film of his. It’s become a cult classic in recent years, drawing a crowd of dedicated fans to the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square for monthly screenings, and Q&A’s with cast members. When I found out that James Franco was creating a film adaptation of Greg Sestero’s novel The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made, I was so excited!

I was lucky enough to see the film during its opening weekend at the Prince Charles Cinema, which actually made my experience even better. Being around a crowd of The Room fans who knew the film like the back of their hand was hilarious, because they recited familiar quotes along with James Franco, and it was clear the entire audience was having a blast from start to finish. I honestly can’t remember the last time I laughed this much at a film. Everyone involved made a real effort to recreate the scenes that we know and love, whilst giving us a glimpse into what life on that film set was really like. It’s possible to forget that you’re watching The Disaster Artist and not The Room at times, because the performances are so spot on.

Once again, James Franco’s ability to take a real life person and bring them to life on a screen shone through. I always refer to his performance as Aron Ralston in 127 Hours as one of his best, but his portrayal of Tommy Wiseau certainly comes a close second. He nails the mannerisms, the accent, and that weird laugh that Wiseau has become well known for. You can tell he has dedicated a lot of time and effort to the project, and it’s paid off. Praise must also be given to the rest of the cast for perfectly emulating the characters. Josh Hutcherson as Denny was amazing; even when he was just sitting there that ridiculous wig was enough to make the audience cry with laughter, and Seth Rogen’s script supervisor character delivers these amazing one liners that show his frustration at Tommy’s ridiculous ideas.

Whilst clearly hilarious, this film is not without its fair share of tragedy, mainly around Dave Franco’s character Greg Sestero. His friendship with Tommy required him to make huge, unimaginable sacrifices both professionally and personally, ultimately causing a rift between the two. Greg is a classic example of a man chasing the allure of fame, and failing miserably. You can’t help but sympathise with him as he tries his best to keep those around him happy whilst trying to attain life changing career goals. The film also shows a darker side to Tommy Wiseau, as he treats the cast and crew around him very badly. He’s so wrapped up in bringing The Room, his “real Hollywood movie”, to life that he neglects the needs of those around him. There are some highly charged emotional moments in this film, which are perfectly balanced with the comedic moments. Without these serious scenes, the film just wouldn’t have been the same.

The Disaster Artist is a must-watch for fans of The Room, and those who want to learn more about the utter chaos that happened on set. It’s funny, intense, emotional and a one of a kind experience from start to finish. Make sure you sit tight until after the credits too, as there’s an extra scene that you don’t want to miss!

https://lucygoestohollywood.com/2017/12/04/ha-ha-ha-what-a-film-mark-a-review-of-the-disaster-artist/